THE WORD

OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE

WOLSELEY CAR CLUB NEW ZEALAND INC

APRIL - MAY 2009

Shaun Belcher’s 18/85 with some friends.

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OUR CLUB OBJECTIVES: • To promote interest in Wolseley vehicles. • To arrange social functions for the purpose of promoting the objectives of the club. • To promote and encourage the efficient maintenance of members' vehicles. • To render technical assistance to members. • To produce a newsletter regularly as a vehicle for the exchange of owners experience,

technical information, the sale and exchange of cars and spare parts, or any other matters of interest to members.

• To maintain a library of information on the history, maintenance, repair and modification of Wolseley cars, to be available to members.

• To maintain a central register and stock of spares which may be established to assist members.

Club website: www.wolseleycarclub.net

HOW TO CONTACT US: National President: National Secretary: Ivan McCutcheon Bill Obers (Jnr) Maunga Road 154 Ross Street RD 6 Invercargill 9410 Dannevirke 4976 Phone 03 215 9765 (hm) 0274 321 776 (mobile) Phone 06 374 6326 email bill.obers@icc.govt.nz Email windrode@clear.net.nz

Auckland: Waikato/Bay of Plenty: Manawatu: Noeline Billing Stephen & Janice Belcher Steve Finch P O Box 23-393 6 Bristol Ave, Brookfield 1460 Pohanginga Road West Hunters Corner Tauranga 3110 Ashhurst RD 14, Manawatu 4884 Manukau 2155 email sabelcher@value.net.nz email: margaretfinch@clear.net.nz Email nbilling@ihug.co.nz Phone 07 576 3773 Phone 06 329-4009 Phone (09) 278 3944 Nelson/Marlborough: Christchurch: Southern Region: Bryan Stansbury Allan Francis Jerry Wing 113 Whitby Road 19 Richard Seddon Drive Bewely, 8 O RD, Oamaru Wakefield, Nelson Northwood, Christchurch 8051 Ph 03 4395197, Fax 03 4348453 Phone (03) 541 8255 Phone (03) 323 7559 email jwing@sbytes.co.nz stansburys@clear.net.nz Email allan.betty@xtra.co.nz

National Spare Parts Enquiries: All Newsletter Enquiries: If unable to be handled by your local Send to: Colin Hey Branch, contact: Ray Willoughby 5 Bygrave Place 14 Leander Street, Christchurch 8052 Christchurch 8053 Phone (03) 352 9016 Phone (03) 359 8737 Email: kitty.willo@xtra.co.nz email: colin.hey@nzta.govt.nz

3Disclaimer: The views and opinions in this publication are personal to the authors, and not necessarily the official views of

the Wolseley Car Club of NZ Inc.

PATERSON BROS TYRE SERVICES

196 Worcester Street, (just East of Latimer Square)

03.365.0876 (phone) 03.365.0875 (fax)

Show Lyndsay your Wolseley Club Car Membership Card when discussing your tyre needs.

You can also check with satisfied club member, Ray Willoughby (03.352.9016) who has Lindsay inspect and recommend the correct tyres for his 1300.

For your Wolseley classic or your modern car, check with Paterson Bros.

