The bad thing about riding a motorcycle much of the time is that your Jaguar starts to sulk because it's being ignored. Only started on four cylinders this morning and sounds like a bag of nails. I have a long journey to Yorkshire tomorrow, so must check everything over.
Oil level is just below normal. Will top it up, but should try to change it before Goodwood next weekend. Squirted a few drops into the twin SU carburettor dashpots too.
Water needed a litre, but the seeping core plug seems to have sealed itself. Decided to replace the old top hose that went back on when the new one burst a few months ago. It is very badly cracked and perished.
Took the hose and the oil filler cap to Millfield Autos, the local Asian-run motor factor who seems to stock everything. They haven't got an exact match, but have a long hose with more twists than a Sixties High School dance. It costs £8 and will probably make two for the Jaguar.
The oil filler cap that leaks oil is sealed with a rubber gasket from a thermostat costing 50p.
Fitting all of the above on the driveway, I remembered that the bonnet had developed an irritating habit of popping open on the passenger side. It doesn't open right up, but the spigot pops out of its catch. After adjusting it right down I discovered to my horror that the bonnet release catch wouldn't release that side – I'd adjusted it too far. Daughter Charlotte came to the rescue by pulling the lever at exactly the right moment as I applied pressure. Phew. North Yorkshire here we come.
THIS IS the story of life with a classic car. I drive a 1972 Jaguar XJ6 and write about it here. I'm Martyn Moore, former editor of Classic Cars magazine. This is a two-year story about the roller coaster ride of classic car ownership. The most recent entries come from a classic car rally in 2005, the last journey I made in the car before putting it into storage. Use links on the right for earlier entries.
