project 1951 Lanchester LD10 - Putting Things Back Together

[Datsuncog]

I see no problem with that - just make sure you leave a little typewritten card stating 'Temporarily on loan to the Vulgalour Collection'... 👍

[vulgalour]

Remarkably, the original steel splash guards are still mostly present on this car, perhaps lending credence to the low mileage shown on the odometer, especially given the total lack of any rust protection whatsoever beyond factory paint.  I decided to make some new ones and it ended up a little bit more involved than I was expecting.

 

[Angrydicky]

Great to see an update. Love this old girl!

[SilverMachine]

nice update vid fella, although im assuming recorded last year? that u channel stuff looks handy and the rubber mat

[vulgalour]

Yeah, the Lanchester footage, and the Princess footage for that matter, is from a while ago.  Just taken me a while to get through the editing pile.  Lucky for me really, it means I've had plenty of content to upload while I've been unable to record new stuff!

I'm trying to get things balanced out a bit over the next couple of months, hopefully there will be a few more Lanchester updates sooner rather than later.

[vulgalour]

 

A proper look at that donor car we acquired a while ago and why it wasn't worth even attempting to restore.  As a parts car it was absolutely ideal.

[vulgalour]

Digging into the spares that came with the car, including the nightmare jigsaw puzzle that is the engine.

 

[vulgalour]

One thing that hardly ever comes across on camera is just how far gone a donor car really is.  While the donor car looks like it could be repaired, realistically it had every kind of rot it was possible to have and required some extensive reconstruction that really wouldn't make any sense.  That's before you even get into the bits that were missing, like the entire gearbox, which were going to be a nightmare to source.  No, far better that this one dies so that ours can live on.

Angle grinder time for this rusty old hulk.

 

[SilverMachine]

i was secretly hoping you would take the face off for some outdoor art or possible trailer face to go behind the complete car! endless possibilities with the end of a car!

when i was a teenager i always wanted a caddy or 57 chev boot sofa that were not terribly common over here! think i looked at an austin 3 litre in a scrapyard (kinda the closest thing similar at the time!) and then realised id not get the back end in my room....  - maybe i should have another look next time im at the yard, there was an old rotten rover p6 there a while ago, or look at jaaaaaaags....

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1957-chevrolet-bel-air-style-sofa/

 

[purplebargeken]

There is some advanced levels of rust on the donor car but at least it is providing some useful bits as well as potential repair sections, so a clear win.

[vulgalour]

Another instalment in dismantling the donor vehicle.  If you ever wanted to know how Lanchester LD10 doors are held on, this is the video for you.  Some bonus de-rusting content too.

 

[vulgalour]

Want to know how to remove the fuel tank and windscreens from a Lanchester LD10 sports saloon?  Wonder no more, I've got a video for that.

 

[vulgalour]

The donor car strip down continues, pretty much down to the chassis in this one.

 

[vulgalour]

Rod operated drum brakes in a 1950s car?  It's more likely than you think.  Taking the front suspension apart was interesting since I had no instructions and couldn't get spring compressors in to help... turns out it wasn't really an issue.

 

[vulgalour]

Time to put bits back on and together!

 

[lesapandre]

On 12/11/2025 at 11:27, vulgalour said:

Rod operated drum brakes in a 1950s car?  It's more likely than you think.  Taking the front suspension apart was interesting since I had no instructions and couldn't get spring compressors in to help... turns out it wasn't really an issue.

 

These little Lanchesters were designed and scheduled for launch in 1939 - so the War stopped all that as most of the UK car companies turned to the War effort. 

The parent company made the famous Dingo armoured car during the war - again with a pre-select gearbox.

It was finally introduced in 1946 - so by the early 1950's Lanchester were still making what was basically a Pre-War car.

Rod operation of brakes at BMC persisted on the rear of the Austin A40 up to 1964 and remained on the rear of the Austin A35 van until it's demise in 1968 - which is probably the last use of rod operation on a mainstream UK vehicle?