What did you do to your 700 series today ?

[Prufrock]

Just finishing the cleaning/detailing the 744 prior to tomorrow's car show. On the subject of mileage, despite my (two) car's combined age of 65 yrs, their combined mileage is comparatively low at a shade under 300.00 miles.

Blimey it is hot here..!

Jon.

N.B 744 at just over 130.000, the 745 at just over 160.000.

[Stephen Edwin]

So the oddometer mile to the car park took you about 4 minutes overall by the car clock. Minutes all of which I hope you enjoyed.

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by Stephen Edwin

So the oddometer mile to the car park took you about 4 minutes overall by the car clock. Minutes all of which I hope you enjoyed.

I usually do, quite often listen to one particular track on CD which takes 3:54 but since changing the single shot CD/radio for a head unit and separate 6 disc changer that doesn't show track time, i can't remember which one it is!

[Prufrock]

Well yesterday actually, lovely vintage show at Swaton, home of the World Egg Throwing Championships ! Nice classic car display, motorcycles, commercial vehicles and tractors. Only three older Volvos - two classics, my 744 and a 145. And a green 945 and a red V plate S40 in the car park.

Didn't take loads of photos but highlights were the BBMF Lancaster and Dakota, and I was interested to see -

Triumph Herald Coupe
Austin 3 Litre
Commer Cob (van)
Ford D series (truck)
Matchless 500 single (rigid/teles)
Triumph Tiger 100.

And friendly people, looking forward to the next show the 744 is taking me to.

J.

[Stephen Edwin]

Aha .... an Austin 3 Litre .... and it has survived .....

.

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by Stephen Edwin

Aha .... an Austin 3 Litre .... and it has survived .....

.

There's quite a few that have - shame there weren't more made originally!

[Stephen Edwin]

A shame indeed but that is life.

I suspect that even at the time not a lot of people were aware that they existed.

I guess they were seen as a super sized 1800 if I am thinking of the right car.





.

[Prufrock]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

There's quite a few that have - shame there weren't more made originally!

I know, I saw a like-new one for sale a little while back...I might have been tempted had I not had the Mercedes.

I also like the ADO 17s (Landcrabs), a girfriend's Dad had a Wolseley Six and lent it to us for a tour of the Scottish Highlands, an automatic, chrome gearlever on right of steering wheel protruding from dash citroen-style.

J.

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by Stephen Edwin

A shame indeed but that is life.

I suspect that even at the time not a lot of people were aware that they existed.

I guess they were seen as a super sized 1800 if I am thinking of the right car.



.

You've hit the nails firmly on the heads Stephen - first, they weren't well advertised and secondly, they weren't different enough to the 1800 for people to be immediately aware they were a different car.

The very first few had (sort of) rectangular headlamps but these were changed for 2 pairs (inner and outer) of round 5 3/4" lights instead as the "rectangular" lamps weren't particularly good, either on dipped or main beam.
Most of those cars were sold at a discount to unsuspecting buyers who were looking at the 1800 and were given a huge discount to do development work for BLMC.

Even with the different headlamps, most people thought they were "just another 1800, maybe a bit bigger". Although different, they weren't different enough.

Consider the 144 and 164E of a similar era. Both very similar cars but the nose treatment (wings, bonnet, "face" etc) of the 164E gave it more road presence and a different look entirely. From the front at least, the 164E was instantly recognisable as a very different car to the 144, even if the rear ends were still very similar.

Originally Posted by Prufrock

I know, I saw a like-new one for sale a little while back...I might have been tempted had I not had the Mercedes.

I also like the ADO 17s (Landcrabs), a girfriend's Dad had a Wolseley Six and lent it to us for a tour of the Scottish Highlands, an automatic, chrome gearlever on right of steering wheel protruding from dash citroen-style.

J.

The Wolseley Six was again different to the 1800s courtesy of a different "face" - the first obvious point is the Wolseley "Ghost Light" in the middle of the grille. I think (if memory serves) the Wolseley also had vinyl covered C pillars giving it a further distinguishing feature.

Because of all the badge-engineering carried out by BLMC back then it's hard to remember details about specific models, especially ones as rare as the Austin 3-litre but i seem to recall it had plenty of wood and leather inside it.

[Prufrock]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

The Wolseley Six was again different to the 1800s courtesy of a different "face" - the first obvious point is the Wolseley "Ghost Light" in the middle of the grille. I think (if memory serves) the Wolseley also had vinyl covered C pillars giving it a further distinguishing feature.

Because of all the badge-engineering carried out by BLMC back then it's hard to remember details about specific models, especially ones as rare as the Austin 3-litre but i seem to recall it had plenty of wood and leather inside it.

No C pillar vinyl on the Six.

Not that the Austin 3 litre was badge engineered, it had a two year lifecycle and was very different to the ADO 17s. For a start it was RWD with a 3 litre (longitudinal) engine, compare the interior to that of a VdP 3 or 4 litre or Westminster which it should be compared with.

J.