P6 air con and other queries

D

Dan

New Member
Hi all,

I'm at the research stage, finding out all I need to know before I start looking to buy. So, a few questions, which I hope you can answer...

1. I've seen a couple of P6 V8s advertised with aircon, one described as "VIP air conditioning". Did the V8 come with an aircon option? If so, any thoughts/comments/advice. Presumably any recharging would need to involve CFC free gas, which I giess could involve plenty of dosh re. new seals? I'll be coming from an aircon equipped modern and I've got used to it!

2. Auto - v- manual box. Any advice re. reliability/longevity? I'm thinking an auto mainly because it hints that the car will have been less abused (harder to abuse, anyway), also, I like an auto/big engine combo.

3. Fuel consumption. I'd be driving the beast daily (and why not?), mostly dual and m-way work. I'm guessing 25mpg on a good cruise, am I right?; plus, will it make a lot of difference between auto and man (I know the 5 speed SD1 box can be fitted - isthis recommended for bigger miles?).

Look forward to some replies,
Dan.
 
hi dan,
most of the p6's that had air-con were auto's. 2017 were imported to the states with the biggest majority of them fitted with air-con. 77 which were the last of the production run 44 being in platinum silver ( the only metallic colour to go on a p6 ) the other 33 were in brasilia ( brown ) were VIP as they had air-con, side impact beams, special velour seats ( sdi ) boot mount kit, PAS and sundym glass. all were covered with a huntsman roof, quarter panels and boot cover. there were 15 made in 1972 with a single scoop on the bonnet, the rest were special order and nobody knows how many were produced ( but it would not be many ) then a few were sent into europe, mainly i think as they could no longer send them to the states. the seals do not have to be changed, i have mine gassed with a gas they import from the states which is compatible with the seals and is CFC friendly, the cost £80.00 a re-fill, it is worth spending it as the air-con system on a p6 runs on only a high cut out pressure switch which means it will keep on running with very little or no gas which will sieze the compressor as it needs the oil to lubricate it. an auto on a long run should do the bottom 20's, but they are all different and this as been discussed and i do not want to get into that again. if you require any more info e-mail me and i will give you my phone number. i am going to look at an export car with air-con, that came back to this country.
a lot of people do prefer putting the 5 speed manual ( better for the long cruising ) in and can be put in either a manual or auto.
 
thanks ian, very helpful. i may give you a call later, once i've done some more research.
Dan
 
Dan.

Some people may say I've been a little balshy at times, so be aware.

What other research do you need to do? Ian is one of MANY experts on this forum who could tell you more than you'd ever need to know. He's just answered the questions you put to the rest of us??!!

You may not have meant to, but if I were Ian, I'd be quite insulted by that reply.

Get advice wherever you can, but I'd give him a ring now while he's offering. You cant get more experience and expertise anywhere other than on this site.

I've had loads of classics. Fords, Triumphs - you name it. My P6 was the best bar none and I have'nt yet found another forum which has so many helpful and educated people offering help and advice - for nothing! I still use the site on a regular basis, and I sold my P6 months ago!

Incidentally (for everyone else), the worse site was one for the Triumph Stag. Try going on there and telling them that your's has a Rover V8 in it. Bombarded and abused - that would be an understatement!!

Johnny. :(
 
hi johnny,
many thanks for that. i do not profess to know it all, even now after nine years of being involved in the p6 i still learn new, sometimes unusual things about the car, but like you say a wonderful car. if i can help i try to do so and if anybody requires a more in depth discussion and i can help, use my number in the front cover of the magazine as i am on the committee.
 
Ian.

I noticed that Dan didnt reply. Shame really, hope he isnt another dreamer.

It's annoying - the amount of people that come on here, ask advice and then say,........

"Just got to sell my Fiesta now and then start lookng for a nice tax exempt 72 S"!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Johnny. ???
 
Hello Dan et al,
Ian's reply was succinct and yet comprehensive (he is VERY knowledgable on matters P6 and an expert with the aircon)but he only answered the first question of three that Dan originally posed.
Perhaps we could answer the other two in case Dan is still about.
Personally, I prefer the auto gearbox to manual although the manual is usually more economical with petrol (if that word can be used with a 3528 V8!) and is faster on acceleration and top speed if you need that sort of thing!
Most of my mileage is around town and leisure trips and, as I broke my left ankle 28 years ago, the clutchless auto is perfect for me.
The best that carefull driving can produce with the V8 auto has been 20 around town and 26.6 on a long run (in my experience) a lot less if you drive "enthusiastically"!
I hope we hear from Dan again and he advises us that he has made a purchase.
Regards, John.
 
I'd agree that an autobox is much nicer than a manual. Bit silly seeing a i've got a manual car now. The auto saloon I had before was a much nicer drive but it's only in retrospect that I realise it was better. Hopefully now i've converted to 5 speed the hassle of needing to move my left leg occasionally will be offset by more relaxed motorway cruising!
 
Oh economy. I used to get about 15 around town and 20/25 on motorway runs. When I used to do a commute to leeds and back 100 mile round trip a tank would just about do 3 days before hitting reserve. Unfortunatlely the reserve switch was broken and on a couple of occasions I ended up freewheeling into petrol stations thanking my lucky stars!
 
