| Standard
7cwt Pickup completed
Mike Wilks wins
a first prize on the first time out with his Pickup
Mike Wilks from
Alcester in the Midlands, previously the Pre-flying Spares officer,
has just completed his latest project, a rare and pretty
looking 7 cwt pickup. He is seen here at Malvern in October, this
being the vehicles first time out.
Dating from 1962, I
think this is the youngest Standard I have featured so far on these
pages. Mike purchased the vehicle in a fairly rough state and the
rebuild has occupied him for the last 9 months or so.
Mike took these
photos, during the restoration, you can click on them to see an
enlargement:
The sills on the
pick-up were pretty non-existent, and as they are different (much
shorter) than the saloon, Mike was forced to fabricate his own. The
Pennant style front wings were also particularly rotten,
especially at the bottom edges and around the headlights. As even
second-hand wings for these are very rare, Mike was forced to weld
in repair panels. The "peaks" above the headlights
were missing entirely but Mike ingeniously bent the conduit of
a brake cable to provide a former for the new metal. The pictures
show just how successful this tactic proves to be.
The Pickup was
purchased without a frame for the tilt cover so Mike copied another
frame and made the frame from bent steel rods. The cream tilt cover
was farmed out to a trimmer, who was working without sight of the
vehicle. As a consequence he was unaware of where the plastic window
in the front of the tilt should be positioned. As you can see, when
offered up to the vehicle it does not line up with the rear window
of the cab, so it needs to be remade to position it lower.
Realignment of the rear plastic window is also then required to
allow a clear view from the rear view mirror right the way through
the tilt! The modification is in hand for the winter but in the
meantime Mike has to rely on the wing mirrors for his rear view, or
just to take the frame down!
Here are 3 views of
the completed Pickup, click on any to see a larger version
So there we have one
very smart and rare Pickup. When asked what Standard Mike is going
to restore next, Mike is reticent, saying that this is his last.
Somehow I doubt it, but in the meantim look out for the Pickup at
shows next year.
Report by Phil Homer
Return to Top of Page
Return to Commercials Page
|
