[anjan_c2007]

A 1950's Rover P4 that is quite original, but for the front headlamps, parking lights and perhaps only some trims here and there. The car was spotted in Kolkata by me yesterday.

The original trims are a treat to observe and this car depicts the glory days of the British car industry in the 1950's , as the world leader in small cars.

The car appears to have been influenced by the design of the Studebaker Champion / Commander of 1947-49. The rear end treatment has some cues and the door lever placement and opening are similar to those in the four door Studebakers (1947-49)











































The 1956 original dash, with the lovely woodwork and the clock at the top centre.
(www.classicandsportscars.ltd.uk)



A 1950 Rover P 4
(google.images)

[Collector]

Originally Posted by ajay99

If near Guruvayoor,it could be correct,because there is a big collection of cars with a group there and many of their cars are TN registered

Actually this car is in Coimbatore parked in the lot of the Alankar Grand hotel along with a 29 A model ford and belongs to the owners of the hotel. They have many other beauties in their stable as well.

[Drkannant]

Holy moly!! It had the original, utterly rare ''Millecento'' Dash monogramme. Or so I thought.

This one was a home-made jugaad, made on a veneer sheet. With a permanent marker, it was handwritten-

Millecento 1100. Pretty sweet, I thought.

Attachment 1354201

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The original dash monogramme looks something like this: Attachment 1354211

This one is BHPian Farhan's Millecento, in Delhi. Flawless car.

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Hi Fintail

Was glad to see Farhan's millecento, thank you for that. Infact I think the windscreen rubber beading is the one that I had sent for him from Coimbatore.
Mr. Farhan was also very generous to give me some of his spare inner door handle cups specially the cream colored ones which suited so well for the upholstery color that I had chosen for my car. Thank you Farhan.

I think the original dashboard millecento inscription is something like the one I have on my millecento, but the one I have is of the left hand drive.

Posted pictures for your reference.

Thanks & regards.

[kasli]

Originally Posted by anjan_c2007

A 1950's Rover P4 that is quite original, but for the front headlamps, parking lights and perhaps only some trims here and there. The car was spotted in Kolkata by me yesterday.

You can also share the pictures of the Citroen behind the Rover .

Cheers

[Stanher]

Originally Posted by anjan_c2007

A 1950's Rover P4 that is quite original, but for the front headlamps, parking lights and perhaps only some trims here and there. The car was spotted in Kolkata by me yesterday.

This was known as the "Cyclops" Rover, from the central headlamp that resembled the "cyclops eye", as did the Fiat 1100 elegant!
Nice car this one- seems to be in "USE" often!

[noonrock]

Originally Posted by v12

I do wish someone could advise the contributor to change the year model of the 1939 Buick Roadmaster Convertible. It doesn't even resemble a 1935, in any way, other than the straight eight engine.

[karlosdeville]

Originally Posted by FINTAIL

'Saw a nice Millecento (aka Dukkar FIAT) after what seemed like absolute ages. This was at Veldeep's parking slot.

Okayish condition, overspray evident everywhere, rear bumpers and front grille were painted silver (and were NOT in chrome), the FIAT monogramme in front was on the verge of falling off, the instrument cluster was also sprayed blue, when it should've been black (or white?).

Headlights seemed the larger, non original ones to me.

Note the chromed front bumper, and the painted front grille. Bigger, non OE headlamps. Minus points-IMO.

Please understand that the front grille on these models should never be chrome, they were always aluminium, just like on this car. The grille is not painted. The instrument cluster surrounds were never black or white, but a light brown/cream plastic. Those headlight sizes are definitely correct, and very rare to see a car without the fenders altered.

The owner Velankarji is a great enthusiast, and always ready to help fellow enthusiasts.

Originally Posted by Stanher

This car seems to be a mix of both, early and later Minor features- has the split windscreen and smaller rear window but the grille and centrally mounted speedo are of the later (post 1955) variant!

Open to correction.

Which is why I mentioned its a rare model to see in India. It is not altered, in fact it is a real survivor, and if I weren't only collecting the 'big three', I would love to have a car like this.

[FINTAIL]

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

Please understand that the front grille on these models should never be chrome, they were always aluminium, just like on this car. The grille is not painted. The instrument cluster surrounds were never black or white, but a light brown/cream plastic. Those headlight sizes are definitely correct, and very rare to see a car without the fenders altered.

