Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.
|
|
| Author |
Message |
Rick
Site Admin
Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 22834
Location: UK
|
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
badhuis
Joined: 20 Aug 2008
Posts: 1480
Location: Netherlands
|
 Posted: Mon Jan 06, 2014 12:12 pm Post subject: |
 |
|
Good to see these big Farina's finally getting up the price a bit.
Rick - I love the way you describe the seats as a bit tatty whereas in fact the back has large rips. It reminded me of something about 15 years ago.
With two friends we once went looking at a HSSE (Humber Super Snipe Estate) in London. This car was described by the owner as the carpets having "slight wear and tear". It turned out the drivers carpet had almost disintegrated completely. Still gives us a laugh when we think about that.
We did not buy the car as it had rusted severely, the roof gutters did not exist for the most part. Shame because I still do like a nice HSSE! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
kevin2306
Joined: 01 Jul 2013
Posts: 1359
Location: nr Llangollen, north wales
|
| Posted: Mon Jan 06, 2014 2:40 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I have my dads 6/110 tucked away in dry storage.
it is one owner from new, 1967. 70k
the interior, engine and running gear are in great condition but it needs bodywork which one day, funds allowing it will get.
Great old cars
kev |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Ellis
Joined: 07 Mar 2011
Posts: 1386
Location: Betws y Coed, North Wales
|
| Posted: Mon Jan 06, 2014 9:32 pm Post subject: |
|
|
That early model grille is much more interesting than the blander straight one of the later cars.
Does any body know which other car's Rostyle wheel fits this Westminster?
MGB, Rover P5b/P6 or something else?
_________________
Starting Handle Expert
1964 Jaguar Mark 2 3.4 litre
1962 Land Rover Series 2a 88"
2002 BMW M3 E46 Cabriolet |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
badhuis
Joined: 20 Aug 2008
Posts: 1480
Location: Netherlands
|
| Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2014 4:49 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Ellis wrote: | | That early model grille is much more interesting than the blander straight one of the later cars. |
Ahem - I have to disagree. The front end of the A110 is much better IMO. I do not like the trim around the headlights on the A99. It is like the A40, but while they look okay on the A40 they look cheap on the A99 (as does the early grille). Each to their own!
| Ellis wrote: | Does any body know which other car's Rostyle wheel fits this Westminster?
MGB, Rover P5b/P6 or something else? |
Rover P5b as you say, and Jensen Interceptor Mk1 / 2. No other cars apart from some obscure American models.
15" Rostyles were in three widths I seem to remember, 5" for the P5b and early Int Mk1, 5,5" for the later Int Mk1 and 6" for the Interceptor Mk2.
5 and 5,5 were fully chromed. The 6" was only partly chromed for the UK market (rim was matt) but fully chromed for the USA market cars. Of course, these are the most valuable because wider tyres can be fitted.
If anyone knows a place where the Rostyles can be restored and rechromed for a reasonable price (up to 150 UKP per wheel) please let me know 
BTW - this Westminster should have 14" painted wheels with a hubcap.
BMC in their great wisdom reverted back to smaller wheels for the later Westminsters. My Mk2 has 13" painted wheels with hubcaps and trim rings (being a Super deluxe model). I wish they kept the 14" because tyres are very hard to find for the 13". I bought new 185/80-13 tyres in the late nineties but struggle to find (non-commercial) radial tyres in that size now.
That is the main reason many Westminster owners fit the Rostyles.
For an even bigger upgrade, there are new 17" Rostyle - like alu wheels available.
If you want to go modern then the 15" GKN wheels from the Interceptor Mk3 will fit, or even the new 17" variant.
In my opinion Rostyles look wrong on any Westminster.
_________________
a car stops being fun when it becomes an investment |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Ellis
Joined: 07 Mar 2011
Posts: 1386
Location: Betws y Coed, North Wales
|
| Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2014 12:23 am Post subject: |
|
|
What is an Austin Westminster like to drive, badhuis?
I've driven an A60 and a Wolseley 16/60 but imagine that both of these are a world apart from a Westminster.
There was only one "big" Austin "in the family" - my cousin's father in law and he owned a 1965 Westminster in dark blue - AJC 461C which he bought new in late 1965.
