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Anyone remember the land crabs?
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baconsdozen



Joined: 03 Dec 2007
Posts: 1119
Location: Under the car.

PostPosted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 3:23 pm    Post subject: Anyone remember the land crabs? Reply with quote

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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Phil - Nottingham



Joined: 01 Jan 2008
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Location: Nottingham

PostPosted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 3:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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 Rolling Eyes
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peppiB



Joined: 30 Jun 2008
Posts: 686
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne

PostPosted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 3:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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



Joined: 05 Apr 2008
Posts: 2041
Location: Motherwell

PostPosted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 3:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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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Kelsham



Joined: 18 Jan 2009
Posts: 349
Location: Llandrindod Wells Powys

PostPosted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 3:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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.
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Ellis



Joined: 07 Mar 2011
Posts: 1386
Location: Betws y Coed, North Wales

PostPosted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 4:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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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Rick
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Joined: 27 Apr 2005
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PostPosted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 4:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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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emmerson



Joined: 30 Sep 2008
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Location: South East Wales

PostPosted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 4:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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



Joined: 18 Jun 2009
Posts: 236
Location: Derby East Midlands

PostPosted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 5:57 pm    Post subject: 1800 Reply with quote

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.
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47Jag



Joined: 26 Jun 2008
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PostPosted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 6:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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
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Penman



Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 4850
Location: Swindon, Wilts.

PostPosted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 7:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi
marina estate wrote:
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.


Does the 3ltr count as a landcrab? It had rear wheel drive.
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colwyn500



Joined: 21 Oct 2012
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Location: Nairn, Scotland

PostPosted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 8:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Penman wrote:
Hi
marina estate wrote:
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.


Does the 3ltr count as a landcrab? It had rear wheel drive.


I saw one parked on a driveway in Nairn today (or at least I think it was) willl go back and get a photo tomorrow. I am sorry but I think they look horrible! (Ducks head to avoid blow!)
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Richard H



Joined: 03 Apr 2009
Posts: 2150
Location: Lincolnshire, UK

PostPosted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 8:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Penman wrote:


Does the 3ltr count as a landcrab? It had rear wheel drive.


It's a Landlobster! Very Happy
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Keef



Joined: 13 Jan 2008
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Location: Sheerness Kent UK

PostPosted: Mon Nov 12, 2012 7:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

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


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Rick
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Joined: 27 Apr 2005
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PostPosted: Mon Nov 12, 2012 9:11 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Richard H wrote:
Penman wrote:


Does the 3ltr count as a landcrab? It had rear wheel drive.


It's a Landlobster! Very Happy


Hi Richard, do you still have the green Wolseley?

RJ
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