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Shed & Buried- Classic Cars (2024) Season 4 Episode 8
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00:05Look, they've both got a stick. What do you reckon Pete? That's not sharing.
00:10They're sharing. Well they're not growling are they? So they've got to be sharing.
00:13No, it's because they've got the vows full. Are you going to give me that stick? No, no chance.
00:16There's some growling. There is. Look. Oh, Tot's got it away.
00:23It's brilliant though because they've got company. She's got company now.
00:28That's great. It is amazing Pete, you know, she's ten been now.
00:33But she'll go younger now because the little one will keep her...
00:36Ten months? Something like that. So she keeps her young. Yeah, it will do.
00:42And we're off trawling Britain's sheds.
00:47This is absolutely unbelievable.
00:50For the most intriguing, I have never ever seen one of these.
00:55The most exciting...
00:57Oh ho ho, now that is a naughty car.
01:00The most surprising, classic cars.
01:03It is very you.
01:05I love it.
01:06We're going to buy them, fix them up...
01:09No!
01:10Ha!
01:11And sell them for a tidy profit.
01:14Nice little earner.
01:16Wahey!
01:17This is Shed and Buried.
01:19Classic cars.
01:27We're off in search of a classic car.
01:30But I'm knackered.
01:32Tell me we're not going far.
01:35We are not going far.
01:36We're going to Bicester.
01:38Which is, well it's probably about half an hour, 40 minutes, maybe 45 minutes.
01:43In a normal vehicle.
01:44An hour and a quarter in this.
01:46Right, we're going to go and see a chap called Mark.
01:48He has a collection of his own.
01:51But he does wheel and deal a bit in cars as well.
01:53Classics, yeah.
01:54All right.
01:54But he likes things like racing Austin 7s and stuff like that.
02:01So he's a pre-war junkie like you.
02:03Yeah, he is.
02:04But you know, there's some post-war goodies in there.
02:06A lot of British stuff.
02:07Right.
02:08But also, I may have seen, just in one picture, a motorbike or two.
02:15Oh really?
02:15Yeah.
02:16You didn't see what motorbike?
02:18No.
02:19No.
02:19I didn't see very closely.
02:21Mystery motorbike.
02:22Mystery motorbikes.
02:25Whether we come back with a Boston Austin, a pre-war saloon, or solve the mystery of Mark's
02:31bike collection.
02:32Who knows?
02:33But Vista, here we come.
02:36So Mark, so look, I know you wheel and deal a bit, but you collect as well.
02:40And this is your stash.
02:41Well, yeah.
02:42Do you have a pole, Sean?
02:43Alvis Austin 7s, particularly.
02:45Yeah.
02:45Oh, okay.
02:46A race of the Austin 7.
02:47The earlier the better for me.
02:49I can never quite understand why people are so in love with Austin 7s.
02:53Simplicity.
02:54Yeah.
02:54Simplicity.
02:55Is that what it is?
02:55Yeah, and you don't have to go fast to enjoy driving it.
02:58No.
02:58I'm quite excited because I know there's going to be what I call an eclectic mix.
03:01Exactly.
03:02Now, Mark, are all of these for sale or are there a few special ones?
03:07There's one or two that won't be, but the majority can be sort of sold on.
03:13Teased away.
03:14For the right price.
03:15Okay, fantastic.
03:16Well, look, Mark, I'll tell you what, we'll call you in probably on a couple of things
03:18you might need some info on.
03:20But basically, we'll have a rummage about, if that's okay.
03:23Yeah.
03:24And then we will hopefully do a deal at the end on something.
03:29Fabulous.
03:30All right.
03:30Cool.
03:31Cheers.
03:31Cheers.
03:32Thank you so very much.
03:32Thank you, Mark.
03:33I want to start over here, actually.
03:38Is this an Armstrong thingy?
03:40It's an Armstrong Sidley, yes.
03:42There's the Sphinx on the front.
03:44This is an Armstrong Sidley Hurricane.
03:48Founded in 1919, Armstrong Sidley was a luxury British car maker, an engine manufacturer for
03:55the aviation industry.
03:57The Hurricane was one of its first post-war models, targeting the wealthy driver with a
04:02taste for speed.
04:04I never knew they did a soft top.
04:06That obviously goes right back.
04:08Yes.
04:09Obviously, the dashboard, it looked, I don't, hmm.
04:12Well, do you know, maybe, well, yeah, that's a, perhaps we could have a go at recovering
04:17those.
04:18And also...
04:19Well, you're going to have to recover the rear seat as well.
04:21Well, we could do something with that, and also, a bit with the wood.
04:25Because we could have a little go at the wood, because it's not like it's completely
04:30let go.
04:30I think we could get that back.
04:32Oh, it's got a pre-selected gearbox.
04:34It has, yeah, which is all great fun.
04:36All in all, I think this is a splendid combo.
04:40I think it's a crazy colour.
04:42I think it deserves to be rotted.
04:44You can't rob this.
04:46Why not?
04:46This is...
04:47It's like putting roller skates on your granny.
04:49You just don't do it.
04:51I love that analogy.
04:53Well, that's a very, very good start.
04:55Yeah, okay.
04:56Come on then, Fuzz, over here.
04:58For a classic car that needs no restoration, you couldn't get better than this.
05:03It's a Talbot, probably from around about 1936, 35.
05:09It looks very lovely inside.
05:11It's beautiful, man.
05:12Yeah.
05:13What I love about it is it's slightly American gangster.
05:17Yeah.
05:17In this colour scheme.
05:18Yes.
05:19And you know how I love, you know, the kind of vehicle that you'd have a Tommy gun sticking
05:23out of.
05:24Yeah.
05:24I know what I mean.
