The BMC 1800 Landcrab Was NEARLY Brilliant... (1969 Wolseley 18/85 Road Test)
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- čas přidán 18. 12. 2021
- Following the success of the Mini and ADO16, the BMC 1800 - or Landcrab - could, and should, have been another runaway success in Austin, Morris and Wolseley guise. Sadly it was doomed to never realise its full potential...
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I had a Morris 1800 and never once considered it a failure - lovely car
Was that the one with the linear speedo? My mate's dad had one and I was transfixed by it whenever he gave me a lift.
@@dwftube yep - mine had a strip speedo - the chassis was so taught too
This actual car was supplied in Spring 1970 by myself, a dealer in Redditch Worcs. I supplied it to my Aunt and Uncle who were retired living near Stafford. Really surprised to see it but they did not do much mileage in the many years they owned it.
That's cool man, My Uncle Dinny (who was a RAF pilot) had one identical to this one, same colour and everything, I remember going to many places while on holiday with them in it when I was a kid, it was a comfortable car.
@@Sennaxm71 My Father had one in a burgundy colour in the early 70's really comfortable and took us on holidays all over the UK for nearly a decade , fantastic wooden dash and inner door panels ,he was gutted when his mechanic finally advised him to sell it.
I inherited my father's Austin 1800 (in Australia) in 1969 when he died - I drove it on beach camping trips - the front seats laid back flat so it became like a double bed - it was wonderfully comfortable for 2 people to sleep in. Pity I rolled it on a winding dirt road and it was never the same again.
I keep hearing the claim that these were duds, but they sold very well here in Australia. My understanding is that there were more sold here, per capita, than anywhere else in the world. Not a bad achievement, given that they were quite expensive when new which pushed them into the market segment where six cylinder Holdens and Fords were the competition. The 1.8 litre B Series engine in the 1800 used the same (double valve spring) head as the MGB and endowed the car with quite decent performance (for its day). The handling of these cars was exceptional. Cornering was very flat and safe. You would really have to drive like a dill to lose control of an Austin 1800. Once you adjusted to the bus-like steering wheel position the rack and pinion steering allowed for very accurate placement of the vehicle on the road (although my mum always hated how heavy the steering was at parking speeds - power steering was never an option here). Front disc brakes with load distribution, a heater as standard, a very effective ram-air fresh air system, Hydrolastic suspension, rack and pinion steering, plush comfortable seating, full carpeting, door arm rests front and rear. These were safe, comfortable and extremely spacious motor cars. Much more competent than urban myth would have you believe.
tells you everything you need to know about Australians
@@puddles20mike31 really, go on...
@@puddles20mike31 Yep, --that they're a very discerning bunch. Not easily indoctrinated by the fashionable notion that everything British Leyland produced must by due course be bad.
They were very popular in Australia really and the only thing that came near was the Peugeot 404.
To David Hynd from Nygel Miller. When I grew up, I used to run a mobile disco. Sometimes my Dad would let me drive his Wolseley 1800 to discos , instead of using my own, smaller car. The Hydrolastic suspension had the effect of distributing the weight of all the heavy disco equipment, spread over both front and rear! So the car didn't dip down at the back, when carrying heavy loads! Brilliant stylish charming car!
My Grandfather had a white Morris 1800 back in the 1960's /1970's , which I fondly remember travelling long distances in as a child. It was a nice comfortable car with a good ride.
Dimming the stop lights at night is something modern cars should take note of. Many LED lights are unbearable to even look at and probably contribute to accidents by blinding drivers.
These were fantastic cars, had a great reputation for towing and were especially popular with the farming community because they were rugged and dependable. They may have been developed through their production run but I never heard of them being called a failure!
My father drove one for six years covering 120000 miles and apart from rust (common to all cars of that era) it was a dependable car.
