The hosts dive into their recent automotive adventures, including Tom's exciting purchase of a rare 1996 Yamaha YZF 750 Cadbury's boost race bike with a rich British Superbike history. They share personal updates, like Tom's soup diet and plans to get back into biking, and reminisce about racing days and quirky stories. The episode also features listener shoutouts, a fun Facebook guessing game, and hints at upcoming content around Tom's special car acquisition, promising deeper dives into unique vehicles and automotive culture.
"Do you remember the old MGF that I bought as a job lot? Yeah. That's on the road. It's on the road and it's still got the same number plate."
The MG MGF is a small, sporty car made in Britain. It has the engine placed in the middle and drives the rear wheels, which helps it handle well on twisty roads.
The MG MGF is a mid-engined, rear-wheel-drive roadster produced by MG from 1995 to 2002. It is known for its lightweight design and sporty handling, making it a popular choice for enthusiasts of British sports cars.
"So it's in Cornwall now, so it's probably going to last another six months before it rusts away. We've got Mark in Staley Bridge, currently fitting an intercooler to his Focus Z-Tec S. James in Canada, who says we absolutely must go out for a trip."
The Ford Focus is a small family car that’s easy to drive and good for everyday use. Some versions are faster and more fun to drive than others.
The Ford Focus is a compact car known for its sharp handling and practicality, widely popular since its introduction in the late 1990s. It’s often used as a daily driver and has various sporty versions like the Focus ST.
"We've got Mark in Staley Bridge, currently fitting an intercooler to his Focus Z-Tec S."
An intercooler is a part that cools the air going into a car's engine when the engine uses a turbo or supercharger. Cooler air helps the engine work better and makes more power.
An intercooler is a device used in turbocharged or supercharged engines to cool the compressed air before it enters the engine. Cooler air is denser, which improves combustion efficiency and power output.
"13-year-old William Patmore, who's bought himself a Mini Cooper project car and..."
The Mini Cooper is a small car that is fun to drive and looks unique. Many people like to fix them up or make them faster.
The Mini Cooper is a small sporty hatchback known for its distinctive styling and go-kart-like handling. It has a strong enthusiast following and is often used as a base for tuning and restoration projects.
"I've got a motorbike that I bought in October last year at an auction. Is that the race bike? Which is a quite a well known race bike, which came up for auction. And I was lucky enough to be able to buy that."
An auction is like a sale where people bid money to buy something. The person who offers the most money gets to buy the item, like a car or bike.
An auction is a public sale where vehicles or other items are sold to the highest bidder. Auctions are common places to find unique, rare, or project vehicles, including race bikes and cars.
"And it's if you're into bike racing, it's the one that won the championship in 96, 97, 98 British Superbikes."
British Superbikes is a famous motorcycle race in the UK where fast bikes and riders compete to win.
British Superbikes is a premier motorcycle racing championship in the UK featuring high-performance production motorcycles. It is a major series where manufacturers and riders compete at a professional level.
"On with the podcast. I bought what you call a Jaguar XJ13,"
The Jaguar XJ13 is a special old race car made by Jaguar that was built to race but never actually did. It's very rare and has a powerful engine in the middle of the car.
The Jaguar XJ13 is a rare and iconic prototype racing car developed by Jaguar in the 1960s, designed to compete at Le Mans but never raced. It features a mid-engine V12 and is highly prized among collectors and enthusiasts.
This means the car's body and frame are made as one piece from light metal called aluminum, making the car strong and light.
An aluminium-bodied monocoque is a car construction technique where the body and chassis are integrated into a single lightweight aluminum structure, improving rigidity and reducing weight.
""When are you aiming to have this on a track?" "I don't think that I'll get it done this year.""
A track is a special road made for racing or testing cars, not for everyday driving. People use it to see how fast or well a car can go.
A 'track' refers to a racing circuit or closed course designed for high-speed driving and motorsport events. Cars are often tested or raced on tracks to evaluate performance.
""Are you going to make, can you make this one road legal?" "It's going to be road legal." "It's going to be, oh, okay. This is going to be road legal.""
If a car is 'road legal', it means you can legally drive it on normal streets and highways, not just on private tracks or raceways.
A vehicle that is 'road legal' meets all the regulations and safety standards required to be driven on public roads. This includes having proper lighting, emissions compliance, and safety equipment.