05:26But for the real McCoy gangster special, just behind a two-door Mercedes, Mark's got
05:32a bona fide Cadillac saloon with a dangerous-looking occupant.
05:37Ah!
05:37Go on, Chipper!
05:38Is that a ferret or is that something bigger?
05:40I think it's bigger.
05:41Come and have a look around here.
05:42Come on.
05:43Stand there.
05:44Turn around.
05:44Give us a smile.
05:48Hello, Henry.
05:52I think it might be a, what do you call them, pine-martin?
05:56A pine-martin.
05:57Here we have a lovely vintage Cadillac.
06:01That interior is stunning.
06:05I love a bit of velour.
06:07I'd suggest early 1920s.
06:09Yeah.
06:09Late 19-seens, early 1920s.
06:12I mean, that is Al Capone, isn't it?
06:14Yeah.
06:14Now you're getting there.
06:15That's when you get your Tommy gun out.
06:18Moving inside Mark's main shed, the vintage delights continue, starting with this lovely
06:24Austin.
06:25This is an Austin 12-4 Doctor's Coupe.
06:29Okay, a Doctor's Coupe.
06:31Yeah.
06:31Is that because Doctor's got a deal on it?
06:33I don't know why they were called Doctor's Coupes, but the great thing about these is
06:37that there's a good following, good parts availability, and these are thoroughly dependable.
06:45Like a lot of pre-war cars, the boot doubled as an extra seat.
06:49Guy could be in the back there.
06:51He could.
06:51Guy and Alan.
06:52And we could have the roof up, so we can't hear him.
06:56Next door, there's one of Mark's treasured Austin 7s.
06:59But the really interesting looking car is just behind.
07:03If you like brass, Fuzzer, you're going to love this motor.
07:07What is that?
07:08Now, here we go.
07:08This is, well, I can tell, 1914, and it's a star.
07:13How do you know?
07:13Oh, it says 1914 star?
07:16It does, yeah.
07:16Don't you like those?
07:17Lovely.
07:18Absolutely beautiful.
07:19Oh my God, that's beautiful.
07:21Hey, let's get Mark in and ask about that.
07:22Yeah.
07:23Mark!
07:24Great.
07:24Mark, come on in.
07:25Come on down, as they say.
07:27This is a star.
07:28Can you tell me about it?
07:29Because I'll tell you what, man, I've never seen so much brass on a vehicle.
07:33It's gorgeous, isn't it?
07:34It's stunning.
07:35Pre-First War, built in Wolverhampton.
07:38Neighbours to Sunbeam.
07:40Yes.
07:40Oh, okay.
07:41And this is a 15.9, so it's about three litres.
07:45And who would be buying that kind of stuff?
07:47I mean, is it for the posh people?
07:49It would have been, yeah.
07:50They're fairly expensive cars.
07:52I can see that, surely.
07:54Yeah.
07:54It's beautiful.
07:55A question, why are Doctor's Coupés so called?
08:00Presumably, because he could lock them.
08:02So if they had the medicines inside them.
08:03Ah.
08:04That's what I've always thought.
08:06Oh, right, okay.
08:07Well, I never knew that that's answered that question for me.
08:10Actually, just while you're here, Mark, that Morris 8 is lovely as a commercial, isn't it?
08:14Where did that come from?
08:15The first owners were, actually, a bakery in Leamington Spa.
08:19But you see, that commercial would be worth a lot more, surely, than the standard Morris 8, wouldn't it?
08:25Yes, they would be.
08:26They're rarer.
08:26Yeah.
08:27Because most commercial, like all commercial, they run into the ground and scrapped.
08:30Yeah.
08:30So there's a few around.
08:32That's right, yes.
08:32It's like people, people who do the work, end up being run into the ground.
08:38Well, I know.
08:38The fingers worked.
08:39Look at my hands.
08:40Look at that.
08:41There you go.
08:42There you go.
08:44Mine, I haven't put any moisturiser on.
08:47You know, but they're still looking lovely.
08:51For something that I might dirty my hands on, I've just spotted a couple of bikes hidden under a pile
08:58of clutter.
08:59They're James commuter models, and they've both seen better days.
09:03Do you think I'll get both and do one nice one?
09:09Possibly so.
09:10Or do we just not bother?
09:12Who knows?
09:13Let's move on.
09:13Yeah, okay.
09:14We can have.
09:14Let's just see.
09:15It could be part of a deal.
09:16Our last pick looks old, but it's not what it seems.
09:21What's in there?
09:22What's in here is a Triumph two-litre engine, or at least a 1.6, so a special based upon
09:30a Triumph Vitesse.
09:33The Vitesse was a sporty update on the better-known Triumph Herald, with a six-cylinder engine and a high
09:40-spec interior.
09:42But the Vitesse's were quite pokey, though, weren't they?
09:45Yeah, they were.
09:45Were they two-litre?
09:46Yeah, well, this would be even pokey, wouldn't it?
09:47Well, of course it would.
09:48Because there's less steel work around it, so this is going to shift.
09:52So a lot to choose from, but what are we going to get?
09:58My favourite thing is that I quite like that Armstrong.
10:02I mean, I love the Caddy, and I love the tall butt out there.
10:06Yeah.
10:07Both of which I think is out of sight.
10:09Yeah.
10:09I like the Armstrong.
10:11Yeah.
10:11I like the Morris 8 van.
10:13Yeah, I love it.
10:14We can find out those prices, and maybe a side sprinkling of motorcycle.
10:19Yeah.
10:19I think you're going to have to be radical with those James to make any money out of them.
10:24Come on, Mark, do us a deal, mate.
10:31Okay, well, look, let's start with what we're leaning on.
10:33Right.
10:35How much is that?
10:36Solve at £75.
10:36This is £35,000.
10:39Here.
