Rover Sports Register Forum

I was wondering if anyone has heard of a colonial option for the Rover models sold in the overseas markets such as Australia and India ect? Apparently one of my cars has this colonial pack and its ment to consist of heavier duty suspension components. I'm just wondering if anyone can tell me more about it and what to look for to check.

Thanks

Steve

The 16/50 Colonial models had increased ground clearance at the front, the petrol tank was moved to the rear instead of alongside the running board, the track was increased by about two and a half inches and there was a minor change to the rear window. No idea what changes were made for other models though.

Thanks Stewart, I'm pretty sure that one of my cars in storage may have 17" wheels rather than the standard 16". Something I'm going to double check next time I'm up at my mates place. Would that also have been part of the option or is that part of a different option? I would have thought that the 16" wheels would be better for rough roads with the higher profile tyres. I guess the only other way of telling would be to compare the ride hight, track and any other measurements of my car to the standard specs.

Steve

I'm no expert, especially on P2, so I'm not sure. I have a feeling that Colonial P2s had an extra cowl around the radiator to make sure more air went through but I think there were often thrown away because they make access more difficult. If you have the cowl then it is probably a Colonial car but if it is not there it couold still be a Colonial car but with the cowl missing. There are plenty of people who know more than me, I'm sure someone will pitch in with better info.

The Rover master spare parts list splits the 1939 – 47 cars into two categories: Home models (39 – 47) and Export models (46 – 47). No “colonial” model is mentioned. The export models are clearly designated by the prefix R (for RHD) or L (for LHD cars) before the chassis number. Those prefixes can be found also on major units like engine, back axle, gearbox, etc.
The differences between home and export models are clearly marked in the above list.
Until 1948 Israel (then – British mandate Palestine) had been a British colony (I remember as a child studying English from The Reader - a textbook for natives of the colonies, printed in India). Several dozens of P2 had been imported to the country during 1946 – 47, all of them export models, most of them to be used by officials of the British administration. I am familiar with these cars for a very long time. Hence, if Colonial=Export - here are the differences:
The Radiator has a fan cowling (p.n 213068, 214429)
Home fan blade (p.n 06769 or 07341) 2 blades, steel.
Export fan blade (p.n 213066 or 06298) 4 blades, aluminum.
Home special pinch bolt Fixing pedal rod to pedal lever (p.n. 07397, 216157)
Export special pinch bolt Fixing pedal rod to pedal lever (p.n. 52045)
For Danish cars there was also safety plate for brake pedal (p.n. 50498)
Home speedometer MPH (p.n 06335, 50083, 213928, 05352, 89970, 213914 etc)
Export spedometer KPH (p.n 213929, 213925 etc)
Other differences are related to the lights, due to different legal requirements in different countries:
Cable. Four core (p.n. 50287)
Cable, extention for stop lamp switch (p.n. 50605)
Cable, petrol pump to ignition coil (p.n. 42288) Used when electric petrol pump is fitted.
Headlamps - too many alternarives both for home and export to mention. Page 88 in the list.
That’s all, folks. Regarding the differences in quality I believe it is kind of “foreign fields are greener” since here in the ex-colony people believe just the opposite.
Finally, some pictures of an abandoned export Rover 16 sports saloon 1946 LHD, decaying slowly in a field. It is the victim of an estate war between two sisters, and as it happens so often in wars, there are no winners, just loosers and victimes.

Interesting post luli, just to point out the chassis plate L7430085 is a 1947 car not 1946

Sorry for my absent-minded mistake. Here are some pictures of fan cowling, four blades fan and KPH speedometer:

I've seen the fan cowling before, sadly mine is missing from my export model

Thankyou all for your replies, all very intresting information. Ill have to check some more things with my cars now I know what to possibly look for. I know that my cars are "export" cars as they all have the R prefex before the Body No. The Australian deliverd cars have MPH speedos though as Australia was using the imperial system of mesurement at the time, a metric speedo would be a handy item to have fitted today.

If I find anything of intrest regarding this subject Ill let you all know.

Thanks again

Steve