,

THE CLASSIC 'y'

The Magazine of the M.G. 'Y' "':'ype R~gist:~r. Volume 8. No.69. Junfl 1985.

THE 'ENTERPRISE ' . RESTOP:~o.!.!Q!L._ by J ,G.Lawson.

~

In t bis issue and those following, I want to go OLL t.o talk about tbe a tteaCiCill we gave '=0 the interior of my 1953 YB.'Enterprise' irom aro~od Spring 1982. Now there was no doubt in my mind that I would Dever be able to c.c;nlempl.!S.t ,~· Wl:c"Scli.ng with the headlio'ing. I never die! have the patience for fiddly little jobs whicb dem!l.nded perfection. I 'War.red,however,to see how far I could go towards getting the in t erior reasonably complet e and,in ttds regard, a fte r talking tbings ove f with my mother (for,make no mistake,it is in the area o!: {neetiOr t rim that the ladies' particular talents c ome into their own) I dec i ded that W~ migh t have a go at fitting new carpets (aot withstanding the fact that years ago I had thrown the ot'1g1nals ayaj - they woula~av€made useful patterns}. The upholstery of my car is green and th is had been renovated some years earlier and str.,l. 'ld (see issue no.15). Though it would not b~ original I decided to have dark green carpets. I also thougbt tbat green snap-on door surround edge trim would go well in t he general scheme of thiogs ( or i ginal carpets,of course,were black and door edge t rim beige). The carpet,and '71ush 1 ' Snappon Edge Trim,plus,of course,carpet underlay were ordered from Woolies (I & C Woolstenholmes Ltd),off Blenheim Way,Northfield~ I ndustrial Estate,Marke t Deeping,Petp.rborough,PE6.8LD. 1 have remarked before on the efficiency and pleasantness of dealing with tbis supplier and I might add that the y supply good q\lality merchandise. To be exac t,here's what I ord~red:

- 38 feet Plush Snappon Edge Trim (green) 2 yards Green Carpet (40" ~de. - rubber backed) - ~-.../ 2 yards Underfe1t? (54" wide ;.t" thick - Dot waterproofed)

The above gave us enough carpet to cover the length of tbe floorboards both side s o f the p1:'"opsbaft tunnel. 1 bad fortunately acquired,in a b9.tch of second-band spares lid bought , a seemingly brand-new,original and compl etely unworo black carpet section to cover t he gearbox and front section of tbe propsbaft tunnel. After t-e;noving tbe front seats.patterns were made using newspaper pinned to the floorboards and then taped together and cut to shape. the pattern was to extend rearwards as far as the wooden cross-pieces against which the two trim pieces which fit under the seat pan res t. Don't forget at this sta ge that you have to make cut-outs for tbe four front seat runners and tte brake and clutch ped&ls. As the underfelt was 54·" wide whereas the width of cbe carpet was only 40 " there was suffiC'ien l underfe lt to also cover the boot floor,but i nsuffic ient carpet - so it might be worth buying three yards of carpet if you can afford to. The patterns were transfered indoors an4 tt~ underfelt a n d carpet were marked out with chalk. A t ip here i s to cut the felt end carp('!. t shapes outside the chalk mark so that t here is possibl y some excess material if the pa t tern t-]asn 1 t quile accurate in the first place. If you undercut tbe material the Hnal effect c ould b l, spoiled. The felt and carpet should fit under tbe outboard ret a ining !3tt"ips and but: u\-,

REG ISTER NEWS:

Recent Discoveries:

Chassis N2...!,.. Year. TyPe. Engine No. ~In No. Colour. Ot.mer I s Name.

y 4629 1950 YA. XPAG/SC/14483 KYU 457 ( ptimer) P.Watts Y 5393 1950 YA. XPAG/SC/D08164 (GS) UMG 226 Brown/Tan G.Y.Allen Y 5403 1950 YA. XPAG / SC/15l65 (orig) LPX 484 OlE White I.B.Kemp

XPAG/SC / B44215 (GS) Y 5660 1950 YA. XPAG/SC/15420 (orig) GKW 886 Green R.Jesson

XPAG / SC/C82064 (GS) n 1216 1953 'lB • XPAG/SC2I18099 TNO 166 Black M.M.Overs

Total cars on the Register as at 23rd May 1985 : 1,034. Made up as follows: YA: 551 Y8: 238 YT: 174 YRC: 3 Composites/Specials : 10.