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EDITOR’S STUFF I’ve been asked by a couple of our members how I managed to get my photograph taken with F1 driver Lewis Hamilton. It was used in last month’s “Editors Stuff”. Well, I did actually mean to explain at the end of that particular item, but somehow forgot. Or perhaps I just ran out of space. The photo was taken inside the duty free area at Melbourne airport, where there was a cardboard cut-out of Hamilton alongside a another headless cardboard cut-out driver, so all I needed to do was stand in the right place, and hey presto, Hey and Hamilton. Together! The way things are going, it looks as though next year’s cardboard cut-out will be Jensen Button. For those who hadn’t heard, our spares manager Ray Willoughby has had his stay in Australia extended. Ray and his wife Wendy were over in Perth having a holiday with their son, and were due back on 18th April. Unfortunately Wendy had a fall (rumour has it that she slipped on some mud soon after it started raining one day), and ended up in hospital having some plates, pins and screws inserted in her badly broken leg. It’s very likely they will be over there until at least the middle of May now. Consequently I am still looking after any spares enquiries while Ray is away. Fortunately there have been relatively few enquiries, but if you are holding off for now because Ray is away, please do try to wait a bit longer if you can. If, however, you have got to the point where you can’t really wait any longer, just drop me an email (preferred), or give me a call. I’ll do my best to try and help. One of the benefits of being spares co-ordinator is that you get to know what people are up to with their Wolseley’s – either from the parts they are ordering, or through chatting with them. I mentioned a couple of issues ago how impressed I was with the 16/60 project that Neil Hay has got on the go, especially with the extent of bodywork he was tackling. I’m sure that he won’t mind me mentioning that it’s all going back together again now, having had the benefit of a couple of weeks of holidays to concentrate on it. He recently ordered some suspension and brake parts so he could get into the mechanical work needed to finish the project off. The end result is still some way off, but will be worth seeing, I’m sure. Another member, Stewart Brown, is obviously tinkering with his 6/80 and catching up on some odd jobs, including sorting out the heater with winter coming around now. Our past president, Jerry Wing, has just had the headlining in his 15/50 renewed, and has just purchased a new rear screen rubber to finish off the job and stop any leaks spoiling the new material. Amongst all this activity, all I can report on this month is a bit of re-arrangement in the garage at home to get the 1500 out for its share of the action over the coming months. Hopefully by the time you read this it will be warranted and registered. A quick check and clean-up showed no problems, apart from a slight oil leak from the gearbox side-plate, which I’ve finally attended to. There had always been a slight leak from there ever since

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Part of Jenny’s wall display

we’ve had the car (30 years now), leaving a few drops on the garage floor any time the car has been parked for a significant period. It has been coming out of one of the side-plate bolts, and these theoretically should have a felt washer under them as the bolt-hole goes right through into the gearbox and sits below the oil level. It didn’t, but it does now, so we’ll see if that does the trick. The gearbox has never been disassembled, so if there should have been one there it was missed at the factory. Jenny was busy over the school holidays working away at home on the resources that she looks after for the primary school she works at. She found out last term that the school topic for Term 2 was going to be “Change in Transport”, so true to the task, she has been getting things ready for the teachers and kids to get them into the theme now they are back at school. I came home from work one day and found her working her way through a pile of Wolseley sales brochures that we’ve collected over the years, photocopying pictures and making up headings for a large wall display. It exclusively features Wolseleys from the first to the last, and clearly plots the progress of automotive style and progress for our favourite marque over last century. She’s also informed me that she’s offered to take all of our cars to school one day so the kids can see them in the metal. She might need a bit of help to do that, but what better way of introducing vintage and classic cars to the kids. Probably all most of them know is what the inside of a people-mover looks like. Won’t they be surprised to see a walnut picnic try where they would nowadays expect a LCD screen with Playstation on it to be. “Yes, in those days Johnny, your Nana and Pop used to play join-the-dots to keep them occupied on long trips. And (horror of horrors) they hadn’t invented seat belts in the rear seats!! And yes, it should have 3 pedals, the one on the left is something called a clutch.” I remember that the last time we did something like that was when we took the 1923 Tourer to the school not long after we bought it (Sarah was about 6 at the time), and gave the kids a ride around the playground. One of Sarah’s friends can still remember it clearly, so it must have made an impression. A small project I have on the go at the moment is investigating converting the 6/99 and 6/90 to a modern spin-on type oil filter. I’ve bought a conversion kit for the C-Series engines as fitted to Austin Healeys from R&R Moss (it was about $90). I found a stall-

EDITOR’S STUFF – continued

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holder at the Ashburton swap meet with a number of filters that fit the new head unit, so I bought six of them from him. This should keep me going for a while. Once I’ve got the job done successfully, I’ll write up an item and let you know how it goes, as it should simplify filter replacement considerably. We converted Matthew’s 1100 to a spin-on type filter head (as fitted to the later A-Series engines) when we got his car back on the road, and it makes the job a breeze. There’s also no excuse now not to change the filter every time the oil is changed. Over Easter weekend Matthew, my own father (who is 78) and myself tramped the Milford Track. It’s something I’ve been meaning to do for years, and it was a great experience. I have to admit that my father found it pretty tough (especially as we were doing the freedom walk and carrying our own kit), but he toughed it out and is very proud of himself for seeing it through. I have to admit that this is one part of the country that shouldn’t have roads and where Wolseleys don’t belong – the scenery and unspoiled beauty was simply stunning. Have a good month. Colin Hey