"or a twin cam engine rather than one camshaft per bank. And that's what ended up going in the E-type. And it had, so, but the original,"
The Jaguar E-Type is an old, very pretty sports car that many people think looks amazing. It was special when it came out and is still loved today.
The Jaguar E-Type is a classic British sports car from the 1960s, celebrated for its stunning design and advanced engineering for its time. It’s often considered one of the most beautiful cars ever made and has a strong collector following.
The Ford Mustang is a famous sporty car from America that many people like for its power and looks. It's been made for a long time and lots of people enjoy driving it.
The Ford Mustang is an iconic American muscle car known for its performance and style. It has been produced in various generations since 1964 and remains popular among car enthusiasts.
"So it's going Oxford green. Come on, show us a picture. It is going Oxford green, a BMW colour. ... It's... Oxford green. You know that lovely BMW colour?"
Oxford Green is a dark green color used on some cars. It looks nice and is a popular choice for painting vehicles.
Oxford Green is a classic dark green paint color often associated with British cars, including some BMW models. It is known for its deep, rich appearance.
"So what are you doing now, then? Full repaint. I'm doing a full repaint, Tom."
A full repaint means painting the whole car again from scratch. This makes the car look new or changes its color completely.
A full repaint means the entire exterior of the car is stripped and repainted, often involving sanding down to bare metal or primer. This process restores or changes the car's color and finish completely.
Right-hand drive means the steering wheel is on the right side of the car. This is normal in places like the UK, so drivers sit on the right and drive on the left side of the road.
Right-hand drive refers to vehicles where the steering wheel is on the right side, common in countries like the UK, Japan, and Australia. This affects driving dynamics and legal requirements depending on the country.
A low mileage car is one that hasn't been driven much, so it usually looks and works almost like new because it hasn't been used a lot.
A low mileage car has been driven very few miles, which often means less wear and tear and potentially higher value, especially for classic or collectible cars.
"So there's no V5 for it because it's never been registered.
It has no number plates because it's never been registered."
If a car is never registered, it means it was never officially allowed to be driven on public roads. So it might be brand new even if it's old.
A car that has never been registered means it was never officially recorded for road use, often implying it was never driven on public roads. This can affect its legal status and value.
Term
V5
"So there's no V5 for it because it's never been registered."
A V5 is a paper that shows who owns a car in the UK. If a car doesn't have one, it means it was never officially registered to be driven on roads.
The V5 is the vehicle registration document used in the UK, showing the registered keeper of the car. Lack of a V5 means the car was never officially registered for road use.
A brand new old car is a car that is very old but still looks and feels new because nobody ever drove it or used it.
A 'brand new old car' refers to a vehicle that is old in terms of age but has never been used or driven, essentially remaining in new condition despite its age.
"but if you ever bought a brand new Mercedes back in the day, then that just filling your nostrils is just such an experience."
Mercedes-Benz is a famous car company from Germany that makes fancy and well-built cars that many people like.
Mercedes-Benz is a German luxury automotive brand known for its high-quality engineering, luxury vehicles, and historical significance in the automotive industry.
"...ut this for a while. We're talking about Porsche 911s. So anyone that's a petrol head of any, at some ..."
The Porsche 911 is a famous fast car that looks unique and is fun to drive. People who love cars often talk about it because it's special and has been around for a long time.
The Porsche 911 is an iconic sports car known for its distinctive design and rear-engine layout. It has a rich motorsport heritage and is celebrated for its driving dynamics and engineering excellence, making it a favorite among car enthusiasts.
"...Well, you don't like his cinnamon interior on the M5, do you? That's not my cup of tea."
The BMW M5 is a fancy and fast car that looks like a regular family car but can go really fast. People like it because it’s comfortable but also very powerful.
The BMW M5 is a high-performance version of the 5 Series sedan, blending luxury with powerful engines and sporty handling. It is often discussed for its balance of everyday usability and track-capable performance, with various generations offering different driving experiences.
The BMW 3 Series is a smaller, nice car that’s fun to drive and looks good. Some older versions are very popular because they are simple and enjoyable.
The BMW 3 Series is a compact executive car known for its sporty driving dynamics and premium feel. Models like the E30 are especially popular among enthusiasts for their classic design and engaging performance.
"... into cars, you will remember the indestructible Hilux. It was drowned, dropped, hit with a bloody big ..."
The Toyota Hilux is a tough truck that can handle rough roads and hard work without breaking easily. People trust it because it lasts a long time even in bad conditions.
