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| Letters New century, old problems Being a bit of a dinosaur when it comes to technology (I prefer cautious myself), I have only recently started using the Internet. We have restricted access at work, and I took the opportunity to review the club website (motorvatinusa.org.uk). I must say I was impressed. Excellent work. Is the plan to put the magazine on-line every issue? Will you also be putting readers' free ads on? It might create some extra interest. Once again, we reach the end of another year, and the start of a New Year (and a new millennium). But what a lot we have in store! Already we are feeling the effects of no leaded petrol (despite assurances that some would still be available, it seems that it's just too much trouble for the oil companies). In addition, changes in SVA regulations are in the offing. On top of that, the government is continuing its course of banded road taxation for private vehicles without taking notice of the comments received from its consultative papers. Still, we are fans of American machinery because we dare to be different. I'm sure that such little things as pressure to persuade us to conform or pay will not deter us. Keep up the good work. Here's to a long, pleasant summer! Ian Miller-Hall. Buckinghamshire. Glad you enjoyed the website, Ian. The site is being updated all the time, with so much more to be found here than when it was launched. At present, our latest additions are a links page (with 22 links to related sites and 7 WebRing links) and a message board. The latter contains information, questions, classified ads etc., and is there for the members use, to correspond on a wider scale through the Internet. However, current magazine is strictly members only! The leaded petrol situation, thanks to the FBHVC and all who fought for the rights of the classic motor enthusiast, is now looking a little brighter. The problems are not over, but life will surely be a lot easier now that lead is indeed out there. The new Enhanced SVA is another bramble needing to be nipped in the bud - a situation we are addressing once again, this time with the assistance of Paul Strudwick, of the AIAA (see club website links page for latest news). As for banded road taxation - well, we'll just have to play this one by ear and check out whether the hours spent at the consultation phases were totally in vane. When we know what we're arguing we'll be back to state our case. All in all, it's not all doom and gloom. See you when the sun shines! __________________________________________________________________________ Less reliable petrol Lead Replacement Petrol... How friendly is it? I recently spoke to an engineer friend who has a vast experience of most forms of automotive engines, including marine and agricultural diesel applications throughout the world, as to the use of LRP in my '56 Bel-Air.  He
told me of difficulties being experienced in Sweden where LRP was causing
damage to auto engines with soft valve seats. With
the extensive costs associated with cylinder head conversions and no British
Standard available for LRP, I looked for a suitable additive to increase
the octane level of unleaded. I found such an additive available from
Millers Oils, named Millers VSP. The additive is available in 250ml bottles
from numerous outlets throughout the UK. At £2.70, one bottle will
treat some 40 litres of fuel.Due to the large tank fitted to "Georgia" I didn't like the idea of carrying 5 or 6 loose bottles around in the trunk, so I wrote to Millers to ask if they would consider supplying a larger bottle with a measure on the side. Within a week a lengthy reply from Millers was returned explaining that due to the more commonly available fuel tank size, the 250ml bottle was the best option, and that the additive was affected by UV light, so was not suited to a container such as contains Redex for example. I purchased 2 bottles of VSP and put 40 litres of Esso unleaded into my tank. After a short while I noted a quietening of the engine and smoother lift. Millers VSP contains Manganese which boosts the octane of unleaded by 2 or 3 points, there protecting the soft valve seats. Manganese has been used to boost fuel octane in both the USA and Canada for some 20 years and is thought to be the closest lubricant  to
lead. The advantages are that treated fuel can be used in turbo charged