10:40Okay.
10:40We won't be having that then.
10:42No.
10:42No.
10:43The Armstrong Siddeley, tell me about that.
10:45Two owners from you.
10:46Yeah.
10:46The first owner was the master at Harrow.
10:49Yeah.
10:49He had it from new to 1980.
10:52And then there was a chap, a professor at Oxford University, who had it from then until early last year.
11:01How much is that?
11:02Six and a half.
11:03Six and a half.
11:05And the Morris 8 commercial.
11:08It's lovely that, isn't it?
11:10Yeah, is it?
11:10Yeah, it goes well.
11:12That's nine and a half.
11:14Okay.
11:15Now, there are two, I can just about call them motorbikes.
11:20Ah, yes.
11:21The Jameses.
11:21The Jameses.
11:21Yeah.
11:23How much are they?
11:24Well, I haven't really got the price of those.
11:26You can make me an offer on those.
11:27Could I offer you five for the Armstrong?
11:31I would meet you halfway.
11:33That would be five, seven, fifty.
11:35Yeah.
11:36Five, seven, fifty.
11:50We're in Bicester with Mark and his delightful collection of British and American classics.
11:56Is this an Armstrong thingy?
11:58It's an Armstrong Sidley, yes.
12:00There's the sphinx on the front.
12:01We've bid five grand for an Armstrong Sidley Hurricane.
12:05But he wants more.
12:08Could I tempt you for five and a half?
12:10We might be able to do something at five and a half.
12:14Come on then, Mark.
12:15I was going to offer you on the motorbikes, but I just thought to myself,
12:18my God, we've got that to deal with.
12:21They're probably worth about 300 quid each.
12:23Well, you're probably not far wrong there.
12:26If you make it 400 quid each.
12:28700 quid for two.
12:31Nice.
12:32Yeah.
12:32All right, great stuff.
12:33That's exactly what I was thinking.
12:34Okay, so that's, what's that, six?
12:36Oh, I don't know.
12:37Whatever it is.
12:38Five and a half.
12:39Six, two.
12:39Six, two.
12:40How fantastic is that?
12:45Two days later, back at the shed, Alan and Skid are blown over by our hurricane.
12:51The colour's just perfect, so what a lovely colour.
12:53What do you reckon?
12:54I love this, mate.
12:56Do you?
12:56Because it's a convertible.
12:57And also, the size of the doors, they're massive.
13:00It's also got a very short windscreen.
13:02Very short, isn't it?
13:02Has that been chopped or is that standard?
13:04I think it's so cool, isn't it?
13:05It is.
13:05I think it looks chopped.
13:06Is that standard?
13:08Yes, that is, yes.
13:09Is it?
13:09So this is an Armstrong Sidley hurricane.
13:12Right.
13:12So this is 1949.
13:14And yes, it is almost Walsall Corporation blue with the correct red interior as well.
13:22It's so exciting, isn't it?
13:24I mean, look at that.
13:25It's just like a miniature bus.
13:26Oh, yes, it is.
13:28Yes.
13:28It's quite regal in a way though, isn't it?
13:30Mate, I love it.
13:31I think it's just fantastic.
13:32Now then, we don't know whether it runs.
13:34We know we've got an issue with the driver's seat.
13:36Someone scuffed it there, which looks fresh.
13:39So we probably should get a colour match.
13:41There's been scuff there as well.
13:41Yeah, there's scuff everywhere.
13:43But I think, get this going and smoke this about, it's fantastic.
13:49Which is not how you'd describe our other purchases.
13:53700 quid the lot.
13:54Plus, just as I was loading all this stuff, Mark comes up to me and goes,
13:59do you want a free electric bicycle?
14:01Oh, I bet you jumped at the car.
14:02I did.
14:03I said, lob it in the back of the van, mate.
14:05But anyway, so look, we do have a load of paraphernalia.
14:09Mark just kept loading the truck going, oh, you might as well have that.
14:11You might as well have that.
14:12It's not just paraphernalia.
14:13There's two motorcycles.
14:14There is.
14:15And I think perhaps we look at making a good one out of two.
14:19It is an auto jumble starter kit.
14:22It is, isn't it?
14:23The whole thing, yeah.
14:24You can take that to a show now.
14:25Sit off your table and you've got an auto jumble.
14:26There you go.
14:27So, look.
14:28Well, firstly, I think we should see if that electric bicycle does charge.
14:31Because if it doesn't, I'll just skip it.
14:33That's that.
14:33But mainly, let's get this turquoise ship going.
14:41First things first, fuzz juices are up.
14:45Right, there we go.
14:48The Hurricane was fitted with a six-cylinder 1900cc engine.
14:53But Mark warned us that it hadn't been run for a while.
14:56So, though everything seems roughly in order, our expectations aren't high.
15:01Right, ignition on.
15:03OK.
15:04And I'm starting it now with a start button.
15:06OK.
15:10Great.
15:10It wants to.
15:13Can you give me a squirt?
15:15Yeah, OK.
15:15Give it a go.
15:16That didn't fire that time, did it?
15:18We've got a seized up butterfly on the carburetor.
15:21Yeah.
15:22Oh, that's come apart.
15:23The rose joint's come apart.
15:24No, I took it off.
15:25Oh.
15:26Right, that's interesting, isn't it?
15:28The butterfly is a kind of valve which controls the flow of air into the carburetor.
15:34I'm just on the phone to Chopper Roy.
15:35You don't want an Armstrong Sidley that doesn't work, do you?
15:40No?
15:41Yeah, you'll have it.
15:42Good boy.
15:43Any movement?
15:44Here's a heat gun if you need it.
15:45Yeah, well done, yeah.
15:46First fuzz tries to mend it in situ.
15:49Put a bit of heat into it if that might help.
