1966 Singer Chamois stainless steel body trims for sale

These date to circa 1966 and were imported from an Imp Club member specially to apply to the
Singer Chamois Sport I no longer have. At forty seven years old, they must be quite a rare item to find theses days?

I was told they are are full set, please have a good look and ensure this is correct. They are in good condition excepting two of the longer ones. The bundle on the left is an oddments lot which is included
with the offer. I do not have the trims to the sport engine cover but suspect they will be easier to find ?

 

Imported from the UK to RSA they cost me around R2000, that's about GBP115 right now which is what I expect to get for them plus any postage fee, they fit in the cardboard shipping tube easy enough.

 

Who wants them?

 

Roy

 

Seems its myself, I have decided to fit them to my own 1967 Singer Chamois and now require those sport engine cover trims, does anyone have them for me?

 

Hillman Imp, disc brakes to a 12"steel rim

Normally we have fitted these kits to the larger 13"rim,steel or alloy but the person wanting  the 1971
Hillman Imp Deluxe wants to keep the ride original, so series 80 road tires will be used.

The screw driver end marks a small bump that these rims have, it may or may not foul the Ford Fiesta caliper, we recommend you grind two to three mm off that bump to be sure.

 

There can be some part of the bump left in place, just grind half of it off.

You can just see the Ford Fiesta caliper in the lower slots.
With these standard rims, at least the slots allow some air cooling, which will not be as effective with the Imps standard 8" drums all round.

Kit plates ex our UK supplier now in stock, Cape Town.

How easy is that!

Roy

Hout Bay Yacht Club, the circumnavigators return

This is the second HBYC members boat that has done a circumnavigation to return this year, the other being Fast Forward, the Southwell 62 design in alloy.

 

 

This is The Road, a Lavranos 40ft in GRP, Taffy and his wife Shirley are closing the loop by re entering the port of Hout Bay two mornings ago, they spent twelve years on the trip.

 

Now safe and back in Hout Bay Harbour, the lull in the wind was not to last but we soon had them tied up in a nice safe marina berth, being the first of the cruising yachts to arrive in this season.

 

 

 

Shirley is ready with the bow line, makes a nice change to see a boat well prepared for arrival, then again they are now rather well experienced, welcome home both!

 

Note, The Road (royal order of ancient druids) has fittings and equipment supplied by CKD Boats cc, cockpit table in teak, plastic teak decking (supplied in Trinidad) and a Watchmate AIS 850 supplied before they got to Singapore where it rose to new fame in the very busy shipping roads.

 

Roy

Daveys peddle boat by Dix Design

We are in discussion with Davey re the supply of materials required to build a new design by Dudley Dix, this one could well become our next kit boat offering?

Roy

From the Dix Design Blog:

For as long as man has been on this gorgeous blue planet of ours he has sought to find adventure wherever he can. There have always been those who simply have to see what is over that next hill. When we all know what is over that next hill then the adventure becomes going over that next hill in some way that has never been done before. It has probably not been done that way before because it is just too big a challenge for most people to consider trying.

That insurmountable challenge is the best of reasons for some people to try it anyway, to prove that it actually can be done and to prove themselves to themselves. In the process of succeeding they also prove themselves to the rest of mankind. Some of mankind thinks it exceedingly silly to do these things and will be eternally critical of those who try. They have no adventurous spirit themselves and would never attempt anything that they consider the least bit risky or dangerous. Some of them become bureaucrats to control others or they encourage bureaucrats to stop the adventurers from being adventurous, a misguided attempt to protect them from themselves.

I have written here before about one such adventurous person, Anthony Steward. He is the only person to have sailed around the world in an open boat. I am fortunate that Anthony selected my TLC 19 hull as the basis for his open boat voyage. Everyone thought that he was crazy in his quest but he was permitted to do it. That is how it should be.

Still an incomplete design, the openings and windows will be designed in later, Dudley mentions he may also do this as an open pulling boat, this type of boat has become very popular by others recently.

 

Jaguar 3.8S type tubeless wire wheels in Cape Town

I have been involved with Jaguars for over three decades, our own car has just found a new owner and will do the next Southern Africa round tour rally, this rally takes place over 26 days and is quite a serious event but for older and classic cars. Pre 1966 is the class our Jaguar has been entered in.

http://www.endurorally.com/pages/5th-classic-safari-challenge-2014

The car has low road mileage wire wheels, the correct curly hub pattern, not the later flat hub type.
The rally organisers suggest two spares be carried, they were brought in specially for the car from MWS, in Manchester, England where I bought the original wheels from.

The clutch is a Hillman Imp Mk2 flywheel and pressure plate, it will be rebuilt as a spare for stock.