Miss out the word "nearly". It was brilliant. I have owned both the Wolseley 18/85 and the Six. I actually prefer the 1800 engine, because of it's simplicity and reliability. One thing you overlooked in your report was it's handling. It goes round corners like a Mini. Compared to cars like the Cambridge the handling was phenomenal. It is still seriously good even by modern standards. Both my cars had power assisted steering, which no doubt helped. Also the sheer space and comfort was simply amazing. It had more space than the large (about 3 litres) cars like the Austin Westminster and the Rover P5. Find one in good condition and you will have a really great classic, and one that could still be used as a daily driver (albeit with higher fuel consumption than some moderns). Also they make a good tow car, because of their stability, short rear overhang and torquey engines.
Me too owned both of them, for it's time the 2.2 six was bloody fast and could see off early hot hatches.....and the downside, it drank like a fish....massive room inside both cars, and a nice drive.
Yes I absolutely loved my six
The term "nearly brilliant" particularly applies to the 2.2 six-cylinder engine. It was actually one and a half Maxi engines, and to fit into the underbonnet space had to be as short as possible. This meant that the bearings were slightly too narrow for their job, and the cooling circuits in the block and head were less than ideal. (I used to work for one of the big engine components makers, and we saw all the problems close up...) So what was a smooth powerful engine that gave the car some real character would wear quite fast, and possibly overheat, with the usual consequences - head gasket failure, bearing wear and loss of oil pressure....
The irony was that the engine was short to accommodate an end-on radiator, a la ADO16, but the engineers eventually put the radiator in the conventional place, behind the front panel, alongside the engine. So the engine itself was compromised to no purpose...
I had a Morris 1800 company car and it was one of the best cars I ever drove. The family loved it too; both my wife and I were pretty large people and the width of the car made us more comfortable, and because brother and sister are prone to fight, my kids were nicely spaced apart in the back with the armrest between them. Back in those days my wife didn't drive, so on long journeys, especially down through France, I had to do all the driving and with the 1800 it was never a chore. These cars weren't 'nearly brilliant', they were really brilliant.
My wife's mother had one and the family loved it. As I recall it earned an enviable reputation as a "sure footed" car, reassuring to drive and to be driven in.
I had one in the eighties . When I couldn't get any grip in the snow from my xr2 , I drove the Wolseley to work lol .
We had one of these Austin 1800 it was great. It was enormous it needed power steering though. It was built like a tank. We used a tow a heavy boat with it. It was almost indestructible other than rust.
The so-called 'land-crab' was actually a brilliant car. Technologically, way ahead of Vauxhall and Ford with their old-fashioned rear wheel drive format. The Austin/ Morris/Wolseley 1800/2200 cars were absolutely on the mark and have set the almost universal standard of front-wheel drive cars we have today following the lead of Andre Citroen. of course. Love and peace..
I completely agree. They were very competent and safe motor vehicles. When they launched in Australia (1964?) the base model Holden of the same year came with rubber mats on the floor, a three-speed column change, bench seats front and rear, and no heater as standard. By comparison, the 1800 was a spaceship.
Had the Austin 1100 little brother to these beasts ....... FWD, Hydroelastic suspension .......... traded it in against a 1600 Vitesse
And I still think that trade was maybe a mistake.
Great commentary and information on this amazing car. We had them in South Africa as well and they were very popular due to the space, thankfully our dry climate ensured that they did not rust much so we still see a few on our roads and at motor shows. Keep up the good work!
Interesting how oil consumption in Audi's and past rust issues in Mercs, electrical faults in BMWs etc didn't seem to dent their image, reputation and sales. People are odd creatures.
