Classic car mechanic’s weekly motoring – 'ooooo go on then....'

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

CCM is coming up to its 2-year anniversary. What a journey. From the humble beginnings of Eric and his one-man-band in the garage at home, to the professional and busy workshop we have today. We’ve seen some sensational customer cars through our hands and the interesting work just keeps on coming.

My biscuit-driven waistline expansion is not the only thing to have grown this year. Our pipeline of work and our CCM family have also grown. This means we need more space, more people and I need more willpower (and less grabby fingers). And so in the new year, we will see not 1, but 2 additional premises added to the current workshop facilities. One from more of a storage angle and the second a much more significant up-scale in workshop facilities. Space for more ramps and, the big news here, plans for a full MOT bay.

With all this in mind, recruitment is top of Eric’s current priority list. We are looking for skilled and qualified techs to join our family team. If you or someone you know would be interested, then please do reach out to Eric, he’d be delighted to hear from you (must like biscuits).

As we near the festive season I thought I’d include a few of my favourite pics from 2022, but let’s start with a look at what’s been occurring this week.

It's finished! The Spitfire resto is complete and we have one very happy owner

Gorgeous inside and out

An SD1 nestles quietly in 'new premises number 1'

A 1973 Rover P5. It's powered by a 3.5 V8 which instantly qualifies it as a 'proper car'

This Daimler is bluer than Jim Davidson (and much more acceptable)

Kermit, we've found your car

I believe Sam may have made this at college. I have no idea what it is, but what I do know is that it comes in 2 parts, neither of which I'd like to sit on unexpectedly

Some of the many happy guests at this year's CCM Christmas bash. Eric travels everywhere with a small pot of flowers. It calms him in the face of tension

If you'd like to join the CCM team, this is the level of visual gaggery that you will be competing with. Think you've got what it takes...?

An un-named individual was exceptionally quick off the mark at bagging a corner of the new premises for storage purposes.... The gaffer grudgingly accepted but imposed a 2-week biscuit ban for insider trading. Harsh.....

......and so to some of our 2022 highlights

If Eric was holding a chainsaw, I'd be terrified if he looked at me like this....

This terrified me full stop.....

6 months on and I still have absolutely no idea of what this is, what it does or where it goes...

Shrimp-Eye Justin attended many a show this year but this car takes the biscuit before I've even realised there was one there.....

..... I just don't have the vocabulary....

Ingrid went out to the shops and Eric and I accidentally stumbled into this together and had to buy it. I don't think you can blame us....

Will in his Diva phase

In the CCM version of 'whodunnit', it was Alfie in the workshop with the exhaust pipes...

'Best prom car' award this year goes to.....

Why is Eric dressed as a Chef?

.....and finally, a CCM cap doffed to her Maj with the fam in a classic. Safe travels ma'am

And so there we have it, 2022 is drawing to a close and it's been a memorable year on many fronts.

From the CCM family we'd like to thank all our customers for their support this year. We wish you all a very merry Christmas and look forward to seeing you again, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed as we emerge blinking into the sunlight of a fresh and exciting 2023.

Go steady out there.

Olli