15:50Yes, good idea.
15:52But access is limited.
15:55Carburetor off.
15:56Carburetor off.
15:57Carburetor off.
15:58Carburetor off.
15:59Carburetor off.
16:00Carburetor off.
16:00Carburetor off.
16:01Bean.
16:02Carburetor off.
16:04Off it comes, but the butterfly isn't the problem.
16:08Oh, what's happening?
16:09Oh, look.
16:10What's that?
16:10Is that stuck?
16:12Yes, it is.
16:12It's an accelerator pump.
16:14Yes.
16:16After a bit of surgery and a warm-up.
16:20Okay, there we go.
16:21It's working.
16:21Absolutely.
16:22It's working perfect.
16:23Spot on.
16:24Let's give it a little bit of a penetrant.
16:28Can I ask how you're getting on?
16:30Very well.
16:31You can, yes.
16:31Good.
16:32We're now wobbling nicely.
16:33Oh, really?
16:34Yes.
16:35So you don't have to strip it totally?
16:36No.
16:37No.
16:37The accelerator pump plunger was seized.
16:40Oh, I can see the butterfly working.
16:41It's jammed the whole mechanism.
16:42See, it's all working now.
16:43Now we can allow the engine to breathe.
16:48Back in it goes, and we try again.
16:52Okay, give it a go.
16:54All right, you ready?
16:55Right, ignition on.
16:57Yep.
16:57Chocks away.
16:58Yep.
16:59Start.
17:05Well, not quite.
17:08Oh, yep.
17:09The starter motor is coughing away, but we still don't have lift-off.
17:14What's the grind?
17:17Almost.
17:18It's like you when you first sit up in the morning.
17:24Until finally, after another squirt of easy start.
17:29Yes!
17:30Yes!
17:30Here we go!
17:32Here.
17:32Oh, yes!
17:33What do you mean?
17:35Wahoo!
17:36Fantastic!
17:38Ha ha!
17:39Beam!
17:39Be excited!
17:43I think when that's warm, that'll tick over.
17:45It runs.
17:46It runs big.
17:47And also, it's ticking over.
17:50Yeah.
17:51Isn't it?
17:51Tick over nicely.
17:52Tick it over nicely.
17:54Eh?
17:55Aha!
17:55Yeah!
17:56I think that'll speed up.
17:58I think it will.
17:58Yeah, I think it will.
17:59Right, let's go then.
18:01Hang on, we've got to put the air filter back on.
18:03Back on it goes, and after a final few adjustments...
18:07Are we actually going to take this for a drive?
18:09Yeah.
18:10I think it will be rude not to.
18:12Okay.
18:13All right.
18:14Well, well, why don't we do that?
18:16See if we can get even more results out of it.
18:18Oh!
18:19Oh!
18:20Steady, Alan.
18:21For God's sake.
18:22This thing's older than you.
18:24It's certainly close.
18:30And off we go.
18:33Or not.
18:38What?
18:39What is that noise?
18:40The afterburner.
18:41Yeah, it's just a little bit of a star smoker bearing.
18:44Take two.
18:46Watch the table.
18:48Oh!
18:49That's lovely.
18:51What is that noise?
18:52Brakes.
18:53That's an absolute corker.
18:57Oh!
18:59Oh, fuzzer.
19:01Take three.
19:04This is great.
19:05Keep it going.
19:07What is that noise?
19:08The brakes?
19:09Brakes, yeah.
19:10Don't worry about the brakes.
19:10No brake lining, I think.
19:12It stops.
19:15Just trying to wear it off.
19:16Oh, yeah.
19:16Good lad.
19:18Hey, the good news is, though, it has brakes.
19:20It does have brakes.
19:21Oh, hang on.
19:22It's worn off.
19:25What a relief.
19:26What a lovely...
19:27Oh, it's mellowing out now.
19:28Look at that.
19:29There we go.
19:29That's it.
19:30It's like a sort of water torture or something.
19:33Do you know what I mean?
19:34Is that...
19:35What's happened?
19:36Nothing.
19:37What's going on?
19:38I'm just changing gear.
19:39All right.
19:39Just checking all the gears are there.
19:41All right.
19:42It just needs using, sir.
19:44Now, will it go into select and reverse?
19:47Ah, well, that's what we need to find out, isn't it?
19:51Unfortunately, the squeaking does come back, but clearly it rides and reverses.
19:56Yippee!
19:57Armstrong Sidley morphed into Hawker Sidley, the famous plane manufacturer, responsible
20:03for this car's namesake, the Hawker Hurricane.
20:06This one doesn't quite fly yet, but warmed up, it does feel powerful.
20:12This is great.
20:13It's certainly going through the box, dear boy.
20:15Yeah.
20:17Well, what a great test ride.
20:18Oh, it's great.
20:19Eh?
20:20A bit more fettling and then we can go out on a longer endeavour, eh?
20:23Yeah, I think so.
20:23I think it's gone very well, mate.
20:26Yeah.
20:26Very well.
20:26Surprisingly.
20:27Well done, old Armstrong Sidley.
20:30So we need to add a bit of de-squeaking to our to-do list, but the Armstrong's looking promising.
20:40We'll deal with the motorbikes later, but tonight we'll attempt to charge up our electric freebie.
20:46We've still got to sort the seating and upholstery on the Hurricane, but with a trailing wind, the bike, too,
20:53might just take off.
21:06Yes!
21:07Yes!
21:07Dig up!
21:09Oh, yes!
21:10We had a good day yesterday with the Armstrong Sidley.
21:15That's lovely.
21:16What is that noise?
21:18It squeaketh, but it also runneth.
21:23The seating, though, does leave something to be desired, so today we're going to sort it out.
