long dead Brit auto insustry RIP
long dead Brit auto insustry RIP
(OP)
Found this under "engine& turbine engineering" great link to the past, many shots of MK 1 Minis being built.
http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=74967
http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=74967





RE: long dead Brit auto insustry RIP
The mfgr methods are somewhat archaic by todays standards, indeed, for the world standards of the time. One reason for the failure of the auto industry in the UK?
They are not alone as I've been at THREE US auto plants that closed, GM South Gate, GM Van Nuys and, Ford Pico Rivera...Now with the recent closing of US auto plants and bankruptcy filings, the US could very easily go the same way.
One thing for sure, I've owned more than my share of British cars. Love them all. Still race a Mini and a Lotus Cortina. I'm just finishing the restoration of a '59 Met and looking around for another Sprite or Midget (mom will shoot me). Even my '23 T trackroadster is powered by a two litre Cortina/Pinto engine (much modified, however).
I DON'T like the BMW (New Mini)...It's just not British enough to suit me. Hmmmm, maybe a '58 Mk I Jag?
Rod
RE: long dead Brit auto insustry RIP
I was surprised to see the rust proofing,there was no sign of BMC cars being rust free! Mind you most of our BMC vehicles were assembled here in New Zealand.Also,robot spray painting??!!
Driven and worked on almost everything BMC,never worked for a BMC dealer,but there was just so many of them over here.Those Austin trucks transporting the Mini's were great to drive,one of the first big trucks I ever drove.And a Nuffield tractor was almost the end of me once....
RE: long dead Brit auto insustry RIP
RE: long dead Brit auto insustry RIP
When I was a kid, working in a ma & pa auto parts store, this guy would come in every other Saturday (guessin' it was payday) and bought six cans of Krylon 1501 Glossy white, and Six cans of Krylon 2101 Cherry red (I can still remember the p/n's nearly 40 years later). The owner of the store gave him the "case price", ($ .69/can in 1971 dollars!)
This went on for months! He said he was 'painting a classic car' but wouldn't tell me what it was - I thought he was BS'ing. Just before I left the job to return to school, he came by in the sweetest Nash Metropolitan, Cherry Red over White.
Although my expectations were much lower in those days, I remember being hugely impressed (me having some real bodyshop experience and all). Slick as a whistle, no orange peel anywhere.
I often wonder what happened to it.
RE: long dead Brit auto insustry RIP
Rod
RE: long dead Brit auto insustry RIP
Haven't seen one on the road here for a while, let alone one as good as yours.
They were all 'B' Series running gear, weren't they?
Bill
RE: long dead Brit auto insustry RIP
RE: long dead Brit auto insustry RIP
MGB engine and o/drive box, perhaps? That fine narrow track would have made exciting cornering.
Bill
RE: long dead Brit auto insustry RIP
But---It generates more spectator interest and comments than ANY of my cars...People are funny!
Rod
RE: long dead Brit auto insustry RIP
Jay Maechtlen
http://www.laserpubs.com/techcomm
RE: long dead Brit auto insustry RIP
Rod
RE: long dead Brit auto insustry RIP
Jay Maechtlen
http://www.laserpubs.com/techcomm
RE: long dead Brit auto insustry RIP
Rod
RE: long dead Brit auto insustry RIP
I changed the final drive from 4.22:1 to 3.9:1 and changed the spedo drive gear to "get it close". In other words, "it's close"....Now for what the odo reads..."its close"?
Rod
RE: long dead Brit auto insustry RIP
The Ford Econoline was another - we had one with the Dagenheim 4-speed: first was too high, and fourth was too low.
You mentioned that the trans is morphed from a four-speed. Can the Metro be given four speeds without hacking it up?
Jay Maechtlen
http://www.laserpubs.com/techcomm
RE: long dead Brit auto insustry RIP
As to the gearbox??? Well I guess the Ronald Reagan approach would work...Throw enough money at it !
I've seen several 're engined' versions, Toyota 4's and five speeds are popular as is the MGB. MGB mated to the stock three speed makes a very good driver if you update the suspension a bit. Four/five speeds require bucket seats to clear the gearchange lever. All in all, keeping it original and authentic, as I have, should bring a dividend on the open market. We will see.
Rod
RE: long dead Brit auto insustry RIP
Bill
RE: long dead Brit auto insustry RIP
If we are talking top of the range cars, race cars, kit cars etc then the UK is the place to be.
e.g. http
JMW
www.ViscoAnalyser.com
RE: long dead Brit auto insustry RIP
Rod
RE: long dead Brit auto insustry RIP
TVR was bought bought by a Russian. Is Lotus Cars UK-owned or does it belong to Proton?
Bristol still make (a few) cars.
I'm sure I will now be deluged by people correcting me and pointing out omissions.
The crux of it is, owning to dire management by accountant, interference by Government and politicians and poor labour relations, there is no mass produced UK-owned and managed automotive industry.
Bill
RE: long dead Brit auto insustry RIP
- Steve
RE: long dead Brit auto insustry RIP
That is the sound of straws being grasped.
Cheers
Greg Locock
New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?
RE: long dead Brit auto insustry RIP
Bristol's web site is a real hoot, thoroughly recommended. Takes me back to my student days - wandering down Kensington High Street, wondering why there was a quirky little shop selling weird, expensive cars in the middle of London.
- Steve
RE: long dead Brit auto insustry RIP
http://m
- Steve
RE: long dead Brit auto insustry RIP
RE: long dead Brit auto insustry RIP
custom rubber molding
www.meererubbermolding.com