News
NEW OWNERS FOR MARLIN, 5EXI AND AVATAR
May 27th
Exciting news from Terry Matthews of Marlin Cars this week. I’ll let Terry tell us about it.
An open letter from Terry Matthews
New ownership for Marlin Cars, the 5EXi and Avatar Sportscars.
This year – April 14 – it was seven years since Mark’s (all-round MUCH-MISSED good guy and Terry’s husband, Mark Matthews) passing. As always, I spent the day reflecting on all the memories that we had created during our 30-years together and as you would expect, so many of them were Marlin-based.
In keeping with this, on that day, I added to those memories as I said goodbye to Mark’s final More >
GET RID OF UNSIGHTLY TAR
May 27th
The royal-warranted car care experts at Autoglym have announced the availability of a product designed to rapidly remove the unsightly ‘pebble-dashing’ of tar spots that usually appear on the lower half of your vehicle’s paintwork in warm weather.
Intensive Tar Remover is the disarmingly effective way to dissolve sticky bitumen flicked up from hot road surfaces, as well as other irritating adherents such as glue, grease, tree sap and fuel stains.
Tar spots are a common eyesore and especially visible on light-coloured paintwork. These sticky blemishes can prove difficult to remove and will usually smear themselves across paintwork if you try to scrub More >
BURTON POWER DISTRIBUTOR
May 27th
Burton Power has just released a modified, non-vacuum, Lucas-style distributor for the classic Lotus Twin Cam engine.
The distributor is based on a new reproduction Lucas 45D4 style unit, which will suit most engines from standard specification to virtually full race.
The distributor is supplied with a side-entry cap, points, condenser and a rotor arm. Order as part number FL303B at £174 inc VAT You’ll get a refund of £24 inc VAT on the return of any Crossflow distributor. Prices include VAT. More details at the other end of 0208 554 2281 or via www.burtonpower.com ENDS.
QUIET PLEASE!
May 27th
If your car has failed its noise test at a trackday then hopefully Merlin Motorsport can help to get you back on track as soon as possible.
Give Merlin Motorsport a call on 01249 782 101 and they’ll send the parts you need quickly.
If you happen to fail the noise test while you’re at Castle Combe Circuit then it’s even easier as they are conveniently located track-side, in the paddock.
They have a variety of solutions including Mufflers, Decibel inserts, Re-packing or Extended Silencer options.
What they’ll need to know –
By how much did your car fail the test?
Is the exhaust pipe oval More >
NUTS!
May 27th
Locking wheel nuts. A useful anti-theft device and fitted to most modern cars with alloy wheels. However, what happens if you’ve lost the adaptor key? Or the adaptor key is damaged? You’ve now got a time-wasting, costly problem.
Traditional methods or ‘attempts’ at removing locking wheels nuts such as drilling or chiselling are time-consuming, usually do not work, and are very likely to damage the alloy wheel. Some people go for a brutal solution of hammering a one-size too small socket onto the nut. This can work but you’ll sacrifice a socket.
Reach for the new locking wheel nut remover kit from More >
NO, IT’S NOT A DRINKS TROLLEY
May 27th
The B-G Folding Mobile Work Stand is the perfect convenient workmate to have around the workshop or garage. The four swivelling caster wheels make it easy to manoeuvre into place before locking it in position with the two braked castor wheels. Its divided working surface then helps keep tools and parts organised. The B-G Folding Mobile Work Stand provides an ideal work surface to keep tools within easy reach when working under the bonnet or under a vehicle lift. It also comes with the added benefit of folding down for easy transport or storage. The high-grade mild steel construction and More >
INSULATED TOOLKIT FROM SEALEY
May 27th
Another addition to Sealey’s comprehensive range of Premier Hand Tools, is their new AK7938, 1000V, 50-Piece Insulated Tool Kit, which is ideal for working on modern hybrid and electric vehicles (1500V DC safe live working).
Each component is fully insulated to VDE and EN 60900 standards to protect from electric shocks up to 1500V DC and 1000V AC.
They are made from hardened and tempered Chrome Vanadium steel sockets and accessories and come chrome plated for resistance to corrosion, as with many of Sealey’s Hand Tools this product comes with a lifetime guarantee*.
Key features include a 45-tooth flip reverse comfort grip ratchet More >
HANDS-FREE WORKING IN THE GARAGE
May 27th
The MAGflex Utility Inspection Lamp, launched last year by Ring Automotive, is proving popular with technicians thanks to its unique flexibility to get super bright light in the right places.
The versatile inspection lamp can also be used hands-free, as it has two adjustable magnetic bases and dual hanging hooks, allowing it to provide illumination without needing to be held in place.
This means it is ideal for placing under the bonnet, on the underside of vehicles or on ramps, acting as site light to illuminate a large work area.
Ring’s MAGflex Utility Lamp has wide-angled illumination and emits up to 1000 lumens of More >
NOW, THAT’S A COOL TRANSPLANT
May 20th
Interest in all things MG Midget and Austin Healey Sprite never wains and there’s a real love for those cars in the kitcar industry, of course, either as donors, subjects for conversions or just because they are MG Midgets and AH Sprites!
An interesting new arrival on the scene is James Barratt of Barratt Engineering who offers a Nissan Micra CG engine transplant for the ‘Spridget’. I didn’t know until James told me that Nissan produced thousands of A-Series engines under licence back in the day.
Coincidentally, their latter-day Nissan Micra unit was very similar in design and stature and was also More >
FOERS IBEX ELECTRIC
May 20th
Foers Ibex now available as a kit again
John Foers is a long-established name in the UK kitcar industry. As far back as 1977, John was producing his Nomad kits (under the Foers Engineering name) was akin to a mini Land Rover and equally as capable off-road. Around 180 were sold. Another model, the Triton followed in 1985 although wasn’t anything like as successful.
When Foers came out with the excellent Ibex in 1988, the Nomad and Triton were sold on to another Rotherham company, called Dettech, run by Derek Chapman.
In the meantime, John continued to develop his Ibex, a more rugged, More >
