>From time to time there seem to appear a few pained admissions that
components other than "legit" have found their way into our LBC's.
The reaction of this group is really no different from another group
I used to belong,the superb Jowett Car Club of Australia.When I suggested
in a contribution to their newsletter that the Jowett Javelin is largely
a crib from the VW and the Steyr,two German cars of the 30's,the spluttering
and indignation were a sight to behold.My point went further,as I did not
write to annoy people.The Javelin,a 1951 model which I still own,
has many serious design faults,including,for example 4 rubber universal
joints in the driveshaft which are very difficult to replace and last very
little ,and especially a poorly designed gearbox which I am sure was the
cause for the demise of the marque.Thus,eschewing considerations of perfect
purity,and given the doubtful ancestry of the car, the more serious Jowetteers
have studied the possible replacements and in many cases mechanical joints
have been substituted (from Alfa Romeo),VW and Toyota pistons have replaced the
originals,Ford Zephyr brakes fit quite well,so do many (Australian ) Holden
parts,and the best water pump seals actually are Hoover washing machine
articles.After a restoration,many items have been replaced that are of
different manufacture,nationality and intention.It may be asked then,how
virginal is our virgin ? Does it matter ?
The car still looks the same,runs close to its original configuration and
gave you the challenge and the pleasure of beating the odds of an
apparently impossible restoration.
Suppose that you go further and exchange not only a brake lining or an oil
seal with a part from another car (possibly Japanese ),but a complete
component,say a gearbox,rear axle,ignition.Does that detract from the nature
of the LBC ? Where are the limits ? I would be most interested in the
opinions of this group.To be frank,I have gone ahead and replaced in my
Rover 2000 the 2000 cc Rover engine with automatic transmission with a 2000
cc engine and 5-speed gearbox from Toyota sources.The car is still much
the same in performance,appearance and intention, and I enjoy the relia-
bility AND economy of the new set-up.It may be that it is not an LBC
any more...but the smell of the leather,the individuality of the large,
thin rimmed steering wheel,the excellent road holding are still there.
Sergio Montes Department of Civil Engineering,U. of Tasmania
Hobart,Tas.Australia 7000 Ph. 61-02-202113
Fax 61-02-234611
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