Classic car mechanic’s weekly motoring – Head vs Heart

‘In the corner of the workshop, Olli Ragbin sits watching events unfold before him’

I've had to take a bit of time away from the boys & girls at the CCM workshops of recent. Unfortunately, bills and the usual mundanity of normal life has meant my usual position of 'workshop nuisance' & 'asker of daft questions' has been on hold.

I don’t know if the team have missed me. If they have, then here's a quick reminder of the sorts of bothersome faff that they've been free of in recent weeks… (this'll soon bring 'em back to reality).

Below is a non-exhaustive list of the sorts of questions they haven't had to deal with over winter,

What does this do?
Where does this go?
Have you got a thingee I can borrow?
How am I supposed to do that?
Why doesn't it work?
Can I borrow you for a minute
Is this good enough?
Are you being honest with me?
It's not good enough is it?
Seriously, why doesn't it work?
What do you mean 'did you eat all the biscuits?'
Where are the biscuits?
I'm sure I put that back

Anyway, I'm plotting my return soon enough and the above list will no doubt be quickly added to.

In my other life a few of the folk I work with are car people, so conversation often moves to the automotive world. Unsurprisingly I am seeing a shift toward electric. I feel like a bit of a stick-in-the-mud with my refusal to engage in this particular revolution. Mechanical engineering trumps computerised perfection when it comes to the pleasures I get from driving.

There is though a strong financial incentive to go electric. For those buying under a company scheme, the tax advantages are significant and normal ICE cars are simply not a realistic option. But there is still nothing to really get excited about in this space, certainly not when compared to the vintage, classic & modern classic scene.

A couple of weeks back I decided to go window shopping on expectation that at some point, my numbers will come in (why wouldn't they?). And what would a sensible buy be in those circumstances? Well, I went to look at an Aston V12 Vantage S. Now this may just creep into a very loose definition of a modern classic one day, but there is something about this car that nicely highlights just how big a gap there is in the appeal of electric vs mechanical.

I rocked up to Aston and wandered in trying my hardest to look credible. 'let's go and have a look at thi Vantage S you've just got in, shall we old bean?' and with that me and salesboy trooped off to the back of the showroom to have a look.

The car was parked up against the wall, so the ever helpful salesboy hopped in and started it up. At that exact second, I knew that petrol powered cars are simply more than just an antiquated way to move a vehicle. They are the most modern method available of powering emotion. That sound…. Good lord…. Within 3 seconds I was contemplating the sale of at least one kidney, maybe a hind tooth, certainly all worldly possessions. There isn’t a button on a Tesla dashboard that plugs immediately into the limbic system in the way a 6.0 litre V12 does so effortlessly. And this isn't just the domain of the exotic super car either. Try a TR7 V8, an old Porsche boxer engine, or a yank V8 in a coupe the size of Ohio. And sound isn’t the only thing. Emotion isn't binary. The steering feel of a well set up classic where you feel part of the machine, not just a simple computer operator.

Despite dreaming of an Aston, I'm actually more excited by the progress being made on our lovely 1985 Jaguar XJ 4.2 Sov. Roy has been doing a sterling job in some of his own downtime to keep things moving along. I literally can't wait to see how it's coming along. The pure pleasure of wafting an old Jag along an English country lane, well within the speed limit on a beautiful sunny day. Bring it on.

When I trundle into the workshop next I am going to notice some big changes. Eric & the team have been building and expanding! I'll give you a bit more of an update next time with some photos of CCM towers. In the meantime, if you have a classic, old or modern, and you need some expert help and care, give the gang a call. Classics are more than just our job, they are a true part of all of our lives. And long may that continue.

And now, some of this week's photos.

Go steady.

Olli