My next project "La Petite Chanteuse"

Bernie, the boring stuff is fine with us. Keep us updated. When do you leave?

Patience John

You cannot get rid of me that easily. The car has to be ready for shipment late March-early April. The ship takes six weeks so we leave on the 10th May. and our first event is the Rapier Register's Annual General Meeting on May 18th.

Todays task has been one of those mind numbing jobs. For some little time I have been concerned that every so often the hand brake would slip off while the car was parked. I should explain that like a number of English sporting cars the Rapier has a "racing style" fly off hand brake. You press the button at the end of the lever to lock the brake on and simply lift the lever slightly to release it. Very handy for doing "Handbrake turns" where you briefly apply the handbrake at the apex of the corner in order to promote a tail out slide, getting you around tight corners faster. Don't try this in your Caddy or Lincoln Town Car.

To make it easier to remove the pawl and ratchet plate the entire lever assembly is removed from the side of the chassis. This done, it is a moments work on the grinder to clean up the tip of the pawl and a few more minutes with a triangular file to sharpen up the ratchet plate. While re-assembling the lever I noticed that the spring under the button seemed excessively strong and may well have been the root of the trouble, so in typical "Belt & braces" style I nipped about 3/16 inch off one end before replacing it. It is all back together again and only time and parking the car on a steep hill will tell if it has all been worth while.

Bj.

Seen from above the hand brake lever is close to hand between the drivers seat and the side of the body. (RHDrive) In typical 1930s Lagonda fashion there is NO door on the driver's side of the car.

Very handy for doing "Handbrake turns" where you briefly apply the handbrake at the apex of the corner in order to promote a tail out slide, getting you around tight corners faster. Don't try this in your Caddy or Lincoln Town Car.

But it's possible, especially with cars having the self-release when the shift lever is out of "P". Those cars just need more space than your Lagonda!

I am sure that you are quite correct Roger. It is just that my mind boggles at the thought of you throwing one of your Cads around in a field doing Barrel Races and the like. It probably "is possible", I am just not sure how many barrels that you would destroy in the process. I guess that you would just need a bigger field.

Bj.

Bernie, I'm no more available for such distractions!

As a complete change of pace today's project was changing/replacing the washers in the taps over the hand basin in our en-suite bathroom. I am sure that the Australian terminology will have many of you baffled but for once I am completely at a lost as far as translation goes. The nearest I can come up with is, the valves in the faucets.

Bj

"I can only wish to be a fly on the wall [ windscreen??] while you are in Europe. Will you cover the tour with a dedicated thread?"

Ben.

Just to whet your appetite some more, another photograph from our 2009 visit.

Bj

Another day doing mindless little tasks that while important to me would go over the heads of many people.

Tony who does most of my trimming and I are from two different generations, while he is happy to use velcro to secure the carpet to the floor etc, this is not acceptable to me. Much of this afternoon was spent removing the velcro and replacing it with traditional carpet grippers and press studs. Who cares? well I do. I am sure that no one else will even notice. I then spent an hour or two removing the side trims in order to tidy up the interior of the drivers' side glove/map pocket and covered the previously painted gussets on the door pillar brackets with some off cuts of hide. In the words of the old song, "little things mean a lot". It is a bit like scratching about in old tin-cans and screw top containers to find the correct slotted head screws.

Bj.

It is a bit like scratching about in old tin-cans and screw top containers to find the correct slotted head screws.

Here in Australia, as I suspect most places, slotted head screws are only available at the more specialised Fastening Suppliers (at a premium) or in out of the way hardware shops that have old stock due to slow turnover.

The latter are becoming increasingly difficult to find. I tend to buy them when I see them and hence the old tin cans and screw top containers. Those or cardboard boxes but they fall apart if they get wet. I have shelves full of containers of nuts and bolts and screws

Bj.