The Toyota Hilux is a rugged and reliable pickup truck famous for its durability and off-road capability. It has a reputation for surviving extreme conditions and is often referenced as nearly indestructible.
"...s sacrilegious. Don't you have to drop it onto a Morris marina or something? Wasn't it a Morris marina?"
The Morris Marina was an old British car that many people didn’t think was very good. It’s often joked about but is still remembered as part of car history.
The Morris Marina was a British family car produced in the 1970s, often criticized for its outdated design and build quality. Despite its reputation, it remains a part of British automotive history and is sometimes referenced humorously.
"...I am looking to buy, right? You bought that Audi RS4? Audi RS4."
The Audi RS4 is a fast and strong car that can drive well in all weather because it has special wheels that help it stick to the road. It’s good for people who want a quick car that’s also practical.
The Audi RS4 is a high-performance version of the A4, featuring powerful engines and Quattro all-wheel drive for excellent grip and speed. It’s well-regarded for combining everyday usability with sports car performance.
"4.2 litre V8, and this one's got the Mil-Tec exhaust and a bit of a tune on it."
A 4.2 litre V8 is a type of car engine with eight cylinders that work together to make the car go fast and smoothly.
A 4.2 litre V8 refers to an eight-cylinder engine with a total displacement of 4.2 liters. V8 engines are known for their power and smooth delivery, often used in performance cars.
"...led us a couple of weeks ago asking, I've got an E46M3. Should I buy a Mustang?"
The BMW M3 is a fast and sporty car that looks like a regular BMW but drives much better. Many people love it because it’s fun and exciting to drive.
The BMW M3 is a high-performance version of the 3 Series, celebrated for its sporty handling and powerful engines. The E46 M3, in particular, is highly regarded for its balance and driving enjoyment.
"Is it a 1000 cc?
...It's 2000 plus, as in year 2000 plus.
...and it's greater than 600 cc, but not, oh no, I didn't, I said, is it a 1000?
Is it below 1000 cc?
Yes.
Okay.
So it's a 750."
Engine displacement is how big the engine is inside, measured in cc, which helps tell how powerful the motorcycle might be.
Engine displacement, measured in cubic centimeters (cc), refers to the total volume of all the cylinders in an engine and is a common way to describe engine size and power potential.
"...me of the things I'm thinking of. I would say an E39 BMW. Yeah, that's what I was actually thinking."
The BMW 5 Series is a comfortable and nice car that’s good for families and long drives. Some older versions are very popular because they are well made and fun to drive.
The BMW 5 Series is a mid-size luxury sedan known for blending comfort, technology, and sporty driving characteristics. The E39 generation is particularly praised for its build quality and driving dynamics.
"What about like a, what am I thinking, Peugeot? Like a 106, although a commuter car for an hour? Although it's 20, it doesn't matter though, does it?"
The Alpine A106 is an old, small sports car from France that was made to be light and fast. It’s special because it was used in car races a long time ago.
The Alpine A106 is a classic French sports car from the 1950s, known for its lightweight design and rally heritage. It’s a rare and collectible vehicle that helped establish Alpine’s reputation.
"...yeah, yeah. Yeah, and he's got the 7-Series, the E38. No, I think he's got a 5-Series."
The BMW 7 Series is a big, fancy car that’s very comfortable and has lots of features. Older models are still liked because they look good and drive smoothly.
The BMW 7 Series is a full-size luxury sedan offering advanced technology and comfort. The E38 generation is often praised for its timeless design and strong performance.
"...driving a V8 B&W, fair play. And he's also got a Z3 as well. Oh, does he?"
The BMW Z3 is a small, two-seat car with a roof you can fold down. It’s fun to drive and looks cool, making it popular with people who like sporty cars.
The BMW Z3 is a compact roadster produced in the late 1990s and early 2000s, known for its balanced handling and classic styling. It gained popularity partly due to its appearance in popular culture and offers an accessible entry into BMW’s sports car lineup.
"...now, or even the Hondas, you can't get the Honda S2000 for that. I'd say if you want it for..."
The Honda S2000 is a small, sporty car with a roof you can open. It’s famous because it’s fun to drive and usually doesn’t break down much.
The Honda S2000 is a lightweight, high-revving roadster known for its exceptional engine and sharp handling. It’s highly regarded among enthusiasts for its pure driving experience and reliability.