Deadline for next Wolseley Word Friday 29th May

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT This month I attended the Wheels On Windsor in Hastings. It was a nice fine day and quite a few cars there. Mary and I Hollow Wolseley people! Well another month has past, (where did it go). We managed at last to sort some keys out so we could get into the Manawatu branch spares shed. (Mort always held the keys) Six of us descended on the had a look at what was there and have decided it needs a big clean out and a lot of it will go to the scrap man . Steve was going to list a lot of the bit so

anyone interested please get in touch with Steve or myself. At this point we do not have to vacate the shed but unless we can turnover some of the spares the rent on the shed is going to drag our funds down. On Easter Sunday we had an outing as a family and traveled to Kirunga Park at Havelock North in the 6/80. Over the Easter weekend the model railway there comes to life with all sorts of live steamers and model diesels.

EDITOR’S STUFF – continued

7CHAIRMAN’S REPORT…continued The day weather wise was great and we enjoyed a picnic lunch there. We did a spot of shopping in Hastings and motored home. Hope everyone had a pleasant Easter and not to much chocolate. Happy motoring and Regards, Ivan

SECRETARY’S REPORT Hi all. Not much to report this time, as Dad and I are getting ready for our trip to the Australian National Rally at Queanbeyan. There will be quite a bit to report shortly, as the end of year is coming up. I encourage all to get involved in their own Branch affairs, as this will help the whole Club. Office Bearers are needed for each Branch, to guide the Branch through its activities. These could be promoting runs, assisting with buying and selling cars (Wolseley’s of course) by inspecting, commenting, and generally knowing about them. Remember that the Club has an excellent parts operation to assist members in the repair and restoration of Wolseley cars, and maybe buy some parts that members may have for sale. I will print and distribute some membership cards and some membership application forms when I return from Australia. I have had a couple of Branches advise me of their needs – if you need some cards or forms, please let me know so that I print enough. Cheers, Bill

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2010 NATIONAL RALLY UPDATE Hi again, Working behind the scenes we have been able to secure some sponsorship, and some of the prices are coming in for proposed activities. It is intended that this Rally will be affordable for all, but things do have a cost attached. So, please start/keep saving. We will be sending out the first newsletter shortly after we (Dad and I) return from the Australian National Rally at Queanbeyan. Remember to keep sending in those expressions of interest for our Rally. We are getting a few, but would like more. We are aware of about 5 Australians are coming so far, with more to advise. The addresses for the co-convenors are: Bill Obers (senior) b1ii0bers@clear.net.nz Bill Obers (junior) bill.obers@icc.govt.nz We are looking forward to delivering you a Rally to remember. Bill & Bill.

PALMER RALLY UPDATE

Planning is now well underway for a BMC “Palmer” Rally, which is being organised by enthusiasts from the Wolseley Car Club. All BMC Palmer-based car owners will be eligible to attend, which will include MG Magnettes, Riley Pathfinders, and the Wolseley 4/44, 15/50 and 6/90 models. Invitations are being sent out to all known owners of these vehicles, and have also been sent to the MG and Riley Car Clubs.

The BMC Palmer Car Rally

Celebrating 50 years of the classic Palmer design in New Zealand

9PALMER RALLY UPDATE ……………….. continued The event will be held on the weekend of Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th November, with the option of extending the rally to the whole of the following week. This is still subject to final confirmation, which will be available next month. Those coming from the North Island will be hosted on the Friday night by Wolseley 6/90 owners Winton and Ruth Cleal, and will be encouraged to book accommodation at the Hutt Park Holiday Park where there is a variety of accommodation to suit all budgets. A get-together that night in Wellington is being planned by Winton. On Saturday the 7th those travelling from Wellington will catch the morning ferry to Picton, and Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th will be based in Picton, with various outings being planned based around the Picton and Nelson area that weekend. Attractions to be visited will include the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre in Blenheim, the World of Wearable Arts and Classic Car Museum in Nelson, and a cruise on Marlborough sounds (all optional). On Monday, participants will have the options of travelling home, or (for those who are interested) travelling down to Christchurch via Westport, Hokitika, and Hanmer Springs. The rally will stop each night in these locations during the week (Hanmer Springs will be a rest day, so two nights will be spent there). Once in Christchurch we plan to meet up with the Jowett Car Club who are planning their own Palmer-based rally the weekend of 14th and 15th November. Accommodation in Picton is planned to be at the Marineland Heritage House B&B and Motels, who also offer a range of accommodation at great prices. Accommodation at other centres has yet to be arranged, but we will be recommending motels and other providers so that participants can choose something to suit their own budget, but at the same time stay together as much as possible. A rally special plaque is also being planned to mark the event. In order to defray costs, a $30 registration fee per car will be charged, but the bulk of the rally will be on a pay-as-you-go basis for attractions, accommodation, and meals. Entry forms will be sent out on request. If you want to get an entry form, stay in touch or find out more details in the meantime, please contact Winton Cleal at fincle@clear.net.nz , or phone him on 04 4721878. Alternatively you can register using Trademe – go on line and search under “Palmer”.

