FANCY AN AMPHIB?
Oct 12th
The excellent Carandclassic.com auction site has its second Dutton amphib in as many weeks in the form of an excellent example of the Mariner from 1996.
Tim must surely have been the world’s most prolific manufacturer of amphibious cars. Fresh from producing over 8500 kitcars moved into the amphibious car market with the Marina and the Commander – based upon the Ford Fiesta and Suzuki Samurai, respectively. Production ended in late 2022 – but these quirky little water-going motors have proven to have a marvellous flair for longevity.
This example is a particularly early Mariner, with a 1.8-litre twin-jet spec taken from More >
SERVICE, PLEASE!
Oct 12th
If you’ve got a Porsche Boxster-based body conversion you might be interested in this one.
Got one of these?
We don’t need to revisit how much of a bargain the Porsche 986 Boxster is here, the internet is full of that story. However, what we should encourage all Boxster owners to do is keep up to date with your service schedule.
If you want your Boxster to look after you, it is important you look after it.
And what easier way to do that, than with a box full of all the service parts you should need, delivered directly to your door.
And should it More >
HEALTH CHECK
Oct 12th
The Laser Tools 8206 12V vehicle battery tester is a compact unit that accurately tests battery health, cranking voltage and charge voltage. This instrument is designed to simplify the inspection and maintenance of a vehicle’s battery and charging system, making it an invaluable asset for automotive professionals and DIY enthusiasts alike.
Simply enter the battery details from the battery label and run the chosen test. The results are displayed on the easy-to-read LCD display with backlighting, making it suitable for use in different lighting conditions.
It offers comprehensive battery testing and it’s compatible with a wide range of battery types, including 12V More >
MACHINE MART GET RAMPED UP!
Oct 12th
Machine Mart has added two new sets of Clarke car ramps, expanding their already extensive range of garage gear and vehicle lifting equipment.
CLARKE CR-2 RAMPS
Car ramps are a safe and affordable way of lifting a car for repairs and maintenance. The new Clarke models are suitable for most standard cars and are made of sturdy steel angle construction, with a semi-gloss paint finish.
Helpfully, Clarke has also introduced the Clarke CR-EX1 Car Ramp Extensions, ideal for lifting cars with low valances.
The Clarke CR2 Car Ramps have a 2000kg/2 tonne capacity per pair and a platform width of 180mm. The approximate platform More >
TRICO FLEX THEIR MUSCLES
Oct 12th
Original equipment (OE) wiper blade manufacturer, TRICO, has unveiled its new Flex range, with an emphasis on further improved performance and sustainable packaging.
First launched in 2013, TRICO Flex has become one of TRICO’s most successful aftermarket products, being hugely popular with independents, largely due to its exceptional quality and 95% coverage of the vehicle parc from only fourteen part numbers, meaning it requires minimal stock investment.
The Flex range allows customers an upgrade from the conventional wiper to premium beam blade technology – but at a reasonable price.
Now, TRICO has revealed that the Flex range has a new design, as well More >
GET IN LINE
Oct 12th
Get the fuel from the tank to your carburettor or EFI system with a FiTech Stainless Steel Fuel Line Kit. These kits have everything you need to plumb a reliable fuel line – stainless steel braided hose fittings, a fuel filter, and an inline check valve to prevent fuel backflow and maintain consistent fuel pressure.
The PTFE-lined hose can handle pump gas, methanol, ethanol, or alcohol. The lining is also anti-static to minimise the risk of static electricity build-up and potential hazards. You even get a choice of natural- or black-finish hose to match the rest of your vehicle’s plumbing.
The fuel More >
BUILD A GBS ZERO – BY THE BOOK!
Oct 5th
New from Great British Sports Cars is this new build guide for the GBS Zero.
It guides you through the build process and answers many of the questions that the company is regularly asked.
Ruth Hall of GBS co-director told me: “Hopefully the new build manual will make a Zero build as smooth a process as possible. Depending on your level of experience, it normally takes around 120 hours to complete a Zero.”
The guide contains 185 pages covering a range of areas of the build from tools and equipment, panelling and assembly of certain aspects of the car to the final set-up More >
FANCY THE LAST DUTTON REEF?
Oct 5th
The excellent Carandclassic.com website is a regular destination for me most lunchtimes and I was very pleased to see this Dutton Reef up for grabs this week. Bidding was at £27,000 at the time of writing.
With Tim Dutton not making new Reefs or Surfs if you are looking for an amphibious vehicle, where do you go? The choices are extremely limited now.
The Reef was based on a Ford Fiesta and this very fetching example was registered in January 2022 and is doubly special because it is one of the last few built by Dutton Cars.
Although Tim Dutton says that he More >
TANK HOW TO FROM MERLIN MOTORSPORT
Oct 5th
ALUMINIUM TANKS, SWIRL POTS & RESERVOIR TANK
Merlin Motorsport has a huge range of universal oil catch tanks, coolant header tanks, fuel and coolant swirl pots and a fluid reservoir tank.
They are premium quality tanks, manufactured by Concept Racing, based in the UK. Concept Racing produces some of the highest quality handmade aluminium fabrications that Merlin has ever seen.
UNDERSTANDING HEADER TANKS AND SWIRL POTS
Merlin Motorsport sells a wide variety of coolant header tanks. They tell me that they frequently asked why, where and how to install them into the cooling system.
This article – link below – explains the installation and the ‘whats and More >
QUIET PLEASE, THIS IS A LIBRARY!
Oct 5th
Some great products to keep your interior quiet from our good mates at Woolies Trim.
If you want to reduce your engine noise or make your doors shut with a ‘clunk’ Woolies has the right products for the job.
Their best-selling fire retardant felt is excellent value and can be used in the engine bay, bulkhead area and under carpets.
The bitumastic sound and vibration-damping sheets are great for the doors and other metal panels.
Black Felt (part 87-OTR) costs £35 per 25cm, Sound Deadening Felt (part 292) costs £20 per metre and Traditional Felt (part 137) costs £10.50 per linear metre.
More information from www.woolies.co.uk or 01778 347 347 More >