"... that kind of era of car? That would be either a Megane or a Clio. Yeah, you could get a Clio 172."
The Renault Megane E-Tech is a newer car that runs on electricity instead of petrol. It’s good for families who want a modern and clean car to drive.
The Renault Megane E-Tech is an electric version of the popular Megane hatchback, representing Renault’s move towards electrification with modern design and technology. It’s significant as an accessible electric family car.
"... a little look at a Renault. With even my little Peugeot 205, I've paid quite sensible money for that, really..."
The Peugeot 205 CTI is a small car with a roof that opens up. It’s fun to drive and not too expensive, making it a favorite for people who want a simple convertible.
The Peugeot 205 CTI is a convertible version of the popular 205 hatchback, known for its light weight and enjoyable driving experience. It’s a classic French small car that remains popular among enthusiasts for its charm and affordability.
""Yeah, I mean, it's nostalgia tax, isn't it? Yeah, I know.""
Nostalgia tax means people pay more money for old cars because they remind them of good memories or are special, not just because of how useful they are.
Nostalgia tax is a term used to describe the higher prices paid for older cars due to their sentimental or collectible value rather than their practical worth.
""Did that have a roll over bar on it? It did have a roll over bar. Was it white?""
A roll over bar is a strong bar in a car that helps keep people safe if the car flips over.
A roll over bar is a safety feature designed to protect occupants in the event of a vehicle rollover by reinforcing the structure and preventing the roof from collapsing.
""And I've just literally been to the dyno and I've dropped off the race car there. So that's getting set up.""
A dyno is a machine that tests how strong a car's engine is by running it while the car stays still. It helps people make their cars faster or better.
A dyno, or dynamometer, is a device used to measure a vehicle's engine power output and torque by simulating driving conditions while the car is stationary. It's commonly used for tuning and performance testing.
""And I've just literally been to the dyno and I've dropped off the race car there. So that's getting set up.""
A race car is a special car made to go really fast and compete in races. It has parts that help it drive better and keep the driver safe.
A race car is a vehicle specifically built or modified for competitive motorsport events. These cars often have enhanced performance parts and safety features tailored for racing.
"...g series, is it? Like, you know, it's not like a Ford Ka race series. No."
The Ford Ka is a tiny car that’s easy to park and doesn’t cost much. Some people even race them because they are fun to drive.
The Ford Ka is a small city car known for its compact size and affordability. It has been popular as an entry-level vehicle and has even inspired some racing series due to its fun handling.
Select text to request an explanation
There was four motorbikes.
I wanted to buy one about four years ago.
Came up for sale and a French guy got it.
He put the motorbike up for auction and I bought it.
You're not going to do what Alex does and just decide that you like one colour
so you'll buy every single car in that colour.
Hey man, I got a purple car, I got a yellow car, I got a silver car.
But you have many red cars.
You've got a six red cars.
All right, let's have a bet.
Well, I don't know.
Let's have a bet.
I'm not going to bet.
Worry?
Worry?
Hello everyone and welcome back to the Auto Alex Podcast.
Home of automotive, financial mistakes, our life in cars
and your questions answered today.
Mr. Tom Lenthal.
Hello.
You need to speak.
I'm sorry or what?
Oh my God.
Worry.
It's been a couple of weeks.
It has been.
Worry.
All right.
And I will fill your ear and your eye holes with what we've been up to.
We'll answer your car dilemmas and we'll play a new game.
Well, a game that we've played before and bringing it back.
It's a Facebook game where I scroll down on Facebook
and you've got a guess what car or bike or it could be a plant pot that I'm looking at.
Oh, brilliant.
Based on time.
You might need to explain that to me.
All right.
It's truck class time.
It was a lorry.
Yeah, that's your lorry.
OK.
But before we do any of that, Tom, what do we do now?
We say hello to everyone.
We do.
Hello to Robert Oldham, transporting musicians around Europe.
Matthew and Cornwall, who spotted my old R1 MGF on the A30.
Do you remember the old MGF that I bought as a job lot?
Yes.
From Alex.
Yeah.
That's on the road.
It's on the road and it's still got the same number plate.
Go to Mike Ferney.
It went to Mike Ferney.
Yeah.
Yeah.
But I don't know what happened to it.
Obviously got sold on as it was.
All right.
So it's in Cornwall now, so it's probably going to last another six months before it rusts away.