Unknown (mainly salooas): 58.

New Ow-ners:

719. F.Cbau, 4,Victorla,Austra1ia. 720. G.E.De8D, ,Leicestershire. 721. P.Watts, _ ,CalHornia,9 O.S.A. 722. I.B.Kemp, Hants,G -----723. G.W.Allen, ,Berks,R . 724. R.Jesson. Merseyside,P 72S • M.M.Overs, l,Staffs, 726. M.R.Lee, 8ertfordsbire. 727. T.R.Wilks, 728. Mrs.V.Smart, ,Cambridgeshire. 729. _?Ward, ,NSW 0,Australia. 733. D.Housley, S.G1amorgan,C . ··

Total number of known current owners as at 23rd May 1985: 649.

CARS FOR SALE:

17. YA. "For restoration or spares. Tel: . 11

54. 1949 YA. "VGC.Many useful spares,£200 wortb. £.1,795 ana. Tel: ."

58. 1948 YA. 11775 HG I "MOT to May 1985. Spares include engioe less head, rear axle, gearbox,radiator gril1e,propshaft,jacks. £1,500 ana. Tel: Gregory on

"

689. 1949 YT. "Soundjnew hide trim. 0,750 or pact-ex for pre-war van. Tel :

957. 1949 YA. "Complete. Contact: Mr.llichael Coan,

958. 1949 YA. "Some work done. Body removed and panly velded. Contact: Mr.Michael Coan,

439. 1951 YA. "Purchased in 1981 for restoration. For sale as purchased. Contact: Mrs. Virginia Smart, , Catnb ridgeshire. "

427. 1951 YA. IHOW 131 1 "Part rebuilt. Cbassis blasted and paioted. Engioe rebuilt. Some welding done. £450 or nearest offer. Tel:

Late news concerning No.427 above is that it bas been purcbased by Mr.Cook of . Mr.Cook 1-s now breaking che car and all parts except the

engine and gearbox are now for sale.

- 18 -

•

--.... -~ PARTS FOR SALE:

'Y-Type Ins truc tion and maintenance manua l . £20. Contact : John Monkman on (after 4.3Opm and at ~eekends ) '.

'YA radia tor core (s ound ) El2.50 ; rad iator slats £9.50. Write to : , Sussex. Tel :

'Starter motor and generator; various XPAG engine parts; tyre and tube ; radiator. Contact: Mr.J.H.Foster, Heres. Tel: '.

'YE Head gasket set. £25 . Tel : '.

' Comple t e rear s eat assembly - ve ry good condition (green), £20; radiator £10. Contact : Mr.David Mu11en,

CA RS WANTED:

, 'Y or YB. Prefer in reasonable condition bu t don't mind some work. Can afford around ~~~ £l, OOO. Tel: (Glasgow),Allan McKean.'

MEMBERS' TIPS L.

David Mullen: It is worth noting that the entire radLator grille is made of brass and over-tighteoing,cross-tbreading or forCing fixing bolts can crack the metal around the fixing hole so,if you are remo ving or ref it ting your grille,take care;there is a temptati on to force things in order t o get

- -the a1 ignment right. •

Len Thorpe : \.Then refitting rear springs,make sure tbat the l onger part of the s pring is towards the rear o f the car. The manual shows the dis t ance between front shackle and the centre of th e axle as 20 1/8" whereas the di s tance btween the r ear shackle and the axle centre is 22 3/8". If by any chance you fit the springs the wrong wa y around,the propshaft will foul on the chas si s cross-member .

, Jo.' ,

-.I'-

A I t-bbe M,G. irr c.u..o!.a t"" I~"~ ~].

-CMS fOB £XPOBr : t .~ 8ntbt> Cil'l PopuL>.r I" Wantm ul\&da : [61&n.)-1 ....as Ulter~ed to n::a6 Mr. Johzl PaWc.'