Just like my original ones but with some noticeable updates, one is that blue tag, each wheel now has its own ID.

The packing lable gives you 24 hours from time of delivery to inspect each wheel in case a claim is wanted.

This is the major change, they are now tubeless and banded over the spokes with what was once a liquid, now semi solid, its going to be forced tighter to the spoke heads when the tire is pumped up with air.

The cost to the wheels was one thing, local handling and RSA Vat at 14% added R920 on the two rims, still that was better than the UKs 20% Vat!

These rims have been sprayed and given what looks like a clear coat lacquer finish, we can do that to the cars own wheels if the owner wants.

How nice are these wheels!

Roy

Hillman Imp Deluxe rear suspension fitting

The rear springs require compressing before we can connect  the shock absorbers.

This car is now sold, the process will still take some months but we are well on the way to the next stage and turning the car back the right way up.

The pictures will enlarge if you click on them.

The engine bay has been re painted to its original paint shade and before it was sprayed with a black tar covering, I think it looks a lot nicer now?

Roy


 

Machining front discs brakes to suit the Hillman Imp

The kits we bring in have been a regular item and from the same supplier in the UK.

We use local Ford calipers and purchase new imported discs and brake pads.

The caliper has been refurbished by a specialist company, the new brake disc will be bored to take the Imps 4" PCD stud centers. In this case the 239mm diameter Ford KA disc is too large for the Imps standard 12"steel rim, we need to have the disc cut down to a diameter of 220mm only.

This brake needs no servo, the change to a 0.070" brake cylinder is recommended but the original 0.065 cylinder on the standard Imp works quite well, the client will be given the option, which will cost around GBP50 so about R800 or so.

 

Working with new off the shelf parts is such a pleasure!

 

 

He has already supplied the silicone brake fluid he wants, a good idea on any classic car, there will be no degrade in the fluid as the years goes by.

How easy is that.
Roy


 

A new Hillman Imp made from an old one has a new owner

The car was first licenced on the 1st of January 1973, so we assumed it was a 1971 built car but we had a records search done on the car and found it dated to 1971.

The car is always rebuilt from the floor pan and upwards, seems to be a logical way to start.

The original paint shade has been returned to the engine bay which in this case is in the back of the car.

The front suspension has been dry fitted to test all the correct Rootes Car Co bolts are correct.

The original metal fluid pipes were acid cleaned and electroplated again.

The steering rack was cleaned, all metal parts re plated and with a new output shaft seal set will be good to go again once Shells gear oil has been added.

Roy

Drama on Long Street, Cape Town.

This has just come in from a friend and boat kit customer (cape cutter 19) Ian Allen who is in Picton South Island New Zealand.

http://ckdboats.blogspot.com/2012/04/cape-cutter-19-kit-becomes-tiptoe.html

A true story and Ian was not only there he is in the picture!

The year was 1977 and I note on the banner on the railing that Woody Allen was in town.

Now here is something interesting. In the late 70's I was in Cape Town city centre buying stuff for a boat building project from C D Fox. When I came out there was a very agitated bloke standing on a ledge several floors up shouting that he wanted to jump and a couple of folk in windows nearby were trying to calm him down. The spectacle had drawn a huge crowd and the absolutely sickening thing about it was that a large contingent of that crowd started baying for him to leap into the street below. I spied some coppers with a jump net, but it seemed to be manned by only a few people so I jumped in to help hold and position the trampoline because there seemed to be a lot of confusion as to where the poor guy might land if he sprang and these blokes were standing way too far out into the road I thought. Several other folk came to lend a hand shortly after we had found what we determined to be the right spot and very soon thereafter the man jumped, hit the balustrade on the way down, and landed square in the centre of the jump net. There was a doctor on hand and, what with the high drama of the moment, his hands were shaking and he found it tricky to insert an intravenous drip before the ambulance took him off. I went to Woodstock hospital a couple of days afterwards to see whether I could find out how the guy was and, though I couldn't see him, they said he had pulled through. I don't know what became of him later but I see there is a comment below the photo that says that he topped himself - not sure whether that was true.

   Every so often that incident has come to mind during the ensuing years but I never imagined there was any photographic record of it. The incredible thing is that recently at least three friends sent me a link to this Etienne Du Plessis photographic site which I have been going through, a page or so per day. Well blow me down if I don't get to page 5 and see this picture - and that's me  about fourth from the left on the opposite side of the net, beard, mouth open, and taking aim. Small old world 'ay?

