http://www.mgenthusiast.com MGE AUGUST 2019 37
there so wasn’t worth risking.”
After the petrol tank was stripped
he made quite a shocking discovery,
as he explains: “I have disposed
of it now but it had about an inch
thickness of fibreglass on it. I poked
it, once I’d stripped the paint off, and
the bottom of the tank fell out. So it
needed a new tank, and again we’re
lucky that there are people like Steve
Gilbert who can make these things.”
The interior is as stunning as
the exterior and required complete
upholstering, as you might expect.
“The interior is an original pre-war
colour, called Cerulean Blue, whichwas upholstered by a local guy called
Dave, now retired. He’s upholstered
both of my-pre-war cars.”
The Jaeger octagonal instruments
were all overhauled by John Marks
in Tunbridge Wells, including the
interesting dual-function rev-counter
and speedo, built into one gauge,
as Bill explains: “The outside is the
rev-counter, with third gear and top
gear listed. Optimistically, it goes
up to 90,” he laughs. The Jaeger
gauge is driven from the camshaft,
so engine revs are tied in with the
road speed. “When I’ve compared
it to the satnav, the calibration is
fantastic. They’re called chronometric,
as they are like clockwork inside.”
It’s the details that can often make
a car stand out and sometimes it’s
about finding that ultra-rare part. “Over
the years I’ve been lucky. When I was
restoring my ‘32, I collected bits and
found two Lucas Altette horns, which
were the right type and year, with fluted
nuts. And I found the spot lamp, well
three of them, at autojumbles. Lucas
FT27 spotlamps are like hen’s teeth. I
knocked the dents out and had them
chromed. The headlamps are Lucas
140s, which were standard, and theABOVE: The handbrake operates all four wheels. Interestingly, some PA owners
often found that using this was more effective than applying the car’s foot brake.