{6169s} , I huI ;u...~ tohougb t tlu.t VIC ~(Jr\a bouted ~ 192.8 lei G . ID ~ a 14' .0 two-s..:ater WIth d.icby.w:Jl hu :u1 aluau.niWEI body. a Morri,.-O,.{ord nlCiiator:;tt

• "",d, uod is ~ gaing: roone_ . ~ , It lOOks as if British ~ an: bere to stay ill -

ia B ri tish Colw:obia all the popuLu mUC3 :LtG ~~ I ;ua tb~ proud 0"'-0"' pf a ne-o' I !--IitTG M G Airq tha~ exemrli&~ a.l.I that i:!I best in Briruh eagiDe-erin,.

Mlooy 0 the I~9 models h.a.ve Ir.iv ed b~ 00111' ' SuadU'd V.i.llguard appe:a.ls iLl tbf model t1u.t iI iOee.l " Cul.adia" m otorist. -;" ...

Spa" pa.rt$ art rtill the Britisb c:u owner'. chid . aDd I I.hink all the Briti/m

- - ._. -.~-, -:::' *=0. - 20 - 00, - 1"11]: .... tnoc.a. JUl.Y 11, t9}O EAST COAST TONIC

..

.;,;{i;j\'f0~'Ji1i~~~ ., Sailin&' bo&t:s ~ OD. tbr sbll(e5 of tb~ cnek "-~.

.~ DAYFUL OF MILES-AND OF SEA AND SUNSHINE

by MICHAEL BROWN

A N"':ONE Sllfferiog from trafiic cnmp should foUow this.l'l..Eut ADgliaJJ rl')n te lor a c.we. After a dozen miles -of stra.ight hlgb."

~

-------...:--- r~AI,: TOCA ... JUI.V 1'1.

- 21 -

East AD,gliau driver'S Seem to be conditioned to higher speeds than their COtllpi.triots e.bewbere: theM ill .. InI"i5h as yoo meet at l~O lU.p.h . • bot driver B hM !lOt deviated an inch trom his "Wit, and proudly you have emuhted him. A Lagondii. overtook WI &loQ( Sa. Mile Bottom into New-=.ket., trave.l1iu.(, I should say. at 15 m.p..h. We followed a JiI.gUM in the eveoillg from Thetford to &.Idccl: at a cruisiJls ~ weU a!xlve oormal... Yet it..seemed the IlWlrt. DOro1al prooedure. What~, it is I

last: whue roeh a toor bqios is di£5co.J.t to 5ly. bm I thi.ak at &Idock, foor the Cru.t North Road is I. .. x:rvice"• roa.d to this route. To Newma.rket the: highvra.y (A.505 a.nd u) phmges up &nd do...-n OVIl2' the}o.Q,g gndicnts, with great

--.......... disb.nces ,-isibJe on aD aides . .:od bumanity ~ ;LOd busy. A tncto'r sends ap II. sytIeopated pll3.l:at of exhanst &S its driver opd1.5 Ul;d wllb the thrt7ttle: thrte tiny figures an etched ag;Wut the ~~ a hayrick (i.o.cidenblly .. dU-appearing fea.'b1re of the '£oglhh ~dsape); wbere still more space e:risb--o.p~ ~ defies the: winds of heaven and ~ withirI sight iO'f .. long t:i.me. It is a laodscape of distlnce, frota.which the eocha.o.tme:ntrtems..

In the heathland uea the FCII"CStry Commission is busy aDd the effect is as yet CI'IltWldisl:L. Nicely go, however, and we shall get used to oUt" foTests. But the roadsides in July are a pictun. for ill Norfolk gt'OW1 in profmion that most adt:llir.l.ble of wild fiow-m, the vipen-bu,ai053, ufd its blue spikes are io~ wit.b the pink of the common mallo..... ., I must have:KKlLe of thote," Slid my pi-SSenge!", "~d for once you .-s: $Wp ~ tile ' last ha..s dis-appeared." So we stopped. ~d a great. bo..lfu.\ of vipers bugloss, mallow and ..-ild mignoaette gn.ced our t2.ble for many days Uter, to remmd IU of coloarlu.! mile!..

