Practical Classics, May 1988

ou might perhaps imaginethat the cast of Britain'sNo. I soap opera, EastEn-ders, enioy the luxury ofchauffeur-driven transport

I t--J I as they are ferried to andfrom that famous Square at the BBC'sElstree studios. Well, this is notentirely the case. Several of them arekeen classic car enthusiasts and, bet-ween them, own and use an AustinA40, a Triumph Mayflower, an Austin-Healey 3000, an E-type Jaguar, anAustin Cambridge and a split-screenMorris Minor. One member of thecast, Gary Hailes - known to millionsas the chirpy young market-traderBarry - is particularly keen. At pre-Sent he is the happy keeper of a 1966Sunbeam Alpine Touter which getsregular use and is greatly prized.

However, Gary is only a relatively recentconvert to the virtues ofthe Sunbeam Alpine.He admits that his great friend Adam Frenchwho, incidentally, starred in the successfulcomedy series Just Good Friends, played animportant part in fostering this interest. Thetwo have known each other since school andcars have always been a shared passion.Adam has owned a succession of classic carsbut Gary's first venture into the older carscene took the form of a J-registered Mk 2Triumph GT6 for which he paid f,750. Soonafter he bought the car he discovered that wewere regularly featuring Paul Sanderson'sGT6 on our Staff Car Sagas pages and fromthat point onwards he became 'hooked' onPractical Classics. He has been a regularreader ever since.

After two years Gary decided that theGT6, which was becoming a little rougharound the edges, had to go. He had drivenAdam's Alpine on many occasions and,despite having been a staunch supporter ofthe Triumph, finally persuaded himself that

ffiffiffi Pictures by Chris Grohom

whether he was a keen mechanic himself and,with a grin, he admitted not. He is a tinkererrather than a seribus DIY mechanic andreads Practical Classics to find out how to dothings and then advises Adam accordingly!One of the biggest problems, of, course, isspare time. The filming schedule for EastEn-ders does not conform to a convenient nine tofive routine and this leaves Gary with very lit-tle predictable time of his own. It was obvi-ous to me that what time he does have withthe car he likes to spend driving it, ratherthan repairing it

- quite understandable!

Structurally Gary's Alpine is very soundand he feels lucky to have found such a goodone for the money. Many he looked at wereover-priced and rotten with it. There are.n!large areas of filler to contend with anC'"-qunsightly rust holes to be patched. Howethere is evidence ofrepairs having been madeto both front wings and Gary realises thatthese will need to be replaced eventually.Mechanically the only nagglng doubt con-cerns the gearbox. It has an annoying habit ofjumping out of first gear (always at the mostinopportune moments) and this requiresattention. However, Gary added that hewisheS to install an overdrive gearbox in thenear future but says that he has been told thatthis is an involved business.

Although originally starting life as a GTmodel the car has been 'converted' into aTourer with the addition of a woodendashboard and steering wheel. Other devia-tions from the norm included a non-standardexhaust system that produces an impressiveburble and a pair of modern spot lampswhich cling valiantly to the front bumper -Gary admits that he loves driving the car to itsfull potential. It is intended that both theexhaust and the spot lamps will be replr I

with rather more authentic versions in -;course and that a set of wire wheels will beadded when funds allow.

Gary is a keen member of the SunbeamAlpine Owners Club and made a point of tel-ling me how helpful the members had been

he preferred the Alpine and that he wantedone ofhis own. The first one that he boughtwas a 1967 Series V GT and, coincidentally,this occurred at exactly the time that Iacquired the Practical Classics Alpine as a

staff car - Gary was most impressed that the

magazine reflected his own tastes so accu-rately! However, he did not keep this car forlong, the Alpine being replaced with a Mk 2Escort which was to be used until anothermore suitable Alpine was found. Gary knewthat he could afford to be choosy and take histime with the search, or at least, that's whathe thought. Uirfortunately, disaster struckwhen the Escort was stolen. This left himwithout transport and so the search for a sec-ond Alpine became decidedly more serious.

