Author: Phil Kershaw

Whenever we are supplying a customer, we know very well that the fasteners element of any project, whether a car restoration or a major construction project, will be the smallest element of cost. However, we also know that our major customers value: Our ability to supply the correct specification, every time. They deal with someone […]

We are often asked for bolts or nuts by enthusiasts quoting spanner sizes, which of course don’t correlate for unified (UNC/UNF) sizes but do tend to correlate to Whitworth.  If you were to look at spanners, handed down from Grandfathers or Fathers, you are likely to find those rather odd spanners known as Whitworth. often […]

If you’ve ever wondered, whilst working on your 1950’s or 60’s car, why some of the heads are rounded on the bolts, maybe it’s a because there are a combination of bolt types used on the vehicle. Whilst everyone working on a 50’s or 60’s classic car will have AF spanners, how many of us […]

The people you are most likely to talk to, if you call us are: Nigel, Jack and Ben. Nigel (above left) is one of the owners and has been with Leyton for twenty years, having managed the business before buying it in 2012. His knowledge of the industry, huge product knowledge and technical ability is […]

I first saw a Mini Special in a shopping Centre in 1979 and fell in love. Trouble is I couldn’t afford it…it had an 1100cc engine, in silver or rose metallic, with clubman bumpers and black vinyl roof. The interior had lovely tartan check cloth upholstery; two spoke steering wheel and 3-binnacle dashboard (like the […]

When you own a kit car or low volume sports car, keeping it going requires a fair bit of detective work, why? Because most of the important but expensive items, such as wing mirrors, door handles, interior and lights have to be sourced from somewhere. A few years ago I accidentally caught and knocked off […]

In 1986, looking through classic and Sportscar, I noticed a piece on the Hornet Convertible. Heinz gave 57 away (57 Varieties being the Heinz slogan) in 1966 to the lucky winners of a soup contest. Built by Crayford, who left the side windows in place, similar to a Morris 1000 convertible. , Strengthening the floor […]

All our cars (or Vans) 1971 Mini Van My first of many vans was a 1971 blue 850cc van bought from Offleys in Ellesmere Port (where the business is based today). Offleys, who were the local Austin/Morris dealer, sold vans to the Stanlow Oil refinery and then took them back at 3 years old, often […]

Newspaper articles on smart motorways keep appearing, with some regularity.   It’s something, which worries, me every time I start a long (ish) journey, in one of my pre 1970 cars.  In fact dual carriageways, like the A34, a fast road with no hard shoulder, can be just as harrowing as a smart motorway. Whilst I […]