08-07-2018, 03:32 PM
This is a marvelous survivor with all original trim, mats and carpet. I didn't know there was ever a carpet option over the transmission tunnel but this seems to prove there was. I wonder why the front nearside rubber mat is not trimmed properly round the starter switch? Maybe the mats are from a different, slightly later car - or is that the way they left Longbridge?
Note the original and very rare fillet strip of trim between the vertical side panel and the wheel arch - a nice upholsterer's detail, designed to visually smooth out any unevenness along the join. My AH Tourer of Oct 1932 (rear petrol tank) has these, along with a complete set of rubber mats including the transmission tunnel piece (no carpet). I have owned other unmolested AH Tourers and RP saloons over the years and none showed any signs of ever having been fitted with this fillet strip. It would seem that there was no pattern as to which cars received this detail.
I see the rear panel appears creased and the spare wheel carrier has been removed and refitted with screws replacing the original rivets. I am wondering if the car has suffered a rear end collision which would certainly have meant repainting the rear at least, and might also have damaged the wings.
The original colour may well have been opal blue and black, but why are there traces of blue/green in the region of the roof gutter? This would surely have been black, whatever the body colour. The body valance behind the running board was usually sprayed body colour. It might be worth removing the upper centre screw in the vertical face of the running board and prizing open the gap a little to see what the colour is in there.
It's difficult without seeing the state of the paintwork first hand, but I would suggest freshening up what you have with grade 0000 steel wool liberally impregnated with T-cut or similar. If you happen to cut through to original body colour in a couple of small areas then no matter, it's a small part of history for all to see. Cutting right through any overpaint uniformly back to original colour is in my experience impossible to do effectively. I once carefully tried it and ended up with a patchwork of two different colours and bare metal. If you intend to keep it black then you could use a good quality black boot polish to add a little depth of colour and also tone in any damaged/rusty areas.
Does the rubber seal round the windows really need to be renewed? As long as it can be made waterproof then I think it should be left well alone. It's part of the charm of the car!
"Renew as little as possible, conserve as much as you can."
Note the original and very rare fillet strip of trim between the vertical side panel and the wheel arch - a nice upholsterer's detail, designed to visually smooth out any unevenness along the join. My AH Tourer of Oct 1932 (rear petrol tank) has these, along with a complete set of rubber mats including the transmission tunnel piece (no carpet). I have owned other unmolested AH Tourers and RP saloons over the years and none showed any signs of ever having been fitted with this fillet strip. It would seem that there was no pattern as to which cars received this detail.
I see the rear panel appears creased and the spare wheel carrier has been removed and refitted with screws replacing the original rivets. I am wondering if the car has suffered a rear end collision which would certainly have meant repainting the rear at least, and might also have damaged the wings.
The original colour may well have been opal blue and black, but why are there traces of blue/green in the region of the roof gutter? This would surely have been black, whatever the body colour. The body valance behind the running board was usually sprayed body colour. It might be worth removing the upper centre screw in the vertical face of the running board and prizing open the gap a little to see what the colour is in there.
It's difficult without seeing the state of the paintwork first hand, but I would suggest freshening up what you have with grade 0000 steel wool liberally impregnated with T-cut or similar. If you happen to cut through to original body colour in a couple of small areas then no matter, it's a small part of history for all to see. Cutting right through any overpaint uniformly back to original colour is in my experience impossible to do effectively. I once carefully tried it and ended up with a patchwork of two different colours and bare metal. If you intend to keep it black then you could use a good quality black boot polish to add a little depth of colour and also tone in any damaged/rusty areas.
Does the rubber seal round the windows really need to be renewed? As long as it can be made waterproof then I think it should be left well alone. It's part of the charm of the car!
"Renew as little as possible, conserve as much as you can."