Tool Kit

[Martin Prior]

I hope to be driving the Austin a bit more next year and want to sort out a practical tool kit to carry with me.

In the past I've ended up with a ridiculous number of tools because I can always foresee circumstances when they might be necessary but realistically I'm not going to be changing half shafts or dropping the sump at the side of the road so I need to sort out what's really necessary to cope with the more likely issues.

Also, apart from spare plugs and possibly CB points what spares do you normally carry bearing in mind I don't actually have much in the way of spares so would probably have to buy them.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

John.

This will very much depend on how far you're likely to be travelling, John.

Most of my (year round) driving is within about 30 miles of home.  Apart from a jack and wheelbrace, I carry some Whitworth spanners in smaller sizes, a couple of screwdrivers, a pair of pliers and a Mole wrench, plus a length of wire and some insulating tape.  On longer trips, I'll carry a few odds and ends for ignition and fuel system problems and on epic journeys perhaps a spare dynamo and fuel pump.

I wouldn't be heroic enough to attempt to change a crank or halfshaft at the roadside!

Having said that - and touching any bits of wood that I can reach - my only breakdown in at least ten years has been one puncture.  I must check whether the tools are still in the car!  In my experience, the more that a car is used, the more reliable it's likely to be.