We've got Mark in Staley Bridge, currently fitting an intercooler to his Focus Z-Tec S.
James in Canada, who says we absolutely must go out for a trip.
Canada trip?
Yeah, they do have epic roads in Canada.
Do they?
We could be like ice road trackers.
OK.
13-year-old William Patmore, who's bought himself a Mini Cooper project car and...
Rory's Mum Jackie.
Tom, how is Rory?
Sorry, Rory, how is your mum?
What?
What are you trying to imply here?
Oh, sorry.
How's Jackie?
Yeah, she's doing all right.
Yeah?
Yeah, yeah.
I can't really think what she's been up to.
I can.
Oh!
You know, I bought another Moa for Christmas at a robot store.
You bought a lucky one.
I bought a robot lawnmower.
It's come back out of hibernation.
Oh, really?
Yeah, although I think I must have programmed it wrong,
because it tried to go into the flower bush and blow down all the flowers.
Oh, no.
So I need to maybe look at that.
What a middle-aged conversation we're having.
Sorry.
Oh, well, you asked what she's been up to.
That's what...
I didn't ask what her robot Moa's been up to.
But that's exciting.
Oh, is it?
Yeah, it's a robot lawnmower.
All right.
Wow, OK, thank you for that.
I'm glad you agree.
Right, what have we all been up to?
Tom, let's get started with you.
It's been a while since you've been on the podcast.
Are we doing well?
You're looking slimmer, by the way.
I've been dieting.
I've been on a soup diet.
Have you?
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Is there any reason?
Because I'm fat.
I'll see you next Tuesday.
Yes, no, I need to get back down to race weight.
Oh, OK, why is that, Tom?
Well, because you're so uncompetitive.
I might have a competitive issue.
Yeah, and I do need to lose some weight.
It's been a while since I've actively tried to lose some weight.
So and I've not been going to the gym and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.
So yeah, lack of alcohol, not drinking as much.
Yeah, OK, that's good.
Yeah, the trouble is I've got a heavy bond with Stella.
You do, yeah, yeah, Stella.
So yeah, so yeah, not been drinking so much, which is a good thing.
And yeah, just not eating so much, just having soup for lunch every day
and then one meal in the evening.
How's that going being on a soup diet?
I really like soup.
OK.
Yeah, I don't have a problem with it.
What's your soup go to, Tom?
Oh, it's chicken and veg.
Chicken and veg.
Yeah, yeah, get some weight.
I was going to say like pie and chips soup.
Well, are you talking is it a Heinz soup?
No, don't you?
OK, I don't know.
This is no weight.
Yeah, it comes in like a plastic tub with a heater up and she gets a man
serves you down, you know, I was concerned.
I said to Meg, you know, not being funny.
Can we not, you know, buy some of the slightly cheaper soup?
And she goes, it's like one tub does her and myself for the day.
And she puts it in like a firm as flask in that.
And it's like three pound twenty five a tub.
That's pretty good going.
So it's both of us and I have a little role with it.
So I'm then I'm not and I'm not having carbs and I'm not doing this
and I'm not doing that.
And yeah, yeah, just trying to try to worry how the other half
live three pound twenty five for a tin of soup.
Yeah, I actually think I'm saving money to be fair.
That if that is all you're having for a day, that is she's also having dinner.
What are you having for dinner, Tom?
Well, last night I had a chicken steak.
You would call it a chicken.
Kiev. No, no, no, no, no.
Chicken breast.
No, just just a chicken breast steak.
All right, yeah, yeah.
Butterfly chicken.
Yeah, well, I suck a snitzel type thing, I suppose.
Yeah. So breaded.
It did have breadcrumbs on it.
It's just a Kiev. Quite carby.
No, the Kiev.
Do you know what Kiev is?
It's usually when you've got a little bit of anything.
Kiev's got butter and garlic butter and stuff like that.
So anyway, I had a piece of chicken last night.
We've cooked that in the air fryer.
Yeah, yeah. So that's a little bit better.
Couscous and salad. Fair play, Tom.
Yeah. Very high protein, low calorie.
Well done. Yeah, yeah.
So I'm just I'm making a concerted effort because and I'm back out on the
I'm getting back out on the bike in a few weeks time ago after Spain.
My bike, not bicycle.
Are you going to take your new bike?
No, no, the new bike's not ready.
Which one's a new bike?
So I bought a couple of as a couple of vehicles.