Our objective wa.s Blake.Dey PoUlt, the National Trust bird sanctnacy at the DOrthn-a tip of Norlotk. After Filke.oha.m the road meanders. lFith BlUeDey adequately signed, and at a c.ertaio rUe in the road 100 feel conviDcc:d thai the Wid's end is Dear, for- the sky has Uo t:rtra. baed brilliance a.s the ligbt is tossed l»clc at it frotD. the ~. '

_......... .. We shall see the sea over that rUe, " I said: and my

~er Ilodded . The M.G. clliI:Ibed up, ~d sure enough the !.a.nd Oil the other side gave place to sand du.nes and sho~, while ."""y beyond , the North Sea was blue as only a clear $ky comd au.ke it. •

No.... the ~ h.u really caught op with you . A tiDy atom, you ca..r dtift:s do." to Blak.toey 00 the WOR. crosses the CO&rt road ("149) Uld pulli. up 00 the quy. Thue " ~ple parlciDg.~ : the NatiooaJ Trust sip is 00 ro.n right., A.iliag bo1.ts tie 00. ~ ~ores of the eree:k, and the path out to tbe point selS 011 aJDog the top of. I-gre}"-gt"ttU dyke. Frn- to reach the point yoo mast walk..

I wolUd DOt ...-ish to do othennsr, for sucb places u Bla.kelley PoiDt 'hav!!' a I1Jliqoe appeaL With the yrrong temp=LlIl~t, it collld be "jost a stretcb of shorelina." For the d:i3cernWg it i.oJ a~!!' of pal delicacy, for between the bloe of the dist&ut sea ad the green of the coane grass whispering all about fOu ue tideftats. pools. mud, SiUld, and coa.sta.l vegetLtion; and, of course. the binb. At ~ch a com.bination the water-colowist', tyf:' would light up, for it spells coloar-fogitive, ethetN.l colour, so .sIigbt that the brush is loaded a1mort e:otirdy with water and the paper must be white for it to be truly reodered. But the com~ brnation is ~quisite .

Splatter-duh Coloan Then are !tronp tints . The sea·lavender is ootably

bloe, and tbe beads of tbe sea pinks. _bic.h the gard~er grows AS thrift, !lCltuT pi.llk" bea& in YOIlf patb. Dark stems a.nd soccoleot leaves iDdic.atc the Uu-ubby seJ,·blitc, wb.ich grows ouly betwee.u the Wash &lid the Tha.mes, and nnks, tberdOf"e. as Sometl:W:Jg to~. Sit quittly iII the gn.ss and the birds are all ;u;QVDd you. Aoc.b ol sbrl.ings wbed a.ad turn against the blge ; ~irds cry a.s they come slitheriDg dowu 0 0 the wnd 10 tean:b of food. &.lid the Iatks 5.D eveu this great aod.itoritlJl] with 50118. Then are, oI coone, great ra.rities fur the ornithologist to si8ht at BIlle-oey. bot. ah.s , I 3.1ll no bird ~ Look back at Blake-raey, a. gTeat ch~ to\Irer Uld a few n::ofs, DOW £a.r distwt.

"Rani by ~ Baaner', Cottac....... un. Fisb&rm..ua', AnzI:s,r-ts the trWtion.&l COQllty styk .......Qey~IlotC·u-.s.a.

,.,.,"""""'.. '~" '--~":. , ,?~., $''''''''' ~~~~~",,~.;:.-:t'"~

~.j .. ~ , " In~ l"

7'.

i . '1;: .~.

f;

i''

, . •. I '" i ' "II ",.

! ? ~ , {I. 1.::

Bo .~. w .:~.

