Classic car mechanic’s weekly motoring – Going, going, gone

‘In the corner of the workshop, Olli Ragbin sits watching events unfold before him’

Eric and I haven’t been for a curry for nearly 2 years and so, we haven’t purchased any new cars or motorcycles together. Whilst Ingrid would no doubt call this a good thing, itches needed to be scratched and so we decided to forgo the food and do some virtual window shopping instead.

The good folk of ‘Manor Park Classics’ hold an auction every month or so and there’s normally a very nice selection of cars and motorcycles ready to go under the hammer and the February event proved the point with 110-odd lots of motoring joy.

After an initial sift, Eric and I had done the sensible thing and narrowed down our choice to 1 car. A 1979 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow II. With less than 40k on the clock and with a current MOT and reasonably complete history, this was the one for us.

We did the sensible thing and set ourselves some golden rules. Set a price limit and don’t go above it. Don’t get caught up in the hype of it all and start bidding on other items. Feel good about walking away empty handed if the deal aint there to be done.

I was in London on the day of the auction so had not only set myself up with for bidding (and paying) but had also insisted that Eric do likewise. Unfortunately, Eric was very poorly at home on the couch suffering with some sort of ugly virus. Still, he thought he could just about press the button on the iPad, and so we were good to go.

Our lot was fairly late in the day so as the auction progressed, I retired to a quiet wine bar with a couple of chums to watch and concentrate on the latter stages of the sale.

The Roller came and went. Eric and I stuck to our guns with pricing and it soon became clear that this example was going to go for ‘above estimate’, and indeed it did, going for just a shade under £14k inc fees. It’s a cracking car for that money, but not quite the bargain we were hoping for.

Still, I’d had a drink at this point and my 2 chums were getting into the swing of it all suggesting we bid on pretty much everything that was wheeled in front of the webcam. A quick scan of the final lots revealed another victim to go at. This time a beautiful mk III Jag XJ. Surely we could break our duck and bag a bit of Jag wafty-ness to top an afternoon of gentle wine sippage?

Eric was poked awake (virtually) and we flew an early (and cheeky) bid in. And won it!

Next morning with a bit of a hangover, I quickly checked to make sure I hadn’t bought anything else and that my house was still mortgaged in my name. Check.

And so, the truth will out. A Jag which we ended up buying between 3 of us, is being trailered to Classic Car Mechanics, where it will go up on the ramps, have the obligatory fluids, filter and plugs changed before it undergoes a complete inspection by one of the techs.

Have we bought a gold-plated classic which will soar in value? Have we bought an absolute pup good only for the scrappy? Soon we will either be high-fiving each other and congratulating ourselves on our canny eye or alternatively turning on each other whilst fumbling for first stones to cast from our respective (glass) houses . More to follow.

Bigger news though has been the ongoing transformation of CCM. I visited a few days ago and the progress is breath-taking. We have 2 new units and an MOT bay going in, a new staff area for lunches and ‘inspirational team talks from the gaffer’. When I was wandering around and just basically getting in the way, it was lovely to walk past Duncan and Sam working together on one of the fit-outs. Father and daughter grafting. We’ve also got the extended Collins family with Eric, Siobhan, Igrid and Izzi all working together too. It’s like some sort of friendly Mafia outfit based on repairing and maintaining cherished automobilia – The Jagfather (I am so sorry….)

We’ve got a new tech on the team sheet, Lewis, who has landed and immediately started to weave his magic on anything he’s been pointed at. A troublesome Honda with niggling fuelling has proved his bike whispering skills and now a family heirloom rides again.

The next coupla weeks will see MOT capability coming on line, new electric garage doors fitted to the second unit and the 5 new ramps up and ready to roll.

The following photos don’t really capture just how big a change we are undergoing. When we are up to full speed we’ll be able to get more and more classics back on the road and in rude health. Hopefully including a 1986 Regency red Jag XJ.

Here’s to a bright 2023.

Izzi & Sam prepping for the concrete floor and in full 'all-hands-on-deck' mode

The entrance to the MOT bay I believe. Eric with his safety wool hat replete with funny ears

So fond of the hat is he, it only gets removed at bath time. The hat generates a lot of anger (as they tend to in my experience) . Stick with it Eric. The hat maketh the man.... (I think Albert Einstein said that. Or possibly Tommy Cooper)

This is one of my fav 'staff drives'. The 740 GLT. A guilt-edged modern classic if ever there was one. This thing'll do 'moon and back' mileage. Well done Sam, you've bagged an absolute beauty

I can't tell you how good this lightly modded Toyota LandCruiser looks in the flesh. Beautifully executed upgrades and a stunning motor

The new anti-gravity inviso-ramp is working well. It's not particularly green as it runs on coal, still, it's an impressive party piece

Lewis' human-robot routine was the clincher at interview stage. Shrimp Eye Justin films the spectacle on his iPhone so he can copy the moves later. A CCM dance-off is required to settle this once and for all

My broadband provider is blocking every attempt I make at a caption.....

New day. New hat. Same Eric

Barry, the CCM budgerigar won't land if you're facing him. Eric waits patiently, cuttlefish in pocket

This is the beauty we've bought. Time (and a thorough inspection by Lewis) will tell if it's a good 'un. If it is, you'll never hear the last of it. If it isn't, we'll never speak of this again

As night draws in on the new unit, Siobhan checks that all is well. The cars are safe. Barry is in his nest. Time to lock up for the day

This last month or so has seen the gang working exceptionally hard to get everything ready for our expansion. Huge team effort all round and kudos to one and all. We look forward to seeing you and your classics at our expanded premises soon.

In the meantime, go steady out there and roll on spring.

Olli