Progress with the Restoration of PK2613
Update No 8
(1928 Trojan 3 Door Tourer ex Joe Pidgeon)
In January 2015 all work stopped as my Partner Pippa was diagnosed with breast
cancer; surgery followed by a three month period of recovery and very thankfully
Pippa was out and about again with an all clear from the hospital.
This allowed my attention to return to the Trojan and its problems, the first of which
were missing hinge pins. The temporary pins used when the originals could not be
found were a poor fit and I recalled an early discussion with Joe Pidgeon on how to
restore the car when he remarked “don’t lose the hinge pins they are an odd size”. I
obtained suitable material and set to work on my lathe. The first attempt was not
brilliant but by number six I was becoming decidedly proficient though I doubt if my
apprentice supervisor would have agreed.
On the mechanical side one of the few remaining missing items was a pawl retaining
spring and mounting bracket. John Hutchins kindly loaned me an original spring from
his pre-war van and the Lancashire Spring Company made a batch of ten with the
surplus purchased by the Club for the stores.
Trojan pawl retaining spring
I sought some expert help with bringing the body tub up to an acceptable standard
for panelling. John Foy from the Forge at Barley who specialises in the restoration of
veteran and vintage cars kindly visited and made a number of observations. With a
nine month lead time before another vehicle could enter his workshop practical help
was not a realistic option. We discussed body curvature, door gaps to allow for two
thicknesses of metal and the double curvature on the front doors. Here the gaps can be
adjusted by moving the tub on the punt. The driver’s door was a poor fit and he
recommended remaking the front frame member which carries the hinges and tucks in
to the scuttle. His parting words were “carry on your nearly there” which was rather
better than “start again “which had been his initial reaction.
With helpful comments from our decorator who clearly found the Trojan more
interesting than house painting and John my assistant mechanic who owned up to the
fact that he had achieved a distinction in A Level woodwork slowly things improved.
The summer slipped by, missing angle brackets which stiffen the body sides were
added. The front doors were still giving problems so they were soaked in hot water
and clamped into position. Two weeks later the fit was much improved!
After some debate I decided to reskin the body in aluminium as it is an easier material
to work with than steel apart from when welding is required; it has fewer corrosion
problems and when painted looks almost identical. Sheet aluminium in 18 gauge and
“half hard” condition was obtained locally in Baldock. Negotiations started with my
local coach works but no prices were forth coming and the task was clearly out of
their comfort zone. Further adjustments were requested to body curvature so plywood
packing was added and substantial internal bracing to prevent body distortion when
the body was removed from the punt. The body tub was then transferred to the more
obliging of the two shops.
The body tub awaiting panelling
This proved to be a mistake as three months later and after numerous excuses had
been offered as to why they had failed to start I was obliged to recover the tub and to
make enquiries further afield. The work is now being undertaken at a coachworks
specialist in Winkfield near Windsor. The car is in good company there rubbing
shoulders with a Fraser Nash, a Bentley Special, an Allard and an Invicta.
Progress in 2015 has been disappointing however I consider myself fortunate to be
able to continue with the project and that Pippa thanks to the NHS has made a
remarkable recovery.
Christopher Tordoff
Steeple Morden,
February 2016.
