Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[baconsdozen]

One car that has stuck in my memory was a green Austin 1800 I owned. It was reliable and roomy but my clearest memory is of lots of snowfall one winter and gliding past car after car struggling to get traction and passing others that had off road excursions on corners without any hint that I could be joining them.
I sold it to a friend of a friend who paid part with cash and part with a rubber cheque. He shot off to Birmingham and used the car in a robbery,unfortunately neglecting to check it had enough petrol in it and fizzled out in the middle of a roundabout. (I've often had a vision of him sitting there frantically churning away on the starter with a stocking over his head).
The car was impounded,he got a few years in pokey and as the car wasn't exactly worth a fortune I gave up trying to get it back.
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Thirty years selling imperial hand tools for old machinery(Now happily retired).

[Phil - Nottingham]

Yes - in the early 1970's an accountant I knew had a Mk1 - I remember how roomy, comfortable and quiet is was although the trim was a bit austere.

I particularly remember I going in the rear once and said a wheel bearing was going - he ignored me but but later told me the rear wheel/hub departed company going round a roundabout
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Rover P2
Rover P4
Rover P5 & P5B
Land Rover S2 & S3
Morris Mini Traveller Mk2

[peppiB]

Remember them? I still drive one every day!! It will go almost anywhere a 4x4 will, is much more comfortable and more economical

[clan chieftain]

I had one years ago. It was a great big roomy motor. There are still quite a few go to the classic car shows. The 3 litre wasnt as popular as the 1800 probably because it sooked the petrol.
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The Clan Chieftain

[Kelsham]

Took my 1968 Morris out for a spin this morning. They handle like a super Mini. I always feel safe in her.

I have owned her since the 1980s, much underated cars.
It won car of the year when first introduced, at the time it was considered that front wheel drive would be unsuitable for larger engined cars. The Landcrab disproved this theory.

I am still on the original Hydrolastic pipes.

Upon introduction there was a problem with big end failure, after much research it was traced to wrongly calibrated dipstick markings. This caused over filling of the sump and consequent frothing of the oil. Further problems with inner drive couplings failing, gave them a bad press.

Not even rallying success could re establish their reputation.

Issigonis thought them the car he was most proud of.

Dashboard and controls are an ergonomic disaster, but I manage to live with it.

Regards Kels.

[Ellis]

Remember the Landcrabs?

I should do, a Wolseley 18/85 Mark2 was my first car in 1976.
JFF 900H in Blue Royale was bought new in August 1969 by my late father making it one of the first Mark 2's registered in the UK.

I remember the Autocar roadtest of this model in Setember 1969 when it became the first BMC or BL single carb car to reach a true 100mph.

Five star petrol was still available then (1976) in some filling stations and my car only ever ran quietly on it without "pinking."

There is a green "L" registration Austin 1800 in daily use in Bangor, North Wales.
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Starting Handle Expert

1964 Jaguar Mark 2 3.4 litre
1962 Land Rover Series 2a 88"
2002 BMW M3 E46 Cabriolet

[Rick]

In the 70s a mate of mine's dad had a maroon 1800S, later replaced by a BMW 3.0S.

RJ
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Rick - Admin
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[emmerson]

I ran one as a taxi in 1978/9. The customers used to love it. (as did I)

[exbmc]

As with the Morris 1100, i remember the first 1800's to come to the distributor in Derby, where i was an apprentice. They were well received in general, although most of the early arrivals seemed to be shades of brown and beige, with interiors to match. They had some problems, but were generally very robust and reliable cars. Very early exports to mainland Europe, suffered valve bounce in top gear, and had to have the diff ratio changed. I believe the landcrab nickname started when the works rally team under Peter Browning, started to include 1800's in the competitions along with the Mini Coopers. Great, roomy comfortable mile munchers, but along with all things BMC / BL in those days, the motoring press were never very complimentary.

[47Jag]

I bought a new Snowberry White one in Canada in 1966. As EXBMC said the original diff ratio was really low (15mph/100RPM). As soon as it was out of warranty I souped it up to Stage 3 MGB specs with 13:1 pistons and had it all balanced and blueprinted and the higher ratio diff. fitted. It would rev over 7000rpm. It ran a big end doing over 100MPH. It was never the same after that. Great car!!!

Art

[Penman]

Hi

[colwyn500]

[Richard H]

[Keef]

Here's my Wolseley Six; a 2200 crab. :-


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Keef - Sheerness Kent UK
62 A40 Farina, 65 VDP 1100, 74 Maxi 1750, 76 Maxi 1750, 77 Maxi 1500HL, 79 Maxi 1750HLS, 80 Maxi 1750
https://www.facebook.com/groups/AustinMaxis/

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[Rick]