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NOW THAT'S A RUNNER!

23rd March 2000, Page 42
23rd March 2000
Page 42
Page 42, 23rd March 2000 — NOW THAT'S A RUNNER!
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

John Bateup, of Hurstpierpoint, West Sussex, bought this Ford Escort 8cwt van for £618 in 1969 to set up in business servicing lawnmowers and agricultural machinery.

At the time he was told that if he kept the water topped up, changed the oil and air filters and had it serviced regularly it would last him a lifetime. Now the van, which has nearly 121,000 miles on the clack, has all its original features, apart from two wings which rusted and had to be replaced. John has prevented major rust problems by treatment with Supertrol.

All the maintenance work has been carried out by John, and the vehicle has never seen the inside of a repair garage.

The Escort has some interesting features: it was among the last vehicles produced by Ford to have the ignition key on the dashboard, and it was the first to have negative to earth.

The lucky little van could not have chosen a better home, as John is a founder member of Horsham Histories and the Southern Counties Historic Vehicles Preservation Trust.

With all that loving attention lavished on it. it looks as if the Escort will go on for ever.

And with those credentials. I would say John also gives a pretty nifty service on the old grass munchers. The Hawk is once more calling upon the vast encyclopaedic knowledge of CM readers, because he needs their assistance in a literary matter.

A few weeks back (CM17-23 Feb) the old bird had his head in two books: Fifty Years of Ice Cream Vehicles and Municipal Refuse Vehicles. Now the publishers have written to yours truly to enlist the help of readers with two new proposed titles. One is Snow Ploughs and Gritters and the other is The Transport Café.

For the latter, Trans-Pennine Publishing is seeking recollections, experiences, memories and photographs of that great institution in post-war Britain.

Knowing you lot as I do, I suspect there will be enough material forthcoming to fill several volumes.

If you have any juicy tidbits to disclose, write to Trans-Pennine Publishing at PO Box 10, Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria CA16 6FA, or ring it on 01768 351053.

Tags

Organisations: Horsham Histories
People: John Bateup

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