Rover P5 3 litre Mark III

[Styria]

Checking Image Posting with text to follow.




Regards Styria

N.B. There is not a lot to be seen in this photo. Of course the two tone Almond (Rover P6) and Crème (Ford), plus the later model P5B (V8) Rostyle rims with obviously new Bridgestone tyres. Just in the background, the 1973 Rover 3500S can be seen that was the 21st birthday present, but the car has since been taken to the Recyclers on account of serious rust issues.

 

[Styria]

Well, it seems Image Posting is responding to some feeble attempts on my part. Anyway, to the car in question. I first spotted the Mark III (1966) in John A. Gilbert's car yard at Waitara. In beautiful condition, Mid Grey with quite unmarked red upholstery, and one of those desirable Webasto Sliding Sunroofs in Red. The price was $3300.00, and the year would have been about 1976. I decided to buy, but when I returned next day with the cash, the car had been sold. Some four years later, it resurfaced at Lindfield, owned by a Surveyor sporting the outdoor hippie type beard, but the car was no longer pristine. It had seen much better days, but that sunroof was still there, wasn't it ?

Anyway, I bought it (can't remember how much for) and used it for a little while - not sure how long. However, I did use it for a trip to Perisher to take two of my boys skiing, and that trip was remarkable for three events. Firstly, a front tyre retread blow out at 60 mp/hours with the car pulling up dead straight (brilliant driving), secondly a hell of a storm in the middle of the night at Berridale Caravan Park (believe me, that van was shaking) and a car whose engine simply could not, or did not want to cope, with the freezing conditions. It just did not want to go. One little item that came with the car was a notebook which detailed service costs and repairs that were entrusted to Grenville Motors, the Rover importers, and the surprisingly numerous items that required attention on a car that was still quite new. The owner expressed his disappointment on a fuel consumption figure of 19.5 mpg on the open road. More to follow. Regards Styria

 

[Styria]

More experimenting with Image Posting. Lots of time being wasted.






Difficult to make out, but note very special H4 headlights.





Not all text is relevant to pictures, but use your imagination and what you see. The interior cost nowadays, including upholstery, door trims, carpets, timber, radio, sound proofing would reach substantial figures - these Rovers, in some way, do not give all that much to Rolls Royce or Bentley.

Rostyle rims from later P5B V8 models with new Bridgestone Radials.






Painted engine bay with fully rebuilt steering box.


New Tuft Velour carpets - Mercedes type imported from the States.




Note dual electronic SU Fuel Pumps - a $620.00 item (No expense spared....)


Some details can be seen of upholstery and trim, most of it in the best (and expensive) Schmitt Wallsdorf Austrian leather, including door trims, parcel shelves front and rear, front and rear seats - you name it....

 

[c107]

Styria sent me these photos of some work he is doing on the Almond rover. He's been playing with a beefier fan with more blades and a six blade water pump impeller to make these cars run cool on hot sydney days.

 

[Styria]

All but two of the pictures of this Mark III were taken at my old workshop at Glenorie. It was a large shed and had been built by Italian Flower Farmers, but they decided to get out of business and put the property on the Rental Market. There was a double storey seven bedroom home, plus the large shed, plus five acres none of which I used. At the time, the initial rental was $375.00 per week, and I took occupancy in about 1991.

Prior to that, I had rented a three bedroom home at Galston at $300.00 per week, single storey with three bedrooms (all very modern), plus a six car garage under the home, all concreted, with additional space for my trailer and sundry spare parts. I was heavily involved with the refurbishment and repair of Rover cars, primarily the 2000 and 3500 P6 models. Front suspension work, and rear brake work were my speciality as removal of the front springs require a lot of skill and hard work, and very few people used to understand the workings of the Inboard Disc Brakes and the De Dion rear suspension. In those days, Better Brakes would charge $2000.00 to rebuild the rear brakes, including pads and calipers, but in reality they had little idea of just how the system used to work.

My dear friends and fellow members - you may well ask why I am writing about all things totally unrelated to anything that TK stands for - you know, Mercedes 116 and 107, 6.9s, 450s etc. - I must be honest and confess that I have difficulty in coming to grips with the running and workings of TK, I have been so inactive for many reasons and I just sit there and think "what on earth can I write about" - it has come to that, I have lost the thread and wherewithal to get back into the swing of things. So, I need to start afresh - go back to the beginning. Regards Styria

 

[Styria]

The property was then sold in 1998 for $800,000, and the new owners were happy enough to let me continue rental of the shed for $200.00 per week. I was lucky that they granted me the tenancy because, where was I going to take all of my cars and spare parts to ? I had well prior to that date vacated the premises at Galston and with luck I had spotted the above property located at Glenorie. BTW, I should also point out that I had sold my seven acre property at, still, Glenorie, but four kilometers outside the township heading towards Wisemans Ferry whereas this house and shed were about two kilometers before the Glenorie township. To be continued.

 

[Patrick_R]

That’s the way Styria, just write about what comes to mind.

Talking or sharing about anything is better than doing or saying nothing.
There are always ears here that will listen and learn from you, no matter the topic