My old new old motor

After 25 years of trying to buy it back, I finally succeeded in buying my grandfathers BSA FW32 back. He owned it from 1934 for over 50 years. It was sold to cover his care in old age. I’ve finally got it back - pick it up on Saturday

That looks in fine fettle!
More pics needed when you've picked it up please

Brilliant! Well done, Rich!

Wow! That's a great looking thing and a lovely story Richard.

Thanks, folks. It’s the only one that exists. I’m very excited to be picking it up this weekend. Then I have to learn to drive it. Brake and accelerator are reversed and no synchro on the box. Gearstick comes up between your knees. And, of course, advance and retard and a hand throttle.

That's a lovely story to go with the car Rich. Looks like a hoot to drive.

Been out for a few drives today, Jim, and it is a hoot. Certainly gets waves, smiles and head turns. Bounces around and needs constant inputs. Reached the dizzy heights of 40mph. I took a video which I’ll post - crunchy gear-changes and everything

Very nice MRS - glad she's back in the family.
You must be made up.

I very much am, Brilly

Here’s a not very exciting video of my first outing - shame the engine noise is only audible at low speed.

https://youtu.be/hWPKHs34-jQ

Reading up on the BSA - what a rare car!
She even sounded a bit like an old bike at the beginning?

40 mph would seem plenty on those lanes!

Twin-V 1022cc air cooled engine - accounts for the motorbike sound - along with a very simple exhaust.

Congratulations, how satisfying and emotional to have it back in the family.

Fantastic that you have managed to buy it back. I found out recently that my parents first car (a 1932 MG F-Type Magna) is still on the road - would love to be able to buy it but even if it was for sale I doubt I could afford it.

Nice car MRS with a nice bit of history behind it!

Great that you have got to reclaim a family friend so to speak. It must be like having to learn to drive again with that set up. Enjoy

I’ll get some more pictures up shortly. Life has been rather hectic whilst I’m doing the house - not to mention a sneaky bit of Alfa racing (Silverstone next weekend). My dad went up for a flight in a Spitfire yesterday - life-long ambition since watching the Battle of Britain above his head as a kid.

I need to change the oil and take a look at the oil filter. Oil pressure drops off rather a lot. It runs on roller bearings and splash lub mostly so less of a concern than on modern cars - in fact the manual seems to suggest you should be happy with very little pressure (2psi) - I’ll just feel happier knowing all is good.

Driving it is generally easier than I feared. The gearstick, which sprouts up between your knees, stops your foot naturally going left for the brake pedal as it’s on the right. With practice, I think I can do without double-(de)clutching - but I will need practice. I need to get familiar with what it wants by way of hand throttle and ignition advance - but that’s all part of the fun.

Had my first breakdown on Sunday - loss of power and the engine running for a short while and then stopping. Eventually trailered the car home. It taught me a few things:

1. Carry a kit of tools and simple spares with you - problems are generally easy to fix beside the road - much easier than resorting to the trailer. I’d already decided it was a fuel fault and checked the supply to the carb. Whipping the carb off and giving it a clean out (as I did at home) is very easy and solved the problem. I had most of what I needed to do it but not the confidence to start pulling it to bits beside the road. Next time I would.
2. Being stopped anywhere attracts lots of people - especially older ones - who talk a lot. Escaping isn’t easy.
3. Wear clothes that you’d be happy to be seen out in! I was wearing some old shorts and a fetching sock and trainer combo that I’d thrown on after a hard day working on the house - fortunately the car attracts a lot of attention which may have diverted it from me.

Anyhow - it’s a lot of fun

To the pub

Looks great!

That black & white photograph really sets the car off & adds to the character of what it is...

Must have been a bugger painting the pub and the road in suitable shades of grey!