Pete Arnold

For those who have booked the Novotel at Stevenage, here's what I 've found on a quick search - "The Novotel in Stevenage has been closed to the public in order to provide accommodation exclusively to asylum seekers." Be warned!!!!

From the description of the work carried out, I would consider this car to have been rebuilt - restored, definitely not!!!!!!!!!

Hi Chris, Please send us the entry form as usual when available Thanks Pete & Mary

According to DVLA website, it was first registered in May 1959.

I renewed the shut off valve a few years ago and it made no difference. I'd be interested to have details of your manual central heating valve system though. I do find, when in a traffic jam in hot weather, that the engine does overheat although it soon returns to normal once on the run again.

Have you tried asking the relevant CT model consultant? Contact details for Barry McGrath are always shown in Club Torque.

Yes, I always check the overflow bottle. As for the heater - it never stops chucking out heat even when it's turned off but I gather that's a common problem. As it's a saloon, the car was a mobile sauna in this year's summer weather!!

Have just renewed the antifreeze in the Vitesse then took it for a 20 mile run to make sure that there was no airlock in the cooling system.

Thanks for your response Gary. My seats are basically black cloth with green piping (photo attached). The piping is coming undone on the driver's door side and there is a pair on eBay which shows exactly the same wear so this may be a weak spot. My pair cost me £40 nine years ago but, as you say, there are not many good ones at that sort of price these days! Many of those currently on eBay are leather or half leather ("Alcantara" - presumably the design name) but I assume these are from later models. Newton's website confirms that the Mk I model dates between 1995-99 so presumably later models may be a different size or shape. With winter approaching I'm not desperate to get better seats so I'll keep my eyes open for something suitable over coming months.

The front seats in my Vitesse saloon (which I fitted some 9 years ago) came from a 1996 MGF. These are very comfortable for long journies but the driver's one is now beginning to look a bit tatty - piping coming adrift and stitching coming undone - so I'm keeping my eyes open for possible replacements. I would like to remain with MGF seats as my car has the correct runners etc installed. Does anyone have definite advice about seats from later MGF models? In other words, would seats from a later model still be narrow enough to fit straight into the Vitesse? Or do I need to restrict my search to seats from an MGF only up to a particular year? Any info welcome.

Alfred James Motor Company was dissolved in February 2016 and you can find names of the company's officers by entering the company name in the seach box at https://www.gov.uk/get-information-about-a-company

I presume that you are aware of the advice available on Canley Classics website. Well worth a read if you haven't done so already. https://www.canleyclassics.com/?archive=rear-end-noises

There's currently one (passenger side) on eBay. Item no: 394244547282

Simon, There's curently one on eBay for £65 "buy it now" but it's collection only from Sandhurst. See item no: 225168444086

Many thanks to both foshi and glang for coming up trumps with the info I needed. I'll have a chat with my friendly welder!