.~

f !: .~

"f .~ .~. ,

*'i.... I ,. .:.: I > .,-::~'

." I - ~ : " . i 1', . ;:':' :

".. '1,

. _w~

" - I

,

,

~'" •.---JI .~:.:=-.:::.:--.::-=.::==--===-..:..:.-.:.-------,..;;:~ '.' -

/ /TD A=ocu. JUe< ". ,.,. - 22 ,. '---. . ~ spot: Is full oJ an i.c3J:Demo: bat friendly looeliD=s, if sucb a =tradktioa CLQ be pnmitted. I sur Bakeney under a bot IUD; ~th UI eastc1y pJe a..od the rtiog of spiDdtift in the a..ir the mood might weD be difieRDt, and it ill a place of mocd5. This ill oae of the Natioa.a.\ Trust's most interesting properties. aDd they dxlw a. nre ima,gina-tion iD ;acquiring sud! areas. A com~on Is Wicl::e:o FeD. quite dose i.e East AngliaD tums.

After a. pictlic l~ 01) the dUlles we foUaored A r 49 i.locg the CC*St. At Oey-oext-the·Sea the Fl.5bertll&ll's Arms prese:tlt:il the tndition.a.\ county style of bWld.i.Dg, with cobble a.cd brid., iA .. pedeet mdy pattern; the cnd of the b~dicg t.: lUlwuhed. the front cn::a.m-'Washed, :llld the rtraggIe of roafs dovrn the curve of the ~~ is deligbtful.

Not 1;l.Dtil you D~ Cromer is the ~ really close apin, but jost before Sberi.oghull it = be vi_ed ~ a. wood on the b.illside with a Meditenuea.n eflect.. But tbefe were DO sc.hOOMn with a tarRO of Tan.isi.a.tl dat=. to grace the blue, only a. " flat-iron" from the LondoD Ps-works ploddillg up to Tyaeside. The IOWld 01 pr.a.ctice gunJire ~ed other experie:ne5 in E-boat Alley, but the ocean today .-a.s ~e.

East Ancl

- .' .

Department of Transport Driver and Vehicle Ucensing Centre Longview Road Swansea SAS 7JL TeJe;(48102 Telephone 0792."

Your reference t

.--WARNING TO BUYERS OF' OLD VEHICLES

Moto rists who are interested In buy ing an o ld ve h icle with an attrac ti ve

registration mark displayed on it should ask the seller {or the vehicle's

new style registration docu..ment (V5) to ensure that the registration mark

1s stil l valId.

Vehic les registered or lice nsed s;nce September 1974 will have automatically

been recorded on the computer records at the Deiver and Vehicle Licens ing

Centre. A computer produced registration docuroent will have been is sued

and should be available. However some old veh icl es still in existence

may not h ave been licensed s ince that time. Un le ss the owner applied

to record the veh icle on the computer before November 1983 the mark

displayed on the veh icle ma y be no longe r valid.

'-Prospective purchasers of vehicles w ith attrac ti ve marks ar e being advised

to con tact DVLC's Ve hicle Enqui r y Unit (0192 72134) if the seller of

t he old vehicle canno t produce a new style reg istration document for

the vehicle. The Enquiry Unit will be abl e to say if the mark is still .- valid . Details of tbe tr ansfer rules are set o u t on Fo rOJ V317 (Application to

Transfer a Regi s tra tion Number) obtainable from any Department of Transport

Local Vehicle Llcensing Office. Anyone wishing to transfer a number

from one vehicle t o another should make sure that they can comply with

all the conditions mentioned on this fo r m before any rooney changes hands.

-----~

Memb,rship Secret~cy/Reglscr.e/Edicor: J .G.La~s on, .

Mag~t.1ne Printing: U.K. Edition: Pront.peinc Ltd. U.S. Edition: Char\on. Luer , ,N,·~ Jets'Y'

Spares Secretary: .... Rriee, ,tngland.

[alltern Unieed States Ch.pter : Mrs.C. M.Luee, New J, rs'Y J .

U.S. U.st COase Contacc : G.R.Skopecek Ill, , California ,

'The Classi.c Y' is publisned by Skycol Publication•.

The content of the articles and the technical advice appearing in thiS lI!aga~1ne rep resent the vlt!ws of the rUpeCClVQ cont ribut or s and not nect!s$arlly tnose of the editor o r the publishe rs . Tbt! MCYTR cannot be held res ponsible for .ny l oss or damage resulting f rom the implemet\tation of