engines, and it does not affect plastics or elastomers.With regard to exhaust emissions, the manganese technology has been found to give no problems in this field. This is confirmed by a grant of a waiver by the US Government Environmental Protection Agency to use the product in unleaded fuel. The additive is also safe for use in vehicles fitted with catalytic converters and already designed to run on unleaded fuel. It was also approved by the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs for use in classic vehicles. Should you wish any further information, then like me, write to Miller Oils, Hillside Oil Works, Brighouse, West Yorkshire HD6 3DP. Should I encounter any difficulty, I will advise you all at once. Tom Donnachie. Renfrewshire, Scotland. Thank you for your letter Tom, which reiterates and supports what we wrote in Vol. 7, No. 1 (Additives make the Grade, page 5). It's good to hear from someone who actually has experience of using the product. __________________________________________________________________________ Thank you I would like to thank you for an interesting and informative magazine. It's interesting to read about shows and meetings which I could not go to. Also, I have found being a member very useful; it helps with insurance and parts, often saving more in discounts than the subscription! Keep up the good work, Tracy Munden. Thundersley, Essex. __________________________________________________________________________ News from Northern Ireland I take pleasure in enclosing herewith postal order to the value of £20, to cover cost of my membership of the Buick Club. My apologies for my late renewal. Unfortunately at the end of April 1999, I suffered a severe near fatal stroke at home and as a result spent 3 months in hospital receiving treatment. (I am 63 years old, slightly older than my Buicks: 1938-1939). Some 11 months on, I am now recovering at home, but my legs and right arm are still very weak, and I am not allowed (doctor's orders) to drive a car or motorcycle. Hopefully, it won't be too long before I am mobile again. I enjoy very much your informative magazine, keeping me very much in touch with the UK Buick scene. A local GM dealer here in Northern Ireland is offering the current Chevrolet and Cadillac models, but none of the Buick range, sadly. Must close, thank you for your kind attention. Continued success with the club and magazine etc. James Kee Northern Ireland Thank you so much for writing, James. On behalf of all MUSA members, may we wish you a continued and complete recovery. We're proud to hear that the magazine is enjoyed and thank you for your renewal. Once again, get well soon... Summertime is just around the corner! __________________________________________________________________________ Lost in the 50s 
Many thanks for the magazines and membership card etc. I love the magazine,
top quality paper and loads of photos. Hope you can fit my car in?A little about myself: Aged 57, was 16 in 1958 and hooked on American Rock n Roll, early Elvis, and those fantastic cars. My love for Rock n Roll is still the same. I travel all over the UK to hear the best bands: The Firebirds, Good Rockin To-nite, Jive Street, Juke Box Jive, and so on.... And still dance! My present car is ex-Steve Biddlecombe's 1958 Buick Limited. When I first saw the car it was not running due to a gearbox problem. Steve was going to fit a new box, so we came to a deal and I bought it and never looked back. I am however looking for the same model in convertible form (Are you selling your convertible, Steve?... In my dreams!). You say Steve is quite a guy, he also has a 2-door silver Buick just like the one he sold me. I know Phil Street, our Greater Manchester Representative very well from his days with the American Auto Club North West. I can see him doing Motorvatin' USA proud. By the way, I travel all over Britain doing weddings in the Buick (see photo), any chance of a plug?... Hope to meet you at the car shows and hope you don't think I'm too boring. Barry Sansome. Bury Lancs. (Lost in the 50s Car Hire: 0161 761 7906 - e-mail: bsansome@aol.com) Welcome onboard Barry. Yes, many of us are also lost: whether it be in the 50s, 40s, or somewhere yet to be chartered. (Only joking!). We've probably already met at an RnR club somewhere and don't even realise it. Don't miss the special nights featuring top US artists at London's Tennessee Club. This venue is run by Club rep, Ritchie Gee. I know it's a long way from Lancs, but well worth it. _______________________________________________________________________ Satisfied customer I have just received volume 7, number 2, and am very impressed - good mag. Also, the ad you have done for us on the new Discoverer A/T which is eye catching. Can you please replace this and do something similar for us on the Cobra G/T, as we need to push this excellent tyre line. I have enclosed a layout and some art elements but I leave it entirely to you to present it to its best advantage. D. E. Sinton, Director, Sinton Tyres Ltd. Thank you, Sir. Consider it done. ________________________________________________________________________ Great magazine Thanks for the interesting club magazine - well put together! Mark Morgan-Richards Teignmouth, Devon _________________________________________________________________________ Keep 'em rolling Please find enclosed cheque for membership of your club, plus a small donation. It's good to know people