Johnny said:
I noticed that Dan didnt reply. Shame really, hope he isnt another dreamer.
It's annoying - the amount of people that come on here, ask advice and then say,........
"Just got to sell my Fiesta now and then start lookng for a nice tax exempt 72 S"!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...
HI All,
Johnny, You may find it annoying that people come on here ask advice and than say "just got to sell my” But I am one of those people, and yes I did dream of a nice tax exempt 3500s when I first joined this forum (in May 2003), but after a number of posts, and scouring all the posts I have now decided that I would probably prefer, and be better off with a series one 2000tc ;)
I have nothing but praise for people like John Glinn, Jim Brown at Red hat, and Ian Wilson who rather than dismissing me as a dreamer offered much help and advice on sourcing the right car for me. Surely if just one dreamer in a thousand turns into an owner saving a P6 from the crusher it is worthwhile.
All series one cars were produced before I was even born, so I do not have any in depth knowledge of these vehicles, and the free advice offered through this forum has now prompted me to both join the P6 owners club and go ahead with the purchase of a P6, but again I have to say it, as soon as I sell the car that I already own.
Places like this is what the internet is all about, a free exchange of information that allows people to make informed decisions. If those decisions take 5 minutes or 5 years no users should be discouraged from participating, Dan may very well return to this thread and be discouraged by being called annoying by long term forum members!
Just thought I would mention it.
Cheers
AL :)
 
Hi All,

Just in case AL and Dan are still looking for a nice motor. Take a look on eBay at item 2488354131. Not only does the car have those extra bits that are non to common in this country, but the seller is the one and only 'Ian' himself......Time to put the dream into reality!!!!!!!

Jules ;)
 
Al.

I hope you and Dan do find the right cars and you DO come back - that would be great.

However. Look at why I actually said what I did - about Ian.

Ian and John must spend bloody hours upon end on here (not to mention BBLongman, Alfesti, the list goes on and on) answering peoples queries. Good on them! ;)

But where it falls far short is when Dan asks questions, and after a reply - DARES to say that he will do some more research??.... and then possibly get back to him. That really did get on my wick. :angry:

Why come on here, ask questions and then blatantly dismiss the people who probably have the most practical everyday knowledge bar none?

Yes, the internet is a free exchange of information and I appreciate that series one cars may have been built before you were born. If that is the case then you have alot to learn - but this in itself puzzles me. If you know so little about the P6, then why is it that the main topics of conversation on your part have been,

1. Alloy wheels.
2. Changing the colour.
3. Side plates.

I take it rust, performance, general weaknesses, faults, resale values, pitfalls, prices, etc etc etc etc - you know all about?

Come on Alimorg, even your Avitar is of a wheel!

Saving one from the crusher - that doesn’t take alloy wheels and a cheap respray mate!

If you want to learn something from these people - start asking proper questions. If more and more 'dreamers' (as you say), keep posting daft topics and questions on here, there will come a point that even the most reasonable and level headed just might get saturated and fed up.

Why not get yourself a paper round? When you've enough pennies in your piggy bank, get your mum and dad to help you with some more questions. Then come back. Then, buy a car. After that, you could think about buying - erm........ OH, I KNOW!!!!.. some fancy wheels!!

IT'S FREE ADVICE AS YOU QUITE RIGHTLY SAY - BUT DONT THINK YOU CAN DAMN WELL ABUSE IT!

Sorry to everyone else - you know me by now!! :D

Johnny. :angry:
 
Dear Johnny,
Yes I do know all about performance, general weaknesses, faults, resale values, pitfalls, prices, etc. You see this forum has a search facility, which I used. Many of the topics you mention have been covered in the past so I did not need to ask those sorts of questions, the questions I asked were ones that were pertinent to my situation and to which I could not find satisfactory answers.
There are also numerous P6 websites out there, all of which cover the type of information you mention, but none of which tell me where to get some nice alloys, or if I can paint all the panels in my shed.
Yes my avitar is a wheel, its a Cragar SS, and very nice it is too, personally I think they will look fantastic on my P6.
I tried a paper round once, I gave it up because I could not bear the abuse from the mad old people in the old folks home to which I used to deliver - I did however save enough money before I left to buy myself a rotten MK1 escort, the mechanical parts of which were used to build a Lotus 7 Replica from scratch.
Yes I have asked my parents to help with the questions but all my Mum could say was "oh god you are not going to buy one of those are you, the indicators look like Dame Ednas specs" although my Dad did tell me that my uncle once had a P6, so I asked him his opinions. He told me "Yeah I had V8 one, you know the 2000 body with the 3500 engine" not really much help.
So there you have it, you may call it abuse of the system, I call it asking pertinent questions, Dan may very well come back after he has read the books he enquired about HERE he may not, but let him make his own descisions about who he wants to talk to, you never know he may not be able to use the telephone, did you think of that?
Cheers
Al
P.S. To everyone else, please forgive the blatant misuse of this forum I promise I will not post on this subject again.
 
Alimorg.

You'll do for me!

AT LAST - someone with some spirit.

Now that is what I call a discussion forum.

It has been mentioned on here before - a little too sedate at times.

Are you sure a few of those old folks on the paper-round didnt buy P6's and join this forum?

Before you ask - I'm not one - too young and I've never lived in a home (yet).

Johnny. :p

P.S. I dont want to keep going on, but about Dan. Maybe he cant use the phone? You have to subscribe to a telephone company to get Internet access.

Just a thought.
 
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