Thread: Is it worth restoring?

Following the advice above I have just collected another pair of Series 1's.

One has a 6 cylinder motor and no gearbox etc.

The other seems largely complete, but has doors with no external handles, and the rear edge of the door slopes backwards. The side lights (or whats left of them) were on the bulkhead, which has no vents. I'm guessing its old!

Now I have four!

Originally Posted by Warb

Following the advice above I have just collected another pair of Series 1's.

One has a 6 cylinder motor and no gearbox etc.

The other seems largely complete, but has doors with no external handles, and the rear edge of the door slopes backwards. The side lights (or whats left of them) were on the bulkhead, which has no vents. I'm guessing its old!

Now I have four!

If it has no vent panel, it could be quite an old 80", here in australia the vent panel was droped in favor of the openin vent panel in mid 1949, if you can find any chassis numbers that would be interesting. either on the little plate on the near side of the firewall, in the engine department, or if that is missing it on the near side enging mount on the chassis.

Originally Posted by Warb

Following the advice above I have just collected another pair of Series 1's.

One has a 6 cylinder motor and no gearbox etc.

The other seems largely complete, but has doors with no external handles, and the rear edge of the door slopes backwards. The side lights (or whats left of them) were on the bulkhead, which has no vents. I'm guessing its old!

Now I have four!

No door handles, door slops backwards, sidelights on bulkhead...

Congratulations you have found yourself a very early series 1 80"

want to sell it to me

Mrs hh

Having unloaded the new machines, I have a number that CALVIN does not recognise. The old sloped door vehicle has a plate in the engine compartment on the passenger side of the firewall that states

"Car Number 06108468"

as well as some patents blurb.

Any ideas?

Originally Posted by Warb

Having unloaded the new machines, I have a number that CALVIN does not recognise. The old sloped door vehicle has a plate in the engine compartment on the passenger side of the firewall that states

"Car Number 06108468"

as well as some patents blurb.

Any ideas?

1950 basic models should start 061 or 0611(CKD) but should have a prefix either R or L for right or left hand drive according to James Taylor. Number of digits is correct. That would fit with the other details mentioned. At this stage of production I would not guarantee the prefix always got stamped - in fact John Smith does not mention it.

John

More details.

The inlet manifold has 4 branches.

The transfer box has the "normal" two levers and a push knob (does this mean late 1950 after the freewheel system was dropped, or that the drivetrain has been replaced?). Between the seat and the gearlever is a hinged flap to access what looks like a filler (much dirt and rubbish in here!)

The grille is of flat metal mesh (woven) with holes for the headlights.

The passenger guard is one piece, but the driver side has a seam as per the post 1954 Series 1, with holes where a light/reflector was mounted.

Is there anything else I should look for to confirm its year?

Hi Warb

If original, the radiator should have a disk about the size of a ten cent piece, soldered on the top tank, across from the radiator cap.

The month and year of manufacture of that radiator, is stamped into the disk face.

Cheers Arthur

Originally Posted by Warb

More details.

The inlet manifold has 4 branches.

So did all Series 1 unless I am mistaken!

The transfer box has the "normal" two levers and a push knob (does this mean late 1950 after the freewheel system was dropped, or that the drivetrain has been replaced?).

The yellow knob came in (1949) before the freewheel was dropped - have a look at the forward extension of the transfer case - if it is in one piece and looks pretty much the same as it did up to the end of S3 production, it is selectable four wheel drive. If it has a join and change in size of the housing part way along, it is free wheel constant 4wd.
Should have been freewheel from the serial number, but the transfer case is not necessarily the original!
Between the seat and the gearlever is a hinged flap to access what looks like a filler (much dirt and rubbish in here!)

All Series 1 (and possibly Series 2) had an access hatch for the gearbox filler and dipstick.

The grille is of flat metal mesh (woven) with holes for the headlights.

Correct for 1950, I think

The passenger guard is one piece, but the driver side has a seam as per the post 1954 Series 1, with holes where a light/reflector was mounted.

Sounds like a replacement guard!. Not unusual.

Is there anything else I should look for to confirm its year?

The chassis number is all that is needed, but you should look for this stamped on the engine mount as suggested - the bullkhead and/or the tag with the number on it may not be original.

John