British Leyland

[YellowDog]

The Rover 2000 was a pretty damn good all rounder (at that time). The 3.5 V8 was just too heavy which unbalanced it.

[unstuck]

Mate has a couple rusting away in a paddock.

[YellowDog]

Any good British 'modern' cars.

Looking at a few Rovers on tardme, but from a few people I've talked to, they're not worth the hassle. What do you guys reckon?

-Indy

Indy buddy, do yourself a favour and avoid British cars of that generation

[Indiana_Jones]

Indy buddy, do yourself a favour and avoid British cars of that generation

Yea, I was thinking the same really. Most of them are Honda's anyways that still fuck up.

Was thinking of getting something a little more realiable and 'modern' to make things easier with the mrs. But she doesn't care so I'll go carless for a while until I see something that takes my fancy at the right price.

Thinking smaller like Morris Minor or maybe similar size like a Dolomite sprint. nothing over 2.0L really takes my fancy tbh.

-Indy

[YellowDog]

Yea, I was thinking the same really. Most of them are Honda's anyways that still fuck up.

Was thinking of getting something a little more realiable and 'modern' to make things easier with the mrs. But she doesn't care so I'll go carless for a while until I see something that takes my fancy at the right price.

Thinking smaller like Morris Minor or maybe similar size like a Dolomite sprint. nothing over 2.0L really takes my fancy tbh.

-Indy

British Cars of that era are really more for weekend rides and not good for everyday usage.

I must say that if a Triumph Dolomite Sprint caught my eye, I'd really have to find excuses for not wanting to go for it.

I don't know how they compare these days however the last time I drove one was in the mid eighties and I remeber it well. It really was quite outstanding (for that time).



As for the Honda/Rover cars, they were certainly a step in the right direction however having done business with Rover for many years, I don't think that Rover were worthy of the investment and good will that Honda out into them.

If you want a really damn good British-ish car of your target era, get a pre-73 TR6



The Morris Minors are just too old. The Mini 1000, provided the sub-frame hasn't rusted (like they do in the UK) then they just go on and on. There's nothing much to go wrong and you can do everything yourself. Stick a Stage-3 head on it, uprate the brakes, shocks, and exhaust. They will also fit your longer physical size very well with bags of head room!



I have given this matter lots of thought (over the years) and I have come down to the bang for buck thing, in that the post 1989 XJ series Jaguars are the good reliable ones to get. Weekend rides not daily driving only.



Otherwise it has to be Japanese for me.

[pete376403]

Did British cars use any other Auto transmission other than BW35's and 65's? lol

-Indy

Smiths Easidrive - Smiths were a competitor to Lucas in the Auto electrical market. Easidrive used iron powder (instead of hydraulic fluid) and magnetic activation to join elements together to provide drive. Standard Motors (Vanguard) used it, called it StanDrive. Don't think it was wildy succesful. I have the service manual for it up in the attic.
Borg Warner model 8 and model DG used in Jaguars. Cast iron cases -weighed a ton. Got the manuals for those too (I used to specialise in autoboxes)
Borg Warner 45 (4 speed) appeared briefly in Hillman Avengers and Hunters. Mega piece of shit.


(Edit) I'd like this http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used...-368017509.htm
or this http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/spec...-351549438.htm as it's already been hacked about there'd be nothing to loose by dropping in a nice wee Ford 260 V8 and calling it a Tiger.

[pete376403]

Yep the P6 was a model - I had a P6B. Amazing car but bloody complex and a nightmare to keep running. It had the most incredible rear end with inboard discs ...

De Dion Bouton suspension. The inboard discs made it easy to wheel the diff around the workshop :-)

[ducatilover]

The Rover 2000 was a pretty damn good all rounder (at that time). The 3.5 V8 was just too heavy which unbalanced it.

I had a 3500 and have driven a 2000SC and 2200TC, the 3500 is no different except it's gruntier. Probably helps that the 3.5 weighs less than most cast iron 4 cyls of the era. With the fresh shocks and good DiDion tube oil in mine it out handled the 2000SC easily.

[jonbuoy]

Reliant Scimitar.

[YellowDog]

I had a 3500 and have driven a 2000SC and 2200TC, the 3500 is no different except it's gruntier. Probably helps that the 3.5 weighs less than most cast iron 4 cyls of the era. With the fresh shocks and good DiDion tube oil in mine it out handled the 2000SC easily.

I was in an early one as a passenger that completely lost control. It was certainly a lot gruntier, but the brakes and shocks were not up to the task.

Perhaps 5 heavy passengers in a rush to the airport made a difference.

We missed the flight

[nadroj]

Always wanted one of these....

[scumdog]

The Rover 2000 was a pretty damn good all rounder (at that time). The 3.5 V8 was just too heavy which unbalanced it.

I doubt the V8 was much heavier than the 4 cylnder motor - IF they were heavier at all, after all the block/heads/intake etc were all alloy.

I know that the 'in running order' V8 was light enough for two of us to pick up and put on a trailer.

[Indiana_Jones]

British Cars of that era are really more for weekend rides and not good for everyday usage.

Cheers for that sum up YD.

I fully understand that those cars are not really daily drivers. I use them around 3-4 times a week on short trips. Use the bike to get to work so they're pretty much shopping trollies and something to play with on the weekend

-Indy

[unstuck]

I hope to have a big enough shed one day to get all my favorite toys in, Dosnt mean i will drive them all on a regular basis,just like to be able to tinker and keep some of the awesome memories from my past as vivid as possible. Some great old cars mentioned here,they may not be as reliable and comfortable and quiet as the new ones but oh the memories,GOOD and BAD.

[scumdog]

Indy buddy, do yourself a favour and avoid British cars of that generation

A 105E Anglia is pretty good as a reliable day-to-day car, requires the minimum of fiddling with.

(Of course I just couldn't leave mine alone...1600, 5-speed, discs etc)