The point everyone is missing is that the public is ENTITLED to pick and choose whatever THEY like. Not everyone LIKES the same cars, clothes, etc. When I was in my 20's (50 years ago!) I used to dress ALL IN BLACK, and then tired of it. Nowadays EVERYBODY seems to dress ALL IN BLACK, but till they're in their 40's . They even ride BLACK scooters, bikes, etc., all in black clothes, and without lights! Are they ASKING to get run over? Just because a lot of people do something, doesn't mean it's a good idea! But the relatively few, who had the 1800/2200 series all say how good they were! I went for a ride recently in a new Nissan X - Trail, and was struck how much legroom there was. MORE than you'd need! It reminded me of the 1800/2200's. But the firm ride ride was not so impressive! The luxury Hydrolastic suspension, of Dr.Alex Moulton (who also designed the first bikes with suspension), shows no other car for half a century has rivalled these car's spaciousness and ride!
@@nygelmiller5293 so, you like the Nissan X-Trail (one of the worst SUVs on sale in the world, for the last decade+), and you like this old English pile of junk.
@@nygelmiller5293 I can't say I've noticed people dressing all in black, perhaps it was simply a group of Goths you saw or you neglected to remove your sunglasses? 🎄
@@stepha5926 from Nygel Miller I'm just saying the Nissan X-trail has a limousine - Like amount of legroom, that surpasses other cars. But the ride is no good, like the Japanese hybrids. (The X - Trail IS also a Japanese design, whether or not it's made in Japan.) Why can't firms eat humble pie, and use Britain's Hydrolastic Suspension? Still the best, after 50 years! So the Landcrabs had the legroom of today's X - Trails, but luxury suspension as well .HALF A CENTURY AGO! By the way, I went in one of the new LEVC (London Electric Vehicles) taxis. As stylish as they come! But in future will be waiting at the taxi rank for one of the older types of taxis. They were always comfortable enough! My mother's friend DID drive - locally - but hit on the idea of avoiding a long (200 mile) drive to Devon. She and a friend went halves on the fare, and paid a taxi driver (of one of the older, more comfortable cabs) to take them! But I'm not getting in on of the new cabs (designed by Geely), in till they "discover" suspension! I was almost thrown around in it, and am going to contact them about it! These cabs LOOK the part, but the orientals aren't ready yet, to make COMFORTABLE vehicles! Perhaps I can convince them to have HYDROLASTIC suspension?
Those companies spent a fortune on sending so called motoring correspondents abroad to test their cars, often taking their wives with them too. if they criticized the cars to much they`d find they were passed over for the next jolly up, and it still continues today
My dad bought an Austin 1800 new back in 1968. He always loved how you can fold the front seats all the way back and they would fall level with the rear seat like a huge bed. He also said it was a comfortable car.
He never really said anything bad about it but he did say when he bought it it had an oil consumption issue, so it was put on a weekly oil test by the dealer.
Anyway when they confirmed it had an issue he told the service manager that he believed the oil rings were the wrong way around. They let him watch them tear it down and the Service Manager couldn't believe it that they were upside-down. He had the choice of a new motor or rebuild. He got them to rebuild it and it ran like a clock after that.
I signed as guarantor on a finance deal for my brother when he purchased a 1year old Wolseley 18/85. He was in the RAF and could not obtain finance on his own. He kept the car for 9 years and reluctantly sold it with over 100,000 miles with little but regular maintenance to keep it going. I recall several trips in it, I got to drive it on a German autobahn where it performed quite well. This series of BMC cars was good and sadly, underestimated by many.
Good video, appreciate the look back at this car. As an American, i've never seen one in person and only knew of them because of CZcams, but I find them quite fascinating. How can a car look so good one second, and horrid the next? :)
I'm fascinated with the British motor industry and how they stumbled... for decades. It seems they could never quite get it all right, all at the same time.
Owned a 1885, Six and Austin 1800. My freinds had Capris and took the piss out of it. One day in the 1885, I was pulling away from the traffic lights and a Beetle went through a red light into my car. The Beetle was a write off, my bumper was pushed in, from then on, I called it The Tank. I went to my mates home tied some rope to bumper and to the lamppost outside his parents house and slowly reversed to pull bumper out, but I could see the lamppost slowly bending towards car, so stopped and drove off. The next day my mates said his parents asked him about lamppost and he said he didn't know 😂. I would love to have 1 now, memories. My Austin 1800 twin carbs burnt of my mates Capri and he was gutted, he thought he would win easily 🤣
My dad had the Austin 1800 with the automatic gearbox. You could get 4 kids on the back seat. It was a lovely metallic blue with a chrome coachline. He bought it new in 1973 on an M plate. It had vinyl seats which were red hot in summer!
