Z MAGNETTE Warren Marsh This month's subject is car insurance.

I am sure most of you know the obvious benefits to be gained from having cover on an Agreed Value basis but there is another angle to this of which some of you may be unaware. Suppose you have no previous Agreed Value written into your policy and the car is damaged to the tune of £30 (which does not cover much repair work these days). The assessor may value your car at £65 eventhough its worth may be well in excess of £1,00 in your view. The relationship between the value of £65 and £30 cost of repairs is so poor that the car could simply be written off, in spite of all you protests. Its quite easy to obtain an Agreed Value form from the Club. If you have not already done so, do it now.

Many of you will have a policy which allows you to claim for a replacement windscreen without loosing your No Claims Bonus. When my screen cracked last year I hoped the replacement would be carried out at no cost to myself. Alas, the screen cost about £8 to manufacure (by Tudor Safety Glass) and by the time it had been fitted into a newly purchased screen rubber the overall cost was £130 My policy only covered a replacement up to £10 so check your cover now and get it increased if possible.

Finally, can I commend to you an offer being made by JSB Motor Policies. For only £ per annum you can obtain free legal aid up to £10,00 in theevent of any accident. I think this is £ well spent to give one peace of mind, as the

Scottish: Mike Waggott, Templedean House, Florabank Rd., Hadington, EH41 3LR South East: George Ward. South West: Steve Dear, 6, Oakfield Place, Clifton, Bristol. Tyne Tees: Bill Wood, Ham Hall, Scruton, Northallerton, North yorks. Ulster: Vacant.

Between them these gentlemen should be able to give you some help on almost any MMM question, even if a complete solution is not readily available. Clearly, John Kiddler and Colin Tiech are the boys to answer technical and spares questions. It is not quite so clear how some of the other duties are shared. Roger Thomas is the one to contact if you want to buy the 1983 Yearbook (£2.00) earlier Yearbooks (£1.5 each) the Register List (£1.50) reproduction pre-war sales brochures and pre- war Works photos (he can send you a list), BUT, whilst Roger does most of the Register's trading, he does not have a monopoly. I hold Register badges at £12.0 each, engraved with your car's register number and Mike Allison holds the stock of Register ties. If you want your badge sent by airmail to distant parts of the world, it will cost you £15.00

Naturally, George and Yvonne Ward are the best people to ask about any previous known history of your car. The Register may have had a record of it before you bought it, They should also be able to tell you the names and addresses of MMM owners or owners of the same model as yours who live near you. Likewise, your Centre Rep. should be able to

advise you on such things, unless you have an unusual model which does not have a twin for miles and miles. The Registrars should also be able to write official looking letters for you to show to disbelievers like DVLC, saying that certain registration numbers belong to particular chassis etc.. I , too, have been known to do this and to write on headed note-paper regarding the valuation of cars for insurance purposes.

Barry Foster is the man to receive copy for Infoletter (he is looking for someone to take over from him) and Terry Dickie is the custodian of the stock of s.a.e.s which you must send him if you want to receive the Infoletter. In between these two, the printing is done by Peter Green who hisses out on the Committee mentions.

Finally, two addresses which may help to reduce the correspondence load within the Register are:- Connoisseur Car Books, 28 & 32, Devonshire Rd., London W4 2HD, who stock "The MG Workshop Manual" by W. E . Blower at £15.9 plust £1.6 p & p (Overseas £2.50 and, M.G.C.C. a t Boston who hold all the surviving pre-war chassis files. A letter and an s.a.e. to them will produce a reply saying whether they have you car's chassis file and, if so, what it will cost to supply a photo copy.

It goes without saying that you will all send your Car-of-the-Year points claims to Tim Hunt and lots of bits of MMM news to me for inclusion in these Safety Fast notes.

liability for so many accidents is often difficult to prove these days.

TRIPLE-M Mike Hawke WHO'S WHO FOR 1984. A-i we go into 1984 and the start of the M.G. Car Club's new year it is appropriate to update you on who is doing what towards the running of the Register. At present your Committee 1s:- Chairman: Mikc Allison, 197, Rugby Rd., Cuhhibgton, Leamington Spa, CV32 7JJ. secretary: Mike ~ a w k e , 117, Upper Maureen, Ivorand son, Wulter Thevdthasun with their B. Robin Wit/ker'-> L-type (L0497, I tlzink, R q . no. ~ ~ ~ t ~ ~ ~ d , ~ ~ ~ d f ~ ~ d on A ~ ~ ~ , wilts, ~3,415 M and T-types in Singapore. The M-type has donepar- M G 2722) taking shape at Comrie. This car has, possi-

2DN. ticularly well in events in recent years. This, possibly, bly, a competition history but Robin is having difficulty hassomething to do with Ivor being elected President of in tracing it. Can anyone help?

