31 Seater Projects - Norms Buses - Monthly activity

Gregor Neil Robertson 1 Mar
: A tradition or culture of coachbuilding which stretched back to horse and cart days.
: These workers knew what they were doing.
: No doubt each man would have served long apprenticeships and inherited the craft.
: It's pleasant to reach across the intervening decades and in your restoration work, shake hands with these fellows. This is a 'barn find' - a '50 Vanguard I'm restoring.
: Great feeling, working on a vehicle with such a sound tradition of design and manufacture.
: So different from the modern robot and computer product.
: That's progress!

Norman Julian
: Great find Gregor.
: Don't see too many station sedans.
: Gregor Neil Robertson
: Norman Julian thanks Norman.
: FB is marvellous enabling these amazing global contacts.
: Sadly I'll never visit you and bus in the flesh!
: My long haul flying days are past although my eldest daughter lives in Singapore!
: Sadly I'll never visit you and bus in the flesh!
: My long haul flying days are past although my eldest daughter lives in Singapore!
: Never been, just see her once a year when she and family visit Scotland.
: Yes, story of this Estate car, only maybe 5 or 6 left in the UK if that, is that it belonged to a friend of my Dad.
: He got ill in the 70's and I was asked to lay it up in their garage.
: Cut a long story short, the son, now 69, never drove and refused to sell family home long after parents died -including the car.
: Now his sister finally wants him clear and house and car and everything sold.
: I wanted the car for decades - looked after it by cranking engine over etc but had long ago given up hope.
: About 18 months ago he cane to me and asked me to take responsibility but not ownership.
: A bit strange but he's like that.
: So I've been returning it to running condition.
: Finally drove it out yesterday - first move since about '77.
: Clutch now free, new ignition, water hoses, radiator, etc etc.
: As you'd expect brakes binding quite hard - will need stripping all round and new seals.
: Tank needs cleaned out (driving it on fresh fuel in a temporary fuel tank).
: It could do with a light respray but paint mostly still pretty sound.
: Very little rust.
: Trim almost as good as new.
: So it's a project to add to the other four or five I have on hand ... at 76 There's no certainty I'll finish them!
: And not one of my 3 children has the faintest interest.
: Norman Julian
: Nice story.
: Norman Julian
: Now that is a proper bumper!
: Paul Whiston
: Henry Royce of Rolls fame would not be impressed, he refused to have Bumper Bars fitted to his own personal vehicles, he said "they suggest terrible manners"
: Norman Julian
: What if someone nudged him.
: Doesn't work both ways.

Norms Restoration - 31 Seater Projects

1952 AEC Regal III [2547]

2019

Discussion March