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BRANCH NEWS and EVENTS

Auckland Branch News We have just returned from attending the Annual General Meeting of the New Zealand Federation of Motoring Clubs in Taupo. The Secretary of the Federation, Mark Stockdale, implored all Clubs to ensure members are advised of the Wheel Torque which is the newsletter from the Federation and members can access this on the web. The Federation is the strong voice who submit submissions on all motoring matters to enable our concerns to be advised. This year there were two speakers one being Tony Johnstonfrom LVVTA who gave a very in depth discussion on the processes needed to ensure that if someone wants to get a vehicle certified of the proper steps needed. The other speaker was Phil Horne from VINZ who addressed members on compliance issues. Both these speakers complemented each other with their topics being closely aligned. This month we have a combined run with the Rover Car Club. Hope to see asmany of you there as possible.

Coming Events: Sunday 24 May 2009 – A trip to a car museum at the home of Clive Robinson, 40 Te Kauwhata Road Te Kauwhata. Lunch will be at the Rangiriri Hotel, which serves a very generous meal for about $12.00 with the option of Miranda Hot Pools on return. Meet at the Bombay offramp opposite the Caltex Service Station in the car park at 9.30 a.m. for a 10.00 a.m. departure. Sunday 21 July 2009 - Auckland Branch AGM - More details next issue. Regards Noeline Billing

Waikato/Bay of Plenty Branch: News: On Sunday 19th April, the visit to the Victoria Stampery and museum was attended wit 11 persons in total. We had a 6/110 MKII, 6/80, 2 moderns and our newly joined member, Ross Simpson with his 6/110. We undertook a site seeing tour of this Historic site by means of a small electric powered train and then a look through the kilns. They are six huge brick lined pits dug into the top of the hill above the stampery. The ore was brought up by rail from the Martha mine and winched to the top where it was thrown into these pits with wood and burned until the ore was cooked so as the gold and silver could be extracted for the final process of refining. A tunnel was dug below these pits so that the valuable contents could then be raked into rail carts and then brought out. There are also airshafts to make sufficient drafts allowable for these furnaces to burn.

11BRANCH NEWS and EVENTS – continued……. This whole process after a few years was abandoned, because too much timber was needed for these furnaces, and so the ore stampereys were installed. This visit proved to be most interesting. We then polished off with lunch at a nice sit-down place in Waihi before departing. Sunday May, 3rd was a beautiful clear blue sky and a lovley drive to the Putaruru timber Museum arriving around 10AM and finishing at 12pm where we had lunch. There were 10 club members and 2 from the Vintage Car Club, the cars that turned up were a 1948 18/85 SIII, 6/110, 2x 6/80's and an 18/85 MK1. Afterwards, there was a nice country drive to the Maungatautari Island wildlife reserve, where guides were waiting to take us all through som of its well laid out tracks, one of which was to an observation tower and avery. Apparently, our Wolseleys drew a lot of public interest on our return. Mt Maungatautari has a great pest free fence which runs completley around this native bush clad mountain and should be put down as a must see on any one’s list.

