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The Birkin marque……….is a very well-known one hailing from South Africa and their Lotus Seven-inspired sportscar is a very fine handling and performing machine, indeed.

The marque was officially available in the UK for several years with an operation run by the founder’s son, Stephen Watson, a former Arrows F1 test driver before the operation closed around four years ago.

The company was founded as far back as 1983 by John ‘Birkin’ Watson, a distant relative of Bentley Boy, Sir Henry ‘Tim’ Birkin.

This week, Birkin announced that their cars would be available in the UK once more, via well-known bike tuner, former motorcycle race team manager and creator of the RST V8 bike engine, Russell Savory, via his RS Performance operation.

More information from www.birkindirect.com or www.rsperformance.co.uk ENDS.

Birkin back in the UK via Russell Savory's RS Performance operation.

Leading classic Ford specialists……….Burton Power, has introduced a range of bellhousing plate/dirt plates to their 2010 line-up. The plates are fitted between the engine and bellhousing to prevent the ingress of dirt and water.

These have been reproduced to fulfill a demand from restorers, as the original plates often get damaged or thrown away by previous owners.

Further details from Burton Power on 0208 554 2281 www.burtonpower.com ENDS.

Rude Racing has recently launched…………Truflex® Flexible Pipe.

A revolutionary stainless steel corrugated tube that can be shaped by hand for a variety of bespoke applications and can be used for water, air and exhaust applications, can re-shaped, absorbs vibrations of engine, withstands high pressures and is made from seamless, corrugated stainless steel that won’t corrode.

The product offers a potential solution for your in-car plumbing requirements and there are two different lengths available - 150mm (6in) or 300mm (12in). Both lengths are available in a range of outer diameter (OD) sizes.

The company also have kits available that include a metre of Truflex® stainless steel hose, four silicone hose couplings and eight hose clips and are available in 22, 25, 32, 35 and 41mm I/D with prices from £63.99.

More information from www.ruderacing.co.uk or 0844 357 8651 ENDS.

New from Car Builder Solutions this week……..are solid state fuel pumps designed for carburettor-equipped cars, good for up to 7.5psi an 38 gallons per hour.

Complete with reliable solid state internals with no electrical contacts to burn out, no bearings to wear and no diaphragms to perish, they’re rated at 12V with less that 2amps current drain.

They’ll pump from 1.5psi to 4.5 psi with a flow rate of 100-litres per hour (21 gallons) and will will self-prime up to 0.3 metres lift. The filters come with a two-bolt fixing at 65mm centres with union thread size of ⅛in npt weighing just 469gm.

Part number FPUMP2 cost £29.38 inc VAT with more information from http://www.cbsonline.co.uk/electronic-fuel-pump-square-fpump2-5175-p.asp or 01580 891 309 ENDS.

Viper Performance has just announced…….a breakthrough in automotive silicone hose technology.

The company has just released a range of translucent hoses that have never been seen before in the automotive field. They are made from high quality pharmaceutical grade clear silicone that shows the construction of each reinforcement layer making them clearly visible from outside.

Remarkably the new translucent silicone material is just as strong as the usual five-ply coloured hoses that Viper produce. The polyester reinforcements make these hoses look white and they are easier to keep clean than standard solid white hoses.

Various straight hoses and elbows are available in a wide range of diameters allowing the user to fabricate virtually any pipe run, but this is a limited edition product and they will only be made to order.

Contact Viper Performance for prices of individual components and order times.

As with all Viper hoses the new translucent hoses come with a three-year warranty for extra peace of mind.

For more details, call 0845 0953 423 or www.viper-performance.co.uk ENDS.

Webcon now offer a Crossflow-type aluminium……cylinder head for classic British cars that used the BMC/British Leyland ‘A’ Series engine. The heads are manufactured to the exacting standards expected of a Webcon product, and are up to 75 per cent lighter than the original cast iron units thanks to the use of LM25 aluminium.

