Leyland P38 - Half the car they should have been

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Originally Posted by sclarke

Sticky on who has had a BMC or BLMC product...............

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I have about 20-25 Morris Minors in my collection. Some of these are pre-BMC though (they still count, don't they;) ).

I've also had a few Majors & Marinas go through my hands but they were just parts cars.


It's a pity most of the BMC products don't have a big following.

I tried giving away a near perfect Freeway wagon recently along with a complete parts car.
There was only one person interested from the Austin club. He said he was going to restore it but I was so pi$$ed with the way he picked the car up (sling through the windows then used a Hiab) that I didn't give him the original owners manual or the 2nd car :mad: .
If anyone wants a free Freeway wagon for parts (or a big restoration), let me know.

I've had a few pommie products not all BMC but some, my first was a Austin A30
Austin Cambridge
Morris Major Elite
Morris Mini 850
Morris Mini panelvan
Vanguard Spacemaker
Triumph 2.5PI (i loved this car)
Zefer consul 6

All good cars and basicly no problems with any of them, and most suprising not a single problem with my Triumph 2.5 PI.

Baz.

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Originally Posted by VladTepes

Sure a P76 is OK but it's no Citroen DS (the last decent car the French ever made).

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I drove DSs for many years - still have my DSpecial, not registered but still in good shape. Owned a Moke briefly between my first 2a and the ID19 in 1971.
I learned to drive in an Austin 16 (also in a Swift, a Reo and a Model T) before getting my licence in my aunt's A30 (dad didn't want his Austin 16 to be too closely scrutinised by the police, as the clutch was a bit iffy at the time).

I admired the 1800, one of my close friends owned one, my sister had an 1800 ute as a farm ute, but it failed to withstand the roads (twisted trailing arm at the rear and broken sway bar) and the low ground clearance was a problem. For several years one of my sons had a Marina, and my father had a 1500 for several years between his Simca Vedette and his DS.
John

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Originally Posted by JDNSW

I drove DSs for many years - still have my DSpecial, not registered but still in good shape. Owned a Moke briefly between my first 2a and the ID19 in 1971.
I learned to drive in an Austin 16 (also in a Swift, a Reo and a Model T) before getting my licence in my aunt's A30 (dad didn't want his Austin 16 to be too closely scrutinised by the police, as the clutch was a bit iffy at the time).

I admired the 1800, one of my close friends owned one, my sister had an 1800 ute as a farm ute, but it failed to withstand the roads (twisted trailing arm at the rear and broken sway bar) and the low ground clearance was a problem. For several years one of my sons had a Marina, and my father had a 1500 for several years between his Simca Vedette and his DS.
John

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Wow i had a Simca Vadette V8, what a great car, mine was black with red interior

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Originally Posted by Redback

Wow i had a Simca Vadette V8, what a great car, mine was black with red interior

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a v8 simca pimp mobile!

:lol::lol::rolleyes::eek::spudnikdaddyo:

OOH That's some car that Simcar:lol:

We had a few A40's as young adults,, Town and Country dontcha know!
had one with no glass, no doors, (these DO NOT fall off when reversed into a light pole :D)
and DUAL wheels on the back,,
:cool:

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Originally Posted by Redback

Wow i had a Simca Vadette V8, what a great car, mine was black with red interior

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The Vedette was designed by Ford, and was very similar to the Mk2 Zephyr, but instead of the new six retained the flat head V8. When the Vedette works was sold to Simca, they dropped the V80 engine and rejigged the V60 engine with alloy heads and higher compression to give the same power from much lower weight. This allowed the steering ratio to be made faster, and also they increased the brake drum diameter from 9" to 11" by going to 15" instead of 13" wheels, so the lower suspension pivot could be moved further out. These changes gave it outstanding brakes and above average handling for the day. It was also restyled with huge tail fins, large enough for the spare to live in one, leaving a cavernous boot.

The Australian assembled version was down on luxury compared to the French model, but in the days when a heater was an option on Holdens it had a good heater, and it came with about ten warning lights plus gauges. From memory the biggest problem with it was the RHD conversion of the column gearshift was not very well engineered.

It was discontinued when Chrysler started to build the Valiant, as it was aimed at the same market niche. Must have been just about the last side valve car sold in Australia.
John