Waikato BoP Coming Events:

Sunday 7th June Waikato/BOP and Auckland are invited to visit the classic flyers vintage museum, at Mt Maunganui, Jean Baton Drive. The all British cars BOP will be invited to attend. This is a reasonable sized turnout morning tea to be had at the cafe appointment time 10AM, afterwards a drive to McLarens falls park for lunch. Before departing home. Ph Stephen Belcher 07 5763773 for more information if necessary

Wednesday 26th August Waikato/BOP AGM. To be held at 6 Bristol Ave, Tauranga Starting 7:00PM

Regards Stephen Belcher

Manawatu Branch: News & Events: The Taranki run is definitely on in May or June but not Queens Birthday. At the time of printing we don't have a date. Will advise as soon as it’s finalised. We should probably make it an overnighter up on Sat back Sunday. If you are interested contact Michael Kruse in New Plymouth (06) 753 9743 or Steve Finch (06) 329 4009. The Manawatu Branch has a large collection of used parts, which are available for purchase to all members of the Wolseley Club. A big clean and sort-out is underway, so there are plenty of bargains. See the For Sale section for a selection this month. Phone Steve Finch 06 329 4009

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Matthew and Andrew having “lunch on the Run”

Kevin Boyd and his Series III 6/90

BRANCH NEWS and EVENTS – continued…….

Christchurch Branch: News The first outing last month was the Ashburton Rotary Rally on Sunday 19th April. As in past years the assembly point was the Ashburton Racecourse car park, where we were able to check in to pick up our instructions for the day, and also get a welcome cup of tea or coffee and a biscuit before the run began. Matthew and one of his mates (Andrew) accompanied me in the 6/90 for the run, although Andrew was commandeered by Ken Boucher from the Riley Club in his Elf, as he had no navigator. The runs from Ashburton are normally between 30 and 50 miles – all on sealed roads, and always finishing at a venue with some particular point of interest. This year the run headed east towards the coast, with a stop off at the Ashburton River mouth – somewhere I’d not been before and well worth a look. A typical coastal community of traditional baches and homes, some obviously occupied full-time and others visited occasionally - no doubt when the salmon are running. From there we re-traced our steps about 5km, and then headed pretty much due north, then west and inland again, before turning back south in the middle of nowhere to come out near the Ashburton airport, our final destination. All the cars assembled at one end of the airfield near the Ashburton aviation museum and were parked in lines in random order. A sausage sizzle was doing a roaring trade, and the organisers were busy sorting out prizes for the various categories which were to be dished out early in the afternoon. There were a few of our own club members there to catch up with – the Boyds from Hinds in

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Jim Steans (not yet a member) from Timaru, in his recently purchased 1300

The Harrier Jet in the Museum

BRANCH NEWS and EVENTS – continued……. their 6/90, Peter Gallagher in the 6/110, Joe and Judy Baker who came in their vintage Studebaker Commander, and Errol and Jennifer Stewart in their 4/44. There was also a

really nice 1300 which belongs to Jim Steans from Timaru. Jim had just purchased this car sight unseen from the North Island, and had it trucked back down to Timaru. It was as good as he had hoped and he was very pleased with it, so there may be potential for a new member there. The prime attraction at the airfield was of course the aviation museum, which had

recently taken delivery of a decommissioned Harrier jump-jet from the UK. This plane had prime place inside the front door of the museum, and was displayed with a video detailing the history of the model, including lots of footage taken in the Faulklands war here it utterly dominated the Argentinean forces in the air, and on land and over the water. It was an impressive plane to inspect close up – a sophisticated machine that was literally a huge jet engine with swivelling vanes and a pilot bolted up-front to lead the charge. My mind went back to large classic car event Jenny and I saw many years ago in the UK which also featured an air display with one of these aircraft being put through its paces. It had arrived flat-out unannounced, making everyone nearly poop their pants! When it came to the grand finale it came roaring in again at high speed, literally stopped in mid-air and descended to within a metre of the ground, then the power came back on and the nose went up to the vertical position and it blasted off straight up until it disappeared completely from sight. I was gobsmacked! Here we were in NZ with our Airtrainers and about 6 old Skyhawks, probably three of which were for spares.

