TC at the Wensleydale Creamery

[Dave3066]

I was down in the Yorkshire Dales over the weekend and pulled into the car park of the Wensleydale Creamery in Hawes. There were quite a few MGs and other classic cars parked up as part of the Dales Trail. I got chatting to the owner of a lovely Ford Model A right hand drive import from South Africa who mentioned that there was a Rover TC on the run with them. A bit further round the car park I found this

I hung around for a bit until the owners returned and had a good chat with them. I didn't catch the guy's name but he knows Barry Gill. The car is probably as original as they come. The paint has never been touched apart from the roof which has been sprayed a lighter colour (Wedgewood?) in an effort to keep the car cool. It has lots of those hard to find original features including the hooks for hanging the seat belts on the A post.

It's running on the original HS8 carbs and giving a very respectable 37mpg in the process :shock: It also has an interesting Kenlowe fan set up but you can see that for yourself if you're coming to Beamish as the car will be there. The owner is looking for a replacement HT lead tube as his is falling apart so if anyone has a spare they can bring to Beamish you'll make one TC owner very happy.

Dave

 

[testrider]

It's running on the original HS8 carbs and giving a very respectable 37mpg in the process :shock:

That's really nice. The must be in good health and he's got a light foot, because I took HOT out on Saturday and I reckon it did about half that MPG

 

[SydneyRoverP6B]

Hi Dave,

That is a nice looking Rover that you spotted. The interior door bush buttons, they sit down much further than mine do, was that normal for all series 1 cars?

Now flying off subject completely for a moment, Wallace liked Wensleydale cheese amongst many, so am I assuming correctly that it would have been made at the Wensleydale creamery?

Ron.

 

[redrover]

A Wedgewood blue roof is absolutely inspired! Rear quarter panels done the same would absolutely top that off for me. I LOVE Zircon on a s1 TC. But that, with a grey leather interior, could very well the ultimate colour combination!

Michael

 

[vaultsman]

Hi Dave,

That is a nice looking Rover that you spotted. The interior door bush buttons, they sit down much further than mine do, was that normal for all series 1 cars?

Now flying off subject completely for a moment, Wallace liked Wensleydale cheese amongst many, so am I assuming correctly that it would have been made at the Wensleydale creamery?

Ron.

Can't help with the door push buttons Ron, but certainly true Wensleydale cheese should originate from the eponymous Dale! Cracking! IIRC the Wensleydale Creamery is in Gayle? Which abuts Hawes?

A Wedgewood blue roof is absolutely inspired! Rear quarter panels done the same would absolutely top that off for me. I LOVE Zircon on a s1 TC. But that, with a grey leather interior, could very well the ultimate colour combination!

Michael

Each to our own I'm sure Michael, and I too think an S1 in Zircon looks great, but the 2-tone look just doesn't do it for me. Too much NADA-ish!


It's been said many times before, when we look at a P6 on it's own it looks a fairly large car - certainly to those of us who were contemporary with it. But put next to moderns (admittedly some meaningless in-betweenie 4x4ish hulk in the 1st pic), they're almost dwarfed.

 

[Dave3066]

The interior door push buttons, they sit down much further than mine do, was that normal for all series 1 cars?

Ron, the interior door push buttons sit much further down on Lady C too so I presume this is normal for S1 cars. I'll check a few more at Beamish.

Dave

 

[Dave3066]

IIRC the Wensleydale Creamery is in Gayle? Which abuts Hawes?

The Wensleydale Creamery is in Hawes itself, just before you get to Gayle.

Dave

 

[ghce]

Hi Dave,


Now flying off subject completely for a moment, Wallace liked Wensleydale cheese amongst many, so am I assuming correctly that it would have been made at the Wensleydale creamery?

Ron.

Entirely on topic Ron, seeing that name the same very thought popped into my head I am sure both would have driven a P6. mmmm i feel a little peckish for a Wensleydale cheese now.

Graeme

 

[KiwiRover]

I am sure both would have driven a P6.

Didn't they have an A35 van?

Ron. I've found some variations in lock buttons. When searching for a set for someone else I came across 40mm or 50mm long buttons. I also found some had a fine machine thread on the lock rod and some had a coarse self tapping thread. Unfortunately I can't say for sure where the divisions lie as these were all in my boxes of spares but I could pull some off my cars and see how they divvy up.

 

[The Rovering Member]

It's running on the original HS8 carbs and giving a very respectable 37mpg in the process :shock:

Is that really possible from a TC without a fifth gear unless you drive everywhere at 20MPH? You hear these sorts of claims of a lot of cars at which you think, "surely not!"

Not to doubt anyones word here, but I enjoy driving too much to attempt to get that sort of MPG from a TC. :wink:

 

[1396midget]

thought I recognised it.


