Reynard
Guru
- Location
- Cambridgeshire, UK
I knew about the Amphicars, but didn't realise they were based on the Herald. Every day is a school day!
One For Classic Car Fans.....
- Thread starter Alex H
- Start date
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I knew about the Amphicars, but didn't realise they were based on the Herald. Every day is a school day!
Way-Out-West
Senior Member
- Location
- Pinno's attic
As a kid, I was amazed by the sight of an Amphicar gliding down a slipway and splashing straight into the sea. The sea was choppy, and the ‘vessel’ seemed to sit precariously low in the water.
I bet it succumbed to rust shortly after.
I bet it succumbed to rust shortly after.
Profpointy
Legendary Member
I knew about the Amphicars, but didn't realise they were based on the Herald. Every day is a school day!
Having read a bit more, I'm not sure much more than the engine was off off the Herald, and even that was in the back rather than the front ! I may have misremembered how much Herald was in the car
biggs682
Itching to get back on my bike's
- Location
- Northamptonshire
A few from this morning's ride
First one I know what it is but I can't remember it's an Austin but can't remember what model.
Another Ford Prefect I think
Tidy Beetle
A Capri 2.8 waiting a recommissioning
First one I know what it is but I can't remember it's an Austin but can't remember what model.
Another Ford Prefect I think
Tidy Beetle
A Capri 2.8 waiting a recommissioning
gbb
Squire
- Location
- Peterborough
Austin 3 litre i think. Not sure i ever saw one...ever, so presumably quite a rare car in the first place let alone now
biggs682
Itching to get back on my bike's
- Location
- Northamptonshire
I think you could be right re 3 litre but sure they had a name but it escapes me.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austin_3-Litre
I would have thought it was quite a rarity and looking at the way it was parked it needs it's hydrolastic suspension doing as it had quite a lean
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gbb
Squire
- Location
- Peterborough
I've perhaps relared this before but...
Early 1980s maybe, we had a production supervisor with a (I think) Wolsley 1300 with hydrolastic suspension. I was a banger, well past it's best and had that characteristic lean.
One night shift he brought it to our workshops and asked if there was anything 'we' could do.
Bear in mind none of the engineers had car experience but they quickly decided to top.up point was a schraeder valve....so let's put some air in it ?
I'm only perhaps 20, very much the junior member there and I said....errr, I think that's oil that's.meant to go in there !!!
But no, they wouldn't have it, tried air, the lean got worse.
Ok, so if we jack the car up, it will relieve the pressure on the suspension and try again.
I'm stood back now watching the 'fun'
As they used a wider set of forklift forks to raise the car, the sills were so rusty they just collapsed ...I'm laughing inside as I remember this.
Various head scratching from the others...the poor supervisor drove it out, parked it in the carpark with a now massive lean...next stop was the scrapyard.
Being an 'engineer' doesn't necessarily make you clever....
Reynard
Guru
- Location
- Cambridgeshire, UK
Illaveago
Guru
- Location
- Chippenham,Wiltshire.
I saw a black Humber Super Snipe parked this morning. They used to be so huge in their day but modern cars make them look small.
raleighnut
Legendary Member
- Location
- One of the 'Elite'
Nah they'd used that 3 litre lump in lots of cars notably the Vandem Plas 'Princess' 3 litre before they decided to take that further 'up-market' with the 4 litre Rolls-Royce engine, you can tell at a glance at the rear cos the 3 litre has the upright lamps of the Westminster/Cambridge 'Farina' bodyshell whereas the 4 litre had horizontal lights cos of one of the re-design tweaks.
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
The 3 litre was not a nice engine, and spoiled what was otherwise a comfortable and well appointed, if utterly unremarkable, car.
Old duffers might enjoy this...
https://www.aronline.co.uk/cars/austin/3-litre/ado61-development-story/
Old duffers might enjoy this...
https://www.aronline.co.uk/cars/austin/3-litre/ado61-development-story/
ebikeerwidnes
Guru
- Location
- Z’ha’dum
My GranDad had a Morris 1800
had it over 15 years and it still looked like it had just come out of the showroom
I suggested to my Dad that I could buy it from him as my first car when GrandDad had to stop driving
I was told not to as every little blemish would be "noticed"
shame really - it was a lovely car
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