British Cars in Australia (Page 4): Thank you for your encouraging comments Dennis.

Thorny Devil Loc: Alice Springs, Central Australia

dennis2146 wrote:

Wonderful photographs of some great automobile marques. Thank you very much.

Dennis

Thank you for your encouraging comments Dennis.

Thorny Devil Loc: Alice Springs, Central Australia

nervous2 wrote:

Austin Healy lines are just classic. Beautiful car. My brother had one; I wanted one but it never happened.

Thank you for your comments nervous2. I also lusted for an Austin Healey but good ones are a little above my budget.

Thorny Devil Loc: Alice Springs, Central Australia

mtcoothaman wrote:

Two of my friends have Alvis cars-around 1928 models, seriously old, and fairly basic! One also has a Jag XK120.

Thank your for your comments mtcootham. I have photos of both Alvis and XK Jaguars which I will post in a following series.

Thorny Devil Loc: Alice Springs, Central Australia

Stevey wrote:

Neat cars & pictures! Guess they drive on the wrong side of the road too!

Thanks for the feedback Stevey. It is illegal to drive on the wrong side of the road in Australia.

Thorny Devil Loc: Alice Springs, Central Australia

JBuckley wrote:

Great looking British cars.
When I was in Australia (1971) all I saw was Fords on the road.

That was then. Now I'm sure they all drive Japanese cars.

Thanks for your comments JBuckley. The popularity of British cars in Australia was definitely waning by the 1970s with the Ford Falcon, Holden and Chrysler Valiant become more common sights. You are correct that cars manufactured in Japan and Korea are more popular now.

Thorny Devil Loc: Alice Springs, Central Australia

bflood wrote:

Nice shots, all of them.

I don't get to see a Singer very often - the last one I saw in person was around 1960. The one in your photo is bigger than the one owned by a neighbor in Vermont long ago. It had semaphore turn signals mounted behind the doors - very distinctive.

And as has already been said, a TR-3 would have been nice (my first car).

Thank you for your feedback bflood. I will post a photo/s of a TR-3 in a following post.

Thorny Devil Loc: Alice Springs, Central Australia

KillroyII wrote:

Nice pictures. br br Spent 3 years, as part of ... (show quote)

Thank you for your comments Killroy. Despite the poor reputation of Lucas electrics on English cars, I knew many owners in Australia that did not have any or many electrical problems, however I also knew some that were plagued with repeated problems.

Also SU carbies have a reputation for being problematic but usually with good care and maintenance - as you alluded to by regularly oiling the slides - they generally behave better.

I smiled at your comment about adding an other engine which resulted in 2 oil leaks instead of 1. Unfortunately British cars, motor cycles, diesel engines, and other machinery again have a reputation of leaking oil.

KillroyII Loc: Middle Georgia

Thorny Devil wrote:

Thank you for your comments Killroy. Despite the p... (show quote)

I had a Jaguar 420 sedan that leaked everything from everywhere; however, it was to be expected since I bought it when it had been in a barn, without being started, for 4 years. Owner brought a fresh battery, cranked it, and it had good oil pressure… so I took it… after they took all the toys out, where children had played in it for a long time. That is not the car with the electrical problems… it was a Morris Marina.

Thorny Devil Loc: Alice Springs, Central Australia

KillroyII wrote:

I had a Jaguar 420 sedan that leaked everything from everywhere; however, it was to be expected since I bought it when it had been in a barn, without being started, for 4 years. Owner brought a fresh battery, cranked it, and it had good oil pressure… so I took it… after they took all the toys out, where children had played in it for a long time. That is not the car with the electrical problems… it was a Morris Marina.

Interesting comments Killroy.

bflood Loc: Las Vegas, NV

Lucas electricals were legendary - they almost put Jaguar and Rover out of business. I had a friend in the 1970s who had an MGB as his fun car, and on the family station wagon he had two bumper stickers. One had the Lucas logo and "Lucas - Prince of Darkness." The other said "The English drink warm beer because they have Lucas refrigerators."

English vehicles don't leak oil. They mark their territory.

The Singer owned by a neighbor in the 1950s and 60s had that MGTC look, but it had a bench seat. The only British sports car I ever saw with a bench like that.

I liked those SU side draft carbs. Had 'em on my TR-3, Datsun 1600, and Triumph Spitfire. I got to be good at adjusting them to get balance and proper fuel mixture, enough so that others in the car club would come over to my house to have me adjust theirs. Those were fun times - my hands were still able to do the work back then.

I really do enjoy seeing good photos of such cars.

Thorny Devil Loc: Alice Springs, Central Australia

bflood wrote:

Lucas electricals were legendary - they almost put... (show quote)

Thank you for your interesting comments and encouraging feedback bflood.

Reuss Griffiths Loc: Ravenna, Ohio

bflood wrote:

Lucas electricals were legendary - they almost put... (show quote)

Can't help myself with all these Lucas stories. I had a 56 Austin Healey 100-6. One night I turned on my headlights and noticed that the lamp that lighted up the speedometer was out. I replaced the bulb but still out. Checked fuses, OK. Looked under the dash to see if I could trace wires but without schematics and the rat's nest of wires (no harnesses) I soon gave up and just lived with it. Nine months later, when shifting from 1st to 2nd gear, I had to reach up under the dash to get to the gear shift. I nicked my thumb on something in the process and wondered what it was. When I felt the edge of the dash to see what it was, I found a black lump. Wiggled it and the speedometer light came back on. They had put a switch there to turn the light on and off for God knows what reason.

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

Reuss Griffiths wrote:

Great set of images of 50s-60s British cars/trucks. I think the yellow '57 Austin Healey is the best looking of the set and still is today. Did I mention I had a '56 100/6 in red. Downside of all of these vehicles is they all probably used Lucas electronics.

Very cool set!! I had a 1962 AH MK 3000 and a 1964 AH 3000 MKII. The 62 had a fiberglass removable roof - black roof, white body. The 64' was black with red upholstery. I miss them!!!
Mark

bflood Loc: Las Vegas, NV

The English drink warm beer because they have Lucas refrigerators.

Lucas - Prince of Darkness!