Treasurer: David Smith. Soinnev Cottage. the Malavsia & Sineanore Vinlaee Car Reeister for " , Church St., Shoreham, ~eveioaks,'TN14 7 f n . 1983184. '

Competition Sec. and Car of the Year Points Scorer: Tim Hunt, "Setters, 79, St. Thomas TWIN CAM Phil Richer Chariot Red with black trim and Grey hood. It

Ave., Hayling Island, Hants. Dirk van Ussel of Belgium has purchased YD3. was recently offered for sale in Yorkshire,

Registrars: George and yvonne ward, 15, l341 from Robert den Hartigh. this car had carries the Registation Number 243 WJ and had

Jesse Close, Yateley, Camberley, GU177AH. engine 1007 when last registered with us, and been owned by Mr Stephenson since 1973.

Tnfoletter copy: Barry Foster, South Dirk has reaffirmed the body colour as original Lyle York sprung his computor into action a

South Petherton, Somerset, TA13 5AE. of Old English White. little earlier this year and dispatched a well

Yearbook Editor and Publicity, And now Andy Bromwich has started the rebuild of received print-out that included no less than 17

c o n c o u ~ Advisor too: Terry Hoiden, 6: his coupe YMI. 2583, a car which was cars not previously registered - not bad for a years work in North America. These bring the WimbMon' London' SW20

'?DTZk~f a previously Register of Twin Cams up to 737, which makes OSH. unregistered roadster YDI. 2345. It left the 750 look very achieveable during 1984. Librarian and yearbook Editor: factory in July 1959 and was then finished in Details of these new cars are:- Thomas, 3, Kenmore Close, Kew, Surrey, TWp 3JG. Chassis No. Owner State

YD3.579 Richard Sheppard Maryland Technical and Spares Advisers: YD3.690 M. Storey Ontario M,C,D,J and F- Colin Tiech, 147, Wembley YD3.819 Max Marquis (Scrapped 1982) had engine 1228 Hill Rd., Wembley, Middlesex. YD3.840 Robert Stirling Illinois

YM2.961 Frank Tarpley Alabama (engine 615 P,K,L,N,Q, and R- John Kiddler, 22, Storrs ~ ~ 3 1 1 8 1 Karl Sneson Vancouver Rd., Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S40 3PZ. Infoletter S.A.E.s, keeper of: Terry Dickie, Rockhalls Farmhouse, Four Ashes, Kingshill Rd., High Wycombe, Bucks., HP15 6LM. Centre Representatives: Devon and Corwall - Nigel Watts, 7, Harefield Estate, Eastern Lane, Camborne, Cornwall. Lincolnshire: David Taylor, Garden St., Brigg, S. Humberside, DN20 8HE. Midland: Mike Allison. North East: John Kidder. North West: Ray Masters, 78, Derby Rd., Heaton Moor, Stockport, DK4 4Nf

~ ~ 3 . 1 2 6 7 avid Price YD3.1404 Frank Wesolowski YM3.1456 Mr. Peretti YD3.1572 Russ Earl YD3.1792 Ken Marchand

