So, I’ll start with some advice which you probably already know, but hey, never sell a car that you really love! That’s what I did with my Mercedes Benz 280sl convertible. I sold it on after 5 years ownership  and it left me heartbroken so I rushed to my computer, got eBay online and found my latest project.

It is a 1976 1303 Karman cabrio. I agreed a price over the phone and set off on an early flight to Bristol, paid my money, started the engine and took a ferry to rosslare and drove back to doolin, co.clare in my first beetle.

was in fairly good nick and had already had a decent body resto some years earlier and I had the photo album to verify. Sadly, some people care more for looks than function so they did nothing with the engine. That would be my department. I found out that the engine had two cracked cylinder heads, the pistons were leaking and the exhaust system was not great.

I decided to do the work myself; I was stung once with a dodgy garage, never again! We dropped the engine out and I settled myself on the floor of my garage for the next 8 weeks, between work and weekends (I had to pay for the parts after all!!)

I opted for a new Bosch electronic distributor, heater cables, new front brake discs and track rod arm, running boards and a shiny new stainless steel fire wall as the tar board was in bits.

The engine also got new pushrod tubes, pistons, rings and seals and a full new gasket set, just to be on the safe side. The tin ware was in good condition but I re-coated it in v.h.t black paint to keep the job looking half decent.

Finally after all those weeks of greasy fingers and stiff knees, not to mention my mother warning me not to be lifting anything heavier than a tea cup (I was 4 months pregnant!) and before I got too big that I couldn’t slide under the car or stand up without the help of my hubby- we put the engine back in and lo and behold to my great surprise I turned the key and it started!!! Fine tuning was needed but I was so pleased with myself. O.K, so two weeks later the starter motor went and had to be replaced but hey, there has to be the odd glitch- I should have checked it while the engine was on the floor, would have been MUCH easier but now I know ...!

The last job to be tackled and not by me, was the sill strengtheners had to get some welding last month but it runs great and I have so much fun to drive it. It really turns heads. Last week I had 7 Japanese tourists queue up to get their picture taken beside it!!!  The smiles say it all.