21:29Right, I'm going to get rid of this, because that's a wise move for us breathing in horse hair.
21:33Oh, my God, what's under there?
21:35It's not good, is it?
21:36Well, they don't make them like that anymore.
21:38No, just as well.
21:39Do you think we should get the hoover?
21:40Er, yeah, maybe.
21:42The other big problem is the permanently reclined front seat.
21:47I just wonder if we put one there and then a shaped one...
21:50In there?
21:51In there.
21:52That'll do it.
21:53And then maybe a little bit across the top, like here.
21:57That might do it, actually.
22:02Over the next two hours, Fuzz and Skid swap their spanners for saws and screwdrivers to sort out the front
22:09seat.
22:09It's not bad, I just need to straighten up the bracket.
22:12That one's roughly level.
22:14Right, rest it and see what we're doing for angle of dangle.
22:17Right, okay, so we're...
22:18We're too narrow.
22:20Too short, aren't we?
22:21But I think tie that in together.
22:23First.
22:24That's the first thing to do.
22:25Yep.
22:26And if you need to put a small baton on the top, then that's fine.
22:32Skid installs an oak baton and checks again.
22:36I think that is happy days.
22:41Seat sorted.
22:42Skid swaps his saw for a soft cloth and a tin of Tudor oak to spruce up the interior woodwork
22:48before moving on to the leather seats.
22:53The aqua blue and oxblood colour combination might not be to everyone's taste, but on a period car like this,
23:00it looks great.
23:02That looks a heck of a lot better, doesn't it?
23:05I think it's transformed.
23:06It's brought it all together, hasn't it?
23:08What have you done?
23:09You waxed it?
23:09I used your favourite two items.
23:11Oh, yeah.
23:12Tudor wax.
23:13Oh, really?
23:13And then a mop.
23:14Oh, yeah.
23:15Electric mop.
23:16Mate, that really has done wonders to the fascia.
23:21As for the seat...
23:25Don't lean too heavily on the back, though.
23:26No, exactly.
23:27I haven't got much weight.
23:28It's only made for the average person.
23:30Yes.
23:31What is that meant to mean?
23:33You're the average person.
23:34You're above average, sir.
23:36That's what I meant.
23:37Oh, man.
23:38I could get into this.
23:40Yeah.
23:40Isn't it lovely when you have a seat that works?
23:43Exactly.
23:43Mate, it's beautiful.
23:45What else have we got to do to it?
23:46There's still the rear seat to deal with.
23:48The back seat is a different kind of problem.
23:52What do you reckon on a tartan rug?
23:55I think that would go quite well.
23:57Or you could go for a seat cover and be 1,200 quid out of pocket.
24:01No, no, no.
24:01We'll get the rug.
24:02It's 45 quid off the internet.
24:04Okay.
24:04Happy days.
24:04I've already ordered it.
24:05I'll let you get on with the wheels and stuff.
24:07Okay, thanks.
24:08But I'll tell you what, you're doing a terribly good job.
24:09Right.
24:10There you go.
24:10There's your tea back.
24:11Oh, thank you very much.
24:13Yes.
24:15What's happened to that?
24:16Oh, it must have evaporated.
24:18Have you drunk it?
24:20No.
24:21He has, hasn't he?
24:22Yes.
24:23Hold that a sec.
24:28While I head off in search of another cuppa, Foss starts on the rear seat.
24:32Here is the back seat out of the Armstrong Sibley.
24:36Now, it's falling apart at the seams, but even worse.
24:39Underneath here, it looks like a biohazard down there.
24:43So, I'm going to get rid of all that horrible horsehair material, and I'm going to wrap it
24:49in this, I mean, not much better, but actually in comparison, far cleaner old bit of sheet.
24:57It's not a proper full-on job, but it will at least mean that we can sit on the rear
25:02seat
25:03without it splitting open like an old burst sofa.
25:07Horsehair is supposed to be antimicrobial and anti-allergenic, but this stuffing looks
25:13more hazardous than a holiday in Chernobyl.
25:16The foam mattress they find to replace it probably won't last long, but it doesn't look
25:21so disgusting.
25:23What we can do with this is use it on top of the tired old springs to give a little
25:33bit
25:33of plumpness.
25:36I didn't think I'd see anyone using a hacksaw to cut foam, but necessity is the mother of
25:43tool abuse.
25:44Just using some spray upholstery glue here.
25:48Do you actually think this is going to hold?
25:50It's going to be no worse than it was, and probably a little bit more sanitary.
25:55Having re-roofed a Model T Ford recently, Fuzz is getting a taste for upholstery. Not that
26:02Skid is so enthusiastic.
26:03We may as well have a go at fixing it.
26:07I'd just cut the cover off, put his tartan throw on when it arrives.
26:13Originality.
26:14Originality Skid.
26:15Originality?
26:18In truth, the seat is soon covered with half a roll of gaffer tape, and the end result
26:23is more Poundland than Louis Cator's. But a tartan blanket can cover a multitude of sins.
26:29People may mock, but that is very comfy.
26:33I think it's guaranteed that people will mock, but posteriors will be pleased.
26:41In it goes, ready for its first derrières.
26:45Would you like to join my carriage, sir?
26:47Yes, I would, yes.
26:53That's all right, that is.
26:55That is very supportive, isn't it?
26:57Yeah.
26:58We'll leave our free gift for later, but first, the James bikes and the pile of detritus that
27:04came with them.
27:05Vintage bike levers, etc.
27:07There's enough here for a full table at an auto jumble, though a lot of it might end
27:12up unsold and unloved.
27:14What about that?
27:15No, that's straight to Skid.
27:23The engine whisperer, meanwhile, has started on the first James.
27:27You've got a battery on there.
27:29That's a positive to earth.
27:30Yeah.
