Practical Classics, May 1988
ffiffiffi Pictures by Chris Grohom ou might perhaps imagine whether he was a keen mechanic himself and, that the cast of Britain's with a grin, he admitted not. He is a tinkerer No. I soap opera, EastEn- rather than a seribus DIY mechanic and ders, enioy the luxury of reads Practical Classics to find out how to do chauffeur-driven transport things and then advises Adam accordingly! One of the biggest problems, is I t--J I as they are ferried to and of, course, spare time. The filming schedule for EastEn- from that famous Square at the BBC's ders does not conform to a convenient nine to Elstree studios. Well, this is not five routine and this leaves Gary with very lit- entirely the case. Several of them are tle predictable time of his own. It was obvi- keen classic car enthusiasts and, bet- ous to me that what time he does have with ween them, own and use an Austin the car he likes to spend driving it, rather A40, a Triumph than repairing it quite understandable! Mayflower, an Austin- - Healey 3000, an E-type Jaguar, an Structurally Gary's Alpine is very sound Austin Cambridge and a split-screen and he feels lucky to have found such a good Morris Minor. One member of the one for the money. Many he looked at were cast, Gary Hailes known to millions over-priced and rotten with it. There are.n! large areas filler contend anC'"-q as the chirpy young- market-trader of to with unsightly rust holes to be patched. Howe Barry is particularly keen. At pre- - there is evidence ofrepairs having been made Sent he is the happy keeper of a 1966 he preferred the Alpine and that he wanted to both front wings and Gary realises that Sunbeam Alpine Touter which gets one ofhis own. The first one that he bought these will need to be replaced eventually. regular use and is greatly prized. was a 1967 Series V GT and, coincidentally, Mechanically the only nagglng doubt con- However, Gary is only a relatively recent this occurred at exactly the time that I cerns the gearbox. It has an annoying habit of convert to the virtues ofthe Sunbeam Alpine. acquired the Practical Classics Alpine as a jumping out of first gear (always at the most He admits that his great friend Adam French staff car Gary was most impressed that the inopportune moments) and this requires who, incidentally, starred in the successful magazine- reflected his own tastes so accu- attention. However, Gary added that he comedy series Just Good Friends, played an rately! However, he did not keep this car for wisheS to install an overdrive gearbox in the important part in fostering this interest. The long, the Alpine being replaced with a Mk 2 near future but says that he has been told that two have known each other since school and Escort which was to be used until another this is an involved business. cars have always been a shared passion. more suitable Alpine was found. Gary knew Although originally starting life as a GT Adam has owned a succession of classic cars that he could afford to be choosy and take his model the car has been 'converted' into a but Gary's first venture into the older car time with the search, or at least, that's what Tourer with the addition of a wooden scene took the form of a J-registered Mk 2 he thought. Uirfortunately, disaster struck dashboard and steering wheel. Other devia- Triumph GT6 for which he paid f,750. Soon when the Escort was stolen. This left him tions from the norm included a non-standard after he bought the car he discovered that we without transport and so the search for a sec- exhaust system that produces an impressive were regularly featuring Paul Sanderson's ond Alpine became decidedly more serious. burble and a pair of modern spot lamps GT6 on our Staff Car Sagas pages and from Looking throu gh E xchange {.t Mart he di:s- which cling valiantly to the front bumper that point onwards he became 'hooked' on covered a car that sounded promising. It Gary admits that he loves driving the car to -its Practical Classics. He has been a regular was up in Stoke. He and Adam went to view full potential. It is intended that both the reader ever since. it right away and, sure enough, it zoas promis- exhaust and the spot lamps will be replr I After two years Gary decided that the ing. Gary bought for f1,675 and drove it it with rather more authentic versions in -; GT6, which was becoming a little rough back down to London without a hitch. course and that a set of wire wheels will be around the edges, had to go. He had driven Gary'tells me that his oblective now is to added when funds allow. Adam's Alpine on many occasions and, create a 'mint' car. He appreciates that this Gary is a keen member of the Sunbeam despite having been a staunch supporter of will be a gradual process but is confident that Alpine Owners Club and made a point of tel- the Triumph, finally persuaded himself that he will eventually succeed. I asked him ling me how helpful the members had been
Carpot sets lot most caB f.on stock ot to order lrom f35.
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58 Practical Classics, May T gBB Lg*"^ -g:..
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y Hailes (n.e.ht1 and Adam French are both oz,id classic car efitltusiasts. T-hey u'cn't haae tt word said against their belooed Alpines. rvith his enquiries. He is anxious to attend as conscious of being "a pcrsonalitl"'" and fecls in the future seem to centre around thc lcfur- many club events as his busy schedule w.i1l that people forget abor-rt r.vhat he does for a bishment of the Alpine, althougir trc did 'liger allow simply because he loves talking about living once the sub ject of Alpines is raised in suggest that a or a classic J:tguar saicon cars, especially Alpines. He is not terribly conversation" FIis an-rbitions regarding cars might represent his ultirnate goal. fl
WE STOCK A WIDE RANGE OF NEW AND REMANUFACTURED PARTS FOR SUNBEAM ALPINE AND TIGER. PLEASE SEND SAE FOR OUR 1988 CATALOGUE, WHICH INCLUDES MANY PREVIOUSLY I.JNOBTAI NABLE ITEMS. WE OFFER A MAIL ORDER SERVICE HOME AND ABROAD AND, IF YOU WISH TO CALL IN, ARE OPEN 9-5 MON-SAT.
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