Making Vintage Cars Safe

A 1975 Corolla car, never be upgraded enough to the slick, smooth drive and power of the 2005 model. However, any relatively well maintained vintage car can be kept on the roads for many more years of happy motoring due to a welcome piece of automotive information.
Manufacturers produce cars in so called ‘lines’ that may continue for decades- take the Corolla as an example of a successful model that has kept on evolving. This sort of consistency is the ideal test bed on which a product can be refined for engineering, power efficiency and safety excellence.
A model line is built around a basic chassis (undercarriage) or layout and is standardized and proven so that it remains little changed from the original design.
Coachwork, components, materials and of course electronics, are the major innovations that appear from one model year to the next. To the driver of a cherished 1970’s vehicle, this is good news as it is possible, with some degree of modification to re-fit your old car with parts from its modern successor. In a word, we’re talking about retrofitting.
You will be surprised by how compatible most of the components are although they may be several model years apart.
Late model cars are invariably better engineered but not necessarily as well made as many older vehicles, like Addis Ababa’s 70’s era cars. This sturdiness of pre 80’s vehicles allows for a fair amount of strenuous force during retrofitting by a qualified mechanic. Older cars can also take on added weight better than most of the slick new things.
Brakes, Please! Is compiling and will present next week a list from among the many upgrades you can do or have done to make your ageing vehicle almost as good as new. Note however, that your vehicle should preferably be one that is a model line still in production. Owners of most vintage Japanese cars are particularly fortunate in this respect.
By the way, retrofitting or otherwise altering vehicles has a long history in Ethiopia, making us wonder if we don’t have some of the most imaginative mechanics in the world.
In the early 60’s Addis Ababa’s taxis were the 1950’s Fiat Millecento which took over from the Seicento (Zenbil) model made famous later by Astair Aweke’s first return. Modern Millecentos are still made, albeit modified, in India as the Ambassador.
By the 70’s, A.A. cabbies were becoming frustrated with the difficulty of obtaining parts for a vehicle which Fiat had terminated 15 years previously. The resourceful cabbies and their creative mechanics soon began to experiment with not only parts from others brands but amusingly, also visited the corner grocer for the humble ‘Salsa tassa’ (empty cans of tomato paste).
It turned out that after a constellation of holes were punched into the tiny can, it would work as a perfect replacement for the Millecento’s air filter, whicgo rusted away into uselessness. Talking about creativity! See you next week!

Bad Ideas

Do not rush to chop off the top of your car because you’ve seen them do it on MBC Action the other day. Nothing to it at all … so you would think.
Cutting the root from a hardtop is not in included in the manufacturer’s design blueprints. If you do slice off the top, it means that a crucial element of vehicular engineering, called Rigidity would be thrown out along with the scrap metal, and some very dead people in that wobbly “convertible’.
As a car moves down the road, it is also moving along (or with in) its entire frame.
The firmer this frame the better the car handles. Steering is precise and braking is assured because the vehicle maintains rigidity.
Vehicles derive their main rigidity from the body shell design of a conjoined top and under carriage.
The typical four door sedan say like the boxy Lada 1200, has three points of rigidity called the A, B and C pillars. Some hatchbacks and two door cars have only A and C pillars.
These hard points do much more than simply support the roof. They are needed to share up the chassis and body panels without which the vehicle will wobble all over the road. So before you dissect your dad’s now parked VW Beetle, consult a good mechanic (who should also be a competent and observant driver) on how to preserve or not totally compromise the vehicle’s rigidity. This authoritative advice might consist of the following surgical strike “Chop list”.

1. Rust is the nemesis of older vehicles. Check whether the vehicles undercarriage, interior paneling, weld spot and bolt points are rust free. If they are beyond salvaging, shelve your “convertible” ideas.

2. Do you really want to get rid of the all important B pillar Perhaps you can preserve rigidity and still eat your cake with a cabriolet style (half convertible)

3. Have you a prepared plan of what to do for a retractable roof (soft-top)? Select the best way of mounting the support lattice work, choose water proof and non warping materials.

4. Have an artist or a talented photographer make a picture model of what your car will look like after you convert it into the convertible of your dreams. These pictures will save you nightmares.