Thread: 1950 80" identification

Standard (soft top), Department of Main Roads, delivered 18/7/50 engine number 06110541. Ignition key 34 (probably MRN34)

You do know that the "Built in the UK" is a bit misleading, your vehicle was shipped CKD, so it went through the assembly line at Solihull, but was moved to the CKD factory and dismantled, packed in a number of large crates with assemblies from 5 other vehicles and shipped (with a second batch of 6 vehicles) to the Port of Sydney (on SS Skagerack) and would have then be reassembled at the Australia St Camperdown factory of Grenville Motors probably in early July 1950. There is no guarantee that all the assemblies originally fitted in Solihull would have been fitted to your vehicle at Grenville's. It is likely a mix of bits from any of the 12 vehicles that arrived at the same time.

Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies

Standard (soft top), Department of Main Roads, delivered 18/7/50 engine number 06110541. Ignition key 34 (probably MRN34)

You do know that the "Built in the UK" is a bit misleading, your vehicle was shipped CKD, so it went through the assembly line at Solihull, but was moved to the CKD factory and dismantled, packed in a number of large crates with assemblies from 5 other vehicles and shipped (with a second batch of 6 vehicles) to the Port of Sydney (on SS Skagerack) and would have then be reassembled at the Australia St Camperdown factory of Grenville Motors probably in early July 1950. There is no guarantee that all the assemblies originally fitted in Solihull would have been fitted to your vehicle at Grenville's. It is likely a mix of bits from any of the 12 vehicles that arrived at the same time.

Love your work Dianna

Mrs hh

Wow! a great depth of knowledge, thanks for the info, the original engine was not fitted but I have bought an engine from the same year (a little older) which will eventually go in.

Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies

Standard (soft top), Department of Main Roads, delivered 18/7/50 engine number 06110541. Ignition key 34 (probably MRN34)

You do know that the "Built in the UK" is a bit misleading, your vehicle was shipped CKD, so it went through the assembly line at Solihull, but was moved to the CKD factory and dismantled, packed in a number of large crates with assemblies from 5 other vehicles and shipped (with a second batch of 6 vehicles) to the Port of Sydney (on SS Skagerack) and would have then be reassembled at the Australia St Camperdown factory of Grenville Motors probably in early July 1950. There is no guarantee that all the assemblies originally fitted in Solihull would have been fitted to your vehicle at Grenville's. It is likely a mix of bits from any of the 12 vehicles that arrived at the same time.

hi diana can we catch up will be in sydney jim pearl

Hi Dianna, one last request would you also know it's original registration no Thx

Originally Posted by Shortstuff

Hi Dianna, one last request would you also know it's original registration no Thx

Unfortunately registration numbers were only recorded much later in the books and only for vehicles supplied direct to customers not via a Rover Co agent. Although your was direct but too early.

Dianna found out that my `52 (26161454) was actually sent over as a complete vehicle, amongst a batch of CKD 80in in 1951..Anyone goy any ideas why they would bother bringing a complete vehicle over?

Originally Posted by Summiitt

Dianna found out that my `52 (26161454) was actually sent over as a complete vehicle, amongst a batch of CKD 80in in 1951..Anyone goy any ideas why they would bother bringing a complete vehicle over?

Hi your question is an interesting one and it is somewhat clarified by notations in the allocation and shipping records, so I'll give you a few points on facts we do know.

• Yes your 26161454 was shipped with 42 CKD vehicles (30 standard, 6 front winch, 6 metal tops and yours with a PTO) in fact but not in 1951.
• They were mostly sold in late May and June 1952 so would have loaded onto the ship "SS Scottish Star" in February or March 1952.
• Your vehicle was sent to L.C.S. William on the account of "Sparkes" on 29/5/52 (engine no 26104028, key 11)
• 64 other vehicles with similar sequence to 26161454 were shipped to Grenvilles arriving likely in February 1952, so would have been loaded in late November or December 1951.
• In the list recorded against S.S. Greyslate Castle (arrived prob March 1952) there is a notation against your crossed out number "missed Greyslate Castle see Scottish Star"

So the answer to your question is your vehicle missed the boat

Why built up? The new models were produced to be sold from the beginning of the calendar year, so it was frequently the case that a number of the new models (remembering that the 1952 had a few changes from the 1951 like the 2 litre engine and the sidelights moved to the front of the mudguards) were shipped built up to supply early in the year while assembly of the new model was being ramped up.