Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22817 Location: UK

Hi all,

I recently bought a small pile of original Nuffield Organization internal photographs. Some are identifiable, some are quite baffling. I thought I'd pop 2 or 3 on here, to see if anyone recognises anything:

Firstly, two photos (consecutively numbered at the factory) showing a car's dash, then the underbonnet area. Does anyone recognise the model of car shown?? a big Wolseley or Morris - but which one???

Thirdly, this odd-looking test rig....ring a bell with anyone???

ta, Rick
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Keith D · Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2009 3:28 pm Post subject:

Just a guess Rick,

Is the third photo of a testing rig for hood mechanisms ???

Keith

47Jag · Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2009 3:47 pm Post subject:

Rick,

I would go with Keith on the hood mechanism tester. The second picture has a heavy duty motor on the left side. Could that be for jacking? (or self levelling suspension, or hood operation). It looks like a single overhead cam engine, twin SU carbs, so that would put it in the prototype Wolseley 6/80 era which would tie in with the dashboard shot. Too posh for a Morris IMHO.

Art

peter scott · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7216 Location: Edinburgh

Yes, I agree with Art. It's definitely a Wolseley 6/80 under bonnet shot. The dashboard is not the same as a 6/80 so as Art says it's probably a prototype.

Peter
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Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22817 Location: UK

very interesting - it'd be handy to find a photo of a standard 6/80 dash, just to see what differences there were Smile

in fact I suppose it could be a factory mock-up - note only one wiper fitted, and not much of a view through the screen

R
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Ghost · Joined: 20 Apr 2009 Posts: 75

I like the sleuthing on these pics, all very logical. That really is (pic 1) a very untidy dashboard so could well be a prototype. The bottom edge of the dash, the curve, is also odd to my eyes. So is the pattern of the 'wood'. Do you recall the type of plastic used in 1950's spectacle frames called tortoise shell? Could this be a plastic/Bakelite material? The Ford Pilot of the same era had such a thing.

stuchamp · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 546 Location: Iowa, USA

My first thought on the 3rd photo is a convertible top rig. ???

peter scott · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7216 Location: Edinburgh

Not in prime condition but this is a normal production 6/80..

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1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

Nic Jarman · Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 10:00 am Post subject:

Picture 3 does look like a developement rig for a motorised soft top. But look where the crock clips are, is it 6v or is that a 24v battery?
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1973 MGB roadster
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peter scott · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7216 Location: Edinburgh

Maybe they were planning on using a small wire gauge and anticipated a large volts drop in getting to back of the car. Laughing

Peter
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https://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

Nic Jarman · Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 10:26 am Post subject:

Yes Peter, weight was always an issue! Wink

The front is a "V" shape so I wonder if this was for a Morris Minor split screen. Were they 6v? Umm.
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1936 Morris 8 Series 1
1973 MGB roadster
1977 MG Midget 1500
Dax Rush

peter scott · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7216 Location: Edinburgh

Or maybe the big Wolseley "Morris Minor" as in the other photos.

Actually, you could be right about the Minor given where its engine came from. Looking at the prototype body shell the battery compartment does look quite narrow. Maybe this the real reason why they increased the width of the whole car for production! Wink

Peter
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https://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

peter scott · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7216 Location: Edinburgh

I was speaking to a 6/80 expert last night and mentioned the Princessesque
dashboard. Apparently the early production cars were fitted with this design, so not just a prototype.

Peter
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https://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

47Jag · Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 10:11 pm Post subject:

Peter.

Any ideas on the starter type motor on the left side?

Art

peter scott · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7216 Location: Edinburgh

I don't think that is part of the standard car, Art. It's not in a very obvious place to connect to anything directly so my guess would be that it drives a hydraulic pump. Maybe it powers a jacking system or maybe it's another way of driving a power hood as in picture 3.

Peter
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https://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon