After several weeks of being without the Java Green Machine, this morning I took an excited trip back to Fellows Speed Shop. A 4″ narrowed beam, some adjustable spring plates, a load of bolts replaced and some smaller tyres up front… and we’re good to go. The car now sits right, with just a touch of negative camber out back – and the narrowed front end brings the wheels in under the arches.

It’s lower than it was before front and back, but the drive is massively improved. Much smoother, no more smashing the wheels into the arches with every little bump or stone (!), absolutely fantastic. And the beetle narrowed beam from Limebug makes the car look great.

I arrived courtesy of my mate Andy, and after a pitstop at Dave’s Butty Wagon, we were there… early enough that the gate was shut and the ‘shop looked locked up. Perry and the gang were keeping warm inside, working on a load of camper vans and beetles as always. Fantastic work from the fellows at Fellows. The car is going to need more work at some point soon, and I think I know where it’s going next time!

It looks and drives incredibly – having used many people for work on the car over the years I can heartily recommend them. Even with the narrowed beam and probable 2″ front drop as well as 4″ rear, the car is really well behaved. It felt far more stable on to motorway as well as the country roads home.

I decided to stop to take a few pics just outside the village, and when I started off again it was raining. Wipers on, lights on, indicate…. what’s that smell? Ah, the familiar panic of a classic car owner. Cue assumption of an inferno (wouldn’t be the first) and an expectation of imminent death! If only I’d just gone home.

Out with the torch, and it’s immediately obvious I’ve blown a fuse.. *@£!$&%*!

100 ordered from eBay for £3.99. But I want to drive the car now! So, another trip out to sunny Halfords with Alex, and thought I might as well swap them all. £6.90 for six…. sigh. Still, fuses fitted and we’re back on the road again.

Probably only just in time for the car to hibernate for the winter. And with a new nipper about to land, possibly no more money to spend on toys for a while.