23-03-2020, 12:22 PM
A while ago Lidl were selling little A6 size pocket books with a leather finish cover and nice rounded page corners, at something silly like £2.99 for two.
I decided to dedicate one of these books to my 1931 SWB Saloon, rather like an Owners Manual.
I started with the Reg no, Chassis, Body, Car and Engine numbers.
Next is the information I got from the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust at Gaydon.
Then details of the first registered keeper and subsequent owners. Whilst doing this I looked up where they lived on Google Earth.
Next are details of the modifications and major works done by each owner, where known.
Then details of the restoration that I carried out.
Then the spec of the engine in the car.
Details of the gearbox, rear axle etc.
Next is a section 'Competition History'
Yes, it does have one, various VSCC nav rallies, the Measham Rally in 2007, and Champagne Class winner in the VSCC Summer Rally of 2012.
Next is a section 'Journey log'
I have always kept a note of the major trips that I have undertaken, including overall mileage and the fuel consumption.
When you have owned a car for over 20 years you tend to forget some of the things you have done and compiling this little notebook was a very enjoyable exercise, I had forgotten completely that I had the BMIHT information on the car.
It has been a very worthwhile exercise. Having everything relevant to the car in a small book is very useful.
I am tempted to do similar books for my other two Austins but they would probably be works of fiction!
I decided to dedicate one of these books to my 1931 SWB Saloon, rather like an Owners Manual.
I started with the Reg no, Chassis, Body, Car and Engine numbers.
Next is the information I got from the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust at Gaydon.
Then details of the first registered keeper and subsequent owners. Whilst doing this I looked up where they lived on Google Earth.
Next are details of the modifications and major works done by each owner, where known.
Then details of the restoration that I carried out.
Then the spec of the engine in the car.
Details of the gearbox, rear axle etc.
Next is a section 'Competition History'
Yes, it does have one, various VSCC nav rallies, the Measham Rally in 2007, and Champagne Class winner in the VSCC Summer Rally of 2012.
Next is a section 'Journey log'
I have always kept a note of the major trips that I have undertaken, including overall mileage and the fuel consumption.
When you have owned a car for over 20 years you tend to forget some of the things you have done and compiling this little notebook was a very enjoyable exercise, I had forgotten completely that I had the BMIHT information on the car.
It has been a very worthwhile exercise. Having everything relevant to the car in a small book is very useful.
I am tempted to do similar books for my other two Austins but they would probably be works of fiction!