Ruskie the 3500s

arthuy

Well-Known Member
It is about time I introduced my new project.

We call him Ruskie and he is a Brasilia brown 3500s registered 25th March 1977 delivered to Harvey Huddsons dealer.

Having bought the car with zero history I have been trying to solve some of the mystery. I have managed a bit thanks to the DVLA V888 enquiry but there is still a lot unknown.

The first owner was Denham Coaches AKA Jack Crump who ran coaches for Pinewood studios.

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The car was traded to Pinewood Service September 1978 who sold it in March 1979 to a man called John Holley of Iver. the next owner Ian Stewart Gosling of Cobham bought the car in March 1982. Now this is where the mystery begins, the last road tax expired 22nd April 1982 so guess that it was surrendered rather than expired.

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The car next changed hands in April 1989 and did not resurface until March 2014.

All I can really do is make assumptions although it appears at somepoint a restoration of sorts as the engine bay had been polished and painted, the panels removed and stripped to bare metal but unfortunatley not painted so have suffered.

Why did I buy this car well mostly because I had been looking for a new project, not that I need one but really have been missing driving a P6. The mileage is showing as 21,725, is this genuine? we will never know as there is no supporting documentation. What I do know is that the engine didnt appear to have been apart since leaving the factory and on inspection the camshaft is showing very little in the way of wear and the panels including doors are what I would expect from a car used for 5 years in the south of the country. This is great for me as I have had my fill of welding old cars.

All the usual P6 spots are solid which is really nice, out of the p6 I have owned and worked on I don't I have ever seen a pair of hockey sticks on a car that weren't either completely missing of turned to dust when you touch them.

So far nothing much has happened other than a sourcing parts and having the engine parts powder coated. I have also bought a car roller so I can strip the underseal off without lying on my back and having gunk and paint falling on my face.

For those who love photos here we go.

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They are rather splendid, aren't they? Probably made to match his Lady's outfits when they hit the bricks on a Saturday night out...
 
Got to keep the seat covers they're excellent. Look like they fit really well. Can't be many around like those!
 
my gf does like them but i am not sure, certainly different but they may have fleas.!!
 
Did Pamela Anderson used to own this car ? If not you can probably sell it to her at profit!
 
Looks like an absolutely superb project, Colin! Well worth scoping out something of that calibre, because of the complete lack of welding you mention! What are your plans for the car? :)
 
The obvious bits like brake overhaul, inspect the engine and box, general cosmetic work.

I am not a great fan of the brown so may change it to Atlantis. though short term as I have all the Richilieu panels it can wear them mean time.

I am going to strip the underseal off and give it a good painting with some epoxymastic.

Hopefully the mechanical side can be done over the winter and maybe look at paint in the spring.

It is more time consuming than difficult work really. Need to sort out some bumpers for replating and some odds and ends.

Just want a nice one to drive and enjoy aiming for really nice useable rather than concours.

colin
 
Following on from an earlier post I went to see a company that does dry ice blasting.

The panels which had been stripped and left have a surface rust which I was considering having dipped and ecoated and dry ice blasting was recommended.

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The guy was very nice, he offered to show me what to expect on one of the panels I took along. they had some left over ice which was a few days old but good enough to get the impression.

Initial thoughts are it would be great on panels that had paint needing removal. My panels if they have just a flash rust would probably been the ideal way to clean them up but as they have been left for 20 pus years the rust is a little deeper so wont clean up much better than the photo above.

Saying that they are going to do the panels which will break the back of cleaning them up.

I will look at other bits for them to clean, he said that they can remove underseal and I recon it would make short work of cleaning engines and gearboxes.

Colin
 
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My panels if they have just a flash rust would probably been the ideal way to clean them up but as they have been left for 20 pus years the rust is a little deeper so wont clean up much better than the photo above.

Saying that they are going to do the panels which will break the back of cleaning them up.
That will be a good start to finishing them.
I'd go with a strong, good quality acid etch primer first then a high-solids filler primer with a few crates of elbow grease in between coats of primer to fill in the little imperfections and smooth the surfaces down for final coat.
Loads of sweat will have that looking tickety-boo for you to assemble and enjoy.
 
I have been waiting for some wheels to arrive for Ruskie.

they were delivered today and look good. stuck one on because I couldn't wait to see them in-situ.

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Not something I normally go for but as I needed to buy tyres and steel wheels which I was planning to have powder coated these came up at the right time.

I also swapped the 2200tc badge for a correct 3500s item.
 
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I have been waiting for some wheels to arrive for Ruskie.

they were delivered today and look good. stuck one on because I couldnt wait to see them insitu.


Not something I normally go for but as I needed to buy tyres and steel wheels which I was planning to have powder coated these came up at the right time.

I also swapped the 2200tc badge for a correct 3500s item.

Snap - I have the same set.
Looking good.

Mark.
 
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Picked the wings up, I am happy but disappointed. As I thought the rust is too deep for the Ice blasting but it has cleaned alot up so will save time when I get the elbow grease out.

On the bits which had a light flash of rust the ice did a good job. If i have used sand or something I think that the panel would have suffered.
 
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Been awhile since my last update.

I have been sourcing bits but not much else. Need to sort out the brakes, all the hydraulics are shot so refurb is in order. I took the clutch master off, what a pain in the * that set up is on the S, good job the inlet manifold is out of the car. once out it was stuck solid.

Also got the chance to take off the timing cover, the previous owner told me it had been blowing the oil filters off and as suspected the relief valve was stuck looking at it I wont bother trying to remove it because the surface has a gouge so best to replace it. I have been putting this job of as the it is so awkward to get the pump cover off insitu much easier to whip the timing cover off and and do it on the bench.

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Still have a lot of work to do but suppose it will be a good few weeks to get the brake parts overhauled, my carbs are still away being rebuilt but I do have a spares set to use meantime.

I will need to add PAS hoses on to the list as the has rusted badly.
 
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I am looking for stainlees steel coolant pipe and rear heater hose adaptor.

I bought a set years ago but cant find them now in stainless only standard steel.

Any ideas?
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