The owner Velankarji is a great enthusiast, and always ready to help fellow enthusiasts.

Every Dukkar one sees tends to have them in chrome. Hence I thought......

And actually- those lights do appear small. Headlamp rings looked painted to me- IIRC. God knows- Why they appeared big to me then.

And Velankar Ji is definitely a great enthusiast!

Loved that white, whitewalled Vespa of his!

[schakravarthy]

Spotted in Mysore.

[anjan_c2007]

A Citreon Traction Avant from Kolkata - first car ever to be built with a monococque chassis. The windows are quite well designed and must be so airy and also allowing light inside the passenger cabin. This is unlike many of the modern day cars, where the rear windows are abruptly truncated or with curves moving upward ( all CAD products) which turns the rear seats claustrophobic for passengers:

[travancore]

Originally Posted by anjan_c2007

A Citreon Traction Avant from Kolkata - first car ever to be built with a monococque chassis. The windows are quite well designed and must be so airy and also allowing light inside the passenger cabin. This is unlike many of the modern day cars, where the rear windows are abruptly truncated or with curves moving upward ( all CAD products) which turns the rear seats claustrophobic for passengers:

Wasn't the Lancia Lambda (ca 1922) the first monococque production car ? I could be wrong.

[anjan_c2007]

Originally Posted by travancore

Wasn't the Lancia Lambda (ca 1922) the first monococque production car ? I could be wrong.

You are quite right. It was the 1922 Lancia Lambda, but sans the metal roof it was. I stand corrected.

[FINTAIL]

Originally Posted by anjan_c2007

A Citreon Traction Avant from Kolkata - first car ever to be built with a monococque chassis.

Originally Posted by travancore

Wasn't the Lancia Lambda (ca 1922) the first monococque production car ? I could be wrong.

IIRC- The Citroen was the *first* car in production, with a monocoque chassis. The development costs incurred for designing the Traction-Avant was tremendous.

In fact, so much so, that Andre Citroen was forced to sell his biggest asset- The Michelin Tyre Company. Ah- History could've been a lot different......

Shame indeed, Andre Citroen never lived to see the success that the Traction-Avant would become. IIRC- This car remained in production until the mid-Fifties, when it was replaced by the equally revolutionary Citroen DS.

The Traction-Avant. 1934-1955. Pretty successful, wot?

A scan of an illustration, of the monocoque frame of the Traction-Avant, which had come up, in the Autocar. 1935. 'Had downloaded the pic ages ago.



EDIT: Even I got confused on which was the first monocoque. It would *appear* as if it were the Lancia. The differences between the Lancia, and the Citroen are as follows. Text credits- Wikipedia.

The 1934 Citroen (read *very* carefully) :

The term unibody or unit-body is short for unitized body, or alternatively unitary construction design. In this approach the vehicle's frame and body are integrated into a single strong structure. Integral frame and body construction requires more than simply welding an unstressed body to a conventional frame. In a fully integrated body structure, the entire car is a load-carrying unit that handles all the loads experienced by the vehicle — forces from driving as well as cargo loads.

Integral-type bodies for wheeled vehicles are typically manufactured by welding preformed metal panels and other components together, by forming or casting whole sections as one piece, or by a combination of these techniques.

Although this is sometimes also referred to as a monocoque structure, because the car's outer skin and panels are made load-bearing — there are also still ribs, bulkheads and box sections to reinforce the body, making the description semi-monocoque more appropriate.

And as regards to the 1922 Lancia:

The Lancia Lambda is an innovative automobile produced from 1922 through 1931. It was the first car to feature a load-bearing monocoque-type body, (but without a stressed roof)

So- It transpires that, according to the definition of a 'proper' monocoque, the entire outer skin is load bearing. The vehicles fame, body, and the *roof*, are load bearing. Thus, according to this definition- The Citroen was the first 'proper' monocoque.

The Lancia generally didn't have a roof. Thus, due to the absence of a 'proper' roof, the Lancia can be called a 'partial' or 'semi' monocoque, if we go strictly according to the definition.

[karlosdeville]

From my understanding the Lambda was definitely the first monocoque, but the Traction Avant was the first monocoque with front wheel drive. And also radial tyres I think.

[schakravarthy]

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

but the Traction Avant was the first monocoque with front wheel drive.

The first mass produced front wheel drive car, iirc.