The Art of Restoration - What to do with those leftover restoration spares

We met with Warren Clayburn to learn more about his restored MGB and how restoration inspired his contemporary watercolour artform using classic car parts! 

I bought my MGB way back in 1983/84, they were in big demand then and getting one that you could restore was challenging especially when you consider there was no internet. Numerous phone calls ended with “it’s already been sold.”

Then I got lucky, the number printed in the newspaper was incorrect and when the publisher’s office opened, I was given the correct number and within a few moments, being the ‘first’ caller I was heading down with my father to view the car with my cash in my pocket, pretty sure I would buy the car. It was a runner and surprisingly, given the state of it, was supplied with an MOT so it could be driven away. 

The car had been roughly prepared and was hand painted with a brush, Ford Galleon Green, the carpets had faded dramatically, and the interior panels had been removed and were stored in the boot. The bumper was tied up over the overrider with electrical wire. Gauges and other odd modifications had been added to the car including the interesting but nonfunctional Combi handbrake lock which was an unusual add on. However, it was all complete, had a stage2-cylinderr head and webber carb, which made an incredibly nice noise but didn’t seem to go particularly fast and probably resulted in 18 MPG maximum.

The car was restored by me and a friend in his father’s garage whilst we were at Uni in Preston. We restored two MGBs and two MG midgets and got to know the cars and their quirks well. My MG has then spent some time as an exhibit in the excellent Moreton Hampstead Motor Museum whilst I was away travelling around Argentina. Who would have thought I’d still have the car after all this time? Admittedly it was restored again in 1999 and is now aging gracefully.

 
But this story is not so much about the restoration but what to do with all those spare parts that we’re left with after the restoration. In my case I decided these parts have a story to tell and so have created portraits of them in Watercolour.

One of the early paintings was of my Girling Powerstop MkII brake servo, which deserved to be changed after 23 years of good service. The challenge with the portrait is recreating the age of the parts which in turn gives then their character. They look great framed and on my garage wall. Each image takes a couple of weeks to complete; the original paintings are about 22” x 30”. Watercolour paint is applied in thin layers to build up to the desired aged finish. It is a technique borrowed from Victorian botanical illustrators and seems to translate very well to car parts. As such I decided to call the style of artwork Autobotanical and believe it to be fairly unique.

 
Having started with my MGB spare parts the hobby has become more of an obsession and I’m always on the lookout for exotic parts with interesting stories that I can paint for myself or for friends.

I am particularly drawn to old rusty parts and parts that have been altered or disassembled to show their inner workings. It is all part of the story they have to tell and makes for a more interesting portrait.

Lambretta Ignition is an excellent example of historical context. In this painting of a friend’s 1950’s Lambretta ignition some of the wires have been extended and have old electrical tape on them, there is grease and dirt on them from years of use, the ignition switch itself has paint on it from a respray at some point.

I now have quite a collection of parts for a variety of vehicles and am constantly on the lookout for new parts to paint at auto jumbles and classic events but I still have time for my old MGB.

 
Check out more of Warren Clayburn’s work.

1. What was your first experience with classic cars?

When I bought my MGB in 1984 I don’t think it would have been given the title of classic car, it was really a rusty 15-year-old car, but with potential.  MGBs were in demand even then and it took me a couple of years to get the one I wanted, a green MK2 roadster.

2. What inspired you to become a classic car owner? 

I liked the styling of the MGB along with the simplicity the design.  My father had seven motorbikes, Triumph’s, BSA’s, etc. but also seven accidents which put me off the idea of a bike. I wanted the freedom that a motorbike can bring and with a convertible I could have freedom along with a reasonable amount of safety.

3. Tell us about your classic car? What made you pick this make/model? How long have you owned it? What’s your favourite feature/detail?

