A classic car is an older vehicle that people like to keep or fix because it looks special and has a history. Enthusiasts often spend time restoring them to keep their original charm.
The head gasket is a thin seal that keeps the engine’s coolant and oil from leaking where the top of the engine meets the block.
Car
Morris Marina
The Morris Marina is a classic British car that was made in the 1970s and early 1980s. It’s a roomy family car with a simple design.
Car
Rolls-Royce B Series
It’s a very old, fancy British car that was made in the 1920s and 30s. People still collect them today because they’re very luxurious.
Car
Rolls-Royce A Series
It’s an older British car from the early 1900s, famous for being very comfortable and well-made.
Car
TR7
The TR7 is a classic British sports car that was popular in the 1970s. It’s lightweight and fun to drive, but it needs careful maintenance because it’s an older model.
The MG MGB is an old British car that was very popular in the 70s and 80s. It’s a small, fun car that many people still enjoy driving today.
LIVE
Hello there, Max and Matt here, and we're back with another bonus episode for you. The Tiger Kickers Classic Car Chat with Max and Matt. This time, we're asking the big question, could we or even should we fix our own classic cars? Yes, because while we could save hundreds and feel or clever, is it really worth risking a bruised thumb and a broken car? The Tiger Kickers bonus episode
Well, if you caught our show from the NEC Classic Motor Show recently, you'll have heard us ask this very question to Danny Hopkins, editor of Practical Classics magazine. We had a sit-down chat with Danny in the podcast cafe in the middle of Hall 3. Now, we ran a brief bit of that in the NEC show podcast we did, but you know what, it was a really good, funny chat, so we're going to run the whole lot for you in full right now.
So, sat on the sofa in the middle of the show, we started by asking Danny if there's really any hope for us fixing our own classics.
Well, I think the first thing to do is you've got to know who you've got to know yourself, and if you're really not a technical person, then don't put yourself through the pain of trying to be, to be honest. Although, I would say that you can't work that out unless you try it, and there is no feeling in the world. There's no better way of getting to know your car than getting under the bonnet and just doing a job.
And it can be something really simple, doing changing the oil. If you've got to 3,000 miles or 4, 5, 6, whatever you decide is the interval, rather than spending 200 quid with a specialist to do it.
Why don't you get the kit yourself, and it's all there, it's all available from the owners' clubs, or even dare I say it from one of the online quartals, although you never know what's going to turn up in the post.
Get under the bonnet, give yourself some time, work out how to do it. I mean, if it's not available in practical classics, and there's lots of very good technical advice in that magazine, but there's always a YouTuber, somewhere, ready to tell you the exact job you want to do.
You get that, get under the bonnet, get that job done, change the filter, change the air filter, change the oil, stand back, start the engine and think, I've done that, and I've done that for the cost of the parts alone.
And that means I'm actually part of this car that I own.
You underestimate us, so we forget to put the sunblock back in, for example.
We've all done it, stand back and call the RAC, that's our car.
We've all done it, we've all made horrible mistakes, and to be honest, one of the things that magazine does is it celebrates the things that we get wrong, because failure is so much more interesting than success.
But that is all part of the learning process, isn't it?
The difficulty I find, you know, being in Britain, I mean, my garage is just about big enough for me to shuffle around the car.
I've got no inspection pit, I've got no ramp, you know, if I pull it out on the driveway, I've just got a load of people gawking at me.
We're not really set up gawking, no, no, standing there in the admiration that your self-sufficiency is talking about its family, because there's so many swear words coming out.
What was that noise out of the garage? I've never heard that before.
So you can't only need it like a mate with some space, don't you, or somebody who's done it before.
Or a team local garage?
There are actually collectives, there are places around the country that have got spare ramps.
Oh yeah, that's probably a good place.
Because I only think with all these things, you can tackle things on your own, and to you, probably an oil change is really simple.
But it does help to have somebody showing you for the first time.
Yeah, it really does.
You smear the oil around the oil filter if we put it on and on.
That's actually a really good point. I mean, one of the things that we kind of take it for granted, don't we?
But actually, if you're doing it for the first time, maybe take it to your specialist.
But while they're doing it, say, can I watch what you're doing?
Yeah, I don't know about you anymore, mate, doing this.
Yeah, exactly what you're doing.
You could just say to them, we've got a lot of big jobs that you can do.
But I want to do some basic servicing myself, and they probably go, yeah, no problem.
And I've got team mechanics, I've got team people that I know.
And actually, the tips that you get from them are invaluable.
They're really, really useful.
Real world hands on 3D in the moment, tips.
Can't beat them.
So what kind of jobs do you choose to feature in the magazine them?
Because obviously each magazine needs to be a different story.
So how do you choose what to do?
I mean, it's going to be disc brakes, drum brakes, is it going to be carburetors?
I mean, how do you do it?
I'd love to say that it's a really scientific process.
It's really pre-planned. It's not.
It's often to do with, because we all own class.
I've got 14 classics myself.