Cheers,

Ian

Ian & Paula Allen ian.allen@xtra.co.nz
The Gables info@thegables.co.nz
Web Site www.thegables.co.nz
Tel / Fax 64 3 5736772

News just in from an ex employee of the shop in the picture!

Ian, Roy,

I was a bit amazed to see that pic too! I worked at CD Fox for a few months in 1981 I think it was, and this event was often spoken about. There was a similar pic – maybe the same one – framed in the shop at that time. CD Fox still exists I think, just around the corner from that site in Long Street – perhaps its Hout Street now – though I haven’t been there for years. I started selling Private Line and Marlow in those days, a whole lot cheaper than Central Boating just up the road. They had cool stuff like parachute cord, nylon webbing, great threads for sail-making, needles and thimbles for splicing etc etc. Next door was Gordon’s Power Tools and the Metropole Hotel, all institutions of those days. Across the road was an Importers Coffee Shop …

Can’t say I miss it though!

Cheers

Justin

Note,, CD Fox have a rather large place in Paarden Eiland now.

Roy

Classic Car restoration in Cape Town

This has been an on going work for some while now, as often happens it started as a hobby then moved
on to doing work to order.

Hillman Imps are the speciality but other cars can be considered.

To do things right, the car is placed on a turning jig, only this way can the cars underside be cleaned and painted properly.

Note, the paint on this car is very well done but will be changed for a shade that was original!

The same turning jig was developed for a similar make of car which was a hill climb or race car that was exported to Scotland in the UK.

This is a long process, the bottom ofthe car has been high pressure water cleaned before the application of DTM ( direct to metal ) black paints. Note the two front suspension arms on the left, they have been bead blasted clean of all rust and spray painted with the same coating.

 Click on the picture for a larger image.

The paint is Fords Aquarius Metallic Blue, a very close match to the Chrysler Electric Metallic Blue that the car was originally, we chose the Samcor colour for ease of a re match.

This is the engine bay on the same car, which is a 1971 built Hillman Imp Deluxe, just one licenced owner in all those years.

Small details like re using the cars original coil and having the mount bracket re plated are done always.

The engine bay was sprayed yesterday, two coats of base coat, then two coats of clear twin pack lacquer gloss to seal the base coat off. The rear suspension was test fitted today to check for anything that may need attention.

This car has already found a buyer, it will be trimmed and painted to the buyers high standards by outside
proffesional trimmers and auto painters.

If you want your car restored to this level you may want to try contacting me, only a few per year can be processed.

Roy

Yacht marina berth in Hout Bay for rent or sale

Just on the market, a nice secure large boat marina berth, either for rent or for sale.

For sale by owner, marina number 80, so no agents fees, this marina is in an inside position and one of the larger ones in Hout Bay Harbour.

Walk-on moorings include 220v shore power, good clean fresh water and refuse removal. Security is generally very good, and the marina is always a happy place!
Since the recent extension of the Northern Mole, harbour conditions are again very favourable in all weather conditions, at all mooring locations.

Contact me for the marina sale price, rentals are handled by the HBYC  please phone Alan on 021 790 7095 or 021 790 3110.

Roy

Hout Bay marina taken from the quay side near the main entrance to the harbour looking towards Chapmans Peak Drive.

August 2014, now sold.

Alloy engine block crack testing

Testing may not be the correct word, we knew we had the crack but not to what extent, the idea was to apply a spray on crack fluid system and then see to what extent the crack went?

Click on the picture to enlarge it, the visible crack then was seen to turn to the left and extend lower once the crack fluid was applied.

The cans work together, a pink fluid is sprayed on, left to soak in a while then cured with an application of the second fluid, this really exposed the crack and we could see where to drill the required Stop Hole we wanted to drill then.

 The exposed crack went twice the distance that we could see without the fluid.

This is Martin the Technical Director of Metalock using a spot punch to mark where he will drill a 3mm
diameter stop hole in the block.

 

This special air powered angle drill allowed Martin to access the 998cc Hillman  Imp alloy block far better than I could have done with any power drill I have.

 

 

This is the company you need when metal repair works are required, the name is Metalock Engineering RSA, they are at 21 Marconi Road, Montague Gardens, Cape Town, 7441,
Phone on 021 551 3225.

This is an example the Martin showed me of a very complex repair known as Metal Stitching, it sews the cracked parts back together, remarkable!

My thanks for the service and attention given to my own small project.

Roy

Linwood No More, its a success!

Author and Imp Club member Paul Coulther with his wife Morven came to visit us a few years back, little did we know that not only did he have a new Imp book in mind but a play on the Linwood Imp production as well.

The play started to tour Scotland in October and has done a two month stint, whats next I have now asked Paul.

