The big Restoration Practical Classics Restorer of the Year as found Out of

sept 06

After decades in a garage, Ian bought his project Africa Apache from our very own Sam Glover, PC’s Tech Editor. One of just two in the UK, this South African-built Austin Apache has been brought back from the brink

WORDS James Walshe PICtures Laurens Parsons

THE RESTORER Former mechanic and truckie Ian Creese,from Gloucester, was into cars before he could drive. ‘I used to pinch my dad’s Vauxhall Velox when I was a teenager. Me and my mates drove it as far away as Tewkesbury and Ross-on-Wye – usually to a pub where they didn’t know us!’ Since then, Ian has owned all sorts, from Ford Zephyr to a ’Healey 3000. He took a break from classics in the Nineties. ‘Then I found my Standard and the Apache!’

42 september 2018 // PRACTICAL CLASSICS practicalclassics.co.uk restoreroftheyear.co.uk PRACTICAL CLASSICS // september 2018 43 The big Restoration Ian made his own Practical Classics Restorer of the Year replacement grille.

an Creese did what we all do after buying a classic: he immediately called his best mate. On this High-quality red interior has stood the Here’s how Ian did it occasion, the baffled response at the other end of test of time well. the phone was entirely justified: ‘You’ve bought a what?’ Anyone – including the most committed June 1 car enthusiast – would be forgiven for not 2016 Iknowing what an Austin Apache is. You don’t hear about them often, let alone see one. But here we are – standing Dusting in the shade of the trees in the pretty Cotswold village of down Painswick – beside Ian’s pristine Apache. It should of Apache was delivered to course be in South Africa. Leyland built more than 20,000 Ian’s 24ft x of them in Cape Town, bound only for the local market. 12ft garage in None were ever supposed to make it to UK shores, so this Gloucester for one cuts an intriguing dash amid the creamy Cotswold examination stone cottages. and creation Given its Dolomite-esque snout and bottom, at first Project tips of a plan for glance you might imagine the Apache is Triumph-based, Original service total revival. books are all but as Ian points out: ‘Look at that centre section and Ian was keen to point present. it’s pure ADO16’. BMC’s ‘Amalgamated Drawing Office out that all mechanical Aug 2016 project number 16’ was better known to Brits as the elements can be 3 Stripping off spread out but the one best-selling Austin/Morris 1100/1300 range, with Riley Ian began to chemical strip the thing that has to be and MG badges slapped onto the bonnets of other shell, working for two days done right first time is variants in the UK. Issigonis’ best-selling design made its a week for five hours at a time. the paint. ‘There’s no mark in Europe, too, and examples were built across the point in going to so globe. The South African Apache was to be the final much effort with the incarnation of the ADO16, built from 1971 to 1978. While bodywork unless you that familiar centre-section was a bit of a giveaway, the take time to prep for new Michelotti styling elements incorporated Toledo the paint. How the car headlamps and tail lights from the Triumph 2000, looks is one of the most turning it into a handsome little notchback. important things! 2 July 2016 Fired up At risk of extinction Tech Spec Engine’s a familiar The engine required careful fettling as it Apart from its rarity, the exotic Apache doesn’t look out BMC unit so parts had been sitting around for a decade. The of place in Gloucestershire. The ‘Michelottigonis’ shape are easy to source. cooling system was clogged up with sludge 1976 Austin Apache is pleasingly proportioned, with tasteful dashes of and the water pump completely seized. chrome and a neat, slender tail. We’re approached by Engine 1275cc/4-cyl/OHV more than a few people and Ian reels off a well- Power 75bhp@5800rpm rehearsed explanation. He’s occasionally taken by Torque 80lbft@3500rpm surprise though. ‘One lady I met was unusually excited Gearbox 4-speed manual to see the car. It turned out she’d grown up in South 0-60mph 13.4sec The previous keeper was one Sam Glover – Practical Nov 2016 Africa and was really chuffed to see one in Britain!’ Top speed 94mph Classics Tech Editor. But with Sam unable to find time 4 Body Ian is extremely proud of the car – and the work he’s Weight 850kg for the car, he decided to do the sensible thing and works Price new £1701.70 done on it. ‘It wasn’t a complete wreck or anything but move it on. Following a swift sale online, Sam handed The body repairs there were enough issues to put it at risk of extinction!’ Value now £9500 the keys to an ecstatic Ian. ‘I wasn’t looking for an commenced, Ian Apache but when I saw it, I just couldn’t resist. Like Sam, fabricating a new I really like all the ADO16 models – they’re brilliant to rear arch and Apache nose and tail work well with BMC drive, so I knew I would enjoy the Apache. My other car is addressing a nasty ADO16 mid-section. a 1948 Standard Fourteen, so my wife Hazel and I were dent and poor keen to buy a more everyday classic.’ previous repair to Ian’s car came with the original service books, but the double-skinned bootlid. little is known of its history before 1985 when it came to the UK. ‘Back then, whoever they were, they didn’t do a great job of tidying it up and I had to rectify some May 2017 Shine on 5 Ian waited for warm weather before starting fairly bad repairs to the body.’ Having been shuffled the paint job. Three coats of his own mix of cellulose around between various owners, Ian was keen to lavish was applied. Completion in August 2017 meant the some serious time and energy on the Austin. Back at his work had more or less taken exactly one year. garage, he noticed a lot was missing – mostly smaller parts, from the brake light switch to the battery/starter lead. Luckily, they were mostly items from the BL parts bin so he was able to source replacements. ‘That included a new water pump. The antifreeze had congealed so the pump was completely seized. I flushed the system, fitted new core plugs and re-cored the rad.’ aug 2017 Once satisfied the car was ready, it was time to get it 6 Stickered started and running. ‘That only took a few hours!’ Despite the scale of the Despite having a running 1275cc engine, Ian decided to restoration, Ian retained whip the unit out and has done the crank, fitted new unique elements, such as pistons and a 1275 Cooper S head. One of the this sticker, identifying Hydrolastic displacers was causing a bit of a sag so it Apache’s SA origins. ➽

