Quite so, quite so; I see I shall need another T; 2 x so far and only one small gulp left.

In the case of the Ford Prefect; you would not know that Ballards snr and jnr are on a long-term commission from a vintage car parts supplier here with a shed load of pre-war stuff to restore.

The last one completed was a stunningly rare here, ex-Oz Ford ute. Not without its problems and leaving aside the joke Ford engineering for a moment, as it arrived as they all do as an incomplete pile of rusty poo, the body was re-worked with new metal and woodwork but on re-fit the chassis was found to be somewhat banana like.

Not surprising given the rear chassis overhang and Ford's skimpy metalwork, plus the assumed previous duty on an Oz sheep station. This we cured with several judiciously placed baulks of timber supporting the chassis under a certain FV623 and then applied the same's HIAB (Atlas) to the appropriate bit of flimsy Ford metal.

The body came back from the painters resplendent in two-pack and several thousand pounds expended, then fitted to the now straight chassis.

Within two weeks large blisters appeared, it seems the process was faulty and the 1/8" coat of etch primer, whilst generous, was erroneous. Removing all this back to the metal, after lifting the body yet again, did little for Ballard snr good humour. The Stuart would have been most welcome at this point.

Anyway, it did get finished and if I can find them, perhaps some before and after shots might be of interest.

R.