And the magazine's got its own workshops, so we've got somebody to keep them.
Okay.
And all of those cars need jobs doing.
And we have a planning session.
We say, what needs doing on whatever car you've got this month?
And our workshop editor, Matt Tomkins, we'll talk to him about it.
And he'll go, well, why don't you try doing that job?
And we can feature it in photographic as you go.
We've also got the Saagas section of the magazine.
We just like our workshop diaries.
So we always write about those stuff that we get wrong or write in the workshop doing that.
And the journey that we have with all of our cars.
And I've got restoration projects and running classics.
And we don't need work.
The journey that we go on with those cars isn't just about going to a show.
We'll go on a trip.
It's actually about getting that car to the road in the first place.
And that is a really important journey.
And it's also incredibly satisfying.
Is there anything you wouldn't do?
Is there a job that you would go?
It's not for me.
Trimming.
Trimming.
Oh, automatic gearboxes.
Which are basically witchcraft.
Yeah.
What happens in the automatic gearboxes?
Like magic.
And they don't get fixed.
They just get a wizarding.
Just cast a spell.
So you draw the line that say that, would you?
I mean, would you take some of the heads off?
Would you take this?
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
I've done an engine rebuild on a couple of engines.
Headgas get changed.
No problem.
Can belt change.
No problem.
All of that stuff.
And I kind of know my level.
And also, actually, the other problem is the time.
You know, I don't have time to do stuff half the time.
But I've tried painting.
I've done the worst paint job on any car ever.
And then the one after that was the car.
What was the car?
The Morris Marina.
Probably approved it.
There were two mitigating circumstances about that.
And I wouldn't have anything to say against the Morris Marina.
They're absolutely bang on.
You're on the wrong bug.
Well, they're on.
They're as good as any people's car of the era.
And you know, one of the things that Matt and the magazine
And then they're a great big, blue cloud of two-stroke smoke.
And I smelled it.
And immediately I started seeing it react in the paint.
And it microblisted everywhere.
Isn't that called F��c?
Can you just call it like a Leicaneck?
It's called passin'er, isn't it?
Anyway, the worst part of it was,
you can't stop, so I finished it.
these little pock marks appear all over the paintwork.
And the guy next door, Terry, you just went,
you're right, Danny, that looks nice.
I just went, yeah, it's all fine.
So I basically had to take all of that off,
and then it's never gonna be right after that.
And I ended up with a paint job
that was okay from about five feet.
Now, what about any particular engines?
Are there particular engines you wouldn't touch?
I'm thinking maybe a Jaguar V12,
and we were talking to somebody earlier
who had an SM with a Maserati V6 in it,
which is kind of like genuinely seen to be,
one of the most difficult engines to get running smoothly.
Is there anything you wouldn't do?
Lots, I mean, I do.
I'm very basic with what I know my limitations.
So I'll do big old iron stuff, like B Series A Series.
At the moment, I'm getting a Renault clear
ready for my daughter to learn to drive in.
So I'm actually taking the head gasket off that
and replacing head gasket.
So simple stuff, I'm quite happy to play with at a TR7.
So I did a slant for a water pump change.
That was involved, goodness me.
But yeah, were you on a slant?
Getting it out.
Oh, listen, but that was another case in point.
I actually, luckily, and I suppose it's by virtue of who I am
and what I do.
I went to a place called Rob's Port International
and you know them if you've got a stack.
And they took me through the process
and they kind of hand held me.
So now I know I can do that.
But I think if I'd been on my own,
it would have been really tricky.
So you're a pro at this, you're organised.
I guess you never drop a screw and go,
what's that?
Where's that gone?
I always do that.
I mean, the thing is, where did that come from?
We wear our ignorance with pride.
And I think that's actually really important.
There's a lot of people know a lot of stuff in this business.
And actually, I'm really much more interested
in what I don't know.
The journey of discovery is part of the joy of it.
And I never, every day should be a school day.
And if it isn't, you've got to ask self-why.
So you will admit that sometimes you do a job
and you have a few things left over.
Totally, yeah.
You can go, where do they go?
And then I just push them gently to the side.
Like a teenager pushing clothes under a bed.
A special box of things that are left over.
So you can go for it later.
There's a special place that I think
the little pixies come and take them away in the middle of the night
and then it's all fine.
What's the one job you've started and gone,
I wish I hadn't started this?
It's called a Jensen Interceptor.
So it's the whole car.
Yeah, I bought a Jensen.
My dream car was a Jensen Interceptor.
I bought an absolute basket case for a grand about 4.
You must be 17 years ago now.
And I did a 10-year restoration on it.
And so now I know exactly how to restore a Jensen Interceptor.
But I also know I will never do it again because it aged me.
I mean, I'm only 25 and look at me now.
You've got the Interceptor to play.
OK, so we're not going to do an Interceptor.
We're not going to touch a Maserati V6.
What kind of car is a good car to pick
if you want to do the work on it yourself?
OK, vehicles, land robers, what do you think?
