My next tale concerns the same car, the afore mentioned Standard I0 again.
I had just successfully completed a colour transformation from two tone faded blue/ lighter faded grey to stunning black with the aid of a tin of Dulux gloss black and a 2" brush. I removed the front bumper and substituted a painted open mouth in Dulux red gloss.
After waiting for the paint to harden I gave the wheels a good wash, so that the chrome wheel trims shone like the sun. After admiring my handiwork I jumped in and set off to show the world my beautiful creation; and noticed the admiring glances(could have been shock or stunned amazement) as I trundled up to the first T junction.
As I pressed the brakes nothing happened!
With my foot trying to force the brake pedal through the floor, I continued to approach the main road at undiminished speed!
In panic, I threw the car left around the junction and slowed by mounting the pavement and ramming my offside wheels against the kerb.
Fortunately there was nothing coming down the main road, nor were there any pedestrians on the pavement I now straddled... Or under the car...
I checked!
An important lesson learned - that
drum brakes need to be thoroughly dried out before venturing far on the highway.
Something that more modern disc brakes has made us forget, I suspect.
After every ford or flooded road, they used to have signs displayed-
NOW DRY YOUR BRAKES!