Well that's the lot folks as from Today my new web site is located at
This site will still continue for some time but during the next few months will probably disappear into the ether. The new site has all been updated with more photos links etc. So check it out at the link above. If you have my site linked to yours please could you update the link
The Hornet Restoration.
Regular visitors have know doubt read about the rebuilding of a 1930s Wolsley Hornet taken on by my Dad. He's now a bona fide silver surfer and as this is his default home page I thought Id better do an article on it. (Now he's on line I better watch my language)..
The Hornet is his second, his first having
been completed in the late 80s. This example had started from a chassis up
rebuild with a lot of the body being remodeled and built by my Dad during the
summer. 
The
Wings/Bonnet came with the car and underwent a lot of work including holes
filled, dents removed etc.. These are made of alloy and have been brush
painted. The plywood Body has been built mostly as it
would have been done in the 30s and recovered with a matted fibre then blue
vinyl. Like me he road tests his cars down the road but in the case of the
Hornet you can hear it warbling along from some distance away. The Car passed
its first MOT test and is now at the stage of sorting out those idiosyncratic
running problems.
The Future of the Reliant Robin.
The checkered
career of the Reliant Robin took another twist this month with the closure of
the company that now manufactures it under license- B&N Plastics. I for
one hope they manage to get themselves out of the trouble there in, as we need
3 wheel manufactures in this country plus garages that will go on testing them.
I have reproduced a section from there web site that explains the current
situation.
Despite trying our best to produce the Robin BN-1 / BN-2, things have not been going too well for us recently. There are many rumors about what has happened and that we have finished but we have not bitten the dust yet and still intend to somehow continue producing this vehicle sometime in the near future. At the moment our future is solely dependent on gaining financial backing to help us continue keeping this great British vehicle alive. We would like to refer you to the exclusive article below that was in the East Anglian Daily Times that helps explain the current status of the production.
When
B&N Plastics purchased the rights to make the Robin from Reliant,
Mr. Corner and his wife Barbara set up a separate business B&N Plastics
Limited. The limited company still owns the rights to the car and Is not
affected by the debts. He said: "I am absolutely determined to re-launch
this venture. I am 100 per cent convinced the business could be
profitable because the Robin Is still so popular and enjoys as much demand as
ever "Obviously I am in financial difficulties at the moment so I
can't continue but all I need is the financial backing and I will re-launch
the business."
Mr. Collier is now proposing to sell off his assets including two homes
to pay creditors which include banks, his factory work-force and other trade
debts. He has also decided to enter into an Individual Voluntary
Arrangement under the Insolvency Act. Creditors are due to hear details
of the arrangement at Colchester County Court next week. The problems
for B&N Plastic began in July last year when It was found the car did not
comply with Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre guidelines and the Certificate
of Modification proving safety was not in place, which made the car
Illegal.
He was forced to stop producing the car for six months while he brought the design up to the correct standard, which he said built up huge debts. Mr. Collier said: "The problem is I can't afford to take the case forward so I am looking to get venture capital from a financial backer Although the situation is looking gloomy at the moment I am still determined to re-launch the Robin and do it In Suffolk."
Any Richard Branson's out there that could help them out?
Well that's a great start to a new look web site-So Far-No mention of Bond Bugs..
Tony
Godfrey:- The Woburn supplier of Chips has been in contact regarding his Bug. 
While
out on the road during the week one of the exhaust port springs snapped and he
wondered how he could get the spring changed without removing the head. My
suggestion was to remove the spark plug for the offending piston and then
stuff loads of string into the gap below the valve. The piston could then be
raised so the valve would then be held firm. The only problem I could for see
was getting the spring compressed enough to get the collets back on. well I'm
glad to say he has done the Job although His Reliant dealer suggested TV co
axle cable and with the nifty tool shown he's now back on the Road.
Featured Web site.
Throughout the winter months I am going to feature various web
sites that may be off interested to Buggers. Following on from 2 weeks ago here's
another site worth checking out.
I don't know about you but when I go to a Microcar rally I find the wrecks
that have been dragged out of hedges a lot more interesting then some of the concourse
stuff.
The photo on the right is a Vespa and can be seen on the automobiles web site under the finds and discoveries. There also a Bond Minicar estate as featured on the updated links page.