To give you some idea of scale, the black containers on the top shelf are/were 5 litre oil bottles. All are virtually full to the top with second hand nuts and bolts waiting to be sorted into thread types. This job is not considered urgent as I almost never use second hand nuts and bolts, unless absolutely necessary. At various times in the past I have given away 20 litre drums full of assorted nuts and bolts.

According to Jim O'Clair "Tech 101" in today's Hemming's on line Motor News "We all have coffee cans or mayonnaise jars full of miscellaneous hardware in the garage that were extras or leftover from a previous project"

This being so, anything I have said above is "old news" for which I unreservedly apologise.

The new "News" is that the Singer project has been sold and is on its way north with an interstate enthusiast.

Bj.

With the Singer gone and out of what remains of my hair I can concentrate on preparing the Lagonda Rapier for next years European trip. While hardly "vintage" todays task is to install a Mobile phone/i pad charger socket into the trim adjacent to the passenger side glove box. The charger has a 12V DC input and 5 V 2.1A output. To install it will entail removing the trim panel, cutting a 30mm hole in it and connecting the socket up to the fuse box, also conveniently on the passenger side inside the bulkhead. The other task is to replace the four flange gaskets on the exhaust headers but as I have just ordered 8 new brass 5/16 BSF manifold nuts that will have to wait for a day or two so more on them later.

Bj.

Further to the above some more photographs for you delectation.

The first two are of the phone charger socket in place. The next is inside the tool locker at the rear of the parcel/luggage space behind the seats. The first one is with this closed showing some of the essential touring kit including a fire extinguisher, the very British "Shooting Stick"/Umbrella, (the handle opens into a seat). The clip secures the hood/top bows when in their customary place, the square length of timber with the green painted "handle" is the dip stick for the petrol tank. (The gauge only shows the contents of the top half of the tank).

The pleated "seat"is in fact the top of the battery box which doubles as an occasional seat for a third passenger on very short journeys. Underneath this along side the battery is a space holding hand cleaner, spanners to fit the battery connections, a roll of toilet paper and a test lamp, a battery post wire brush, a "Swiss Army" pocket knife and a emergency Yellow plastic waterproof "poncho".

Finally inside the tool locker; the copper mallet is for undoing the "Knock-on' wheel nuts. The rolled up piece of green vinyl is the radiator "blind' to block off the bottom third of the radiator is excessively cold conditions, then there is the folding jack handle, a 12 volt trouble lamp, and in the white cloth bag is the compulsory red reflective emergency triangle. Along the bottom is l to r. A wheel chock, a funnel with a (yellow) extension for filling the rear axle, a packet containing a set of new distributor points, a condenser and a rotor button. The white plastic tube contains a stick of two pack malleable emergency repair putty. (Ideal both for temporary petrol tank and radiator repairs.) A tire pump and clipped down in the corner the screw jack. wrapped up in the plastic bag are the two Yellow safety vests required by law in the EU. Missing, awaiting re-stocking, is the box containing a spare bulb for every lamp on the car also required by law in the EU. At any time a policeman may stop you and demand to be shown all the above safety gear. Heavy penalties apply for non-compliance. Also missing is a black plastic bag containing a new spare inner tube.

Bj

Anyone who has been to a Public Toilet in France would understand the roll of toilet paper.

Bj.

Another day and another box ticked.

Less than three hours after the Post-man delivered the goods the Lagonda Rapier's exhaust headers are back in place with the new flange gaskets, BSF Studs and correct 5/16 BSF brass "manifold nuts"all in place. I will run the motor tomorrow to warm it all up then re torque the nuts. Hopefully this will put an end to the leaks from a couple of flanges.

Bj.

BSF Studs and correct 5/16 BSF brass "manifold nuts"

Some of you may be questioning my sanity or wondering what is special or different about the nuts that are used to secure the exhaust manifold. Apart from being brass so that they will not "rust on" or become seized onto the thread due to the frequent heating and cooling, "manifold" nuts are approximately 50% longer than a standard nut. Again in the words of my favourite old song, "little things mean a lot". Being 5/16 diam, 22 tpi these are torqued up to 10-12 ft/lb.