care about these cars and will spend some of their own time for the benefit of others. I see that you also have a parts finding service including in the USA. As I have been looking for a part for a while now, this might prove helpful. It just seems sad that maybe for the sake of the odd part that these cars might not be on the road any more. Anyway, thanks to all of you for your time, and keep up the good work. Mr. P. Clarke Enfield, Middx. Welcome onboard, Mr Clark, and thank you for letter and kind donation. Our 'main man' for used and obsolete parts location overseas is Ford Secretary, Pat Shrimpton. Chris Richards, Chevy Secretary, keeps an inventory of members' spares, including a list of wanted items - as a Chevy owner it may well be worth you giving Chris a bell. Further to this, our overseas representatives can often help out. Should your part remain elusive, Yorkshire Representative, Paul Blackbourne can advise or help on the subject of remanufacture. The contacts for all the above are listed on page 4 of this issue. __________________________________________________________________________ Great decoding service Many thanks to the club for helping me find out some useful history on my 1977 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham. I had the trim and vin codes deciphered by Paul Hilton, and was very pleased to find out that although my car was exported, it was made in Detroit Michigan, the heart of the US car industry. So I can now say with confidence I have a genuine American car. I also found out the original paint colour (Georgian silver), as the car has been painted a few different colours in the past, and is now due for a respray. As a result of this, I am now going to sell my other car a 1979 Chrysler LeBaron (see Classified Ads). I look forward to seeing you at the Motorvatin show, on August Bank Holiday with my Cadillac. Adam Montague Sevenoaks, Kent __________________________________________________________________________ Older and wiser 
Yet another year gone (are they getting shorter or am I getting older!)
- Anyway please find enclosed my renewal.The Chevy is off the road at the moment with a broken gearbox, (second gear cog shattered) and a new part is proving elusive to say the least. The Trans-Am still carries on; this has proved to be a far better car than I thought it would be. I have to be honest, I really wanted a Corvette but couldn't afford one, so the Trans-Am was very much (in my eyes) second best. After living with it for over 3 years, I suspect that in many ways it is better than a Corvette (my wife was right again but don't tell her!) As with most American vehicle owners I am suffering due to the extortionate cost of petrol, so I am afraid that I will not be able to attend many shows this year. Paul Garner Plymouth, Devon __________________________________________________________________________ Less reliable petrol (2) 
Regarding Tom Donnachie's comments in Vol.7 No.5 on Less Reliable Petrol!Everybody's concerns seem to be over valve seat recession. Not taking that too seriously, I tried LRP and found you need not worry... it will not even run the car around the block! (Detonation real bad). I could not retire the ignition (my next thought, as there's no clamp bolt for turning the distributor). This left only good old Millers VSR additives with unleaded. Now, the car runs great. I'm sure most of you are bright enough to go for the additives in the first place. The car in question is a 1960 Cadillac (currently for sale, see classifieds). Harry Walker Strood, Kent __________________________________________________________________________ More antique auto's Dear Keith Kentish 
Thank you so much for the copy of Motorvatin' USA. It's interesting that
the UK has a magazine dealing with USA vehicles. It certainly is a well-done
product.You mention in your article, rather cryptically, that I may have a few other cars in the garage. Well - for your information I'll list them for you, oldest first: 1904 Columbia, 1907 Ford, 1909 Packard, 1910 Stevens-Duryea, 1910 Ford, 1910 Simplex, 1911 Mercer, 1911 White, 1911 Hupmobile, 1923 White. We try to use every one of them now and then, and attend as many tours, etc., as time permits. The 1931 Mercer was the car displayed by Mercer at the 1931 auto show in New York City. The '31 show gives the public an idea of what's coming in the upcoming season and it's generally held in November of the preceding year. By coincidence, John Junior's father was at the show and picked up the usual collection of literature offered by the vendor re this car, and John Jnr. presented it to the current owners at the concourse on Sunday! Needless to say he was delighted. Apparently, John's father and the father of the current owner became acquainted at the show and kept in contact for many years thereafter. The current owner's father purchased it at the show. Hopefully some day I will again visit