27:30It's negative.
27:31Carb is connected.
27:32All the throttles seem to work.
27:33The carb looks new out.
27:34Yeah, it does.
27:35When you turn on the ignition, I'll get a draw on the amps.
27:37Okay, cool.
27:38I'm just going to stick my finger up the plug hole so it's got a spark.
27:41Really?
27:41You're so brave, you know.
27:43So I'm going to gently kick it over.
27:44Don't try this at home, kids.
27:46Yeah, it does.
27:47I'm just going to stick my finger up the plug hole so it's got a spark.
27:49Oh, yeah.
27:51That's a proper spark.
27:53I love the way it brings you back to life though.
27:55It's a proper spark.
27:57Shall I get the tyre inflator?
27:59Yeah, do that.
27:59Yeah, go on.
28:00I'll go and get some fuel.
28:01Yes, brilliant.
28:01Yeah.
28:03In goes some air.
28:06And a litre of fuel.
28:09Then, after giving the carburetor a few taps and a tickle.
28:14Let's just try it.
28:15Give it a go.
28:16Alan gives it a kick.
28:18It starts at night.
28:24He removes the carb covers and manually chokes off the air.
28:36Then, before the bike changes its mind, he mounts up, dons a helmet and heads for the paddock.
28:50R. James is a 200cc commuter bike dating back to 1961.
28:56So, it ain't no racer.
28:58But, bearing in mind that it probably hasn't been ridden in donkey's years.
29:02Just look at it go.
29:05Yes.
29:06I mean, it runs.
29:07It actually runs quite nice.
29:09That's fantastic.
29:10How are the gears out?
29:11Are they all right?
29:11They're a bit sticky.
29:12Right.
29:13I might just need oil in.
29:13It might just need using.
29:15It hasn't been used for a long time, has it?
29:17No.
29:17That's a proper wind though, isn't it?
29:19700 pounds for all of it.
29:21It's an SPQR.
29:22Yeah.
29:22Definitely.
29:23Too right.
29:25One bike down, two more to go.
29:28Starting with our electric freebie.
29:32First task, the clean up.
29:37Unusually, our bike has a hub motor on the front wheel.
29:40But otherwise, it seems to be all in order.
29:43The big question is the battery.
29:46I've just given this a clean and pumped the tyres up.
29:50If that works, I think this will ride quite nicely.
29:53This is an old school battery with lead acid batteries.
29:56Well, these are basically like mobility scooter batteries.
29:58There's no battery management system on it.
30:00No.
30:00So are you telling me this is the start of electric bicycles?
30:03Oh, yeah.
30:03These weigh a tonne.
30:04Yeah.
30:05Absolutely a tonne.
30:07Modern electric bikes use lithium batteries, which are much lighter.
30:12Are you totally sure it's wired correctly?
30:14Yes.
30:15Okay, let's test it then.
30:16Go on then.
30:17We should get 36 or just over volts.
30:19Okay.
30:20Can you look at that?
30:2038.5?
30:21Yeah.
30:22That's perfect.
30:22Once it's been refitted.
30:24Okay, we're in.
30:25Give it full throttle.
30:27Next task is to test it.
30:28No.
30:31No.
30:31Nothing.
30:33Nothing at all.
30:35Surprise, surprise.
30:37Back at base, Alan connects it up to a car battery to work out whether the motor or the battery
30:43pack is at fault.
30:45There we go.
30:45There we go.
30:46It's actually pedalling.
30:47It gives it a boost to the front.
30:48Yeah, it'll only power when you're pedalling.
30:51That's it.
30:51Look at that.
30:53Right, so look, the bike works.
30:55Must be the battery then.
30:57It's all very delicate, the whole setup.
30:59It's not good, is it?
31:00No, it really is.
31:02It's very Heath Robinson.
31:03Yeah.
31:04After checking the polarity, Fuzz remounts the battery, does a quick static test.
31:09Yes, there we go.
31:10And tries again.
31:12Fill your boots and glide off into the sunset.
31:15Yes.
31:16Yes.
31:17Yes, that's it.
31:18Come on.
31:19This time it does work, but the bike is heavier than Black Sabbath, so Fuzz has to keep pedalling.
31:25This is the life.
31:26What do you think, Fuzz?
31:27Easy life.
31:29Fantastic.
31:30So it kicks in occasionally?
31:30Yeah, it kicks in.
31:32Obviously not when I'm not pedalling.
31:35But yeah, I just keep pedalling and it assists me nicely.
31:39Right.
31:39However, I will say, the weight of the battery pack, if you try and pick this bike up, this
31:44is like, well, it's like a Honda Cub, maybe even heavier.
31:48Yeah.
31:49So, why wouldn't you have a Honda Cub?
31:52Because the eco-warriors will tell you, this is the future.
31:55The future.
31:56It looks very cool.
31:56I've already played on that acid.
31:57That's true.
31:58But, why not have a 60 year old Honda Cub, which is completely written down and is as
32:04green as that tree standing behind you.
32:06So, a busy day. We've sorted the car's seating and got the electric bike and, by the close
32:13of play, both the Jameses running. Next up, we're going to take our Armstrong
32:19Sidley to meet its cousin in the RAF. It should be comfortable enough now, but will our 80-year-old
32:26car live up to its name and fly like a hurricane?
32:41This is an Armstrong Sidley Hurricane. Two weeks ago, we found a Hurricane Sports Tourer in a shed in Bicester.
32:50We might be able to do something at five and a half. We fettled it.
32:54Now we can allow the engine to breathe. We upholstered it.
33:00That's all right, that is. And now, after our mate Pete has touched up the paintwork and we've fitted the
33:06plates.
33:06That's nice. It's time to take it out, after one final adornment.
