SIMON WILLIAMSNOTES FROM THE GARAGE
A LIFE WITH CLASSICS · STORIES FROM THE WORKSHOP

The Stag,
the PI & the
Swedish
Mistress.

Three classic cars. One garage.
A perfectly unreasonable love affair.

A book by Simon Williams

An illustrated book, published in English.

Discover the book ↗Read a passage from the book ↓
THE STAG, THE PI & THE SWEDISH MISTRESS SIMON WILLIAMS
Cover of The Stag, the PI and the Swedish Mistress by Simon Williams
BRITISH CHARACTER.
SWEDISH CHARM. FRENCH LIFE.Kindle edition
Written in English
TRIUMPH STAGTRIUMPH 2500PIVOLVO P1800ES
01 — THE STORY

It started with a Spitfire.
And became a way of life.

In 1995, Simon’s father helped him buy a sapphire-blue Spitfire. It would take him on dates, across the Channel, and eventually to his own wedding — with a keg of English bitter occupying the passenger seat on the journey to France.

A Stag, a Swedish detour and a long-neglected Triumph saloon followed. Part motoring memoir, part illustrated workshop diary, this is the story of fitting a very hands-on passion around work, marriage and family life.

“But what price knowledge and pleasure?”Simon Williams · Chapter 3, All tooled up
02 — THE CAST

The cars are real.
So are the adventures.

Photographs from Simon’s
own workshop diaries.

Simon Williams beside his white Triumph Stag at the gates of the Château de Maisons-Laffitte
Simon and the Stag · Maisons-Laffitte

I. THE LONG-STANDING LOVE

Triumph Stag

Bought in Nice in 2007, this 1975 Stag becomes a long-term companion. Oil leaks, brakes, carburettors and a fiendishly complicated soft top turn ownership into an education.

Chapters 2, 4 & 5
Simon’s blue Volvo P1800ES parked outside the garage
The Swedish mistress · A 1973 P1800ES

II. THE SWEDISH DETOUR

Volvo P1800ES

One glimpse of a friend’s car plants the seed. Years later, a discreet visit near Rennes leads to a 1973 shooting brake, a rainy drive home and quite a bit of explaining.

Chapter 6
The red Triumph 2500PI shortly after its arrival in January 2025
The PI arrives · January 2025

III. THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE

Triumph 2500PI

Twenty years off the road. A missing registration document. A hole in the sill. From January 2025 to May 2026, the most ambitious project unfolds one weekend at a time.

Chapters 7–10
03 — INSIDE THE BOOK

A life on the road.
And underneath it.

The stories lead into detailed, photograph-rich accounts of the work: what Simon tried, what went wrong, and what finally made the difference.

THE PASSION & THE PREPARATION

  1. 01Bitten by the bug
  2. 02Enter the Stagman
  3. 03All tooled up

THE WORKSHOP DIARIES

  1. 04Triumph Stag oil leak blues
  2. 05Hoodwinked
  3. 06Swedish Mistress
  4. 07PI investigations
  5. 08Sill replacement
  6. 09Lucas PI
  7. 10Front & rear suspension
04 — IN HIS OWN WORDS

A little taste
of the story.

Three short passages from Simon’s manuscript.

CHAPTER 1 · BITTEN BY THE BUGA wedding car. And some essential luggage.

We got married (in the Cotentin) in May 2000. A French and English wedding. The Spitfire was my wedding car and behaved impeccably. It was also used to transport my dad’s contribution to the wedding, a full keg of English bitter. This keg sat beside me in the passenger seat of the Spit when I was bringing it over to France. In the queue for the ferry at Portsmouth there was a van with two likely lads in it who pulled up next to me. The driver leaned over and asked, “Is it crap beer in France then?” “Awful” I replied, “better take your own!” It amused me at least.

Simon Williams · Manuscript, page 4

CHAPTER 3 · ALL TOOLED UPWhat price knowledge and pleasure?

But what price knowledge and pleasure? What price is the fact that I always have something to look forward to doing (generally!). What price is being able to switch off from work, screens etc. and use my hands?

Another positive point is that if you do restore a car yourself (or have it restored) at least you know what’s been done, and the initial purchase price will have reflected its condition. When you already know there is lots to do, you don’t run the risk of overpaying for a car that may have hidden faults.

Simon Williams · Manuscript, page 18

CHAPTER 10 · FRONT & REAR SUSPENSIONUntil the next temptation.

This whole project took me from January 2025 to May 2026. Longer than I thought, more extensive and challenging than I imagined it would be, and I would not have got there without the support of the forum and the specialist suppliers

There were ups and downs a-plenty, but overall, a lot of happiness and a great deal of learning throughout the project.

I’m downing tools for a few months – until the next temptation.

Simon Williams · Manuscript, page 298

05 — THE AUTHOR
Simon Williams standing proudly beside his restored red Triumph 2500PI
Simon and the PI, at the end of the project.

A man. A garage.
A willingness to try.

Meet Simon Williams.

Simon moved from Britain to France in 1999 and married in the Cotentin the following year. Family life in the western Paris suburbs came with one particularly welcome feature: a basement garage and a small workshop.

He writes as an enthusiast learning by doing. There are stubborn bolts, mistakes he can laugh about afterwards, and generous people on owners’ forums who help him find a way forward.

The result is a book for fellow tinkerers, would-be restorers and anyone who understands that an old car can be far more than a means of getting somewhere.

Simon Williams

YOUR NEXT GOOD READ

For the love
of the unreasonable.

Living with, and working on, a Triumph Stag,
a Triumph 2500PI and a Volvo P1800ES, in France.

View the book on Amazon ↗

ENGLISH LANGUAGE · KINDLE EDITION