The new head is designed to flow up to 25 per cent more efficiently, offering full crossflow characteristics. The head features silicon bronze valve guides and is designed for use with Weber DCOE carburettors or throttle bodies using the same fitment pattern.

The MSX Crossflow Bare Cylinder Head for the A Series may be ordered as part number 9900384900 and retails at £1115 inc VAT. Alternatively, an assembled head, as shown, the part number is 9900384900AS priced at £1169.13 inc VAT.

For further details contact Webcon UK on 01932 787 100 or visit www.webcon.co.uk ENDS.

Piper Cams has recently become appointed……….dealers for American company, Cometic Gaskets and the company is offering a range that include dozens of European and Japanese applications. Cometic are one of the most respected gasket brands in motorsport and have become the gasket of choice amongst engine builders at all levels of competition and street tuning.

Cometic’s best known line is the MLS head gasket, which are made from three or more layers of stainless steel.

Cometic MLS gaskets will allow turbo owners to run more boost. In tests engines have withstood boost levels exceeding 80psi and they are ideal for both aluminium heads to cast iron blocks and aluminium heads to aluminium blocks.

They are available for use with petrol, LPG, water injection, diesel and even biodiesel and can be ordered in 11 thickness options and custom gaskets can be produced to order.

Piper can supply gaskets for Austin, BMW, Ferrari, Fiat/Lancia, Ford and Ford-Lotus & Cosworth, Honda, Jaguar, Mazda, Mercedes Benz, MG, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Peugeot/Citroën, Porsche, Rover, Subaru, Toyota/Lexus, Triumph, Vauxhall/Opel,

Volkswagen/Audi, and Volvo plus the following motorcycle applications: Aprilia, Ducati, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha.

Most of these gaskets will be available from stock. Gaskets for American vehicles, and applications such as drag racing

engines, quad bikes and snowmobiles can also be supplied to special order.

For further details contact Piper on 01303 245 300 or visit or visit

www.pipercams.co.uk ENDS.

Most of us are familiar………..with the ‘magic’ spray adhesives used by carpet fitters and upholsterers - now here’s one that has been specially formulated for automotive use.

Naturally, it provides high strength adhesion and bonds a wide variety of materials, including trims, foams, fabrics and more, but this one is also heat resistant up to 160°F (71°C) so it’s perfect for securing DEi Heat Screen, underlay, sound proofing

or carpet to firewalls, floors and transmission tunnels even when there’s a hot exhaust on the other side.

It’s also just the job for fixing carpet or trim next to your heater ducts. It has a specially designed three-way adjustable valve allowing the user to select the spray pattern that best suits the job.

The adhesive dries quickly and clear while forming a water-resistant bond and is strong enough to secure stretched vinyl or leather trim to complex curves and dries

quickly while still allowing time for the material to be positioned easily by hand.

It’s tough enough to secure material or sound proofing to the inside of your roof and it won’t let go when the sun’s been beating down on it for a while.

Order as 010490. a 10oz (284 g) spray can costs £21.00 inc VAT with more www.nimbusmotorsport.com ENDS.

How many footpumps have you thrown away over the years……because they have broken? Now A1 Motor Stores are stocking the PCL footpumps, in single and twin barrel version, which are a lot more sturdy and better made than most pumps on the market.

They come with a wide footplate with a grip pattern to stop your foot slipping when in use. The hose is a tough, heavy-duty rubber hose that won’t fray like the fabric covered versions and the valve connector is sturdy and well fixed to the hose as well.

Both single and twin barrel versions come with easy-to-read pressure gauges that are well protected by chunky surrounds.

The Single Barrel PCL footpump retails at £9.99 incl. VAT and the Double Barrel version retails at £12.99 inc VAT.

Available from participating A1 Motor Stores. To find your nearest A1 Motor Store

Freephone 0800 526510 or www.a1motorstores.co.uk ENDS.