Custom P6

[USBrits]

That boot lid design is quite interesting, very discrete, wonder if it actually does anything, other than hold the number plate light

I'm sure if the spoiler is removed, the original boot-mount spare fitting is still there right? Just some uprating of the boot spring mechanism & Bob's your uncle - ready to handle an 18" spare wheel Now how would you see out of the back window with that?

Paul

 

[sowen]

That boot lid design is quite interesting, very discrete, wonder if it actually does anything, other than hold the number plate light

I'm guessing that there's a lot of weight in the front and not in the rear, and with potential high speeds, a simple lip spoiler was incorporated into the bootlid. It has been suggested to me that I should try and replicate it on mine, and I'm thinking possibly with the number plate lights fitted to it like in the T4, it could be somewhat practical :?:

A good photo of the rear suspension of T4 as well. Semi trailing independant with the link pick ups corresponding with the diff nose pick up and bottom link pick ups respectively of the donor P6. Front wheel drive of course.

Chris

Looking over it, there do seem to be some significant differences to the production models. Doesn't it predate the launch of the p6 by two years?

 

[chrisyork]

T4 is a conversion from base unit P6/10 - ie the 10th prototype prior to any pre production prototypes. If you like, it is most definitely a Talago and not a P6. Most Talago's had a boot lid either flat or opening only half way to the bumper. Other give aways are the slot vent on the rear 1/4 panel, the round pod instruments (a la Alfa Romeo) and the lack of a dash top. The seats are also the lightweight seats designed for P6 but not used in production. Early Talago's up to P6/5 of Nov '59 also had the sloping nose as pictured earlier and frameless one piece side windows with a half height B/C post. The side view was very 50's American with a fully open passenger compartment front to rear. The first Talago that really looks like a P6 is P6/7 of July '60, but the first with a near production boot lid is probably P6/9 of April '61. Whether P6/10's bootlid is a genuine aerodynamic feature I rather doubt. I think it is more likely to have been an alternative treatment to P6/9's just to see wheteher people liked it! I'd say it is much more significant that it provides somewhere convenient to mount the number plate lamps - or perhaps someone had seen mock ups of the Triumph 2000 which made production with a similar shape (Rover had been talking to Triumph about a merger about this time - Triumph were still independent then and yet to be bought by Leyland Trucks). I'm not convinced either that the beneficial aerodynamics of this shape would have been known at this date. I recall the inception of Kamm tails at Le Mans in the mid '60's as generating huge interest and debate and it's quite a long path from there to an active spoiler. P6/16, the last one, is the only known survivor apart from T4, albeit with a new base unit and a replacement Buick V8 also sourced from the experimental department.

Chris

 

[sowen]

So the T4 is an early evolution of the p6 then? never knew that . Everything I've previously read and looking at pictures have indicated it as closer to being a productionised p6 that what I saw when I looked underneath it on the weekend.