Carlsberg advert

[360beast]

Originally Posted by aardvarkash10

A blown Bentley was the Volvo 940 Turbo of its time - inline 4 cylinder, forced induction, developed from a rather underpowered sedate sedan.

Trust me even the old ones can still shift. Last one I drove was a 1937 Wraith and it easily did over 50 and would take up drive just off the clutch. That was with the carburettor needing a rebuild, very impressive to drive, absolute bag of dog poo to work on.

I even spent 6 hours team cleaning the underside to remove 70 years of oil mixed with road grime, in some places it was several inches thick.

Oddly enough that one was green too.

[ksmi]

Originally Posted by Whyman

Yes but times change and so do our tastes.

The Bentleys were in their heyday 100 years ago and all things move on.

Not sure that I would get on with the manual gearbox as I have only driven autos for the last 40 years.

Perhaps we could pebble dash Nelsons Column? Ref.the gearbox,bit like riding a bike perhaps.

Best Regards.

Keith.

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by ksmi

Perhaps we could pebble dash Nelsons Column? Ref.the gearbox,bit like riding a bike perhaps.

Best Regards.

Keith.

That would be one bike i wouldn't want to get back on though! Had a Mk3 Cortina with syncro on 2nd, 3rd and 4th only. Getting first at low speed e.g. crawling traffic could be a nightmare trying to double-declutch to drop down.

[ksmi]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

That would be one bike i wouldn't want to get back on though! Had a Mk3 Cortina with syncro on 2nd, 3rd and 4th only. Getting first at low speed e.g. crawling traffic could be a nightmare trying to double-declutch to drop down.

Just like column change BMC's ? Ah, happy days!


Regards.

Keith.

[Baxlin]

Originally Posted by Whyman

Some of it is a nice shiny green ie the bonnet and wings probably BRG and the rest a sort of Matt green - not very pretty!

Isn’t most of the body covered in fabric on these?

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by ksmi

Just like column change BMC's ? Ah, happy days!


Regards.

Keith.

I've only ever driven one car with column change and that didn't even have a clutch!

It was a 1983 (ish) Rolls-Royce, can't remember the model. The other R-R i've driven was a 1927 Ghost(?) owned by the same person and that had a two-speed box with the gear lever somewhere strange - only ever managed first and reverse in that at walking speed round the compound after i got it running.

Originally Posted by Baxlin

Isn’t most of the body covered in fabric on these?

Not sure, something in the back of my mind said early ones had an ash frame for the body and some panels were aluminium and others were canvas - Luke could probably tell us more as he's actually driven one.

[360beast]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

I've only ever driven one car with column change and that didn't even have a clutch!

It was a 1983 (ish) Rolls-Royce, can't remember the model. The other R-R i've driven was a 1927 Ghost(?) owned by the same person and that had a two-speed box with the gear lever somewhere strange - only ever managed first and reverse in that at walking speed round the compound after i got it running.





Not sure, something in the back of my mind said early ones had an ash frame for the body and some panels were aluminium and others were canvas - Luke could probably tell us more as he's actually driven one.

Gear lever was probably down to the right next to the seat, makes life hard sometimes as some of them seem to be a bit too close to the seat and you end up punching it to select 1st/2nd.

Hardest one I had to drive was a Bentley 3 1/2 Derby that I could barely fit in and could only drive in bare feet as my boots were too big (size13). Yet I have driven a few Derby's including one I stripped the engine down that was owned originally by one of the Bentley boys and they were fine to drive. Goes to show just how "hand made" they were!

I've driven many column change automatic RR and Bentleys but never a manual column change car.

Ash frame with aluminium panels is correct.

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by 360beast

Gear lever was probably down to the right next to the seat, makes life hard sometimes as some of them seem to be a bit too close to the seat and you end up punching it to select 1st/2nd.

Hardest one I had to drive was a Bentley 3 1/2 Derby that I could barely fit in and could only drive in bare feet as my boots were too big (size13). Yet I have driven a few Derby's including one I stripped the engine down that was owned originally by one of the Bentley boys and they were fine to drive. Goes to show just how "hand made" they were!

I've driven many column change automatic RR and Bentleys but never a manual column change car.

Ash frame with aluminium panels is correct.

Down to the right next to the seat sounds familiar, seem to recall the handbrake was there as well which could make for "interesting" progress!

I think at one time, they actually took measurements from the first owner to be and built everything so that person could reach it easily and comfortably.

Weirdest gearchange i've ever driven was on a Datsun 120A F-II, 3 forward speeds, 1 reverse, no clutch pedal but an electrohydraulically operated clutch triggered by two microswitches in the gear lever, one as you pushed the lever forward, the other as you pulled it back.
Once released it fed the power through a torque converter with a lock-up once in top (3rd) gear above 30mph.
Weird little thing but went well!

[Whyman]

My daughter had a 2000 Toyota Yaris with similar gearbox. No clutch you just change gear and the car did the rest. Great little car to drive.