Got the same dilemma with my '87 RRC, owned for 16 years but not yet old enough to escape VED at £350 a year. Add to that the insurance premium increases we've all suffered & the on-going £hundreds it costs to maintain it's original condition .. all for a motor that over the past few years has...

Whilst not disputing the answers you've had I'm wondering if it could be for a car 'phone? My old BMW is from the same period as your RR & still has a working 'phone; if I unscrew the antenna on the rear 'screen the connection looks the same as yours.

Being the heavier Safari model mine rode quite well I seem to recall, went like a train with the P5 lump installed & no worse on fuel either, thanks to the abundant power & overdrive. That was back in the 'eighties .. I still miss the old girl.

Thanks guys, I wasn't aware of any 'sheath' over the bulbs but will investigate that before re-installing the cluster. nb: what was the purpose of them anyway .. heat containment perhaps?

I thought the Cherokee Chief did well, for such a big soft-sprung lump, with a time close to that of the more agile vehicles. Ok it didn't crest the final hill, but then neither did others including the RR.

With the complete instrument cluster currently out of my RRC ('87 3.5efi) to rectify a faulty speedo, can I ask if anyone has been successful in retro-fitting brighter bulbs/LEDs to improve the pathetic level of instrument back-lighting on a Classic? Also, Speedy Cables have confirmed that they...

The only occasion I ever had the need to do this (to retro-fit a P5 engine) I used a borrowed garage hoist .. pukka thing used in a friend's commercial workshop. It broke it :oops:

Genuine original Classics in good condition (corrosion is by far the biggest concern) are rare & expensive. Refurbished are cheaper, but to what standard? .. always ask for photographic evidence of the rebuild. The asking price is a clue to the workmanship involved ;)

That's good news, insurers tend to be picky :rolleyes:

Be careful, what you are suggesting could be deemed as a major modification (effecting handling) by your insurer.

That's a bit of a surprise as the 2.6 lump is a hefty 'ole thing (owned a '79 Safari version years ago) so I would have thought it would have had some effect on the springs. As said remove any extended shackles to bring the ride height down. Can't you get a gang of local kids to 'bounce' the...

My local garage & I have that arrangement. If either of my cars ('87 RRC & '98 BMW) are serviced I supply the engine oil leaving them to supply filters etc. When it comes to maintenance/repairs I source the components & accept the responsibility for them; saves the guy a stack of time trawling...

Depends on the year? My '73 had the tank on the driver's side.

You do get this, I had a wartime truck with some of the V5c documentation transposed ie the vehicle's weight was listed as the engine capacity & visa-versa. I never alerted the DVLA of the error as doing so could open a can of worms ;)

My '87 has been retro-fitted with the genuine LR sway bar kit by one of it's two PO's (yes, I'm still only the third owner in 36 years) After experimenting with (firstly) HD rear springs & latterly a Harvey-Bailey kit, to counter customer's complaints regarding handling, they developed their own...

had exactly the same with a BMW years ago, started fine from cold that morning but later in the day wouldn't even turn the engine over. 12.5 volts but no guts .. new battery !

Though you could reproduce a similar effect with a jubilee clip(s) though at today's prices that could work out more expensive :rolleyes:

I've tried a couple of overpriced restorers, never been that impressed with the results despite the price tag. Think I'll stick with the boot polish, if it's good enough for the parade ground .. ;)

I've used black shoe polish for grey ABS trim on my Classic. Lasts well & looks good, the downside being you can use up an entire tin if the plastic is really grey & disposable gloves are essential as the polish is a real sod to wash off your hands :oops:

Where was it between it's build date (production ended in1983 I believe) & first reg I wonder ? Dependent on the all important condition (pick-ups & hardtops versions of these usually led a hard life) yours would fetch a decent price I would have thought, due to the rarity of the model. I...