Roy

Synopsis

"It is the year 2000, almost 20 years since the Chrysler car factory closed, devastating the town of Linwood near Paisley. One of the 9,000 left jobless  - now a homeless alcoholic - awkens to the new millenium and looks back fondly to happier times as a worker in the factory in 1965. He tells his story with warmth and humour and reflects on events that changed his life forever."

The play,  written by Paul Coulter and directed by Liz Carruthers, stars Vincent Freill.

News

November 2013 - Linwood No More tour ends on a high

White Stag Theatre Company would like to thank all of the audience members who came to see the showing of Linwood No More on its autumn 2013 Scottish tour. We are glad that you enjoyed the show and thank all of those who sent in thank you letters. Very much appreciated.  The show finished with a site specific double billing at the former car factory in Linwood where the play is partially set. Paisley Arts Centre created a theatre within the former 1960s car showroom and a temporary stage off the bottom of the administration office staircase.  This special venue really added to the occasion and was a great way to finish the tour.

Some of the reviews are printed below:

"..It was fantastic..." Leah Smith

"...great performance last night...." John Craig

"Vincent executed the character brilliantly, would happily go and see it again!" Robert Rice

"This is a fabulous show that captivates you from start to finish...Vincent pulls off a great character..."  Carol Fanning

Fresh greens for a long sailing trip?

Seen on a yacht in Hout Bay, a slice or two fried with fresh fish will probably be fine?

Beats a bag of spring beans anytime!

How strange.

Roy

The truth is that they are about to be transplanted in some persons garden soon.

Mirror dinghy CNC kits

Sunday, 19th January, todays news!

http://ckdboats.blogspot.com/2014/01/mirror-dinghy-kit-supplier-in-southern.html

Some time back I was told of a dinghy exhibition to be held at the Zeekoevlie YC on Sunday 19th of January, 9am to 2pm, the Mirror Dinghy will be one of those on display.

There are none in South Africa as far as I am aware, up to now the kits on sale have all been cut by hand? A recent talk with Mirror people says there may be a chance to start CNC production?

With the Worlds being held here at Theewaters YC in January 2015 can we start production and can we build completed boats?

Note, this class does not allow the sale of plans, you can only buy a kit or a finished boat from a
licenced supplier or builder.

We can supply the kit side and have a top quality boat builder with years of experience ready to start but we need the licence to do so first!

Would that be a great thing!

Enquiries would be a useful start to allow me to judge response and possible orders?

Roy

http://www.mirror.org.za/

This is the South African web site, contact them via their links for Mirror Dinghy news.

The next Mirror Dinghy Worlds info can be seen at the link below.

http://www.mirror.org.za/mirror-events/event/1/n4q4jjn0u80nafden7q0u41ijo

Taken from the Mirror class web site on building your own Mirror.

Written by Martin Egan

Saturday, 28 April 2012 15:44

Mirror 70670 being built using the MCA jig "There is enormous satisfaction to ge gained from building and racing your own boat" - a quote by Guy Wilkins from his book "Mirror Racing". When the Mirror dinghy was designed in the early 60's, the Daily Mirror newspaper wanted a boat that in kit form was simple enough for a teenager to assemble with perfetly commonplace tools. The construction method used on the first prototype which Barry Bucknell, a TV handyman, had built for his son, fitted the bill perfectly. Instead of the traditional method of using softwood battens inside the hull where the plywood panels were joined, Barry used one of the simplest and oldest boat building methods know to man:sewing.  The Vikings used it on their ships. The Polynesians still do. They "stitch" the skin of a hull together - then waterproof all the seams. So Barry borrowed the method used by Ken Littledyke to make KL canoes. The edges of the plywood panels were "stiched" together using copper wire. With the panels held in place in this manner, the joints between them were made permanent using glass fibre tape and resin. This method is now commonly know as "stich and glue" construction and is now widely used for wooden dinghy construction.   A frequently asked question is "Can we build it easily and quickly?" The answer is "yes". Thousands of ordinary people have built a Mirror dinghy from a kit. A group of nine schoolgirls completed the hull at an exhibition in eight hours! Apart from a kit (available from a licenced kit manufacturer), these are the things you need to provide as a minimum. A bit of spare time - about one hundred hours - that's a month of evenings and weekends, should see your boat ready for painting. A bit of spare room - a space about 5m X 3m (15' X 9') is the minimum you require A few simple tools - no sophisticated equipment is necessary but, although you don't need an electric drill, it does save a lot of time. If you are tempted, why not have a look at this short video presentation of the building of Mirror 70670 by Ben Hill? Then browse through the building instructions to get a good idea of what is involved.

See also www.ckdboats.com