Riley Pathfinder / Wolseley 6/90, Gerald Palmer fanboiz?

[garethj]

I'm planning to make a slot car version of a Riley or Wolseley, I believe the Wolseley was more popular as a police car but were either of them used as rally cars?  I'd prefer to do one that appealed to the most number of people.

 

[mercrocker]

Ken Wharton drove a works Pathfinder (KJB 280) in the 1956 RAC as did a few privateers.   Mostly the Pathfinders rather than the later 2.6.  Can't recall a Wolseley example but I would have thought a 6/90 would have been used as a service barge on occasion.

[Squire_Dawson]

Some Pathfinders had handling issues, I believe due to the rear axle set up. In my opinion the Pathfinder is a nicer car, especially the interior, but for your purposes I suppose the interior is irrelevant.

[PiperCub]

Wasn't the 6/80 also a cop car? Recall seeing them in old 50's Ealing-type movies.

[Uncle Jimmy]

They were known as the 'Ditchfinder' for a reason. Always thought Palmer's Designs were pretty- Did he do the Sunbeam Talbot as well?

[holbeck]

Palmer did a lot.

 

Jowett Javelin

Wolseley 4/44 & MG Magnette

6/90 and Pathfinder

 

The MG twin cam engine was his too. and he also designed a twin cam for the Healey 3000!

 

After he fell out with BMC, he pitched up at Vauxhall where the FB Victor was also his.

[flat4alfa]

I'd go for Riley of the two

 

For inspiration

 

 

 

Two-Point-Six

 

[LC Torana]

Just a thought, but how about a 6/90 in full police car glory?

 

On an admittedly tangential note, here is a delightful series of 10 videos of a sh!ter restoring a 6/90.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

The Pathfinder was a Nuffield car, and potentially a very good one. It's downfall was the poor welding of a rear axle tie rod mounting. Palmer was a very clever bloke whose designs were too much for the lousy quality of most British cars. Leonard Lord fired him in order to get Issigonis back - bad move. The Mini and 1100 were great cars but never made any real money and the 1800 and Maxi both lost money. The Pathfinder was replaced by the ~Riley 2.6 that was a mildly tweaked Wolseley 6/90, a handsome car in its own right.

 

If BMC had never happened, Nuffield with Morris, Wolseley, Riley and MG would have been much better off. Everything BMC did to the latter three marques ruined them. Look at the heap of shit that replaced the Z Magnette for cast iron proof.

[Bear]

I reckon you'd find a lot of takers in a wide market for a Wolseley 6/80 in Police spec and a Ford Pilot "criminals' car" - Zephyr would be good but I reckon by the time spivs had 'em, you'd be looking at later Police cars.

[LC Torana]

The Pathfinder was a Nuffield car, and potentially a very good one. It's downfall was the poor welding of a rear axle tie rod mounting. Palmer was a very clever bloke whose designs were too much for the lousy quality of most British cars. Leonard Lord fired him in order to get Issigonis back - bad move. The Mini and 1100 were great cars but never made any real money and the 1800 and Maxi both lost money. The Pathfinder was replaced by the ~Riley 2.6 that was a mildly tweaked Wolseley 6/90, a handsome car in its own right.

 

If BMC had never happened, Nuffield with Morris, Wolseley, Riley and MG would have been much better off. Everything BMC did to the latter three marques ruined them. Look at the heap of shit that replaced the Z Magnette for cast iron proof.

Could'nt agree more.

[garethj]

That Riley is an absolute honey, but I don't know if a rally car would be more popular than a police car.  As my current range has 5 police cars already and I'm not exactly like a tycoon, perhaps rally cars is where it's at.  Having said that I've got some rally cars in the range and they're not exactly flying off the shelves either.

 

To sum up: hmmmmm

[mercrocker]

There is always........

 

 

 

 

[flat4alfa]

/ off topic

 

Tarny was still racing up until recently...

45-year career on the tracks, same number 294

 

 

He owned/works the Kensworth scrappy near me.  Can spot timewasters and thieves from a mile back.

 

/ as you were