My Dad had an Austin 1800, followed by a Morris 1800S, and finally a Wolsey Six. Perfect cars for our family - three growing kids, who could fit in the back seat without fighting (much). I always thought they were great cars. The Six was the only one I ever drove, and it was lovely - a real tourer.
We had these in the RAF as staff cars , really good machine's . Took one up the A1 at over 100 mph smooth comfortable better than the fords we had.
Really????.1.8 and 4 speeds..yeh sure.
@@andgate2000 what has number of gears got to do with top speed and yes over 100mph
@@andgate2000 Leyland "Knocker" are we ???
My Dad (an RCT officer) commanded a "squadron" of 1800s at Catterick in the 70s.
Loved the way I could throw it into corners !! I was a young, broke, newly married guy who did road rallies in a Ford Anglia we were always in battles with Minis. To make a few extra quid I did deliveries to garages after the local car auctions, so I drove lots of different cars. My favourite was the 1800, I could get it around roundabouts faster than anything else - forget the mini !!
I’m 70 now and I enjoy your videos. Great videos. Keep them coming.
Friends parents had one and he drove it in early seventies when we passed our test. It was a brilliant car, reasonably economical, huge interior, comfortable, had great road presence……..too many good points to remember, a wonderful part of our life in a wonderful time.
I think it is sad that so many great British car names have been lost.
Blame Tony Blair for that. MG/Rover could have been saved , also LDV vans .
@@peterfox3989 Blame Margaret Thatcher for giving Rover away to BAe; blame BAe for underinvestment; blame BMW for selling off Land Rover, generally undermining Rover and keeping the Mini. Blair was right not to throw good money after bad.
Sad.. you can still buy cars in France with the names of 3 of their motoring pioneers on them..
Don't worry, even the term 'British' will be lost soon.
My first car. Loved it. Had the Wolsely version with the walnut. Great student car.
I just love these cars and would have a NEW Wolseley 18/85 tomorrow if they were available, I had several Austin/Morris 1800s over the years and everyone was brilliant,apart from servicing and tyres ECT. I Never had a problem with them,superb comfort and great fuel consumption and performance. The people who heavily criticised these vehicles were probably the usual motoring hacks who haven’t got a clue what their talking about, they destroyed peoples faith in these cars with all the BAD press they spouted about them which was quite unjustified. Every owner I spoke to never had a bad word to say about them so i was not the only one who liked them, the only criticism I would have was power steering should have been fitted as standard.
You never spoke to my father then. I just showed him this video. He looked agast and told me the car nearly bankrupted him. He bought it only 2 or 3 years old and it was an unmitigated disaster. It was an automatic and was forever going wrong. It hardly spent any time out of the workshops and very nearly drove him to bankruptcy. He said it drove lovely when it worked, but it was a disaster financially. In the end he got rid after the front wheel fell off and it nearly ground through the aluminium casting of the gearbox. It was replaced by an aging Mk3 Cortina, which wasn't anything like as good to drive. But at least it was a reliable run and it could be kept on the road.