Looking throu gh E xchange {.t Mart he di:s-

covered a car that sounded promising. Itwas up in Stoke. He and Adam went to viewit right away and, sure enough, it zoas promis-ing. Gary bought it for f1,675 and drove itback down to London without a hitch.

Gary'tells me that his oblective now is tocreate a 'mint' car. He appreciates that thiswill be a gradual process but is confident thathe will eventually succeed. I asked him

INCTUTXD IN OIJR STGX, HEAYY DUTY SOUND PROOF FETTS, CARPETS, VINYLS, LEATHEB-CIOTH. HESSIAT{S, }IEADI.ININGS, HOODINGS, ORAUGHT EXCTUDERS, WNDOWC}IAI'INELS, WEAIHERSIRIPS, WNG PIPIT{GS, RUBBER SHEET, CLIPS AND TASIENERS ETC.

FUIL RANGE OF THIM fOR MORRIS MINOR, FORD POP, SUNEEAM ALPINE, JAGS, A7 ANDLOIUS, MG AITD MOST CARS TROM 192G ON (JAG MK II DOOR SEALS - 1 OOORS t79.50(inc VAT & p&pl. MK ll BO0T SEAL tlt.r5 (inc VAT & p&p).

FASI MAIL SEAVICE. SAE FOR FREE MOULOINC CHAN| AND LEATHER CLOTH SAMPLES,

Carpot sets lot mostcaB f.on stock otto order lrom f35.

THE ORIGINAT RUBBEB AND TRIMMING SPECIATISTS. ESTABLISHEDIN T9I5, WE HAVE THE TABGEST RANGE IN THE U( OT.RUBBER

AND SPONGE MOUTDINGS, ETTRUSIONS, STRIP, TRIM AND UPHOLSTERY.THIS MOilI}l'S SPECIAT OFFERS'

SUI{BEAT ALPINE SERIES iI/4/5.SPLASH PLATEU,75, BONNETSEAL€2,85, DOOR SEALIl 1,OO, R/BODYFINISHERO2.2O,

BOOT SEAL O1 1.00, SMINDOW FRAME SEAL C7,50, DOOR FRAME SEAL T1 1,50, INNER

WING SEAL 11.40, 2 INNER WM/STRIPS C6.OO, 2 OUTER WM/STRIPS 87,50, WINDOW

CHANNEL F/F T7,OO, FRONIWING UPSTAND 13,25, FOR SERIES 3 & 4 EXTRA DOOR

SEALS REQUIRED Cg.OO, AtI PRICES INCLUDE VAT, p&D 82.95.

58

Practical Classics, May T gBB

-g:..Lg*"^

'\: r!.. t, I

il,i

.,

*II1

ii

.&

i'

4p'r{! iaty

qF'rts'

'.t

t'-*:;;j:."*; ffi

rvith his enquiries. He is anxious to attend as

many club events as his busy schedule w.i1l

allow simply because he loves talking aboutcars, especially Alpines. He is not terribly

conscious of being "a pcrsonalitl"'" and feclsthat people forget abor-rt r.vhat he does for a

living once the sub ject of Alpines is raised inconversation" FIis an-rbitions regarding cars

said against their belooed Alpines.

in the future seem to centre around thc lcfur-bishment of the Alpine, althougir trc didsuggest that a 'liger or a classic J:tguar saiconmight represent his ultirnate goal. fl

y Hailes (n.e.ht1 and Adam French are both oz,id classic car efitltusiasts. T-hey u'cn't haae tt word

WE STOCK A WIDE RANGE OF NEW AND REMANUFACTURED PARTSFOR SUNBEAM ALPINE AND TIGER. PLEASE SEND SAE FOR OUR

1988 CATALOGUE, WHICH INCLUDES MANY PREVIOUSLYI.JNOBTAI NABLE ITEMS. WE OFFER A MAIL ORDER SERVICE HOMEAND ABROAD AND, IF YOU WISH TO CALL IN, ARE OPEN 9-5 MON-SAT.

69