240 General: New (to me) 1980 Volvo 244

[wisty]

No worries about the meandering I knew someone at school who had an old car which looked like a mini but wasn't, perhaps it was a Riley or something like that? I also remember my Grandad had a pale blue Dolomite which he was always tinkering with. I'm still fond of them as a consequence.

I took the RB out yesterday for a run up the bypass. Override works fine. It actually seemed to come to life around 60. Made me wonder if John had changed the gearbox after all - I think it changes gear around 20, 40, 60+? Thin white smoke but that's the Wynn's coming through. No smoke when idling. Temp stayed steady at half. It was fine waiting at the roundabout etc. After I got it (?) back my daughters wanted a run out. The engine was still warm and so I set off quite quickly then stalled at the junction at the bottom of the hill, even using a bit of choke. Got it going soon enough but never a nice thing. The BH thinks it's like an 80s Peugeot 205 we had years ago that always needed warm up time regardless of the temp gauge or it would stall. Will do that for now and once this fuel is through get the carb adjusted.

[john.wigley]

Originally Posted by wisty

No worries about the meandering I knew someone at school who had an old car which looked like a mini but wasn't, perhaps it was a Riley or something like that? I also remember my Grandad had a pale blue Dolomite which he was always tinkering with. I'm still fond of them as a consequence.

That would be the Riley Elf, 'wisty'. It was an upmarket Mini with a bustle on the back. It was expensive to produce and I believe B.L. / B.M.C. made a loss on every one they made. The Clubman was, in part, intended to replace it. There was a sister model, the Wolseley Hornet, which, although of a slightly lower spec, enjoyed the distinction of having the traditional Wolsey illuminated radiator grille badge - another example of the aforementioned badge engineering by B.M.C.

I am very pleased that you are enjoying the R.B. and also continuing Alan's thread chronicling the life and times of your car. Long may it continue!

Regards, John.

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by john.wigley

That would be the Riley Elf, 'wisty'. It was an upmarket Mini with a bustle on the back. It was expensive to produce and I believe B.L. / B.M.C. made a loss on every one they made. The Clubman was, in part, intended to replace it. There was a sister model, the Wolseley Hornet, which, although of a slightly lower spec, enjoyed the distinction of having the traditional Wolsey illuminated radiator grille badge - another example of the aforementioned badge engineering by B.M.C.

I am very pleased that you are enjoying the R.B. and also continuing Alan's thread chronicling the life and times of your car. Long may it continue!

Regards, John.

Thanks John, i've been trying to think of the model name since he put that post up!

Did a search for a Riley Elf and found this which is a Buyers Guide to the Hornet and Elf :

https://www.classicandsportscar.com/...olseley-hornet

Plenty of pics (mostly Hornet) but i think the Elf was the sme but as mentioned, without the ghost light.

The Riley also had a fairly distinctive radiator grille not dissimilar to the Wolseley Hornet grille but without the Wolseley "Ghost Light" if memory serves.

[Moomoo]

I had two Hornets, rot boxes, both of them. FCH105 & 630 SVO, I think?

The grill off one is still hanging in one of the sheds , fifty years on, complete with Wolseley lamp.

I also remember a girlfriend’s dad letting me have some GENUINE Cooper S wheels with XZX tyres. The difference from the original 50/-s cross ply remoulds was unbelievable. Needed rear wheel spacers , iirc.

Happy days.🧐

[john.wigley]

Happy days indeed, 'Moomoo'. J.

[wisty]

Thanks for the kind words John. Thanks Dave for the link, that was the car it must have been a Riley Elf. It was a lovely looking car.

Sorry to hear you had such trouble with Hornets Moomoo! So many old cars used to rot. They had character though. Go on a car park now and all the cars look the same.

Regards
Kelton

[Dippydog]

Imp coupe came in two flavours,first you had the Hillman Imp Californian and then the sportier Sunbeam Stiletto.If you discount the Austin 1300GT the only car in the 1100/1300 range to carry a "proper" name was the Riley version which revived an older Riley model name by being the Riley Kestrel.
Marque loyalty was a really big thing back then and with the number of marques under the BLMC/BL banner meant badge engineering was the only way they could go as developing a different car for each marque would have been financially impossible.

[Othen]

Originally Posted by john.wigley

Right again, 'L.S.'. Rootes and, later, Chrysler were, like B.M.C., not averse to a spot of badge engineering. The Stiletto was undoubtedly a very pretty car but also rather impractical. Its coupe body sacrificed the convenience of the saloon's opening rear window and the back seat was only usable by the severely vertically challenged.

The Sport used the saloon body with Sunbeam refinements and, as you say, boasted twin Stombergs, a hotter cam and an oil cooler as standard. Having a rear engine and rad, the standard cooling system was marginal at best even when new - the all alloy motor was prone to over-heating and blown HGs were common. The rear mounted engine also did nothing for its handling vs a Mini Cooper. A Stiletto / Sport was identifiable from the rear by its louvered engine cover.

I always considered it an unwise economy by the manufacturers not to fit helicoil inserts to all external threads on the engine on the production line. Very early Imps had a pneumatic throttle which was quickly dropped as it was problematic due to leaking - often from new. On the plus side, they were equipped with grease nipples on the king pins, which, if religeously lubricated every 5K miles would last almost indefinitely. Later models had sealed for life units which seldom lasted more than 15 - 20K at best. Ask me how I know this?!

While a well set up Imp could be a lot of fun, I still think the Mini Cooper was a better car all round!

Regards, John.

Edit: And then there was the Bond 875 - remember those? Same engine in a car weighing only 8 CWT with only three wheels. It was advisable to carry a spare pair of underpants in one of those, especially if driving in the wet! J.

We were just talking about the Sunbeam Stiletto the other day, and as if by magic one comes up at Mathewsons:

https://www.mathewsons.co.uk/auction...tto/?lot=16113

[john.wigley]

Originally Posted by Othen

We were just talking about the Sunbeam Stiletto the other day, and as if by magic one comes up at Mathewsons:

https://www.mathewsons.co.uk/auction...tto/?lot=16113

Compared to the prices of contemporary Minis, Alan, if that car sells within estimate, it would look like a bargain.

I think small, economy (read 'cheap') cars, such as the Imp, Mini and Fiat 500 (and I've owned all three) were regarded as almost as being disposable in period, which is why they now command such inflated prices - 'bubble' cars like the Heinkle/Trojan and the BMW Isetta even more so! Compare and contrast survivors with those of large executive (read 'expensive') cars such as Jags, Rovers and the like.

Regards, John.

[Othen]

Originally Posted by john.wigley

Compared to the prices of contemporary Minis, Alan, if that car sells within estimate, it would look like a bargain.

I think small, economy (read 'cheap') cars, such as the Imp, Mini and Fiat 500 (and I've owned all three) were regarded as almost as being disposable in period, which is why they now command such inflated prices - 'bubble' cars like the Heinkle/Trojan and the BMW Isetta even more so! Compare and contrast survivors with those of large executive (read 'expensive') cars such as Jags, Rovers and the like.

Regards, John.

I agree John, I think that Sunbeam is pretty cool