WHAT IS IN THE MARCH ISSUE?
Pretty, Practical Performer
This month’s cover car is not only a 3P by name, but it has the three Ps in the feature title too. The Fiat 128 3P was launched in 1969, and was awarded European Car of the Year in 1970, after which it stayed in production until 1978.
The examples we feature this month belong to Anthony O’Halloran From Co. Kerry, who bought his first one back in 1993; having never restored a car before, he was soon in the thick of it, and like many others he often asked himself what he had let himself in for. By the time he was restoring his second one in 2002 he was doing it all himself, as he tells Andrew.
Enuff Nuffields
This is another article featuring an owner who has gotten stuck in. Pat O’Connell from Co. Cork has, in a short time, built up a very fine collection of five Nuffields from an early 1949 M4 to a 1968 10/60.
Pat got stuck into the repair of all five tractors, and loves getting his hands dirty; he is also lucky enough to have a son who can do the paintwork for him. Pat is a regular at many shows around the country, as are his amazing tractors, all of which are in great condition and one the button. Andrew gets a run down on the ups and downs of the work carried out on each one as it joined the collection.
Mandatory Retirement
This month’s commercial feature brings us to Maghera in Northern Ireland to take a look at an AEC Mandator belonging to Eamonn and Ann Marie McKenna.
Having seen this lorry at many shows I was delighted to get a look at it in detail, and it sure has some fine details. As in previous commercial stories, this one too was restored with some TLC; Eamonn was lucky enough to have another truck to use as a donor vehicle, so this gave him a good start with the restoration. Stephen McEvoy has the full story for us.
The Unapproachable ‘Curly N’
If you’re looking for a classic British motorcycle, then they don’t come much better that a Norton, and this month Carl brings us the story of a 1955 ES2 model.
The reputation that Nortons have built up over the years is second to none, particularly in the motorsport side of things. Carl meets up with Joe O’Brien from Co. Offaly, who some time ago bought this bike as a project. He then enlisted the help of the very experienced Joe Millea from Emerald Classics in Kilkenny to restore it, and the results simply speak for themselves.
Shows featured in this issue include
Butlerstown & District Vintage Society, Circuit of Ireland Retrospective Trial, Whitford Family Threshing, Irish Mini Owners’ Club, Inistioge Vintage Rally, A Prancing Horse in Co. Westmeath, Tipperary Veteran & Vintage Run, MEC Sprint, Durrow & Portrush Model Shows
