My first was an horrible A40, I think that and a later company brand new Marina put me off Austins and BMC for the rest of my life.
You know you are getting old when......
- Thread starter Harry Bloomfield
- Start date
My first was an horrible A40, I think that and a later company brand new Marina put me off Austins and BMC for the rest of my life.
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D
Deleted member 174758
What, a P4?
Shouldn't think so, the OP states 'Range Rover' hence my interest.
nb. lovely P4
I took that as being a Rover 75 (as in modern 75 or "aunty" 75 aka P4, not 1975) because to me at least Range Rovers always had engine sizes (e.g. "5.0") or things like "SE", "Vogue", "Sport", etc attached to their names. C'mon this is the Internet and slack being cut is to be expected, surely?
I took that as literally a Rover 75, i.e.
But I suppose that shows my age!
...and it is probably a classic in its own right, now!
D
Deleted member 174758
A40, ah, had one of them until the floorpan dissolved (about 3 months into one winter, but then it cost £20 and the scrapper gave me a tenner for it)... Wasn't that the first British hatchback? As for the Marina - Minor on steriods, wasn't it? Shared a lot of the suspension and steering parts which should have made it understeer like a pig and be otherwise completely uninspiring. One place I worked for was mad enough to loan me a 1300 to get round in for a while (when the A40 died) which was quite perky and actually quite nice to drive. I was sad when I had to give it back and go back to my motorbike
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Deleted member 174758
So long as it's not a Geely...and it is probably a classic in its own right, now!
I think so, Farina designed, with hydraulic front brakes, rod for the rear and you had to make an appointment to stop it. It also rusted away before your eyes and used almost as much oil as petrol. It left a trail where ever it went from the engine rear oil seal, it used a flinger and a scroll rather than a seal. The Marina was almost as bad at using oil after 50K, they rebuilt it under warranty, but it didn't improve, until I swapped it for a Ford Escort. The company got them as part of an exchange deal for some work for BMC. BMC got the better bargain..
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Deleted member 174758
I suppose that makes a nice change - the UK having exported it's crap to China, instead of it always being the other way round
'Ah yes I see now, thank you for pointing out what should have been obvious. That's the problem with getting old ... the brain doesn't always translate what the eyes read
nb. Love the shape of the 75 & it's retro interior.
'Ah yes I see now, thank you for pointing out what should have been obvious. That's the problem with getting old ... the brain doesn't always translate what the eyes read
nb. Love the shape of the 75 & it's retro interior.
I would have swapped it years ago, were it not such a nice thoroughly modern and reliable motor - electric everything. A gentleman's carriage
It's a BMW in all but name, all BMW components. All it has cost me since I bought it, is service items and numerous upgrades. I bought it reluctantly, simply because they stopped building my long term favourite - the Granada.
Going back to the start of this thread and the handbrake. I became the world expert on the 75's handbrake system problems, supplying hundreds of refurbished/ modified compensators, until I gave up due to health issues. I also had a few drop in for help to sort their handbrakes out over the years.
No one had managed to work out, why the cables appeared to be stretching - they weren't, but what wasn't obvious, was that the compensator was deforming. Lots of new cables bought and installed, with no improvements. That was until I compared a new compensator, to several used and abused ones. Owners and mechanics were having to heave so hard on the handbrake lever to get the brake to work, it was putting a not designed for load on the systems, deforming the compensator. All because having a drum only used for parking, the drum internal surface rusted and rust acts as a sort of lubricant. Used on the move, just a little, to keep it rust free - it all works a treat.
As I said, I stopped offering them, but last week I took pity on one struggling owner and reluctantly agreed that he could bring his car up here and I would supervise him doing the work to fix his handbrake, on my drive and fit a modified compensator. That was set up for today, but he has had to cancel the trip....
His wife has been rushed into hospital suffering from a stroke. His wife hadn't had the jabs, got covid, then suffered long covid ever since, now she has suffered a stroke.
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I would have swapped it years ago, were it not such a nice thoroughly modern and reliable motor - electric everything. A gentleman's carriage
It's a BMW in all but name, all BMW components.
Going back to the start of this thread and the handbrake. I became the world expert on the 75's handbrake system problems, supplying hundreds of refurbished/ modified compensators, until I gave up due to health issues. I also had a few drop in for help to sort their handbrakes out over the years.
No one had managed to work out, why the cables appeared to be stretching - they weren't, but what wasn't obvious, was that the compensator was deforming. Lots of new cables bought and installed, with no improvements. That was until I compared a new compensator, to several used and abused ones. Owners and mechanics were having to heave so hard on the handbrake lever to get the brake to work, it was putting a not designed for load on the systems, deforming the compensator. All because having a drum only used for parking, the drum internal surface rusted and rust acts as a sort of lubricant. Used on the move, just a little, to keep it rust free - it all works a treat.
That's interesting Harry, especially the mention of 'all BM components'
The E39 is well known for having a rubbish handbrake & our 1998 523i certainly lives up to the reputation, scraping through the MOT each year but that's about all. These cars were very popular in the 'States where they refer to a handbrake as an emergency brake, in the case of the E39 there's no chance of that ... Fred Flintstone would have more luck using his feet.
Strange as our last car, an '06 Mondeo, had a good handbrake & I would have thought that the system of separate HB drums where rear discs are employed would have been relatively similar. I hate to say it, but perhaps BM could learn a trick or two from Ford
I was never actually taught to drive for any of the tests - motorbike on L Plates, test; licence covered me for 3-wheels, learned to drive on 3; then went in for 4 wheel test. 4 wheel test covered me for 10 tonner. Not a single claim in all that time.
D
Deleted member 174758
Yes but the later one, that's based on the Devon ours was the Somerset model, exactly the same but with a different grill. Compared with the 1939 Ford Prefect I bought it was a Rolls Royce, OHV engine, hydraulic brakes, independent front suspension and it even had a heater!
I passed my test in 1956 when the Suez crises was on, as a result of petrol rationing driving tests were suspended but if you had a provisional license you could drive unaccompanied, I did and I did.
Peter
I passed my test in 1956 when the Suez crises was on, as a result of petrol rationing driving tests were suspended but if you had a provisional license you could drive unaccompanied, I did and I did.
Peter
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