_________________
Starting Handle Expert
1964 Jaguar Mark 2 3.4 litre
1962 Land Rover Series 2a 88"
2002 BMW M3 E46 Cabriolet |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
badhuis
Joined: 20 Aug 2008
Posts: 1480
Location: Netherlands
|
| Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2014 1:57 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Ellis wrote: | What is an Austin Westminster like to drive, badhuis?
I've driven an A60 and a Wolseley 16/60 but imagine that both of these are a world apart from a Westminster. |
Before my black Westminster with red leather I owned a black Morris Oxford VI, with red leather (...).
The Morris was a lovely car, but I often thought it would be nice if it would be a bit faster. I used the car every day, to and from work (15 miles single journey). So I went looking for a faster car., and bought the Westminster.
As you imagined, the car is much smoother to drive. I love the sound it makes, woosh. The steering wheel is huge and set high so, especially with seats which may have sagged a bit in time, you have trouble seeing over the wheel. My wife mostly looks through the wheel.
I also love the semi-automatic overdrive. It has a kick-down function so by pressing the throttle you can shift back to direct 4. The overdrive also gives free-wheeling, which means when the speed s under 35 mph or so there is no need to press the clutch when shifting gear (except when stationairy, obviously).
The torque and gearing is such that in flat Holland there's almost never the need to use the (unsynchronised) first gear - just pull off in second.
The car easily maintains higher motorway speeds, I have no trouble in driving 70 or 80 miles for a length of time. Something the Morris would not be able to do. This makes the Westminster a more useful car to me.
Of course it still is an old fashioned car. Roadholding does not inspire fast driving, and the gear change needs long throws. The suspension is not as soft as you would expect. But the view is excellent, the rear fins are useful when parking. ut that was the same with the Morris of course.
Compared with the Jaguar 420 I also own, the Jaguar is much faster, has better suspension and roadholding, and feels like a car of a newer generation (which it is of course).
But I love the Austin for its old fashionedness - is that a word?
Overall it is a nicer car to drive than the 4 cylinders. I do not feel the wanting for another 4 cylinder Farina, as nice as these can be - the big Farina does it all a bit better - except the fuel consumption of course. But I never cared about that much, I have installed a LPG system years ago. Took out the fuel tank and put a LPG tank in that space (behind the rear seat). Made a flat fuel tank and strapped that under the car, and the spare wheel even under that! The car runs very well on LPG.
Plans for this year are to install modern electric power steering (I installed one in a Wolseley 6/110 of a friend and it transformed the car), and invisible central door locking with remote control.
I do not think I ever sell the Austin. Still have a VandenPlas 4 Litre R in the shed - which had not been on the road for almost 30 years. Plan is to make that roadworthy.... some day....
_________________
a car stops being fun when it becomes an investment |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Ellis
Joined: 07 Mar 2011
Posts: 1386
Location: Betws y Coed, North Wales
|
| Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2014 5:47 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Thank you, that was very interesting.
_________________
Starting Handle Expert
1964 Jaguar Mark 2 3.4 litre
1962 Land Rover Series 2a 88"
2002 BMW M3 E46 Cabriolet |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
emmerson
Joined: 30 Sep 2008
Posts: 1268
Location: South East Wales
|
| Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2014 6:18 pm Post subject: |
|
|
In 1974 I had a '68 white Westminster. Lovely old car, but with two young children and a (then) huge mortgage, it had to go.
However, one story that sticks in my mind re that car was when we parked on a service area on the M6, Knutsford, I believe.
When we returned to the car, it was surrounded by policemen!
Immediate panic, as you do, although I knew we were all legal.
Tentatively,I approached the car, and asked if I could help.
"This your car sir?" in typical police fashion.
"yes it is"
"Have you had it long?
"No, only a few weeks"
"Do you like it?"
"Yes thank you, very much"
" Good, I'm glad it has a good home, as it used to be our patrol car"
Half an hour spent then with the officers telling tales of derring-do in my car. I'm not sure I wanted to hear some of them, but the car didn't appear to have suffered too much, as we kept it for some time, with no trouble.
But it sure was a heart-stopping moment!
I believe the reg number was JWV 13F, but not certain. Wonder if it is still around. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
php BB powered © php BB Grp.
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