Scrapped with PIR unit Merit Lighthall Arthur Link Dennis Gallagher Alex Grey Robert Millstein

~~~ ~ ~ ~~

Vancouver Arizona (engine 1087) New Jersey Washineton ~lberta- Pennsylvaniain 1982 Ohio Texas (engine 1172) New Jersey Kentucky (engine not numbered) New York

Change of ownership and new de-luxe model details from the print-out will be advised next month.

We must advise that Ken Tugwell has sold the prototype ORX855 to the MGBGTV8 race exponent Colin Piercy. We will say no more than to wish Ken very sincere good wishes for the future.

36 SAFETY FAST, March 1984

ORX 855 Investigation development fitted with full independant Well you see Colin was immediately very suspension like 3 other development MGAs. impressed with the performance of the car, and T~ get hack to the story john and Tommy wants to enter it into races, competing it as it tossed up for choice, as a result John bought the was in the early sixties by John Sharp. That's ~~i~ cam and T~~~~ the push what a when the problems started. Well John did work memory, '<oh, there was also a Left Hand at the f a c W development shop and purchased Drive Twin Cam Pre-Production model, but I the car in 1962 as a De-luxe when its useful life am not sure what happened to that one93, at the factory came to an end. But who was you want to get in touch with John your best going to advise how to get in touch with John chance is to speak to Tommy I believe he heard Sharp so that the original details could be found from him ,bout four years and put into action. The question bugged me 1 did and the story repeated itself and an while writing a reply t o Colin's letter, and I address and 'phone number passed on. A small decided to contact Henry Stone, (remembering amount of map leading, use of Directory what he had said at Silverstone last year, about ~ ~ ~ ~ i ~ i ~ ~ and it was u ~ e l l o , john sharp a car used on high days for trips t o Southend available on this number". "Yes, who shall I say etc). He immediately responded "Oh ORX is calling?" I added tell him we have finally 855". caught up with him. Over the next 10 to 15

"yes that was One the pre-production minutes John confirmed and extended the story models". Now that is one question answered, it of 855, and offered every assistance to was not strictly a PrototYPe, but a Pre- c l i n in his project. 1 decided not to write a Production car. reply to Colin, hut to advise him of the good

He continued, "It was used along with news over the phone, another car to prove assembly methods in 1 wonder if YRX 982 is still around? ¥rh development before production line work, and might find that the boot floor is secured was later wed as a road test bed for the different to standard Because while under engine". The story went On prototypes development there was little boot floor in the were Cut-uP, with the odd because car so that adjustments and modifications could so many changes were made to them during easily be undertaken. A new floor being fitted their development that no one could maitain , fore its sale to Tommy, them, because the parts used were often specials". "Oh, by the way PBL147 was a black EX186 (Twin Cam Development Prototype Pre-Production model". Now that explains why Project) the car looks so dark in the Twin Cam One That did get away. Announcement Docket photographs, and Henry visited the USA last year. and was some magazine road reports. It was eventually taken to a place called Scotland Yard in sold in Orient Red according to the Production Colorado. Where he saw EX186 being Control record. "Of course what really restored, "Doing a fine job, unfortunately happened in the Development Shop was that looks as though the original engine and exhaust John Sharp and Tommy Haig were offerred two has been lost". All the best in your efforts Joe cars ?RX 855 and YRX 982 a red ore- Gunderson and Steve Willis who are the joint -~ - -

production push rod model that was during restorers.

SPRING INTO '84 WITH SUSPENSIONS AT OUR NEW SHOWROOM

MGBlClV8 ALL PRICES INC. VAT Coil Springs .......... £ 1 .OO Discs ..................... £14.0 Leaf Springs ......... £20.0 Brake Shoes (BL) .... £9.0 Wishbone Arms ...... £6.0 Brake Pads .............. £5.0 Front Shocks* ......... £9.0 MIDGET

............ Rear Shocks* .......... £9.0 Wings (All) £85.0 .......... Spax Telescopic (Kit) Coil Springs £12.0 ......... ......................... £58.0 Leaf Springs £18.0

..... Axle Straps ............. £2.0 WishbonesIPin £17.0 ............ U Bolts .................... £2.5 Stub Axles £14.5

....... Shackle Pins ........... £2.0 Front Shocks* £10.0 .......... S p r . H a n g e r Repai r RearShocks* £9.0

............. ............................. £15.0 Axle Straps £2.0 .................... S t u b A x l e I K i n g P in U Bolts £2.0

..................... ............................... £18.0 Discs £13.0 ................ Front Bump Stops £5.0 Disc Pads £5.0

............. Full Range of Bushes Rear Shoes £5.0 V8 Bushes ............... £2.5 * Also Uprated.

S.A.E. FOR PARTS LIST BARRY STAFFORD - M.G. SuaresSuoolier

113--115~tockpod~d, ~ h e a d l e Heath. stockport Telephone: 061 480 6402

CLOSE RATIO GEAR BOXES A member asked last year 'How do you know if a C.R.G. box had been fitted to the car at the factory I made enquiries and reported, there is no way of knowing. Well you see you do. this has been revealed by Mike Ellman-Brown, our Chairman, he has talked to Bob Olthoff in the past and he said that the cars requiring CRG boxes were first sent along the production line with a standard unit fitted, then sent into the Competition Department for the gearbox change. This amongst other tasks was carried out by Bob. Uponcompletion of thechange the engine number plate was altered!! The 'U' was stamped out and 'DA' stamped over.

December was a very interesting month. 1 hope that the above has conveyed that interest to the readers. 1984 ADDENDAITWIN CAM ANNIVERSARY BOOKLET There will not he a 1984 Addenda to the Twin Cam Guide, basically there are not enough sold to justify the effort that goes into compiling them, the lack of a good size order has meant cheap printing methods which did not enhance the product, which in turn may have reduced sale levels over the past three years. Shame but that's the bad news. This will mean that time will be available to put the booklet promisedfor last year on the shelf. many have ordered this and they shoud not be disappointed. But I now project that costs will be a good deal higher than predicted because it is going to be a super edition and may well be limited. The Vintage Register, through Phil Jennings, have done a magnificent job, with their small numbers, I'm sure we can at least match them.

The M.G. Car Club and Twin Cam Group would like to wish its member Will Corry of Belfast every success in his most adventurous project. The Corry. A hand assembled two seater sports car that his company launched on 11th January.

Les and Terry Lynn Ode5 muking use of YD3.724 as their'wedding cur.

SAFETY FAST, March 1984 37