Don't normally get totally floored with e. variations, but failed completely to complete the unclued not real words part. Managed the basic theme. Too late for posting now, but intrigued as to what the setter was looking for.
Last time I gave a direct answer to E.V. it was said that this is not permitted as E.V. is in some way hallowed ground so........
James Bond & 5 associates board hire vehicles!!
Thanks for your reply. Must be having an off week, as I still cannot fathom it. Shall just have to wait until the answers are published next week. I hope I will be able to understand it then. I think the EV are getting even more and more obtuse these days....enjoy the challenge, but do find it frustrating when the 'theme' doesn't click with me.
If you have all of the extra across letters, you should have a lorry driver's "meter". The nickname for this should give you the unclued words in words!!
Thanks. I didn't know this link existed. I failed to answer some as I had never heard of some of the evil people, but had just sorted out the coach one and some of the others did fall into place. Again thanks, stops one from puzzling over this for another week!
The top three across words are RED WHITE and BLUE.
The "connections" are all associated with the words so we have STREAK for a connection between BLUE and WHITE.
26 across is COMMUNION and 30 across is OFLAG. Together these show UNION and FLAG which is red, white and blue.
But what is 7 down - it has E from the end of WHITE, V from VAGUE which is 16 across and the A from STREAK