Messages

I have a member who wants to restore his car to original condition.  Is there anyone who, owns a Saloon which is in original condition, who would be prepared to allow him to look at their car so he can work out what modifications may have done and what it should look like????

2 litre Saloon registrar

I could well be interested in the bonnet top as mine is a home made affair, sorry I do not have any spare bonnet handles,

Regards,
Dr Tom Dine - Dr_Tom_Dine@hotmail.com

Thanks for the picture Trevor,

None of the Saloons in our family had one they seemed to be the first tool to be lost!

Tom

Hi Trevor,

It certainly looks unmolested and original from the pictures I have seen, it even seems to have the blind for the rear window.

AC used a selection of colours for the Saloon which were all termed grey.  My Saloon was Birch Grey (see attached) and was a cream colour!  A lot of Saloons were National Grey which was a green colour which varied in shade from a light green to fairly dark grey/green.

The one tool that was not obvious, because of the angle of the shots, was the stirrup pump, usually on the right side of the boot, was one fitted and if so is it still there? I would be interested in the make and model if it is there.

Which bit of the bonnet fixing is missing?

All the best,
Tom

Good Morning Trevor,

Congratulations that looks like a fine original car!  It is known to the club and has been since at least 1991 when the owner joined the Club stating that his Father had bought it new on 3rd December 1948. 

L997 is an early Saloon, the post war series started with L800 and is fitted with the Moss rear axle.  Later cars had the ENV axle hence later cars have an EL chassis number.  It also retains the early form of Lucas side light (L461 I think) rather that the later L488 type.  It came out of the factory in National Grey livery, a colour which covers a multitude of shades, with beige upholstery and was supplied to Alfred Chaston Ltd for the first owner J.E. Jones of Pontllanfraith.

The illustration shows the position of the dipstick and is from the Manual, the club have reprints for sale.  As Gary says the oil filter is on the exhaust side under the dynamo.  I doubt if a Fram filter would have been fitted to your car, unless as a after market addition, as they were only fitted from 1951 ish.  My Saloon did not have one (1950) but my brothers (1951) did!

I hope you enjoy the car,
Tom

Hi Ian,

There is plenty to suggest the cars are different.

eg The horn and indicator switches. One has the 'correct' one the other has a 1930s fitting. 

There is, as far as I am aware, a unique fitting on the black one, a starting handle support bolted on to the front bumper which is not present on the grey one...................

Gary,

I would like to see the engine pictures if possible, did the owner include a picture of the chassis plate?

Tom

Hi Gary,

BCW 113, Chassis No EL1796 engine No UMB1797W has been known to the club since 1987. (Although originally registered as BCW 118!)

The BCW 113 that I have is black with white interior when auctioned in March 2013? It had recently been restored and resprayed, see pictures.

Tom

Thanks Gary,

If you can find the code that would be very helpful. 

My sisters car was National Grey, the light version, but unfortunately I do not have any colour photos!  The Saloon that needs painting is in Truro, so a bit of a way from Kent.  Do BSB stretch that far?

All the best,
Tom

Well slightly less than that, but Thames Ditton did like to describe the colours that they used as Grey.  Birch Grey, National Grey, Slate Grey.............. 

Birch Grey was a cream colour and was the colour of my fathers Saloon (MZ 8150).  National Grey was a green colour and came in light and dark, (the light version NTV 836)............

I have had a request from a gentleman who wishes to re-paint his car in the original colour which was National Grey but am struggling to find any reference to it; does any one know who the paint manufacturer was and even better does anyone have a code for the colour?

Tom

When I was running a Saloon, a while back now when I was a student, I kept the manifold and cans and the silencer under the drivers chair but put on a 2" straight drainpipe from there to the back and got rid of the big box by the back axle.  I am not sure how much better it ran but the sound!!!!

Tom

EL 1441 - EHJ 859 has been on the register for a long time, long before it received the unusual paint job!

Tom

Hi Gary,

It is chassis EH 2070 built in 1955 just 25 before the last Saloon built and has been known to the club for some time (since at least 1984). I tend to agree with you re-4 Door cars but this one is in very fine condition!

Tom

Hi Leo,

Always happy to get news of 2 Litres so thanks for both the 2 Litre and Buckland information, I have changed the Register to reflect it.

David,

Personally I prefer the DHC but I do not have enough room!!

All the best,
Tom

Thanks for the Chassis and Engine number, I will be able to add it to the register as a survivor.  I hope it goes to a good home.

All the best,
Tom

Strictly the 'Buckland' is a 2 Litre chassis bodied by the Buckland Bodyworks. (See Photo - Note the hood without pram irons and side screens)

ACs also produced the same bodywork termed the '2 Litre Sports' or '2LS' in the sales book. (Photo of RWE 343 - Very much the same style as the Buckland but has a bodywork door plate like a 2 Litre)

The Drop Head was bodied exclusively by Thames Ditton and, despite ACs having a range of names to choose from, rather like the 2 Litre Saloon, is termed the 'Drop Head Coupe' or 'DHC' in the sales record (Note - pram irons on the hood, Saloon type doors and windscreen and glass windows all round)

Tom