33:13How's it going? Here we go. Do you know what this is called?
33:16Er, no. Blanket coverage.
33:20Oh! Very good.
33:23So, I thought perhaps we go for a Scottish kind of Malcolm Campbell, Donald Campbell crossover Scottish
33:30Yeah.
33:31One rug covers all.
33:3345 quid.
33:34Yeah, that's not bad. Have you left the labels on because you want to take him back after?
33:37Yeah, well, if it doesn't work, then I'll just take it back.
33:40There you go.
33:41Oh, no. You could have lost me 45 quid now, Fuzzer.
33:44Now look, as we know, today is a very special day because our Sidley is going to meet some other
33:50Sidleys.
33:51But not quite the Sidleys as we know them.
33:53Yeah, I think they may be a little bit faster.
33:56We are on our way to Duxford.
33:59Fantastic.
33:59The amazing Aircraft Etc Museum.
34:03We are going to celebrate Sidley, whether it's Hawker or whether it's Armstrong.
34:10Right?
34:11Aren't we?
34:11Okay, so we're going to see some Hawker Sidley.
34:13I'm so excited. I've never been to Duxford.
34:15Can we sit him on as well?
34:17No, I don't think so, mate. I don't think they'll let us.
34:19Were they actually making aeroplanes when this car was made?
34:23Oh, I don't know.
34:23Yes, because, well, if you think about it, Hawker Sidley, I'm not sure when the merger happened.
34:30But, of course, there was the Hawker Hurricane.
34:32Oh, yeah.
34:33Hang on, this is a hurricane.
34:34This is a hurricane, yeah.
34:35What do you think?
34:36So I have an idea that the companies may well have already merged by the time this was around.
34:42So this is almost an homage to the World War II and World War II.
34:47It's why the wind stream is so low. It's like it's got aircraft connotations.
34:49Do you think that's true?
34:51Maybe.
34:51How fantastic.
34:52Oh, look, man, the sun is shining, right?
34:55Yep.
34:55And Duxford is only a moment away.
34:57Okay.
34:57How far is it?
34:5980 miles.
34:59Okay, I think we should jump aboard, don't you think?
35:02Yes.
35:02And we should head off to Duxford.
35:05Great idea.
35:05To celebrate Sidley in all its forms.
35:09And we've got to put that on first.
35:10Yes.
35:11Oh, I completely forgot.
35:13On goes the blanket.
35:15I think that looks great.
35:17It's amazing how for 45 quid you can actually re-upholster.
35:2045 pounds.
35:21You paid 45 pounds.
35:23Weren't you listening?
35:24No, you probably weren't.
35:25Yeah.
35:25Don't be like that.
35:26That is proper Scottish wool.
35:28That's 10.99 all day long.
35:29No.
35:33And off we go.
35:40Now, that's a pre-selected gearbox, isn't it, Fuzzlington?
35:43Yes, it is.
35:44Yep.
35:44So we don't have a clutch, we have a fluid flywheel.
35:47We've got fluid drive and an epicyclic gearbox, a Wilson type epicyclic gearbox.
35:53So should you select third now?
35:57Ready?
35:57If you want it.
35:58And then you whack it.
35:59So now you've got third pre-selected.
36:01Yeah, we pre-select it and then you press the clutch button.
36:04Yep.
36:05It's a change speed pedal.
36:07Sorry, sir.
36:08It's almost an automatic.
36:09Change speed pedal.
36:09Do you hear that?
36:10It's almost an automatic.
36:11Almost an automatic.
36:12Yeah.
36:12I'm worried about losing my hat.
36:14I've already lost one twice.
36:15Have you, Al?
36:15Yeah.
36:15Fuzz has sorted out the squeaking brakes and there's no sign of any car problems.
36:22Our hurricane is a class act.
36:25The Armstrong Sidley mark didn't last long though.
36:29By 1960, car production had stopped entirely, though Hawker Sidley was still going strong
36:35in the aviation world.
36:39Okay, so we're going to see a bit of a Hawker Sidley experience, right?
36:43Yes.
36:43Which does include, hopefully, right, a Harrier jump jet.
36:48Right.
36:48Yeah.
36:48Right.
36:50I think there's a Buccaneer or something like that, some other Hawker Sidley jets.
36:55Right.
36:55Yeah.
36:56I think there might even be a Hurricane.
37:00Lovely.
37:00That'd be cool.
37:01Yeah.
37:01Either way, man, I can't wait.
37:06It's actually closer to 100 miles from Oxfordshire to Duxford, but everything's running fine
37:12and there's even a bonus.
37:15Can I say that we started off with half a tank of fuel and we seem to have gained almost
37:21a quarter tank.
37:22This is the kind of car you want in a fuel crisis.
37:25Yeah.
37:26It's been quite reliable so far.
37:28So far.
37:28Oh, Alan.
37:29Oh, Alan.
37:30Oh, Alan.
37:32That's gone wrong yet.
37:36Two hours later, and remarkably intact, we're there.
37:40Look at it all.
37:41It's incredible.
37:42It's amazing.
37:43Mate, okay, so look, we're going to meet Rebecca.
37:45She's going to show us a little range of Sidley experiences.
37:48Are you listening, Alan?
37:49I am.
37:49I was watching that plane table.
37:50Yeah, all right.
37:51Okay.
37:51Well, I'll tell you.
37:52The plane's more interesting than you.
37:55Rebecca's over here in this hangar before I get really upset because I've been bullied.
38:00Look at these planes there.
38:01Look, he's pushing me.
38:03Look.
38:03Duxford is a former RAF base which since the mid-70s has been home to the UK's biggest
38:09aero museum run by the Imperial War Museum.
38:13Pilot's briefing room, air crew room.
38:15Sounds good.