PC021596 by 1275midget, on Flickr

it is indeed a lovely car, only let down by the front tyres being on backwards. Maybe that helps mpg, but it certainly wont help in the wet...

 

[SydneyRoverP6B]

Thanks Dave and KR, appreciate that.

By tyres on backwards Rob, I take it you mean that they are directional and the wheels have been fitted to the wrong side? What brand of tyre are they?

Ron.

 

[ghce]

I am sure both would have driven a P6.

Didn't they have an A35 van?

R.

I am sure Plasticine wax actors have dreams too and they would aspire if their finances were better to afford a grand car such as a P6.

Graeme

 

[1396midget]

Thanks Dave and KR, appreciate that.

By tyres on backwards Rob, I take it you mean that they are directional and the wheels have been fitted to the wrong side? What brand of tyre are they?

Ron.

think they are Uniroyals of some description. They're V tread ones, and as such should have the V so that it points to where you've come from when looking at the tread on the floor behind you (or like \/ from the front and /\ from the back), to squirt the water out of the side of the tyre and help reduce aquaplaning. If they're on the other way round then they are more likely to grab the water and bring it to the middle and increase the chance of aquaplaning, but it does reduce spray. Easily sorted by swapping the wheels over.

 

[Dave3066]

It's running on the original HS8 carbs and giving a very respectable 37mpg in the process :shock:

Is that really possible from a TC without a fifth gear unless you drive everywhere at 20MPH? You hear these sorts of claims of a lot of cars at which you think, "surely not!"

Not to doubt anyones word here, but I enjoy driving too much to attempt to get that sort of MPG from a TC. :wink:

I probably should've mentioned that the car has a V8 diff fitted so will benefit from the higher gearing in top. Apparently the strip speedo can also be calibrated manually to compensate.

Dave

 

[ghce]

Directional uniroyals are usually full silicone tyres so some small extra fuel efficiency to be gained with the lower rolling resistance.

Graeme

 

[chrisyork]

I'm fairly sure a simple swap with a V8 strip speedo should do the trick on the speedo reading? And I presume the same with a round dial TC.

He's also mounted his front number plate higher than the usual position so that it overlaps the bumper. Very neat. That will assist both cooling and air resistance.

There you go, Michael, that's moved that V8 diff significantly up your priority list!

Chris

 

[FrazzleTC]

It's running on the original HS8 carbs and giving a very respectable 37mpg in the process :shock:

Is that really possible from a TC without a fifth gear unless you drive everywhere at 20MPH? You hear these sorts of claims of a lot of cars at which you think, "surely not!"

Not to doubt anyones word here, but I enjoy driving too much to attempt to get that sort of MPG from a TC. :wink:

I probably should've mentioned that the car has a V8 diff fitted so will benefit from the higher gearing in top. Apparently the strip speedo can also be calibrated manually to compensate.

Dave

I'm beginning to seriously wonder if I've put a V8 diff onto m 2000, because the speedo underreads quite significantly, whereas, before the diff change, it was perfectly accurate! How do you calibrate the speedo to compensate, Dave? I really would like to sort mine, before I pick up points, for forgetting that it's underreading!

 

[harveyp6]

I'm beginning to seriously wonder if I've put a V8 diff onto m 2000, because the speedo underreads quite significantly, whereas, before the diff change, it was perfectly accurate! How do you calibrate the speedo to compensate, Dave? I really would like to sort mine, before I pick up points, for forgetting that it's underreading!

Have a look at the diff. A 2000 one is different to the 2200 & V8, they have strengthening ribs cast into them where the diff meets the pinion housing. If yours has those it's the wrong diff, and a look at the diff number will tell you if it's a 2200 or a V8. 2200 is the same ratio as the 2000, V8 will cause the problems you think you're getting. If that's the case change the speedo head for a Series 1 V8 one.

This is a V8/2200 diff showing the strengthening ribs.

 

[Demetris]

I'm beginning to seriously wonder if I've put a V8 diff onto m 2000, because the speedo underreads quite significantly, whereas, before the diff change, it was perfectly accurate!

If you changed to a V8 diff then there are a lot of other things to notice besides the undereading speedo. For a start if you did the conversion yourseld, you should have noticed that the filling plug moved at the front left side of the diff, instead of resting at the back, over the drain plug!
At least a manual car feels more relaxed and quiet over some well known routes, it doesn't run out of breath in first gear just as you take off (well, certainly if you don't rev the guts out of it!) and generally its character changes more towards the relaxed style of the V8 models. Perhaps the auto transmission masks the effects up to a point, but i cannot really imagine how a 2000 auto would feel with the higher final drive.