VG 2007

Use this area to post details of your cars, your restorations, photos or rally reports.

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halbe
Posts: 447
Joined: Sat Nov 10, 2007 11:08 pm
Location: holland

Re: VG 2007

Post by halbe »

Nearly ready!!
VG is nearing completion. 10 years after buying her from a farm in Bungay she is back on the road. I took her for a little drive and all the mechanical bits are fine and functioning as they should!
Next thing to do is to get a dutch registration and hopefully freeze the original one. wouldnt like to see VG2007 on a new Merc.............
So off to the dutch RDW for a licence and on with the beading and another couple of small jobs.

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Regards Halbe
Ian Grace
Site Admin
Posts: 5035
Joined: Sun Nov 19, 2006 12:55 am
Location: USA

Re: VG 2007

Post by Ian Grace »

Just to update this thread. Halbe completed the restoration and has now sold the car to Tony Gamble. Delivery from Holland was delayed because of Covid, but it was finally delivered today. I'm sad to see Halbe part with it, but very pleased to see this fine, original and beautifully-restored car back in England.

Congratulations on your acquisition, Tony!
Ian Grace
Site Admin
Posts: 5035
Joined: Sun Nov 19, 2006 12:55 am
Location: USA

Re: VG 2007

Post by Ian Grace »

And here she is back in England. Tony had considerable trouble getting the car back on a V5, but prevailed in the end.

But finding himself challenged for space, he has been advertising the car for over a year. To be honest, given the car's highly original 'barn-find' provenance and the meticulous and no-expense-spared restoration, I find it incredible that it wasn't snapped up. I am pleased to announce that I am in the process of acquiring the car from Tony and the plan is to bring it to Pre-War Prescott, as well as the Friday tour.

One of the many nice features of the car is that Halbe was able to retain all of the original interior, including the seats, which is all still in first class order, so the car doesn't feel (or smell) like a newly-restored car inside. Also, if you compare this photo to the one above (taken just before the car was shipped back to England), you will see that the beading has been completed on the body, which finishes the fabric body off nicely.

The car is a 1930 season example, but laid down in September 1929. Until Halbe acquired it, it had spent all of its life in Norfolk and had clearly had little use in its early years and was never messed about with, so it retains all of its original fittings, instrumentation, etc.

I'd like to list out all of the little jobs I plan to do on it, but there really isn't anything that needs doing, other than ordering a period road fund license disk for it! I have already applied for a VSCC Buff Form and will definitely be entering it in Light Car events.

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Ian Grace
Site Admin
Posts: 5035
Joined: Sun Nov 19, 2006 12:55 am
Location: USA

Re: VG 2007

Post by Ian Grace »

Just a very quick update to say I collected the car from Tony Gamble on Thursday and am delighted with it.

It was well down on power on the initial run around the lanes here in Herefordshire, but it feels like it is retarded and may have stale fuel in it. With its 12/12 cam and skimmed head, it should go better than it does.

I have a few days next week to sort it before putting it in the garage until our next visit to England in December. I have a battery tender which I will attach before departing.

I don't have the technology to post photos here with me right now, but will post several with more info when we get back to the US at the end of the month. It does look good parked beside the Semi-sports, which I collected from Cirencester last week.
Ian Grace
Site Admin
Posts: 5035
Joined: Sun Nov 19, 2006 12:55 am
Location: USA

Re: VG 2007

Post by Ian Grace »

Took VG 2007 for its first real run to the New Year's Day pub meet at the New Inn, Pembridge, about 14 miles from our cottage. We were the first to arrive, so took the opportunity to take some photos and managed to get angles so the moderns were out of shot.

The car performed without fault, except I had starting difficulties - would hardly turn over even after I had charged the battery. We bump started the car to get home, after which I found the earth terminal loose and a bit corroded. Emery paper and a spanner did the trick. It is still underpowered, given the hugely expensive engine rebuild, 12/12 cam and M Type compression ratio, but this may be because it is not yet run in. I'll have more opportunity to tune it and run it on our next visit in July.

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Ian Grace
Site Admin
Posts: 5035
Joined: Sun Nov 19, 2006 12:55 am
Location: USA

Re: VG 2007

Post by Ian Grace »

Back in England for PWP and today I pulled the car out of hibernation. Battery charged, fresh fuel, filled the drained radiator and she fired up immediately with no issues. Oil pressure is 89 psi cold, 85 hot. Took it for a run round the lanes.

Taking it to a pub meet at the Boot, Orleton this evening. Only about ten miles, so should do it a power of good.
Ian Grace
Site Admin
Posts: 5035
Joined: Sun Nov 19, 2006 12:55 am
Location: USA

Re: VG 2007

Post by Ian Grace »

Didn't get to the pub in it - there was a deluge!

When I took it to the Boot on New Year's Day, it was decidedly underpowered, needing first gear one one hill and only just maintaining forward movement!

And I had a repeat of the starting problem I had at Christmas. I fully charged the battery but the starter barely turned over. So I removed the battery terminals again and cleaned everything thoroughly. All sorted. This time I'll get some Vaseline and slather it all over the terminals, as we won't be back over again until next June, when we relocate permanently to the UK from Seattle. Or I might just disconnect both terminals so they don't corrode.

So last week I fiddled with the ignition timing and also put in a couple of gallons of fresh fuel and the car is transformed. As I have problems with the dynamo on the Semi-sports (see other thread), I'll be bringing the fabric saloon to Prescott next weekend.
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