Bj.

A quick course in applied physics.

While I had the exhaust headers off the Lagonda I decided to give them a fresh coat of paint. The only 'high temp' paint I had handy was matt black so naturally I used this. On Sunday we were out in the car and got caught up in some heavy (stop-start) traffic. My wife Helen commented that the passenger (exhaust) side foot-well seemed much warmer than usual. So todays task is to remove the exhaust again and repaint it silver.

Bj

For all those people who have not looked at my previous posts and not have seen a Lagonda Rapier before and I know how much many others enjoy looking at photographs, below is a photograph taken as recently as Sunday morning at the Start of the VSCC of Aust "Inner Urban" Sunday morning run. A good chance to check out the cooling system as this is predominantly run through busy "Pre-christmas" traffic with long delays experienced getting from Point A to Point B across one of the city's popular bayside centres. For comparison purposes it is seen here in company with a SS 100. The event starts from one of Melbourne's many extensive & beautiful parks

Bj.

Your car and the SS are gorgeous!!

Your car and the SS are gorgeous!!

Hi Keiser31, Thank you.

The funny thing is, they were both driven through busy Pre-Christmas inner-urban traffic. Not a trailer to be seen.

Bj

Just a few of the other cars on Sunday morning's run.

s

Nice!!

Hello All

A question for anyone who cares to an answer.

How good an all-round car is a 1934 Lagonda Rapier with a 1.5 Litre, 4 cylinder 2-OHC engine?

We have just returned from a 181 mile drive almost equally divided into freeway and secondary roads. The first 89 miles being almost all freeway driving, except for the first and last 8-10 miles which were restricted to 35mph, for this we achieved an actual average speed of 50.85 mph. The second part of the journey was mainly on narrow secondary roads through 'hill country' under extremely unpleasant blustery conditions. The fuel consumption for the entire journey worked out at just a shade under 25 mpg running on 98 octane rated fuel. This with a driver and one passenger with luggage for an overnight stop. The combined ages of car, driver and passenger work out to a total of 231 years.

All of the above must say something?

Bj

At a time (1934) when car makers around the world were in all sorts of trouble, the British, Lagonda Company management's direction to Tim Ashcroft, the young engineer who had been engaged to design and oversea the production of the Rapier, was quite simple, direct and to the point. "It must be the BEST LIGHT CAR in the WORLD!" Remarkably, he achieved this at his first attempt.

Bj.

Lovely car, Bernie. I hope to see photos of it in England.

Bj.

We will be away for three months in total with six weeks in France and the rest in the UK. One of the main activities in England will be the Rapier Register's Tour of Northumberland so there should be plenty of photo-opportunities. Below are a couple of photographs taken on our last visit (2009). These were taken at the ritual re-enactment of the 1934 Press release day held by the Lagonda Company at 'Great Fosters', an Elizabethan manor house converted into a posh hotel prior to WW1. This event is held every 5 years.

Bj.

While all the cars seen above may look the similar when viewed from the front, walk around and look at them from the rear. Of the just under 400 (in total) cars built each one is individual. No two Lagonda Rapiers are exactly the same.

Re Photographs above, taken in England in 2009: My car is the first white one nearest the camera in the left hand photograph. The lady in the cream slacks is partially obscuring it. My wife Helen is standing between it and the first (red) car (at rear)The man in the blue shirt standing in the driveway in front of our car is James Williams an AACA member from South Carolina. In case anyone is wondering/interested, the photograph below shows how my Lagonda looked in the 1960/70s before I bought it in 1978. Some people will tell you that I destroyed a historic car. Having said that I have owned it longer (since 1978) than any other owner from 1934 to the present date.

Bj.

James Williams mentioned above is now in his 80s and is fully occupied restoring his Lagonda Rapier, a two seater similar to my car. He has owned it since 1969-70. Those AACA members who know him will agree, he is one remarkable man. In his spare time he is doing a major engine re-build on his 1930s Rolls Royce. He has only recently given up his position as "First Responder" with his local Volunteer Fire Service. If that is not enough he also has a huge collection of restored clocks and watches.

