Futureproofing your classic with Ian Creese and his Austin Cambridge A60 by Brian Thomas, Car Club Executive

For many of us, the classic car is all about the memories, whether that is to revisit the joy of great times in the back of your parent’s car as a kid or finally being able to buy the car on the poster that adorned your bedroom wall many years ago.

For some, it is getting back perhaps to a more analogue driving experience, maybe as an antidote to modern cars with their complex touch screens, advanced engine management systems, air conditioning and a feeling of isolation from the road that many of these cars have. 

When a medical condition means that driving your beloved classic, without the modern servo assisted brakes and power steering systems, requires more strength than you can muster, you may find that you are driving your classic less often than you would like to.

There may be many very good reasons to take the modern car for any journey, rather than your classic “if only it was a little easier to drive, the steering is very heavy, the brakes need a firm push.” This often leads to your classic being laid up or just being used less, it is not what you want to happen and with less use, it is harder to make a case for keeping the car.

Sometimes in the classic car adverts, you will see the words “medical condition forces sale”.

There could be a solution though and it maybe one that you might not have thought of.

This is a situation that Ian Creese was facing. A medical condition was taking away the strength that he needed to drive his beloved Austin Cambridge A60, known as “The Duchess”.

Previously, Ian had a 1940’s Standard 14 called “Bluebell” with its cross-ply tyres, cable brakes and no power steering, it was a car of its time and regretfully, was very difficult for Ian to comfortably drive, sadly it had to go.

Ian decided though, that he still wanted a British classic vehicle, so the search was on for a more modern classic that would be less heavy to drive but would still have that classic British car feel.

Ian bought an Austin Cambridge A60, the Cambridge, together with its deadly rival, the Morris Oxford, became a quality and respectable car appearing on many a suburban drive throughout the 1960’s and lasting well into the 1970’s, such was its popularity.

But although a thoroughly modern vehicle in its day and of course much easier to drive than the standard 14, the Cambridge in comparison with a modern, was proving to be increasingly uncomfortable for Ian to drive as time passed.

With the possibility of another classic car sale looming, Ian was determined to find a way to keep and continue to drive “The Duchess”

So, Ian wondered if modern technology could create a solution and make “the Duchess” a keeper.

 All modern cars these days have power Steering, which of course makes them easy to drive, was this answer and did anyone do a system that could be retro fitted to classic cars?

Ian came across” Easysteer” a retro fit electric variable power steering system which is fitted to the existing steering box on the car, making for a very discreet conversion allowing the original steering to be left in place, which helps to maintain a highly valued sense of originality.

With the steering sorted, Ian together with the valued assistance of a friend doing the grafting and getting underneath the car, plumbed in a new servo to the exhaust manifold providing the braking assistance needed and of course new brake cylinders, coil springs and tyres. An alternator replaces the dynamo meeting the new electricity demands reliably. “The Duchess” was transformed into a classic that Ian is now able to continue to drive and enjoy for as long as he wants to.

With thanks to Ian for his inspiration in writing this article and wanting to share his story as well as the pictures of “The Duchess”.

Thanks also to Rick at Easysteer