Yeah, I mean, the first thing about,
if you've got a car that you love,
then that's the car you should be working on.
And if it's beyond your skill set,
get somebody else to do it.
If you want to start in a classic car
and you want something older, you
cannot be something like a Morris Minor or an A30.
Something with a really big club following.
It's amazing specialist part support.
Lots of expertise out there on tap.
I would recommend that kind of mini,
that kind of simple engine as well.
Real simple stuff, yeah.
I mean, MGB, that springs to mind.
Perfect.
You've got room to work on it because there's plenty of room.
It's the B series, isn't it, that was designed in 1840.
So you can actually have the ideal car in that sense.
Yeah, yeah, I mean, the MGB is a really good case in point.
Plenty to go wrong on them.
Plenty does go wrong on them.
And there's an amazing, amazing support all around.
So all of those kind of 50s to 70s to 80s British classics
bang on the money because they're everywhere.
They're ubiquitous and you've got all the expertise
you need on hand.
Give us a starter pack of what we should be thinking of.
We want to work on our simple classic car.
What do we need?
I mean, it depends how old and knackered you are
to be honest.
I mean, I'll have a look.
Yeah, I'm up but with my knees and my hips,
these days I would say, I would buy a compact lift
to put in your garage if you can.
It says a lift so that you don't have to.
That's just to get me to the car.
Just to get into underneath it without going.
No.
And my days of line on the back on a cold wet driveway
doing a clutch change are gone.
I'm too old for that stuff.
So I'll get a little scissor lift.
I'll spend a bit of money on that.
But if not, if you've got the space, perhaps a two-postor,
second hand, something like that,
then you don't have to worry about your back going everywhere
to every time you bend over.
Then I just get a basic set of tools.
Get a really nice toolkit.
I mean, how far to pro toolkit for life?
Get one of those.
Get start there.
Make sure you've got all the PPE you need.
If you're going to start welding, go and do a course.
Get a cheap welder.
Make sure you've got a really good helmet.
Max, don't do any welding.
Yeah, well, the thing is, it is seen as a bit of a dark car.
But once you learn how to do it, and once you start doing it,
it's incredibly satisfying.
OK.
Really is.
It's just burning down your house.
That's the bit that I'm wearing.
Oh, you don't want to do that.
No, that would be bad.
So just sort yourself out with the right tools,
that some overalls and stuff that you stuff,
all the basics stuff.
Probably it's probably worth thinking about it,
isn't it, for a little bit, making a list of stuff?
Because I find what really looks me as well,
try and do a job.
Because I'm happy with doing interior stuff, trim or dashboard.
OK, stuff like that.
I can do that.
But it's really annoying when you start a job
and you haven't got the right tools
or you haven't got the right stuff for, you know,
so you do need to plan these things.
You do.
Otherwise, it's quite stressful.
I just want to point out, he's happy taking it apart,
putting it back together again.
Oh, that is a different thing.
No, I've done that.
And of course, whenever we do advice in the magazine,
we say, when you take stuff apart, always label it,
put in a little sandwich bag, store it, take photos.
What happens in reality is you take things apart,
you put them on the side, and then you lose them.
Yes.
Or I take pictures of switches and go,
I'll take a picture of all the wiring, except I didn't take it
from the right angle.
So when I come to look at the picture, I can't say,
where's it go?
Oh, I got it.
And then all you put it in a box.
And then the box, you say, that's me electric's box,
and then you mix them up, and the box gets full.
Then you lose the box.
It's just great.
I sold my car and then I found a load of bits
that were supposed to go back on it.
Did you tell the owner might be here?
Yes.
One careful owner.
Well, you've inspired us, Danny.
Thank you very much.
I think we'll go back, and I'll do an oil change
on your car first.
How about that, man?
My final bit of advice, when anybody who really is really
thinking about working on their car, just do it.
Give it a go.
A great chat with Danny there.
Check him out, and the team actually
doing stuff properly in practical classics
and give them a follow on Instagram too.
Now, we'll be back with a brand new episode soon.
Right now, I'm off to get a socket set and a Haynes manual
and do my clearances.
Dude, what could possibly go wrong?
Pretty much everything, call the RIC.
Goodbye.
Bye.
If you've enjoyed this episode, please leave us
a nice review on Apple podcasts.
About this episode
Max and Matt dive into the challenges and joys of fixing classic cars, featuring a lively discussion with Danny Hopkins, editor of Practical Classics. They explore whether DIY repairs are worth the risk of mistakes and bruised egos, sharing personal anecdotes and practical advice. From simple oil changes to the complexities of engine rebuilds, the conversation emphasizes the satisfaction of hands-on work and the importance of knowing your limits. Listeners will appreciate the humor and camaraderie as they navigate the world of classic car maintenance.
Lots of people look like they can fix their classic cars. But we don't look like two of them. So we grabbed the editor of Practical Classics magazine to ask him for help and advice. Can we - and should we - fix our own cars? Or are we beyond hope?
