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In the Hot Seat with ...
Stephen Pierce

So, tell us about yourself. How and when did you become interested in classic cars?

My name is Stephen Pierce. I am 38 and live in Sydney Australia.

When I was a child I had a book that had illustrations of C-Type and D-Type Jaguars winning Le Mans. The beautiful shape of those cars caught my imagination. When it came time to replace my latest rep-mobile my wife said “you have wanted something classic so go buy it”. So I did.

The classic car market in Australia is very healthy with a wide range of cars, a wide range of companies providing parts and services and a healthy club community. So I had a range of marques and models to choose from.

I drive long distances regularly (1000km round trip once a month) so I wanted something that had long legs. I also wanted to do most of the work on the car myself so it had to have parts availability and reasonably simple.

I do most of the work myself and find doing the work both rewarding and frustrating.

What was your first car?

Honda City Pro

What is your daily driver?

Holden Barina (Vauxhall/Opel Corsa)

What classic(s) do you currently have?

1967 Jaguar E-type 2+2

Before I started the body work

What made you choose the classic(s) you own?

My short list was Porsche 356B, Alfa 105 GTV, Bristol 405 and E-Type.

The Jaguar won based on performance, parts availability, drivers clubs and technical support.

Have you ever missed buying a particular classic and lived to regret it?

I remember in the early eighties seeing all sorts of great classic cars for half of nothing. I look back and think I could have had a XK150 for $2000 and now they are $20,000 for a rust bucket.

What would be your dream car?

1952 Bentley Continental

What car do you regret parting company with?

None

What is your favourite run in a classic car?

There is regular 1000km run that I do. In northern NSW just near Port Macquarie. Part of that road is sweeping 80km/h corners through a forest. You can hear the sound of the engine bouncing off the trees. You can just balance the car with the throttle through the corners. As you come out of the forest it opens up into an uphill right hand sweeper that you just blast through before descending again into tight twisting downhill corners through the forest.

How much work on your car(s) do you carry out yourself?

As much as I can. I do most of the mechanical work myself. I am off to do a welding course shortly so I can start working on the body. I will leave painting to the professionals.

What do you carry with you when out in your classic?

Basic tool kit comprising spanners, hammer, long nose pliers and screwdriver of each type. Oil, bailing wire and brake fluid.

Do you get involved in the club scene and why?

I am a member of the Jaguar Drivers Club of Australia. You can meet lots of people that have been through your present problem and steer you in the right direction. They also provide advanced driver tuition specific to the model of car you drive. Whilst the Jag is not hard to drive it does have some vices that get my attention.

Do you take an interest in motor sport, and if so where is your favourite venue(s)/club meetings?

I would love to get involved in motorsport, but haven’t had a vehicle suitable to the task. The car club I am in provide driver training also have regular motorsports days. So after the old bus is made a bit safer I will exercise it somewhat.

What is your worst memory involving a classic?

Is there such a thing? Whilst it isn’t something I would wish to do again. It certainly was an adventure. 200km of anywhere, 110km/h, semi-trailer on the rear bumper bar. BANG, valve and piston have an intimate conversation. Rear wheels lock up. The car started going sideways so I had to correct and stand on the brakes so the fronts would lock as well to try and avoid a spin. The semi-trailer crossed the road to miss me and the car ended up on the edge of a very deep ditch. End result 300km tow-truck ride and a full engine rebuild. Half laughing and crying all the way to Sydney counting my blessings and thinking of the engine rebuild.

What is your funniest memory involving a classic car?

Recently as I was backing out of garage, a dark blue e-type ots, drove past my house. As I was considering respraying my car that colour, I gave chase. I followed him through several suburbs until I caught him picking up his children from school.

When he saw me behind him at the school, he bounded out his car demanding "why are you following me?" I sheepishly put my head out the window and said “I just wanted to see the paint job up close”. I suddenly realised how silly the whole thing was and burst out laughing. I drove away rapidly wondering if the other owner had called the authorities.

What is your most enjoyable moment involving a classic car?

After working on my cars engine for several days, I was tightening the last came cover nut when it snapped. So off came the cam cover. The offending nut was resting on the edge of the head when I heard a metallic tinkling noise. I looked up and noticed that the nut was no longer where I had left it. If had fallen into the engine and down the timing chain.!!! After sitting on the floor and repeatedly banging my head on the front wheel, I commenced to seek solutions.

Ah, I know a magnetic extraction tool will do the job. I stuck the tool down the engine and secured the nut. Yippee. I tried to extract the tool and nut from the engine and to my horror the magnet ripped off the tool and lodged with the nut in the engine.

After pulling the head, water pump, sump and timing chain I extracted the nut. Extracting that nut was the most relieving, enjoyable moment of owner my car.

If you won a competition to have the unlimited and unrestricted use of any classic car for a week, what would you choose and why?

Gordon Keeble. I have read so many good things about them. I love the styling. The large US lump power without doing the Cobra thing. Any car with that survival rate must have something going for it.

How do you define a classic?

Any car that somebody can gain enjoyment from. That probably explains Austin Allegro collectors!

What in your opinion is the worst car regarded as a classic and why?

No such thing. They are all loved by somebody.

So what in your view will be a future classic?

That is a difficult one. Most modern cars are designed to reach the best before date and get transformed into shaving products. At a punt, MX5 (for same reason people value MGBs) and TVRs because they don’t follow the rest.

What question would you like to ask and to whom?

William Clay Ford. When are we going to get real sporting Jaguars again?

What classic car publications do you regularly read?

Classic & Sports Cars and Classic Cars

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