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The ex-Mike Davies 6/90 leaves the

Manawatu Spares shed for a new home in Taranaki

BRANCH NEWS and EVENTS – continued……. Anyway, back to the main story! The museum also had lots of other planes and memorabilia – all nicely displayed and interesting to look at. Outside there was 90% of an ex Air NZ Friendship, which was still fitted out with a relatively complete passenger compartment and cockpit. It also was open for inspection. By about 2pm the Rotary club was ready to announce the winners of categories such as best American, English, Australian, etc. These had all been judged informally by some of the Rotary club members, and although some wouldn’t have been concours winners, they were nice cars just the same. Shortly after this we departed for home, having had an enjoyable day out cruising around in the 6/90 on a sunny day in the country. Our spares working bee last month concentrated on the spares container, the aim being to remove and replace the coloursteel roof to get it to drain the opposite way, and to get one of the doors opening and closing properly again. With many hands available both tasks were completed, and there was still some time for the traditional morning tea and a bit more spares-sorting as well. I must say though that we missed having Ray there to direct operations – a bit like running a ship without a captain. With any sort of luck he and Wendy will be back by the time the next working bee rolls around on 16th May. Last weekend a few of us ventured back down to Ashburton for the Swap Meet. There was still frost on the ground when Matthew and I arrived at 7.45, but the sky was clear and once the sun got up a bit things warmed up pretty quickly. Stall holders were either still arriving or still unpacking when we did our first circuit. One of the good things about the Ashburton meet is that it is small enough to get around reasonably quickly to look at the more promising stalls, and then there is time for another couple of more “detailed looks” after that, when you can dig a bit deeper into trailers, boxes of bits, and through books and magazines, to find things of interest. We managed to turn up a couple of radiator hoses, some oil and air filters, a book on 6/80 and 4/50 body construction (part of which is reproduced later in this magazine) and some 1960’s motoring magazines that had some interesting articles that might be worth reproducing in some later newsletters. As we circulated the grounds we ran into Tony and Cecily Shanks, and Allan Francis and Robert Kenmare. By lunchtime we were pretty much done and headed for home. Just a note to all of our branch members (particularly those in the Ashburton district) to try and make it along to the run to Colin Sweetman’s private museum on Sunday 17th May. This will be a great opportunity to catch up again with those of us on the north side of the Rakaia, and I’m told it’s a great venue as well. Hope to see you there. Regards Colin Hey SEE NEXT PAGE FOR CHRISTCHURCH BRANCH COMING EVENTS

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Christchurch Branch Coming Events:

Saturday 9th May – Oamaru All British Day Due to the weather the last time this event was scheduled, it is being re-run on this new date. See flyer on Page 16 for further details. Please meet at the start point in Oamaru.

Saturday 16th May – Working Bee at New Brighton Road

Sunday 17th May – Visit to Colin Sweetman’s Private Museum in Rakaia This will be a joint run with the Morris Owners Club. Assemble at Wigram Airforce Museum Car Park between 1.00 and 1.15pm. From here we will travel via Leeston to Rakaia to visit a private collection of vehicles belonging to Colin and Kathy Sweetman from the MOC, who have been described as wonderful hosts. Kathy has asked to be called as we leave Christchurch so she can have some hot scones ready for our arrival, so be prepared for some great hospitality. For those travelling from the south, you can meet us at the Salmon in Rakaia – be there no later than 2.15pm so we can pick you up on the way through.

Sunday 31st May - Timaru All British Day Arrive at Caroline Bay Car Park, Timaru, for the public display between 9.30am and 10.30am. Then departs for a cruise finishing at a lunch venue. Please take lunch with you. Organised by the South Cantebury VCC. For enquiries, please contact Alistair Day, 03 6882717.

June – Possible visit to the Penny Farthing factory in Christchurch. See next month’s newsletter

Southern Region News: The summer has passed but the autumn is presently fine with a few light frost. The traditional autumn colours from Lawrence through Central Otago is worth seeing. We haven't had our car out for a while but will be going to the All British Day at Oamaru 9th of May. This will be the second attempt, the first date was washed out (See next page) Coming Up: Our AGM is on June 5th at the Balclutha Vintage Club. We are going to have a cooked meal at the club rooms followed by the meeting. This is a good chance for us to all meet up and set the seen for the national rally in Invercargll next year. We can also organize a run to coincide with the Alexandra Blossom Festival in September. Regards to you all, Gordon Duthie.

BRANCH NEWS and EVENTS – continued…….

