Without moment's hesitation I can fully recommend this exciting little buggy as the most practical and easily constructible project I've seen for some time.

You can tackle it with confidence, and when you've finished it you'll have a car that not only will you be very proud of, but which will provide you with more fun than you've probably ever had at the wheel of any car. 

It takes us back to the days of real honest to goodness special building, when one's initiative counted for something, and when the end result reflected the character
and inventiveness of the builder. And like previous special building, it's based on the well loved, and well tried, E93A chassis, But rather than the sports carriages that most
early special-builders hoped to make for themselves, this is an attempt to step back in time to a gentler period when motoring was really entertaining!

It says volumes for this lovely little car that owing to its particular design characteristics, one can actually enjoy driving at 30 mph in a built-up area!

More about the driving later but let's have a look at the basic E93A you build it from, discuss the kit, and consider any problems you'll encounter when you tackle the job.

You'll pick up an E93A Popular, Anglia or Prefect for anything between £10 and £50 depending on its condition. You may even be lucky enough to get one that's already had the Bellamy (or other) treatment of a spilt front axle, engine conversion, and so on.

It's likely that you will have to attend to the king pins. These are often a bit suspect, and at the same time make sure that the track-rod ends are good. Brakes may also require overhaul, as they must be in pristine condition to act well. They are cable operated, and won't be too hot if the linings, shoes, or linkages are worn-or if grease seals are bad so that the linings are saturated.

Tyres may also be something of  a problem. They are 17 in, and as such may not be too easy to get, But remoulds can be obtained likely as not. Or you may be able to get the 16 in commercial wheels which will fit the hubs. But then the "artillery wheel" trims for the kit won't fit.  

The engine is relatively simple, and although Ford don't do factory exchange unit as they used to, there are still several engine reconditioners (Mascot, Cedar, etc) who
do an inexpensive, reliable job. 

If you're buying the basic POP to do the job on, make sure that 2nd gear is OK. This was a Ford weak point in the 3-speed box, and involves an overhaul. Syncromesh
on several old Fords that I've had were syncromash, but if you're a dab hand at double de-clutching it won't matter. 

I never did like the enclosed torque-tube final drive, as this was meddlesome when repairs to gearbox or rear axle were required but it does prevent axle wind-up. Crown-wheels and pinions are not so bad, but when the engine is highly tuned I've found that half shafts can prove a little weak for the job.

The big drawback so far as the E93A is concerned is the 6-volt system. Although you can keep it (it's worked for years let's face it), I advise chucking it and going 12 volt. This involves fitting a 12 volt dynamo and voltage control unit, also bulbs and coil, etc. but you can leave the 6-volt starter which happily copes with 12 volts. Result is much easier starting at all times - never a good point on the E93A. 

With the additional power-to-weight ratio that you'll get with the Siva conversion to the E93A chassis compared with the steel bodied car, there is probably no need to
go for extra power, but if you want a hot-type oldster there's still conversion equipment from such people as Aquaplane - or even a Shorrock blower. The little side-valve can produce some very respectable power. You can also fit the 100E with a bit of fiddling, but we'll not dwell on the other engine swops you might try (no, I did not mention a 5.3 litre Chevvy conversion!). After all, this is not the real object of the exercise.  

Let's go back to square one, You have an E93A, and you've stripped off the body - and overhauled the works to your satisfaction. The chassis is then stripped of paint down to the metal, and it is then painted with Valspar, Coach Enamel, or a Polyeurathane Yacht Varnish of the colour you require. Something that is going to last, and be rust-proof. You can pinstripe the bits of the chassis which will eventually stick out from the bodywork. 

Now you start on the fixing of the basic panels. For £125 you get the main body section and scuttle, the bonnet, the seat shell, the four wings-and four spoked wheel
covers (they screw onto the hub caps). 

The instruction sheet shows you how to attach these, using where necessary the brackets provided. The handbrake and a few other parts need a touch of the welders,
but only the smallest amount.  

I'd suggest that if you're intending to paint the vehicle-you do so before fitting the wings. A coach enamel will do a good job (with an expensive brush properly used),
and finish with pinstriping as you see in our pix. 

