Joined: Aug 2017 Posts: 1,532 Threads: 90
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Location: Monmouthshire
TOPO is The Old Post Office in Chipping Norton, for quite some time the HQ of the club in question. As to whether the target of young recruitable members will be encouraged by being able to fit alternators or electric water pumps on their now eligible TR2 or Kieft, I cannot say. Cars depicted in Cowbourne and other trialling histories, such as flat head Fords, Wolseley saloons or Standards are apparently much less vintage or sporting than a Jowett Jupiter. Never mind, for the lowly Ruby owner there is much on offer from PWA7C, Inter-Register, Ross & District, MAC……..
Joined: Aug 2017 Posts: 3,247 Threads: 360
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Yes, stuff needs to be at least hidden when bonnets open, as they are all flag-waving visually for "vintage"... even if people don't physically experience them. It's interesting that virtually no Nippies these days are operating just as their original spec suggested. Even if for obvious reasons.
Does beg the question as to who is actually making alternators which, presumably, are bespoke low volume conversions for all these vintage cars? I'm supposing that on more expensive cars, 600-800 quid on a reliable converted unit is perhaps a figure which equates to a couple of hours of someone's lost billed time....!
Joined: Aug 2017 Posts: 1,258 Threads: 32
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Location: Cheshire
Car type: Race Ulster, 1926 Special, 1927 Chummy, 1930 Box
Of course the rule change doesn’t make them compulsory so why the fuss ?
Alan Fairless
Joined: Aug 2017 Posts: 1,922 Threads: 90
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Location: Ripon
I realise part of the challenge is to use an original spec. car but FFS, do you want to see it that drystone wall before you hit it?
My second special had a 12v system but it was cunningly disguised. A Fiat 500 dynamo innards fitted into an original dynamo body which had larger bore turned in it to accommodate. It kept a modern motorcycle gel battery well charged which I suppose for authenticity of appearance could have a vintage empty rubber Exide body.
I'm not suggesting anyone should cheat but then, where are you going to get original 1929 compressed air for the tyres?
Joined: Jan 2019 Posts: 164 Threads: 14
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Or pump them up by hand or foot. My wife's grandfather was a chauffeur/gardener in the 20's. After staying in London his boss would want the air in the tyres let out and clean Reading air put in. Pete
Joined: Aug 2017 Posts: 1,230 Threads: 33
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Location: Salop
Car type: '28 GE Cup. '28 AD Chummy '30 RL Saloon. '34 RP Saloon. Too Many toys!
to be fair the Alternators available for Coil engined Austin 7's seem to be considerably poorer in reliability and durability terms than the original dynamo set up.
Joined: Nov 2017 Posts: 8 Threads: 2
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I don't see a problem with this, for many cars on many events a more reliable and higher output electrical system is a safety upgrade.
There's the spirit of vintage motoring, and there's being rear ended by a modern because you've run out of juice.
Joined: Aug 2017 Posts: 862 Threads: 16
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Location: North Yorkshire
I reckon that the more vintage cars that are fitted with dodgy Chinese electrics, the less we will see on the road. I will be sticking to original Austin fitted parts, even if they are a bit worn.
Joined: Aug 2017 Posts: 1,532 Threads: 90
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Location: Monmouthshire
An hour or so ago I was taking some bits to a shed near Pontypool. A chap emerged from a workshop and said he could hear the Ruby ticking over nicely, and then asked me if it was 6 volt and what plugs were in it. It turned out that he had a couple of early VW Beetles, and had been having considerable plug problems. To paraphrase and leave out the rude bits, he and other Beetle pals now consider that anything marked NGK is a cheap and nasty Chinese product and to be avoided.