restoreroftheyear.co.uk PRACTICAL CLASSICS // september 2018 45 The big Restoration

Apache’s Hydrolastic handling is composed and ride is excellent.

What’s it like to drive

was removed and packed off to Ian and Dawn at Step inside and it’s all 1100/1300 Hydragas and Hydrolastic Service in Telford, who familiar – and yet not. range but you also returned a full set of new hoses. The red South African- don’t notice While under the car, Ian replaced the exhaust with spec vinyl is of a quality the weight beyond that of of the one he designed and constructed himself. ‘It had an standard BL vehicles Apache’s 1100 exhaust, but it didn’t fit properly. The Apache’s and has lasted very bigger bum. is a bigger bore, so I bent the downpipe into shape well. With light Helped by and welded on the new one. It’s got a twin outlet refurbishment, Ian has that like a Stag, which always turns pedestrians’ heads! retained the Apache’s suspension, the ‘I made bushes for the car using a lathe given to original cabin while car bowls along me by an old chap of 86. It’s old-fashioned but you cunningly using with great get the best result by learning to do it yourself. standard BL bits to composure. Bumps Modern parts off the shelf can be really crummy. I’ve repair and replace that would send your Cortina skipping now been asked by friends if I’ll make them bushes numerous parts. you this feeling of BL- A cracked dash top was across the tarmac in exclusivity – and that’s too!’ Ian was keen to move onto the next stage. ‘No replaced with one from bends are dismissed by the other Austin matter what I did to the Austin mechanically, it’s all a 1977 Leyland Hydrolastic. Plus, you Apache import. hidden beneath the skin. It’s satisfying to know that Princess, for instance. know you’re driving Whoever owns that all your work to revive or fit new parts means the The 1275cc soundtrack something special. one, I’m sure they’ll be car will run better, but whatever you do underneath, is familiar, as is the fine There’s only one other enjoying driving the car by far the most important bit is the paint – because handling of the car in the UK that gives as much as Ian does. it’s what you see. The finish is everything.’ With help from his friend Brian, the prep began. ‘I have back problems, so Brian did all the fiddly, thanks to Although it shares some interior parts with other hard-to-reach bits including underseal. I’m forever ADO16s, the seats and door trim are unique. ‘Luckily grateful to him!’ The 1100 Club, they were better quality than anything we got in Ian thought carefully about the colour. ‘It was 1100club.com the UK and just needed a clean. I fitted new carpets originally yellow but I reckoned it would look strange Cotswold Classic and replaced the wooden door inserts and the car with its red interior. I concluded the body ought to Car Club, was good to go.’ Which it does. Very well. cotswoldclassiccarclub. be darker.’ He took the shell back to bare metal and At the recent annual gathering of British Leyland com gave it three applications of cellulose paint he classics at the British Motor Museum in Gaydon, mixed himself. Starting with maroon, he kept adding Ian’s Apache was given the honour of prime to it until settling on the red-ish shade you see now. position. ‘The stewards couldn’t believe it when pc restorer There were a few little challenges when bolting it of the year they saw me arrive,’ he beams. ‘Most of them barely back together again, including some pipework and knew the Apache existed!’ There are few survivors wiring. That’s where Brian came in again. ‘He’s This car is entered in its home market too. The Apache failed to meet smaller and more agile than me, so it was easier for into Restorer Of The its sales targets and disappeared with barely a sniff. him to crawl under the dash!’ Adding the finishing Year 2018. Details on Fortunately, Ian – and just one other Apache owner touches to the exterior, Ian noticed the original how you can vote in the UK – has succeeded in preserving this rarest Apache-specific grille was pitted with rust. ‘I found will appear in a of all BL production cars. Unless… I wonder if I can one from an Austin 1100 MkI and carefully cut each future issue of PC. find an Austin America, Kimberley, Glider or Victoria chrome bar to create what looked like the original. – or a Morris Nomad? Answers on a postcard. n

46 september 2018 // PRACTICAL CLASSICS practicalclassics.co.uk