1963 Wolseley Hornet

Originally supplied by Dick Graham – Temple Service Station

Registration Number 4333FZ
Chassis Number 5540 of 28455
Built & Reg. 1963 to a Mr. McDowell of Bangor for £557 – sold to me as the fourth owner in September 1991 for £250.

After a total rebuild she got her new M.O.T. on 15th August 2002 with a lot of help from my friends. The car now boasts a 1300cc engine fast road cam M.G. Metro head and runs on 1½ SU Carb. Brakes are 7½” Disc Drums & Master Cylinder – all service lines run down the interior for rallying. Wheel are 5″ Minilite

The first run the car had in 11 years was August 2002 on a trip to the Lake District covering 480 miles.

Verdict – drives like a dream have not enjoyed driving a car so much since I last drove a Mini in the early 70s.

Owner: Sam Baird Jnr.

Lea-Francis Light 14 Saloon

Built & Reg 1952 by Lea-Francis Motor Co., England

Aluminum Body
Twin overhead valve engine, 18HP
4 Cylinders
All leather upholstery (Brown)
Polished wood dash & door lintels
Reg No. OWE 822
Black/Beige

Believed to be 1 of only 4 in N.Ireland

Owner: Stan Purdy

1972 MORRIS MARINA 1.3 SUPER IN BLACK TULIP

My passion for Morris Marinas started in 1973 when I purchased a Teal Blue 1.3 Coupe Reg No EIJ 2601. This was followed in 1975 by a 1.3 Four Door Super in Brooklands Green. Still staying with British Leyland I purchased a Maxi 1500 in 1977 and returned to Marinas in 1978 buying a Sandglow 1.8 four door model

 Here my interest in British Leyland cars ended until in 1996 I found the original sales display used by WH Alexander Ltd in their premises in Victoria Street Belfast.

 I had made numerous attempts to purchase several Marinas on EBay but without success.

In July 2005 I was introduces to DIJ 2802 a local car in original condition with 64000 miles on the clock. The car has never been welded or painted and the interior is excellent.

On my first outing to a local event at Mount Stewart in County Down I bumped into the salesman who sold the car to its original owner.

I decided that the crazed and watermarked paintwork required attention so a re-spray was arranged which restored the appearance of the car to its original bright appearance.

I have taken the car on several car runs and heads have turned as it travelled through the roads of County Antrim.

 Performance is as I remember it in the days of the 1970’s; good running with a little bit of over and under steer. The use of radial tyres has helped to reduce this problem.

1939 MORRIS 8 SERIES E

My first knowledge of this car was when I was approached by a member of the club to place an advert in the club magazine offering the car for sale. Having just completed the restoration of my partner, in crime (Restoration of Old Cars), John’s Morris 10/4 after some six and a half years I thought that this would be the opportunity to start a new project.We went to inspect the car at Ravarnett as seen in the first photograph and decided it was worth a try, nothing ventured nothing gained.

An assessment of what was required to be done and what parts were needed to complete the project was completed. The following November John and myself set off on our now annual trip to the Classic Car Show in Birmingham armed with a list of 32 items of parts etc required as an initial guide to get the project underway. I was fortunate to meet, on the Morris Register Stand, Martin Wills who was able to provide seventy five percent of my list. The following March I went over to Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire accompanied by Barbara to collect the parts. It was a good job we were travelling light and did not take a case with us as it would not have fitted in the car. Barbara was just lucky enough to have space for the return journey.

Now that many of the parts required for the restoration were assembled it was full steam ahead with the work. Many phone calls to Martin produced many pieces of advice and parts required. Without his help restoration would have been very difficult.

Over the next three years, mainly on a Wednesday evening work continued sometimes one step forward and two or three backwards until after many frustrating moments the end result as shown in the second photograph was achieved.

Having little or no experience in restoration work I feel that the end result although not perfect, is something to be satisfied with.

Michael McKay