PAUL MURRELL has a fascination with cars. Like the rest of us at Cars4starters he has been writing about them for a long time. Sometimes he’s finds the best stories are small ones. Look no further.
FROM SMALL THINGS
It seems hard to credit today, but Honda’s first international success on four wheels was with the tiny S600 on the 14.2 mile (22.9km) Nürburgring in 1964.
It was just five weeks after the first Honda Formula 1 car had debuted on the same circuit in the German Grand Prix.
The 630cc 74bhp sports car (production models were 606cc and 57hp) was entered by the Brabham Racing Organisation and driven by Denny Hulme (the race clashed with the Italian Grand Prix at Monza so Jack Brabham delegated the drive to Hulme).
Jack Brabham had tried the S600 over 100 laps on the Suzuka (Japan) test track.
“The car is quite fabulous,” he wrote.
“It has a gem of an engine with twin overhead camshafts and an output of roughly 60 horsepower.
“It sings along happily with 10,000rpm showing on the clock.
“It’s like a little sewing machine to drive, with a nice steady push from the engine throughout the range.”
Hulme raced against Alfa Romeos, Abarths and Austin-Healey Sprites in the sub-one litre class.
With a starting grid of 140 cars, the Honda won its class, despite it being the first time Hulme had ever seen the track.
THE BACKGROUND TO CAR BADGES
Established in 1944, Kia is South Korea’s oldest car maker, initially producing Mazda models under licence.
The name translates as “ki”, a Korean word that means “shown to the world” with the addition of “a” indicating Asia.
The badge most of us were familiar with was introduced in 1994, with simple lettering inside a horizontal oval.
In 2021, a much more modern and sleek design was introduced.
Almost abstract in style, it uses highly stylised upper case lettering with bold bars cut diagonally.
The “I and the “A” (without its central bar, as in the previous logo) form an N-like shape, linking to the “K” at the top point.
The designer claims the geometric, minimalist and symmetrical logo reflects modernity and represents Kia’s commitment to innovation, sustainability and future mobility.
ORIGINAL ISN’T ALWAYS BEST
In car restoration and maintenance, many of us subscribe to the theory that New Old Stock (original, unused factory parts) is the Holy Grail.
But they’re not always the best. Many require very particular storage conditions and may not have had them.
Bare metal and electronic components deteriorate as fluctuating temperatures and humidity cause condensation and corrosion.
Rubber parts age-harden rapidly unless they’re kept in the dark (and can still deteriorate even then).
Seals in hydraulic cylinders break down and split or stick when used.
Grease and oil dry out and harden and lead to rapid wear and failure of the components they were supposed to lubricate.
So the bargains picked up at an autojumble may not be all they seem.
Reproduction parts are often better-made than the originals.
Good secondhand parts, especially for non-wearing components suchas body panels and brightwork, are well worth considering.
And reconditioned parts, if done properly, may offer the best compromise, especially when only a small portion of a large component actually wears and can be restored to as-new condition.
Buying the wrong parts is a recipe for being constantly let down by your classic, but choose wisely and you’ll have a classic you can rely on.
NOT SUCH A GREAT IDEA
In 2004, the FIA announced that it would supply paperwork to cars that had been “built up” for racing.
For years, historic racing was regulated by identity papers issued by the FIA, or agencies appointed by it.
Along the way, chassis numbers in different countries were duplicated, leading to multiple cars with claims to the same identity.
The FIA change effectively meant that a 1959 850cc Mini, for example, could be built up and raced as a 1964 Cooper S, so long as if was declared as such.
Long before this, a UK dealer discovered one of the original works lightweight MGC GT racecars.
It had been lying forgotten with a broken clutch in a Los Angeles hairdresser’s garage, still wearing scrutineer’s tags from its 1968 Sebring outing.
The dealer re-imported it into the UK where it caused quite a ruckus.
A fake that had assumed the missing race car’s identity was exposed for what it was and cost the culprit dearly.
The “clone” was eventually sold to the USA where it was restored in detail to match the remaining genuine works MGC Gts.
Bizarrely, after the about-face by the FIA, that car could then legitimately take on the family name.
BUYER BEWARE
“Caveat emptor” has always been the get-out clause in any private sale, but over the years, consumer protectionism has evolved to better protect the buyer’s rights.
Vendors these days have to tread a narrow tightrope if they are to avoid potential comebacks by dissatisfied buyers.
Sellers who fall foul of this consumer protection will find little solace in another Latin phrase: “Discimus faciendo” (“we learn by doing”).
SUCH A SIMPLE IDEA
When Rover boss Maurice Wilkes wanted a replacement for his WWII Jeep farm runabout in 1948, the Land Rover soon evolved as an alternative to small farm tractors.
It was designed to plough and harrow, power other farming implements and cross the roughest terrain, as well as convey its owner to the local pub for a pint.
The original was built on an 80-inch wheelbase, powered by a 50hp (37.3kW) 1595cc inlet-over-exhaust engine from the Rover P3 road car.
In 1954, the wheelbase was increased to 86 inches and a new long-wheelbase 107-inch variant was offered.
A diesel option three years later saw a further two-inch stretch in the wheelbase.
A Series II was released in 1958 and is easily recognised by its wider and deeper bodywork.
In 1969, the headlights moved from their original inboard position.
Perhaps the biggest shock to the purists came with the 1971 Series III that adopted a plastic dashboard and, even worse, a new plastic grille that put an end to using it as a makeshift barbecue griddle.
AND THAT’S HOW THE FIGHT STARTED…
My wife complained that I ruined her birthday. I can’t see how… I didn’t even know it was her birthday!