Well, I thought when I came on today,
I bought a couple of vehicles in recent times,
which I've not really talked about at all.
OK, OK. I thought I thought I don't mind talking about now
because I'm going to make a concerted effort to start doing some YouTube
stuff of my own again. And I'm going to be like you.
I know, you know how lazy I am when I come here and busy.
I'm going to make a concerted effort.
So I've got a motorbike that I bought in October last year at an auction.
Is that the race bike?
Which is a quite a well known race bike, which came up for auction.
And I was lucky enough to be able to buy that.
So that's a 1996 Yamaha YZF 750 Cadbury's boost bike.
Yeah, which they made four of.
And it's if you're into bike racing, it's the one that won the championship
in 96, 97, 98 British Superbikes.
Not with you on it.
Not with me on it.
But I remember being in my early 20s, watching that bike go round the track.
Oh, wow. That's so cool.
So who was riding that bike?
No, Mackenzie, Jamie Wittem.
So no, Mackenzie won the championship.
His teammate was Jamie Wittem in 96.
Then it was Steve Hislop and Chris Walker.
I think also rode for them.
So and there's a few other other guys that rode them, but there was four motorbikes.
I know we're all I know where the other three are.
And I wanted to buy one about four years ago, came up for sale and a French guy
got it, one's owned by Nile Mackenzie, the French guy owns one.
Rob Mack, who was a team manager, owns one.
And the other one went to a guy called Nigel Nottingham in 1998,
ended the 98 season and he rode it in 99.
And he then subsequently kept it for the last 25 years.
And I've spoken to Nigel.
He's a really nice guy.
And he put the motorbike up for auction and I bought it.
Yeah. Do you know how many races your bike actually did?
Or was it was it like the backup one that never actually did?
No, well, it's like all these things when it comes to there's always these myths
about race bikes, race cars and stuff like that.
And I'm very realistic about it, having worked in racing and stuff like that.
You know, I know that it's documented that the engine that I've got in my bike
did the wild card British Superbike round at Donington or Brands or something.
I've got it all documented.
So and all four of those riders almost certainly would have ridden that bike.
Yeah. And like the fairing on the fairing,
you can see where the stickers used to be on it, saying Mackenzie,
which are burnt into the paint. Oh, really?
OK. Yeah. So if someone says to you,
oh, that's the bike that done X-Race,
unless you literally pick that bike up as it comes over the finish line
and put it in the back of your van and say that I guarantee you
that things would have been taken or things would have been changed.
Yeah, yeah, stuff like that.
So so so I've got that at the workshop at home now.
And I'm, you know, and I'm going to recommission it
because it's not really been used for the last 25 years.
You're going to ride it over to the unit.
It's not that type of bike.
Can you make it road legal?
I wouldn't want to know because it's got so many race parts on it.
They're just not designed to.
It's got no electric fan on it and stuff like that.
Has got nowhere starting it.
You have to have a like a, you know, a dummy starter to get it run up.
It could use you.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Is that because I'm such a good starter?
No, it's because he said dummy starter.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
So yeah, so it's just not, you know, they wouldn't be practical on them.
Are you going to have to bring Meg everywhere?
You go with it to hold an umbrella for you.
Yeah, or the number, the race number.
Because Meg used to be.
Meg, so the reason that I got involved in bike racing back in the day was Meg's
uncle was the marketing manager for a company called motorcycle city.
And part of his job was running the race team and he asked Meg
and another one of her friends called know me to be Polly Dolly.
So stand on the grid with the umbrella.
And I ended up going to race meetings and we worked for our rider was a guy
called Philip McCallan, who was a bit of an Ironman TT specialist.
He's quite well known.
You know, and we just got involved and it was like, you know, the guys there
were like, well, you know, what are you doing?
I'm a mechanic.
And before, you know, where you are, you're not just a mechanic.
You're a free mechanic.
And you know, you know, like some people take things labor for free,
like unbelievably, you know, take advantage of people.
I don't know. I don't know.
I don't know anyone these days.
So, yeah, so I just got involved and, you know, I found myself a lot
of British rounds and I'm an Ironman TT and fantastic.
Yeah, holding umbrellas.
Yeah, I was holding spanners.
But it was just really good fun.
It was just a really good fun time in the nineties.
And that particular bike that I bought was the one that was winning
a lot in that time period.
So I think it was just a, you know, cool thing for me.
So it's got a special place in my heart.