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17IMPORTANT NOTICE – SPARE PARTS

Ray Willoughby will not be able to deal with any spare parts enquiries until mid-May at least, due to 18th April due to an enforced stay in Australia. If you require parts during this period, please contact Colin Hey (see contact details in the front of the newsletter), and he will attend to your needs as soon as possible. It would be appreciated if enquiries could be confined to ‘urgent only’ parts – if it can wait, please delay your order until Ray returns (please check with Colin if necessary to confirm the date at least until the end of May. Your assistance in this matter would be greatly appreciated.

Replacement of a 6/80 Windscreen Rubber – by Stewart Brown I am a novice Wolseley owner, but I thought I would pass on the lessons learned recently when fitting a new rubber seal to our 1954 6/80. I thought others may be interested and perhaps it would be helpful for any considering same, not to repeat my mistakes. We had just had some exhaust repairs carried out on our 6/80 and it was time for a test run, so off we went for a spin round the block. It started raining halfway round and water streamed in each bottom corner of the windscreen. If we turned a left hand corner the water from the passenger side would run along the bottom of the windscreen about a third of the way across the car and then stream off in a mini waterfall into the lap of the driver. If we took a right hand turn, the opposite happened to the front seat passenger. I tried it several times and it worked very well every time. Back in the garage, it seemed clear from the age of the existing seal – and the amount of sealant that had been slapped on , that a new seal was in order. I had not long joined the NZ Wolseley Club (I had also joined the UK based 680 & MO Club, which had a heap of technical information available). My numerous enquiries of both indicated that I could get a seal from NZ and instructions from the BMC manual were emailed to me explaining how to replace the windscreen. It seemed quite straight forward. Hah, the number of times that thought came back to haunt me later on, but we’ll get to that. So the old screen came out – dead easy. I cut the old rubber out and the glass almost fell out into my hands. The edge of the bodywork was extremely tidy for its age – 55 years – so I gave it a bit of a spruce up and painted it with black rust inhibitor. Unfortunately the old sealant had been spread well out onto the bodywork and the paint had covered up to it, so there was quite a bit of bare bodywork that needed to be touched up, but nothing a bit of black gloss and a penny paintbrush couldn’t handle. A new seal arrived from the NZ Club – as a single length – not joined - and it was a different profile to the old one, which I had just destroyed while cutting it out. Still, this was the one that was to be used for 6/80’s and 4/50’s, so on we went with the process. I dry fitted the seal on the two panes of glass, cut the seal to length and superglued it together. A week later with having arranged for several helpers, the fitting began. At this stage, I toyed with the idea of getting the centre bar re-chromed, but the cost was pretty high and I needed the car in one piece for my daughter’s wedding in the not too distant future, so I opted for some chrome look-a-like spray paint (another disaster in waiting I found later). All my helpers arrived and the fitting began well, but we could get nowhere close to getting the seal to ”press in” as the instructions suggested. We were trying a little alternative jiggling when “plink” and a crack pinged across the passenger side pane of glass. Well that was all over for the day! So we all had some afternoon tea and all my helpers went their separate ways.