The button upholstery is something you'll have to do yourself - unless you buy it ready-to-fit for £7 10s. There are other parts you can get such as running boards (rubber trimmed and alloy edged) at £8 per pair, coach lamps (electric) at £12 per pair, Cibie headlamps (as per 2CV Citroen) at £12 per pair - or try dismantlers for something at far less cost - a screen including the wooden surround and support, with Triplex glass at £15, hood £20. 

It's worth mentioning here that if you're really lazy, or have £355 to spare, you can get the finished product already built to order.

And needless to say you won't be paying purchase tax, as this is not a new car. It retains the original chassis, so therefore the original licence number. Need we add that this will involve an annual MOT test, hence our dwelling on the need for check and repair before assembling the car. 

And because this is basically the E93A Popular, insurance should not be a very expensive or impossible problem for the young owner like it was with the Opus, and
similar ventures. I imagine that the Alpha insurance people with whom I am insured would not take unkindly to the Siva, as it is really a very sane proposition. 

So eventually you finish up with a very useful and enjoyable two-seater vintage type car, which has the benefit of reasonable performance within the limits of 1172 cc,
and good braking to match. The radiator is open, and if I were to build one myself, I would make up a vintage-type surround for the header tank, which looks a bit bare and lonely. 

So basically that's it, and as you'll probably want to know more about it, why not write to M, Saunders, Siva Engineering, 37, Beswick Avenue, Bournemouth - phone: Bournemouth 57552. If it's a complete car you want, contact Siva Sales, St Albans Chambers, Weymouth, Dorset. 

If you're near at hand, call in at Neville Trickett (Design) Ltd, Bryanston, Blandford, Dorset. And if you want to buy, you'll find that cash and carry is the most convenient and inexpensive way to go about it. 

ON THE ROAD 

You get an instant feeling of superiority as you climb up into the driving seat, where you're at least two feet above other drivers. All round vision is excellent, A small steering wheel is advisable for easier access. 

Commencing the engine, and illuminating the carriage, may both be done without leaving the driving seat. 

And suddenly you're off-with a briskness that is surprising, But this willing little engine unburdened of its heavy metal body, positively bursts into action.   

Other drivers treat one with a courtesy and deference which is most refreshing-but they are perhaps a little perplexed to find you proceeding with considerable verve,
and perhaps out-accelerating some of them. 

With the small wheel the steering seems very direct, and one tends to over-steer at first, so that one must hasten to avoid negotiating corners before actually reaching
them! One's unaccustomed height from the ground tends to give one a false impression of instability at first during brisk cornering. This is soon dispelled as one's familiarity with the car increases. 

Brakes? Another modern innovation on this machine - there is one on each wheel! They also respond to the lack of weight by working extremely efficiently.  

It's sound, safe, brisk, and businesslike. And it really does put the fun back in motoring. Try one!

 

The flathead E93A Ford 10 engine looks the part and can give a good account of itself when tuned-and conversion parts are still going.

The old Ford instruments have been retained and fitted to the plastic dashboard. Wood surround is basis for the do-it-yourself windscreen.

The true vintage appearance is enhanced by a wooden box on the rear deck, artillery wheels, round window and the paintwork pin-striping.

BASIC kit costing £126 stands in the foreground. Using this and plenty of DIY can provide excellent results - or for £74 extra you get optional parts to complete car as seen above.

STRIP the old body off, but cut as shown and retain this vertical section and flooring to add torsional stiffness to chassis, which otherwise will prove too flexible as open car

HACK the back off, complete with fuel tank, which bolts inside plastic section behind seat. Also retain the wiring harness In situ throughout car as most can be used for Siva.

LIGHT weight of Siva means softening suspension, which is done by keeping main leaf and removing alternate three leaves. Don't cut front of chassis - fit panel over the extensions.

BOLT body on to the several points mentioned in the sheet of instruction. This certainly must be done well and firmly to add rigidity to chassis. Original G/B tunnel is used.

FRONT wings at top are held by brackets (supplied) bolted or welded to original stays. Radiator from 105E attaches to new stays supplied. Brakes and kingpins should be overhauled.

RUNNING boards are optional extras, or make your own. The supports are supplied which bolt through chassis. Lower edge of wings bolt through the front edge of running boards.

REAR wings are held with the brackets supplied, and bolt to the rear of the running boards.

Prefer a 4-seater? Then here is the alternative, released just as we went to press - so obtain full details from Siva.