You probably would have seen that bike actually on track racing.
Oh, yeah, definitely.
Yeah, 100%.
Yeah, yeah, definitely.
Wishing that he was one of those racers.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Wishing I was that good.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Wishing it was fast.
Yeah.
One day I'll be fast.
Never happened.
Never happened, did it?
I was an undiscovered talent and then I got fat.
Anything else you bought, Tom?
Yeah, yeah.
So it was actually a while ago that I bought this car and you guys know about it.
I bought quite a special one.
Are you finally talking about this?
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Because I'm this is so my intention is to I've got a video that I want to send out
and then I want to do I want to do a series of videos on this car that I'm building.
So I think this is the most excited I've been for any one of your cars that you've ever had to.
Rory's very excited about this car.
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On with the podcast.
I bought what you call a Jaguar XJ13,
which is a race car from the 1960s,
which was built for Le Mans,
but never raced because they changed the prototype rules
and it didn't qualify.
So it was due to do 66 Le Mans and it didn't do it.
Do you know why it didn't qualify?
Oh, it was something to do with the engine size
or something like that.
I can't quite remember.
But it's a rear engine V12
and yeah, it was like, it was a five litre
and it was like, you know, 500 brake horsepower.
So they only ever built one.
And the original car is in the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust
at Gaiden.
And a few replicas over the years have been made
and they're, you know,
they're very, very expensive cars to build.
Made by?
Well, there's a company called Proteus that made a few
and there's another company called
Building the Legend that made a few.
And the one I've got is produced by a company called
Building the Legend.
And it's a full aluminium-bodied monocoque
with a space frame type thing hanging out the back
that mounts all the engine and stuff like that.
It's a super cool car.
And the story went that this guy commissioned
the build of the car.
He, for whatever reason, it didn't then get completed.
I'm not quite sure what happened.
And it got sold to a guy in America to finish the build.
So it is a aluminium body, got wheels on it,
no engine, no gearbox.
It's literally just a starting point.
And it got sold to a guy in the States
and he unfortunately passed away
and I spotted it in a workshop in Coventry.
Really?
And I said to the guy, I knew the guy and I said,
do you mind if I just have a seat in that?
Because it's a dream sort of car for me.
And I want to, I want to stop dreaming about it.
I want to know if I actually fit in it.
Yeah, yeah.
So he goes, yeah, by all means have a seat.
So I jumped in the car and I sat down in the bottom.
I thought, yeah, I could fit in this, no problem.
And then he turned around and he goes,
this might actually be coming up for sale.
And I was like, really?
Okay, so we had the conversation.
And then I think we were, this was probably around
about this time last year.
And then I think we were, were we on our way to Croatia?
I think it was.
I think maybe, yeah.
I think it might have been, yeah.
I think it might have been on our way to Croatia.
I was in the Range Rover, was that Croatia?
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
I finally, we agreed a price and a deal.
And I, and I, and we agreed to buy it.
And I remember going up to you guys going,
I've just bought a car.
I was perfectly quite happy about it.
But only about four weeks ago did the deal get completed
because there was complications with parts.
And anyway, so we, so I now own that car.
Is that the best 1500 quid you've ever spent?
It was a little bit more.
I'll tell you, it's the most expensive car I've ever bought,
full stock period, or the most amount of money that I've parted with.
Let alone the fact that it's got no engine, no running gear.
Correct.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Now, have you ever sat in an XJ13 before, Tom?
Until the day, well, yeah, a couple of years ago I did, yeah.
Okay.
Yeah.
And, and you fit?
It's tight.
So, so what I've actually did was I bought the car
and there was a few things sought out.
But in the meantime, I sent it over to, because it's all aluminium.
And I've got a friend who does aluminium, you know, like coachworks,
you know, a proper building.
And he has reshaped the rear bulkhead
to give me about another two inches.
Okay.
Tom, we could have done that for you.
We could have got a V2 back.
We're a good with the hammer.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
So all that's been done.
And there's a few other little jobs and bits and pieces I've had done.
And I go, I'm probably going to go and pick it up
sometime in the next two or three weeks.
And then we'll start filming a build.
So when is this going to be,
when are you aiming to have this on a track?
I don't think that I'll get it done this year.
It'll be next year.
Yeah.
All right.
Are you going to make, can you make this one road legal?
It's going to be road legal.
It's going to be, oh, okay.
This is going to be road legal.
