More Interesting Factory Pictures

[DJ908]

Thanks Tim, for that information.

The car, 36/8507 and with engine LP17381 fitted, has Weber carburettors. The car was delivered to me about the 10th of December 1968.

Let me just clarify a point though regarding those crayon numbers you observed. I stripped all the paint off my car back in the early 1970's, in order to repair some of the damage the car unfortunately suffered while it was being shipped to New Zealand as general cargo. The same number 2688, was visible through the gel coat around that front bumper area. And I seem to remember that the number might have (note this was a long time ago) might have appeared on the boot, bonnet and doors.

I have assumed too that the number 2688 relates somehow to the move to Hethel. Perhaps it is or was the 2688 unit to come out of the fibreglass production area.

Maureen, who was Ron Hickman's personal assistant has been posting comment in a thread elsewhere about her time in the development office. Perhaps one day someone like her who worked in the production office will find this thread and be enticed to make comment here and tell us all what the story was.

I shall now endeavour to find and post a few more photos taken in the factory yard on that day back in 1969 when I took the photos you see above. It will be a few days though before I have the time to do so.

Robert

[trw99]

Thanks Robert

The crayon figures put onto the headlamp pods, boot, bonnet, doors, inside the FHC roof and behind the glove box is most usually the Unit number.

Tim

[Elanintheforest]

Rohan's comments about 'as they came out of the moulds' triggered a little memory in my brain. Here's a factory photo from 1967 of a S3 Coupe shell fresh out of the mould, showing clearly that the Coupe shell was made as a whole, and wasn't a convertible with a roof glued on!

Mark

[cal44]

Mark,
thank you so much for the pictures. I am saving them in a photo section. Just delightful.......

Mike

[trw99]

You know Mark, that poor body looks rather small, lonely and naked stood there in the rain.

Tim

[Elanintheforest]

I seem to remember Miles Wilkins saying that the shells were put outside to 'cure' for at least a month before being painted...so I guess that this lone shell was in the overflow carpark!

Here's one for you Tim....the last Sprint being chased out of the factory?

Mark

[PBrown60]

Robert,

Thanks for the update. In the picture it is a very good match for the paint color.

It occurred to me that it would have been unique if they matched the badge with the paint color but I guess that is a bit over the top.

Paul

[trw99]

Here's one for you Tim....the last Sprint being chased out of the factory?
Mark

Thanks Mark, I'd not seen that before. If it was the, or one of the last Sprints it would be LHD and I can not quite see if that car is.

Tim

[AHM]

If it was the, or one of the last Sprints it would be LHD and I can not quite see if that car is.

Are those the master cylinder reservoir tops that you can see on the LHS?

[gjz30075]

I agree; I'm sure those are the tops of the master cylinders bolted to the lh footbox.

Greg Z

[Spyder fan]

Rohan's comments about 'as they came out of the moulds' triggered a little memory in my brain. Here's a factory photo from 1967 of a S3 Coupe shell fresh out of the mould, showing clearly that the Coupe shell was made as a whole, and wasn't a convertible with a roof glued on!

Mark

Mark,
I suspect that all the cars from S3 onwards were coupes, mine certainly was

I have enjoyed reading through this thread and seeing the early cars, they remind me of early Mini's in a sort of cliched way with their relative simplicity and pureness. A pal of mine has an S2 freshly restored for use this summer, if the summer ever happens, I'm sure we will go for a drive out with our cars and a swap will occur during the day, him being an old racer will want to keep mine and me being a soft hearted romantic will want to keep his, perhaps just for a while

[Elanintheforest]

I think that you need one or two of each Alan. There's nothing more satisfying than a super-original car to experience exactly what those very smart engineers thought best. But something with twice the power can be a lot of fun!

So you think that all post-Type 26 cars are Coupes, some with the roof chopped, eh?

You could have a point!

Mark

[cal44]

I know some 356 guys that will not shut up about their hand built 356's...........I'm sick of listening to these meatheads.............there is even a Youtube show on it "built by hand".

I am going to show the chowderheads these photos.........maybe then..........gawd....shut up !!!

I suppose Ferrari's aren't hand built either.............

Oh' and by the way. Resin must cure before painting. If not, the gas from the resin will be trapped under the paint. And we all know then what will happen.
Mike

[trw99]

Dug up a couple from my archives. The Fun Car shot of an engine going in is an old press photo; you can just about read the engine number in the background - 7440 perhaps, which would date early 1967.

Tim

[gjz30075]

MIke, wouldn't that be weinerschnitzel heads?