VANDEN PLAS 1.7
As we explained in the opening instalment of this project, our Vanden Plas 1.7 appears to be structurally in good shape after an extensive body restoration some years ago, although its Denim Blue paint is now badly micro-blistered. However, standing back and looking the car over, one or two minor issues became apparent.
At the front, I noticed that the number plate was over to one side of the car rather than being central. This appears to be because the two fixing holes were drilled different distances in from the edges, compounded by the fact that the hanging brackets were wildly different lengths. While investigating this, I noticed that the front bumper was not sitting squarely. In fact it was bent up at the nearside end, but its top face was also drooping a little on that side of the centre line. Examining things more carefully, it soon became clear that the car had received a knock to the NSF corner. This had broken the surround to the fog light, and bent the front valence as well as the bumper.
Moving back, we also noticed that the plastic sill covers were broken on each side. Presumably somebody had tried to jack the car up using them, but they are only flimsy and entirely cosmetic rather than structural. No doubt they are also totally unobtainable today, but at least the metal sills that were now visible through the holes looked to be in excellent shape.
Then, while sitting down and