I cannot wait to drive that.
What about you, Rory?
I don't think I'll trust myself to drive it to be honest.
I trust myself, Tom.
So, to be fair, you are much faster and better than I am.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
I didn't want to bring it up.
You know, 1.7 seconds.
Sorry, Tom.
Sorry.
I'll just get carried away.
Anyway, it's going to have a, a six point.
I've already got the engine for it.
Oh, really?
Yeah.
I had an engine which I'd earmarked for another project
and I've now shifted over to this one and it's got,
I've got a 6.1 liter V12 engine.
Are you going to have like the ITBs sort of coming out?
Somebody got ITBs on it.
So, I was actually going to put this engine in my coupe
and I've got crossover,
generally crossover throttle bodies on it.
Yeah.
And then I've just been busy and not got round to put it
into the coupe.
So, I'm not right.
Actually, that engine can go in the,
So, the original engine in the XJ13 was a 5 liter V12?
A 5 liter V12 quad cam.
It's what you call, so the very first,
I think it's like the first six or seven engines of V12 format
that Jaguar did were basically prototype engines for this,
for this project.
The quad, so it had a quad cam, so two cams per V.
But for whatever reason, they decided that
they were going to go single cam
and then the engine got developed into,
or a twin cam engine rather than one camshaft per bank.
And that's what ended up going in the E-type.
And it had, so, but the original,
getting hold of a quad cam engine is in,
you know, you just, you just can't buy them for love and money.
So, and a couple of quad cam engines have been reproduced,
but I don't feel as though they've ever been fully developed.
And I'm looking at about,
I'm looking about the thick end of 80 to 100k
to build a quad cam engine.
Yeah, okay.
When I've got a twin cam engine,
I'm not going to say cost me nothing,
but it's, you know, in stock.
Not 80 grand.
It's not 80 grand.
So, so I think I'm going to go with the, you know,
and the quad, the twin cam.
And, and I've got quite a lot of other parts
that I've already collected from,
and actually from a build point of view,
from my point of view, it's really easy.
There's hardly any trim.
There's no chrome work.
There's no, do you know what I mean?
So for me, it's actually quite an easy car to build.
I'm really quite excited about it.
Yeah. So I don't, I don't think I'm going to have it this year.
I don't want to rush it.
I want to get it right.
I think it'll be out next year.
And I think we'll, we're going to definitely going to video it
and then, you know, start releasing some, you know,
videos on the build, but it is very, very, very exciting.
Yeah. I'm very, I've not been this excited
about a car that I've bought for a long time.
Amazing. Anything else in your life
that's exciting you at the moment?
Continuing putting the Cosworth together.
Oh, yeah. Yeah.
Okay. Yeah. Yeah.
Well, I've had my floor resined at work as well.
Oh, yeah.
Oh, yeah.
The chaps who done TDC's floor come over and they're very good.
Yeah. They are very, very good.
Yeah. They're doing a good job.
Yeah. No, I'm quite pleased with that.
And yeah, we're just tarting the workshop up a little bit
and making it a little bit nicer.
I assume you haven't gone for the same purple fleck.
No. No, I didn't know.
No, we've just gone for boring gray, light gray,
where you can see things when you drop them on the floor.
Perfect. That makes perfect sense though.
And if memory serves, the last time you were on the podcast,
you said that you were looking for a new mechanic.
Yeah. Has there been any development?
Yeah. We have got, we've got a guy called Dan
who's starting in about two or three weeks.
Happy days.
And we're looking, basically looking to expand the modern side
of the business at the moment.
And I reckon I could do with another two good mechanics.
I think I'm into viewing another couple next week,
but if there's anyone listening,
a fancy is an opportunity.
Yeah.
We're definitely looking for, yeah, we definitely want more.
We'll look at more mechanics.
Do you know, after doing the whole filming
of our latest crew car being rebuilt,
I can see why you're struggling to find people, Tom.
Because they are just awful cars to work on.
But the thing is, right?
I thought you meant the people were awful.
Oh, try it. Sorry, sorry, sorry.
It's only, you know, it's like anything, isn't it?
A jigsaw puzzle is only difficult
if you've never put it together before.
Yeah. Yeah.
So it's like anything, if you learn it
and you understand it and all the rest of it,
it's actually, it becomes easy.
So most people are telling me, oh my God, a V12 engine,
how do you even comprehend starting to build a V12 engine
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