18I visited the windscreen people and took both panes with me. It was then I was told that the broken one was laminated – which I had noticed before – but was domestic grade and not windscreen grade glass and should never have been in a car. The other side was one of the old hardened glass panes and was now not legal, so had to be replaced as well. So, after another week, the glass arrived. Having already broken one pane of glass, I was reluctant to attempt this gain, so had asked the windscreen glass people (the experts) to fit the panes as well. After three days they finally got the glass in – no centre bar and no trims inside or out. They asked me to come and take it away and implied they never wanted to see me again - with that car. One of the chaps there had a year or two on me and made comments several times – during intensely frustrating periods of attempted fitting – of “I remember why I don’t like these cars now”. I was just glad to get the glass fitted in one piece and thought the trims should be a piece of cake – hah again. The outside chrome strips seemed straight forward. One edge just fitted into a slot in the new seal and the laid over the outer edge of the new seal on the bodywork side. Straight forward – yeah right! Every time, I was able to fit one side, but then when traversing the corner of the seal, the side I had just fitted, would pop out again. This became intensely frustrating and after numerous enquiries again, I decided to fit a little at a time and the super glue that section in place. It took several days to do these, as I wanted the glue to go off properly before doing the next piece. But in some places, it simply did not want to seat itself properly in the new rubber seal – not to my satisfaction anyway. I then discovered that the chrome strips were too long and overlapped in the middle – another effect of the change in profile of the new seal - so I had to trim off the ends with a dremel type cutter. I couldn’t cut them on the work bench, as they were partly glued in place and I wasn’t going to start that all over again. To cap things off the little centre joiners, which cover the ends of each side, were now not the right angle, but by this stage this was not going to stop me, so they were fitted in and wedged under the ends of the centre bar. They went in, but they do not fit particularly well. The centre bar also did not want to fit properly. We eventually had to regrind each end to get it to fit over the changed profile of the new seal and for the screws to reach from the inside. Then when cleaning off the excess sealant, I noticed I was spreading silver colour everywhere. The flash chrome-look paint, I had carefully sprayed on the outside centre bar, was dissolving with the turps I was using to smooth the edge of the sealant! I then moved to the internal metal strips and discovered that the new moulding had a much bigger rubber flange on the inside, which meant the metal strips would not fit or line up with the screw holes. The rubber tongue on the seal was just too thick. I did not want to cut it off, but there was no alternative as the metal strips had to be to be refitted or I would have no mirror. After some more enquiries and discussions, I decided I had to cut some of the seal off. While I didn’t cut it all off, it transpired I still cut too much off - in some places - particularly the four corners. But, the trims were now fitted and all internal parts were replaced. Time for a test run – at last. It rained again and it still leaked! Why oh why did I bother even starting? But, in all fairness, I had not yet slapped on as much sealant as the workshop manual said I should, so I used virtually a whole tube of sealant on the body side and glass side of the new seal. It hasn’t rained again a great deal yet, so I hope that is enough to cure the problem. Would I do it again? No, I wouldn’t. I would first attempt to slap more sealant around, before attempting to replace the windscreen seal. Then if that didn’t work, I would have the experts fit a new one – completely. It would cost a lot more, but so much less frustration. Needless to say the seal on the rear window, which looks like a wrinkled mummy from an Egyptian Pyramid, will be staying as is until it does leak – and badly. Stewart Brown

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Replacement of a 6/80 Windscreen Rubber – Using the Factory Guide (this is available from the Club Library)

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Farewell to the New Zealand Contingent Good travelling to the following members who are heading to Australia for their National Rally at Queanbeyan: Allan Francis and Robert and Isobelle Kenmare, Bill Obers Jnr (our National Secretary) and his father Bill Obers (Snr) Trevor and Adele Burnand Jack Strode-Penny. There are possibly a couple of others. Do enjoy your travels and especially the company of our Wolseley cousins in Australia. We look forward to some news (and photos) on your return. SELL, BUY AND EXCHANGE Please note: This is a free service for members. Advertisements will only be placed in two issues unless otherwise requested. No responsibility taken for descriptions of vehicles or goods offered for sale.

FOR SALE: Wolseley 6/99, 1963, restored a few years ago, 150,000 miles, straight six cylinders, 2900 cc, 3 speed manual with overdrive, black and green/grey, WoF and registration, some spares. Pictures available at http://www.geocities.com/speedwaysmoke/ Contact Simon Clarke 0210 585 165.

Wolseley 8HP 1947/48. Shed stored for about 25 years, motor dismantled, too good to wreck, but will need full restoration, $550. Apply Allan Francis, 19 Richard Seddon Drive, Belfast, Christchurch 8051. Ph 03 3237559. Wolseley 18/85 - As far as I can remember it is complete, with the boot catch and handle, and even a set of Wolesley hub caps. Motor over it was seized. I have owned it since 1969, when it was my everyday car for a year or two, I still have the a duplicate 1969 Certificate of Registration, which means there is no dates for the first 16 owners, but one of them was the Rev Matthew Beech who famously lay on the railway line to try and stop the Nelson line from being closed. I would like to see the car go to a Wolseley enthusiast, and do not expect to get any money from the deal, in fact I am prepared to help deliver it. Contact Charley Hedges, 32 Ngarimu Street, Ohura, King Country 3926, Phone 07 893 8877 Any offers or interest in any of the following : 6/99 Motor condition unknown but does run !! Mk 1 1500 parts only, 2 X 4/44's one restorable if you have plenty of time & dollars.!!! Various "B" Series motors 1500--1622-- 1800. Manawatu Branch. Steve Finch.

To place your advert, telephone, post, or email details to the Editor, Colin Hey

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