the UK with a car, and if so you'll be the first to know. Warren G. Kraft, Long Island, NY, USA. __________________________________________________________________________ Daily drivers A lot of people in Britain may be interested in using an American car or van on a daily basis, but might be put off from purchasing one because they may be unsure about insurance costs, spare part availability etc. Just a thought, but is there any mileage in asking people to write in with their own experiences of the problems (or not) of using their vehicles for business or pleasure? It might help people to formulate which car suits their needs best Ross Prescott, Kendal, Cumbria. Sounds good to us, Ross. If anyone would like to offer their own experiences, we would love to hear from them. __________________________________________________________________________ Daily driver 1 Thank you for the latest issue of the club magazine, as always it is very interesting to read about the classic cars worldwide from both the UK and overseas contributors. As I do not own a classic vehicle, I have enjoyed reading about them but never felt qualified to write to you before but the letter from Ross Prescott in the current issue encouraged me to put pen to paper. Having been a Sales and Marketing Executive for many years, I have always driven a company car and have lacked the space and finance to indulge in an American car. However in April 98 the company decided to give us the option of purchasing the company car and working on a mileage allowance. At the time I was driving a Honda Accord Aerodeck 2.2L (American Built) so I was part of the way there! The decision was made to invest in an American car as a working vehicle, so during a holiday in Florida in Dec 98 we (My wife and I) decided to buy a 1992 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale LS. This is a top of the range vehicle with a 3.8L engine, auto climate control, leather interior and A.B.S. and had only 49,000 miles on the clock. It was a bit ambitious as a working car but as my annual mileageis some 50,000 I decided to go for comfort. The shipping from Florida to Southampton was arranged very efficiently by Ian Jeifreys of Imorex, at Ipswich, this took about seven weeks. Modifications to the electrics were arranged by Tom Falconer of Claremont Corvette and I started using the car on Febuary 12th 1999. Since then I have covered approx. 70,000 miles at 28 MPG, this figure includes long distance and town work and is the average over a twelve month period. Spares are not a problem, I can get them shipped from Lokey Oldsmobile, Clearwater, Florida in approx. 5 days by UPS - just quote the Vin number and it's done. Service items such as oil filter and exhaust flange gasket are the same as a Vauxhall Cavalier 2.OL. Tyres are obtained from Sinton at Milton Keynes, and their service is excellent. Insurance cost has been reasonable at £504 fully comp including Class 3 business use although this went up to £637 on renewal. However when I retired in April and went back to fully comp only, this dropped to £365, this is with maximum no claim bonus and 15,000 miles restriction. To sum up I would say to anyone considering using an American car on a daily basis make sure you have late model with fuel injection and ABS, you will then get reliable performance and economy. Mine has been superb, now with 118,000 on the clock, starts on the button and is like riding about in your favorite armchair. Go for it! John Benning _________________________________________________________________
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S J Lord ___________________________________________________________
Paul Garner |
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I
would like to contribute to a request in your letters section about
driving an American vehicle on a daily basis; something I have enjoyed
exclusively for the past 13 years. In that time I have traveled to and
from work in a 1968 Ford Mustang Convertible, a 1970 Chevrolet Monte
Carlo, a 1978 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale, and no less than three Lincoln
Town Cars: a 1980 (self-imported from Florida), an '85 (which my father
now uses as his regular mode of transport) and currently a 1991 Cartier
Edition. When you consider I average around 25,000 miles a year, comfortable,
reliable and secure transport is essential. On a practical level, it
makes sound business sense to invest money in something that will return
a good deal of that money come retirement day. I acquired my latest
slice of American pie last year just before Marie gave birth to our
daughter, Maya. Impending fatherhood impressed upon me the need for
a reliable, practical and economical vehicle to transport my new family
but above all in safety. For a lot less than a second hand Mondeo, I
purchased from a dealer in Texas (via an American buddy), a low-mileage
full owner history Town Car.