VINTAGE AUSTIN SEVEN TWO DOOR TOURER. YEAR OF MANUFACTURE-1935.ENGINE CAPACITY- 7 H/P. COUNTRY OF ORIGIN- ENGLAND. REGISTRATION NUMBER- H 1058. CONDITION- DISMANTLED.
THE OWNER : THE EXAMINER OF MOTOR VEHICLES,KEGALLE,SRI LANKA, (A GOVERNMENT OFFICER AUTHORISED TO ISSUE DRIVER'S LICENSE ETC:) OH! I FORGET HIS NAME,IT DOES NOT MATTER.THE PREVIOUS OWNER OF THE CAR WAS HIS FATHER IN LAW,WHOSE DAUGHTER HAS GONE TO SCHOOL IN THIS CAR AS A LITTLE GIRL.
THE BUYER : ME, IN 1983. I STUFF THIS HEAP OF RUSTY JUNK IN THE BACK OF MY LAND ROVER JEEP AND CONSIDER MYSELF TO BE VERY LUCKY TO HAVE BOUGHT IT....I JUST DO NOT KNOW WHY. I TRANSPORT THE DISMANTLED CAR FROM KANDY TO A GARAGE CLOSE TO MY HOUSE IN KEGALLE. AH! NOW THE HEAP OF JUNK IS MINE.
THE MECHANIC : I CALL HIM WIJEPALA BUT HE INSISTS HIS NAME IS WIJAYA..PALA AND HE IS PROUD OF IT. O.K. WIJAYAPALA IS A YOUNG ENERGETIC, HARDWORKING EFFICIENT MECHANIC WITH A ZEST FOR WORK . HIS GARAGE IS A HUMBLE ONE WITH A LEAKING ROOF AND SOME DILAPIDATED TOOLS BUT HIS WORK IS TOP CLASS. HE IS A PERFECTIONIST.
THE ARDUOUS REPAIR JOB : WIJAYAPALA STARTS SORTING AND CLEANING THE DISMANTLED PARTS. THE ENGINE,GEAR BOX AND THE DIFFERENTIAL HAVE TO BE THOROUGHLY CHECKED, THEY ARE RIPPED APART. THE ENGINE NEEDS A FULL OVERHAUL. PISTONS,PISTON RINGS AND BEARINGS HAVE TO BE REPLACED. WHERE DO WE FIND SPARES FOR A 1935 MODEL?. WE CHECK FOR MATCHING PARTS AND AT THIS JUNCTURE THE HONDA TD125 MOTOR BIKE COME TO OUR RESCUE. THEY ARE A PERFECT MATCH EXCEPT FOR THE HUMP ON TOP OF THE PISTONS. WE TAKE THEM TO THE LATHE WORKSHOP AND GET THE TOPS SHAVED OFF A BIT.
THE GEAR BOX BUSHES ARE REPLACED-TURNED OUT OF BRONZE AT THE LATHE SHOP. THE GEAR WHEELS ARE IN PERFECT CONDITION. THE CLUTCH LINER IS REPLACED.THE REAR HUBS NEED ATTENTION, EVERYTHING IS TAKEN CARE OF AT THE LATHE WORKSHOP. WIJAYAPALA IS BUSY INSTRUCTING THE LATHEMAN, GETTING EVERYTHING DONE ACCORDING TO HIS STANDARDS( HE CHAIN SMOKES IN THE PROCESS ). HIS SARONG IS TUCKED UP.
THE RIMS ARE CHECKED, RUST SCRAPED OFF AND GIVEN A GOOD COATING OF ANTI CORROSIVE PAINT. THE WHEEL HUB BALL BEARINGS AND BRAKE LINERS ARE REPLACED AND THE BRAKE DRUMS ARE REFACED.
THE CHASSIS IS SCRAPED CLEANED AND PAINTED. THE RADIATOR IS CHECKED FOR LEAKS AND REPAIRED. THERE IS NO WATER PUMP IN THIS MODEL, THE WATER FROM THE BOTTOM TANK OF THE RADIATOR REACHES THE TOP TANK BY CAPILLARY FORCE THROUGH TINY PIPES, ON THE WAY TO THE TOP TANK THE WATER IS COOLED BY THE FAN.
THE CARBURETOR PETROL JETS ARE REPLACED, THE UNIT LOOKS PRETTY GOOD. THE PETROL TANK MOUNTED IN FRONT IS CLEANED AND PAINTED. EVERYTHING IS GOING ACCORDING TO PLAN. WIJAYAPALA BOASTS OF HIS SKILLS. THE ENGINE IS ASSEMBLED AND MOUNTED ON TO THE CHASSIS. THE GEAR BOX, DIFFERENTIAL AND THE LEAF SPRINGS AND THE TYRES ARE FITTED.
THE ENGINE IS STARTED AND RUN AT A SLOW AND GENTLE SPEED,IT SOUNDS GOOD WIJAYAPALA SMILES AND LOOKS SATISFIED.( HE CHAIN SMOKES ). THE ENGINE IS KEPT RUNNING FOR SHORT PERIODS FOR SEVERAL DAYS. HE DOES NOT WANT TO OVERHEAT THE ENGINE,HE SAYS. A MAKESHIFT SEAT IS MADE OUT OF WOOD AND A BIG BAG FILLED WITH SAND IS PLACED ON THE CHASSIS OVER THE DIFFERENTIAL TO COMPENSATE FOR THE LOSS OF BODY WEIGHT.
EVERYTHING IS READY TO PUT THE HALF BUILT CAR ON A TEST DRIVE. HE DRIVES, HIS HAIR GETTING BLOWN IN THE WIND,ENJOYING THE RIDE AND ABOVE ALL LOOKING VERY PROUD. PROUD HE SHOULD BE.
THE BODY REPAIRS ARE ENTRUSTED TO TINKER BY THE NAME OF LANKA.HIS FATHER OWNED THREE AUSTIN SEVENS AND LANKA KNEW EXACTLY WHAT SHAPE IT HAD TO BE. PAINTING TOO IS DONE BY HIM AND HE IS AN EXPERT AT THE JOB. THE COLOR IS BRILLIANT WHITE.
NIMAL BODINAYAKE,BODI WE CALL HIM, SHORT AND STOCKY LIVES CLOSE TO THE GARAGE, HIS LATE FATHER WAS AN UPHOLSTERER. BODI DOES THE UPHOLSTERING, GOSH! HE IS A CRAFTSMAN.THE COLOR IS DEEP BROWN AND THE STICH IS EXCELLENT. BODI SINGS ON VILLAGE MUSICAL SHOWS.
THE FINALE :THE WORK IS COMPLETED, THE CAR LOOKS GLEAMING AND GRAND,THE RUNNING CONDITION IS PERFECT. AN APPLICATION IS FORWARDED TO THE LIONS CLUB OF COLOMBO TO DISPLAY THE CAR AT THEIR EXHIBITION. BODI IS IN CHARGE OF KEEPING THE CAR IN SPOTLESS CONDITION.THE TROPHY IS AWARDED ON THE FINAL DAY OF THE EXHIBITION.
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