Editor's Introduction

This letter comes from the Editor of the Club¹s house magazine, Farina News, and is a warm welcome to you. Club members have always regarded FN as the main link between them all, wherever they may live, and they contribute their letters, photographs and occasional articles for publication. Although time may well prove that the internet will supersede some traditionally published material, the magazine remains the focal point for the members for the foreseeable future. It's printed in A5 format and appears four times a year: March, June, September and December. The closing date for correspondents to contribute to the issue following is the 20th of the month after the last publication; ie April, July, October and January. As with any such publication, the opinions expressed therein do not necessarily concur with those of the Club Officers; nor do any recommendations or suggestions, which are given in good faith.

Each issue carries a comprehensive list of spares available for sale, and a varying selection of A40s depending on the season. Car prices vary from nothing (if someone is desperate to make space on the drive!) to around one and a half thousand pounds for a well-maintained, good condition saloon or Countryman. The Spares Secretary often has interesting snippets of information on many aspects of the spares scene.

Farina News sometimes carries articles submitted from outside the Club: for example the Shell Petrol Company provided an excellent one on the suitability of its Low Lead 4 Star petrol for the A-series engine; a number-plate manufacturer provided a comprehensive history on what type of 'plates lived on which vehicles down the years: we've had articles detailing every registration mark from the old county system, and advice on how to re-register a car being brought back onto the road after a lay-up or restoration.

Reports from Club meetings (and the all-important Annual Social Weekend/AGM, with its balance sheets etc) form an important element of the magazine. The Editorial attempts to bring together the activities and excitements of the previous three months, and is usually a mixture of news, opinion, threats and badinage. In short, FN tries to cover as wide a range as is practical for a small Club publication and, on the whole, seems to succeed.

The Club is not large: some five hundred members, many of whom are quite content to sit back and take a passive interest in it. Most of their cars are ³working² vehicles, and some of them - plus a few beautifully maintained examples - visit many of the UK car rallies each season. Saloon car racing/rallying is pursued by several Club members, and they usually acquit themselves honourably.

As the years pass, Farina A40s become more scarce (the Club knows of an estimated 1500) and the condition of the cars varies widely. Any A40, no matter what its condition, is always warmly welcomed at any of the Club's meetings - we are not a concours Club by any stretch of the imagination though, as I say, its always a pleasure to see a pristine example. Owners' letters range from desperate tales of scrapyard hunting to days out at the seaside, from advice on how to seal weeping petrol tanks to where to squirt the Waxoyl (!), from invitations to a get-together somewhere to who to phone for cheap insurance.

The common bonds between us are the A40, and Farina News. If they appeal to you, please feel free to i) buy one, and ii) write and tell me about it ! - either via the magazine or through this web site.

Keith Bennett

Return to A40 Farina Club Home Page