38:17Senior curator Rebecca Harding has promised to show us round a hurricane of the winged
38:22variety.
38:23The hurricane was actually much more prevalent really than the Spitfire, wasn't it?
38:27We often refer to the hurricane as the unsung hero.
38:31The Spitfire gets all the glory, but the hurricane was the workforce.
38:35Yeah, because our car, the Armstrong Sidley, is called a hurricane as well.
38:39It is.
38:39Is it about the same time?
38:40No.
38:41No, the Armstrong Sidley hurricane is from the late 40s, so it's an homage to these fantastic
38:47machines.
38:48Oh, right.
38:48Okay.
38:48Hey, I can hear them overhead as well.
38:53Entering service in 1937, the hurricane was the RAF's first 300 mile an hour plane.
39:00In its eight year production run, around 14,500 were built.
39:06So these are fabric bodied?
39:08They are fabric bodied, yes.
39:10Better not touch.
39:11Yeah.
39:12Don't touch.
39:12No.
39:13Is that why there aren't so many of them around, or was the Spitfire exactly the same,
39:18a fabric bodied?
39:19The Spitfire had an all metal body.
39:21Ariminion.
39:22Oh, was it?
39:22Ali?
39:23Ariminion.
39:23I think why more Spitfires survived than hurricanes was the Spitfires were generally
39:27a bit sexier than a hurricane, and a lot of them became gate guardians after the war,
39:32was the hurricane was a bit sort of like poor relation.
39:36Is it?
39:36But the hurricane did actually achieve quite a lot.
39:40So it was the workforce.
39:41I mean, if you assimilate it to us lot, right, I'm obviously the Spitfire because I don't
39:47do a lot of work, right?
39:48And these three are the engine room of the hurricane.
39:51Yeah.
39:52Yeah.
39:52Yeah.
39:52I quite like that.
39:54Actually, I'm not really a Spitfire either.
39:57Have some more sort of ground maintenance.
40:00Generator.
40:01Generator.
40:02Yeah.
40:04Other Sidley aircraft include this buccaneer, which once sat on the Ark Royal, and a twin
40:10propeller, Faerie Gannet, which has an innovative Sidley engine.
40:15The most famous Hawker Sidley plane, however, is in another hangar, the awesome Hawker Sidley
40:21Harrier, the world's most famous jump jet.
40:24Okay, this is the piece to resistance when it comes to Sidleys.
40:28It sure is.
40:28Tell me about this particular plane, Rebecca.
40:32This particular one is a Harrier GR3.
40:36She is a genuine Brooklyn War veteran.
40:39Yeah.
40:39She served with number one squadron, RAF, and she was at Battle of Tumbledown.
40:45And in one of her missions, a missile exploded about 100 feet above her, cascaded debris down,
40:53but fortunately didn't damage her.
40:55She survived, went on to serve in Germany, and then came to the museum in 1994.
41:00If you think about it, this is 1969.
41:0469 is when it entered service.
41:06So, our particular Armstrong Sidley went into service in 1949.
41:11The technology difference between a car and this is just...
41:17It's like...
41:18Kind of indescribable.
41:19Worlds away, isn't it?
41:20It's just an example of how swiftly technology moved in the 20th century.
41:25There's a constant drive to be better, be bigger, faster.
41:30That's it.
41:31More effective.
41:31Can I just say, I've just realised that I'm under the wing of a Concorde.
41:35I know.
41:35I mean, what?
41:37It's just phenomenal.
41:39Thank you so very much for giving us such a wonderful guided tour.
41:43I'll tell you what, man.
41:44I want to live here.
41:45I love this place.
41:46Hey, I'll tell you someone who would like this, our Chopper Roy.
41:49He would.
41:50Very true.
41:50Better find out how much our Armstrong's worth.
41:55Next day, Wing Commander Chopsicle turns up to review the goods.
42:00The less said about our Lecky bike, the better.
42:03But the Jameses both run and the Armstrong has done us proud.
42:07I hope Roy agrees.
42:11Look at that.
42:13Now, doesn't this car make anybody who stands next to it look amazing?
42:20Wow.
42:21Hang on.
42:21Wait a second.
42:21No comment.
42:22Do you actually buy any of that?
42:24Not a signal.
42:24Not a smidge.
42:25I thought I'd try.
42:26Now, Roy, honestly, we have a plethora of things to value today.
42:31Two James motorcycles, both of which run and ride.
42:34Yep.
42:35So what do you reckon on a pair?
42:36Someone will give you a grand for the pair every day of the week.
42:39All right.
42:39Well, let's do it at that, shall we?
42:41Shall we say that's 300 quid?
42:42Okay.
42:43That's very good.
42:44All right.
42:44That thing is appalling.
42:46Let's just write it off a zero, actually.
42:48I was going to say 50 quid, but I'll never get 50 quid for it.
42:51No.
42:51So that is a potential skip adornment.
42:55Yes.
42:56All right.
42:56Okay.
42:56Let's get on to the meat and potatoes, which obviously is the lovely Armstrong Sidley.
43:00And, of course, you'll notice that it's in the Bluebird blue colours of, who was it?
43:07Donald.
43:08Donald Campbell had one just like this.
43:12What?
43:14Malcolm Campbell also might have had one.
43:21Oh, get my coat.
43:22That's appalling.
43:23Come on then, how much?
43:25Six and a half.
43:26That's all right, isn't it?
43:27That's all right.
43:28How much should we buy it for?
43:29Five and a half.
43:30That's a grand in the hand.
43:31Yes.
43:32Plus 300 quid.
43:34Yeah.
43:34On the bikes.
43:35Yep.
43:36That's 1,300.
43:37Yeah.
43:38That's well all right.
43:39That's what they say, Roy.
43:41As always, a nice little earner.
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