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Ralph Richardson owned a V12 drophead
Clark Gable a V12 (Rapide I think)
Gary Cooper I think also owned a V12Laurence
Hi Peter,
Sorry, didn’t intend to transgress! I was concerned that the only other entries under “For Sale” in the V12 section are where people have listed cars they’ve spotted coming up for sale elsewhere. So “Spares” seemed a good place to draw people’s attention to the advert.
Laurence
Presume you’re referring to the engine mountings?
If so, those on my LG6 look pretty disreputable, the rubber showing a gloss & bubbly surface, typical of rubber of some age with oil contamination.
I was concerned, but advised they would still be good despite appearances….& so it has proved.
Yours sound unusually good, so I’d leave them be, at least until you’ve driven the car. Not as if they’re difficult to access.
Laurence
Hi Peter, a bit off topic, but the V12 impeller is bronze, so won’t corrode. A far more likely culprit is the water pump body, made from pretty poor quality aluminium, so prone to heavy corrosion given the slightest opportunity….an obvious example is the water jacket plates.
A high speed run, especially on a hot day, will generate a lot of heat, which the cooling system will cope with (perhaps only just!). Coming to a halt fairly abruptly leaves a lot of latent heat in the engine, with suddenly only a trickle of water from the pump, now only idling…and of course, only the fan to provide airflow through the radiator…again only idling.
Cheers
LaurenceSeems hard to believe a saloon would be rotted out just 30 years after being built, but then I still recall a V12 saloon being offered in the early 70s in exchange for a good Austin 12/4, as the wood was rotted!
Be interesting to see what this sells for. Also an interesting thought that it has more history as it is now, than it had as a saloon. Obvious discrepancies; hood folded down is awful, no pram-irons, no concealed door hinges, and the windscreen rake is too upright.
On that latter point, I never cease to be impressed at the windscreen rake on the standard factory drophead!
Of more concern, but the photos don’t help, would be checking the fit of the doors. The saloon would have gained much structural rigidity from its roof, and this is clearly a conversion of a saloon body, as opposed to a complete new body.
I think I recall seeing this car at one or more Club AGMs; it’s certainly attractive, and provided the purchaser was happy with a non-original car, at the right price would be a great alternative if the “real thing” if beyond budget.
LaurenceHi Peter,
My V12 windscreen frame has square corners at the top, but then it is a dhc, so would have. The seal is fairly good for its age but inevitably rotted & split at the corners. I cut a sliver off & took it to Prescott hill climb, where I knew there would be a fairly good autojumble. A guy there was selling rubber mouldings, & to my surprise I came away with 3 different samples…unusual to be spoilt for choice!
It’s possible, but unlikely, that the moulding is the same for the saloon. I’d recommend doing a (perhaps online) search and see what is available.
LaurenceThis vandal is proposing to sell the body separately?
Hi,
Yes, certainly Bosch. Both my starters are BJH 18/12 RS42, which I understand is the factory equipment. My notes state that the “18” can be another number.
I’d say that yours could be the nearest viable replacement supplied by Bosch once stock ran out…but then I thought mazak fatigue was a pre-war thing. Intriguing. Obviously the important issue is that it starts your engine. Mine simply states “BOSCH” with their symbol; “R Bosch A-G” would indicate a different period of manufacture
I’ve found Bosch very helpful, although I gather they threw all remaining spares for these starters in the 1970s. They did email me detailed exploded diagrams and parts lists…if you like I can email copies on to you, pm me your email address if so.
A thought…Bosch could probably tell you what the original vehicle/s were fitting your starter…in which case it’s just possible the relevant owners club could supply, or know sources of, spares should you need other parts. I’d certainly like to know where to get brushes from for mine!
LaurenceNice job…only the V12 starter doesn’t have a mazak brush holder. Just checked my spare, & as I thought, Herr Bosch wouldn’t stoop so low as to use mazak in his machine. Now, if we’re talking Mr Berkshire, now he made a fine mess of the wiper motors with this cr*p metal.
So, next question…what starter motor do you have fitted? The correct original is a Bosch axial starter. Incidentally the brush holder is made up of laminated steel rivetted together.
LaurenceInteresting topic. I believe Alvis cars were significantly less expensive than Lagondas when new; which infers Lagondas were perceived as better cars. Doubtless Derby Bentleys were more expensive again…but I doubt they were better; certainly more fragile. I’m not an Alvis hater…my brother had a TA14 dhc for many years, and I remain impressed with the attention to engineering detail which made working on the mechanics a pleasure. Can’t honestly say that of the V12, where perversity dictates that any small job entails several large ones being done first!
As soon as you mentioned the Scintilla magnetos I thought, “That’s Peter Gwynn’s car”. I remember going to visit him at Woldingham, probably in the late 1970s, actually in my own V12. Lovely guy, wish I’d seen more of him…think the last time was at an AGM many years ago now. I’m pretty certain he told me the magnetos were fitted early on in the car’s life, perhaps even from new.
Laurence
Hi Bill,
I believe there’s a V12 engine drawing showing the attachment for the Cotal gearbox, so think it goes back before the end of the war.
Also…there’s a reconditioned Cotal gearbox available here in France, rebuilt with bills available totalling ?3000, for ?4000. Advert states “adaptable for cars 30/60” & Delahaye is one of the marques stated. If of interest let me know & I’ll forward advertiser details.
LaurenceI think perhaps the lack of concealed door hinges indicate that this is a conversion from a saloon. Attractive car though. Interesting that the bumpers don’t match. At first I’d say that the original owner had opted not to pay the 15 (I think) guineas for the “optional extra” rear bumper….but then the rear bumper is correct for 1938, & the front one for later models!
LaurenceStrange that the open boot suggests that amongst the “spares” that come with the car is a V12 sump!
LaurenceHi Peter,
You could also include chassis; wheels/tyres; trim (interior & exterior); instruments.I’m not sure that sub-dividing the engine category would be a good idea. Firstly it might be unwieldy, but also many engine problems will be interlinked, creating dilemma as to which category to post in, & to find topics. Perhaps have lubrication as a separate category? Although I think if there haven’t been many posts on that subject already, perhaps just left as included within engine/drive train/chassis headings.
Best wishes
Laurence