The MGB is a very simple but elegant design, the chrome and leather seats (which were a special addition to the car in 1969) made the classic stand out against more modern cars in the 80s. It was has also always been a very affordable classic with parts being very easy to get hold of back in 1984 which meant that restoring it was within my budget. Originally I wanted wire wheels but the disc wheels  have been far easier to maintain and I actually prefer them to the wires now.

4. Do you have any other cars in your collection? 

I’d always wanted a prewar MG but couldn’t quite afford one. At one point I had most of a 1930’s M Type which had been converted into a J2 at some point in its life. The simple construction of these cars meant it was reasonably easy to change the engine and the body tub, and this owner must have gone for a conversion rather than buy a new car. Unfortunately, I was unable to restore this vehicle and sold the parts on to a classic car enthusiast.

I’ve also owned some cars which are now considered classics but I owned some of them then when they were only a few years old;  a MK2 Cortina 1600 Deluxe, a Ford Fiesta XR2i and a Toyota MR2 MK1, which was a fantastic car.

Restoration & Maintenance 

1. Was your car restored when you bought it, or did you do the restoration yourself? 

It was a bit of a mess when I bought it, but surprisingly still had an MOT.  The car had been hand painted from its original Primrose Yellow to Ford Galleon Green.  The Exhaust was tied to the overrider with electrical wire, there were no door panels, the carpets had faded and the sills were a bit questionable, but I thought it was fantastic as I drove it home. The car has since been restored twice, once by me as a student and the second time by an professional restorer.  As it has been restored twice it has provided me with a fair number of parts which I’ve used as studies for my automotive art paintings.

2. Are there any modifications or upgrades you’ve made to your classic car?

Whilst I’m more of a practical classic car owner, preferring a car that is not perfect but very drivable, I have  tried to keep the car as original as possible.  It came with a Webber Carburettor and Stage 2 head but the fuel economy was dire and it didn’t seem to make the car much faster so I switched it back to the original twin SUs which made it easier to tune. It does have a 714 camshaft in it, I can’t remember why I decided to change that but it does run very nicely at the moment.  The main modification has been to update the headlights to Halogen bulbs which I guess might be converted again to LED in future.

Driving & Experience

1. How often do you drive your classic car? 

As I’ve had this car for over 40 years it has sometimes been my main mode of transport or been stored in a museum or just for dry sunny days.  The biggest issue has been the unreliable British weather which didn’t make it ideal for computing, however I’ve recently retired so I can pick and choose the days I go out in it and really enjoying it again.

2. What’s it like driving your classic car compared to modern vehicles? 

I’ve had this car for so long that driving it just seems like part of me. It is a very predictable drive, with no power steering so there is a lot of feedback from the wheel. I love the gearing, and the rear wheel drive which make cornering fun. I think some modern drivers have been surprised that a 50-year-old car can be so spritely.  

3. What’s your most memorable road trip or event?  

My favourite drives are on any autumn night with a clear starry sky overhead. We are currently planning a road trip through northern Spain as we noticed, whilst walking the Camino de Santiago, that there were some lovely empty roads and beautiful little villages to explore.

History

1. Do you know the history of your car? Any notable stories? 

When I completed the restoration of the car, I thought the previous owner would be interested to see it.  As it was about two years since I purchased it I couldn’t quite remember where they lived and drove past their house turning around at the end of the road.  By the time I drove past again the owner was standing there and flagged me down saying that he heard the car and knew it was his. 

Community

1. Are you a part of a classic car club?

Not at the moment, but I have been at various times and will join again now that I have a bit more time.

2. What do you enjoy most about being part of the classic car community?

Sharing stories and nostalgia.

3. What are the top events you like to attend with your classic car?

I generally show my car at village events, but it has also been an exhibit in Morten Hampstead Motor Museum.

Future Plans

1. Do you plan on adding any more cars to your collection or new restoration projects?

I’d like to have some different classics, but I don’t have the space for them and can’t bring myself to sell my MBG after all these years.

2. What are your future plans with your classic car? 

I’ve got some road trips planned and then hoping my son or daughter will be interested enough in the car to keep it in the family.