Bj.

To all those people in the Northern States enjoying nice chilly weather and dreaming of a White Christmas, spare us a thought here Down Under. We went for a short (50 mile) drive in the Lagonda yesterday. It coped very well with the 42 degree C. temperature, the radiator Temperature gauge never went past 85 although at that temperature the electric fan did come on once or twice when we were stopped in the Traffic.

From new the Lagonda Company never fitted a fan. They could not contemplate anything as crude as drive belts, opting for gear driven water pump and generator etc. Leaving the front of the engine clear of obstruction. The electric fan on our car being a modern, after market, addition to assist in coping present day traffic, todays density would have been unimaginable in 1934.

Bj

Well Bernie, with a foot of snow and temps that we've seen drop to the minus 30's twice this year, I wish I could have been cruising with you. I was coming back to check up on the Singer, but I see that didn't work out for you. Too bad, I really liked the shape you had on that body. Glad to hear you're still out enjoying your cars though.

Hi whtbaron,

I can assure you that you really would not have enjoyed it, Melbourne's hot north wind days are just about as unpleasant as you can get. This wind comes straight out of the dry centre of Australia and will completely desiccate you after about 10 minutes exposure. Sun related skin cancer is one of the greatest health problems we have.

I cannot comment about snow as that is something that we almost never see. I am 77 years old and think that I may have seen snow in the suburbs of Melbourne once or twice, perhaps three times in my whole life. Even then it would melt virtually as it hit the ground. Freezing is something we just never see on the thermometer. I cannot remember when I last saw frost on the grass in our garden and have never seen ice on the surface of our pond. I would certainly not waste money putting anti-freeze in the Lagonda or any of our modern cars radiators. Rust inhibitor yes but anti-freeze never.

Bj

LOL... we had the north wind as well, but ours comes straight down from the North Pole! My anti-freeze is good for minus 50... which it needs to be with windchill factors figured in. Wonder if the guy that bought the Singer will ever post his progress here?

Hello again

I am not too sure how computer literate he is but I will certainly suggest it to him.

Bj

On the subject of locality and weather. Melbourne, Victoria, Australia is at Latitude: 37.81 South. The nearest town in the USA to the equivilant Latitude North would be Elberon in Surry County Virginia.

Melbourne Florida is Latitude: 28.11 North.

As a matter of further interest Real estate values in Surry County Va. are about 1/4 to 1/5th of those for a comparative property in Victoria Australia.

Bj.

To all my friends who follow my threads on the AACA Forum

MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY and HEALTHY NEW YEAR.

Bj.

All the best to you as well, Bernie.

Hello All

I have decide that for the New year I will be concentrating my activities on my Lagonda Rapier thread http://forums.aaca.org/f168/lagonda-rapiers-317552.html

Thank you for your past interest. Should I start another restoration project I will possibly start relevant thread.

Happy New Year.

Bj

Hello Again

Anyone wondering where I have gone, to re-discover the on going story of my activities simply "click" on the link provided. For some this may mean breaking new ground but you will not be leaving this, the AACA Forum. It may even expand your horizon. http://forums.aaca.org/f168/lagonda-rapiers-317552-4.html

Bernie J

oldcar.

Yes, I am back but only briefly.

Just wanted to share with you the greeting sent by my good friend Joris Bergsma Editor of Prewar Car. www.prewarcar.com

Dear Old Car Friend,

Just a gentle heads up for tomorrow's Valentine. A day not to care for 'her' the car, but for Her, your very Dearest. Let the 'old girl' serve the two of you and let her bring you to wonderful places. It may be wise to use the remaining hours between now and tomorrow to give the machinery a good fettle, so that 'she' and She won't let you down. And all things further... it's in your hands.

Have a great Valentine!

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