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Buying a 1960s British saloon With automatic Transmission
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nascar24



Joined: 08 Dec 2007
Posts: 26
Location: Sunny Newton Abbot!

PostPosted: Mon Feb 21, 2022 10:56 am    Post subject: Buying a 1960s British saloon With automatic Transmission Reply with quote

Hi,
Got an aquaintance who lives in Idaho in the USA and he has a fascination for 50s/60s british cars but must have automatic transmission.

Is he likely to find one that would be reliable and most importantly where replacement parts would be available.

I suggested Jaguar early XJ6 or a Rover P6, now he has seen a 1966 Hillman Minx with 18,000 miles on the clock and a Farina Magnette with similar mileage. Plus what mods are necessary re fuel issues as they have used E10 equivalent over there for twenty years.

Regards

Alan
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roverdriver



Joined: 18 Oct 2008
Posts: 1210
Location: 100 miles from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

PostPosted: Tue Feb 22, 2022 6:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I would suggest P6B. It has plenty of go and good manners on the road. Parts are available especially for the engine as those were used in many of the Rover and BL and later cars.
Slight downside is fitting rear brake pads, but if you know what you are doing it is not too bad a job to do.
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mikeC



Joined: 31 Jul 2009
Posts: 1809
Location: Market Warsop, Nottinghamshire

PostPosted: Tue Feb 22, 2022 9:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Older automatic gearboxes tend to absorb a sizeable amount of power, so I would suggest going for something with as large an engine as possible, certainly nothing smaller than 2-litres. Rover and Triumph 2000s, Triumph Stag (I know, that's more 1970s!), V8-engined Rovers, Mk2 Jaguar should all be relatively easy to find, even in left-hand drive form, and spares not too difficult to source. Earlier cars from the 1950s might be more problematic, automatics were not that popular in the 50s unless you were going very-much upmarket like Armstrong Siddeley, Daimler, etc.
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in the garage: 1938 Talbot Ten Airline
Recently departed: 1953 Lancia Appia, 1931 Austin Seven, 1967 Singer Chamois, 1914 Saxon, 1930 Morris Cowley, 1936 BSA Scout, 1958 Lancia Appia coupe, 1922 Star 11.9 ... the list goes on!
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kevin2306



Joined: 01 Jul 2013
Posts: 1359
Location: nr Llangollen, north wales

PostPosted: Tue Feb 22, 2022 8:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

My singer vogue is a 1600cc with 3 speed Borg Warner auto box.
Goes really well, lovely to drive especially so on A roads.
My Dad's Wolsely 6110 is a 3.0 Ltd 6 cylinder and has the same 3 speed auto.
Powerful as you need and a lovely plush drive.

Personally, if money was no issue I'd be looking at an old jag, xj6, mk2 etc but in great condition.

Kev
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nascar24



Joined: 08 Dec 2007
Posts: 26
Location: Sunny Newton Abbot!

PostPosted: Sat Feb 26, 2022 9:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

roverdriver wrote:
I would suggest P6B. It has plenty of go and good manners on the road. Parts are available especially for the engine as those were used in many of the Rover and BL and later cars.
Slight downside is fitting rear brake pads, but if you know what you are doing it is not too bad a job to do.


Thanks, i will pass that along. I dont think he does much work himself but he has owned some pretty rare U.S. cars Whether he wil find a talented mechanics shop that deals with foreign makes is another story. Plus Idaho is in the salt belt.
Thanks
Alan
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