@@extrapolator2000 There’s a rotten apple in every barrel and it looks as though you’re dad got it,I had the same problem with a Vauxhall Victor 101 deluxe I bought new in 1967,it was trouble from 20 minutes after I picked it up from Syd Abrams in Manchester,it was an absolute nightmare and drove me nearly insane,the final straw was when it was 9months old,I was visiting my brother and it went on fire outside his house, I didn’t know wether to laugh or cry,it was the first new car I’d ever bought and with the insurance money I brought a Singer Gazelle which was 2months old when I purchased it,had no problems whatsoever with that car. Three years later I was foolish enough to buy a Bedford CF van for my business and started my problems off all over again,it was offered to me new at a good discount and it was the worst decision I’ve ever made,I was going to buy a Transit but the discount swayed me,what a Walley, I’ve NEVER bought another Vauxhall product since and NEVER will so I know how your dad feels. I’ve never had an 1800 Automatic I’ve never fancied one but at least you’re dad knows he’s NOT the only one who’s been caught out.
@@davidellis279 interesting stories aren't they. Its interesting to see how these colour our future choices. I know a family who had a really bad experience with volvo in the early 80s (safety hazard, from a company that allegedly prided itself on safety) and they vowed never to buy volvo ever again. Just like you and Vauxhall.
Fast forward a good lump of time and I've actually had good runs out of three Vauxhalls and a Volvo, but we're talking a few generations later, and these days there's almost nothing on the market that could be said to be a 'bad' car.
It is a pity we've lost some of these old companies though, how much more interesting the car market would still be with Wolsley, Singer, Austin, Rover and Saab to give us some interest up against the german auto industry. Nice to see that someone has preserved some of these pieces of heritage anyway.
@@extrapolator2000 Yes your right of course,I run a Range Rover Vogue with the TDV8 diesel nowadays just for the comfort being disabled now, their a bit of a challenge to keep and run,every other day a light pop’s up on the dash for one reason or another but it usually clears itself when the ignition is switched off and left overnight,the only problem with cars today is there too technically advanced.
I sat for my driver’s licence in an Austin 1800 in Adelaide, South Australia on 08/01/1966 (exactly 56 years ago today), it being my 16th birthday. It was a courtesy car owned by Adelaide Motors, the BMC distributor. I then worked for the business. I had never driven one before that day but managed to pass the test notwithstanding. The police officer was so enamoured by the car that he didn’t take notice any of my driving foibles (such as turning left when instructed on right). A great comfortable roomy car with adequate power for the standard of the time.
We drove an Austin 1800 for years and we loved it. I handled very well, when we bought a new VW rabbit, my wife nearly turned it over rounding her first corner!
Where did you live where you could drive an 1800 and then a Rabbit?
@@RoadCone411 We were living in Winnipeg, Canada at the time. I bought it for the equivalent of £40 (needing a few repairs) in about 1974, later we drove it all the way to the East coast and back on holidays, about 7000 km. in one trip. Great car and dead reliable.
@@RandolphMaunder I’ve never seen a Landcrab in North America
Well, they sold lots of Minis and 1100's, and we certainly didn't have the only 1800 around! We stopped seeing Wolseleys and Rileys in the mid to late 1960ties though..... We called it the landcrab as well. I don't think they sold in the USA however.
As others have said the Austin 1800 was very popular in Australia. 60,000 were manufactured here over five years which was not bad for the size of the market. It was very spacious inside and very comfortable on our terrible roads.
If there had been faults they would have been very quickly identified in Australia much like the suspensions on the original Ford Falcons falling apart almost straight away in the early 1960s.
I recall my Dad got one as a loan-car, whilst his Humber Super Snipe was being serviced.
I was dropped off at school here in Adelaide, South Australia, and recall the TARDIS-like "bigger on the inside than the outside" striking illusion.
The hydrolastic suspension was advertised with a large window decal in the shape of a droplet: "Floats on Fluid!"
Remarkable vehicle.
Actually the Australian developments of these cars were arguably the best of the line: the Tasman and Kimberley models, with their extended bodies and less geeky looks, could have done well in Europe if BL had had the wit to recognise this.
My dad bought a manual one, brand new in 1966 reg number LLX591D what a lovely car. Leather seats, you could hold a dance in the back, we had a German shepherd cross who used to curl up on the floor between the front seat and the rear seat squab and he was not a small dog by any means. The only mechanical trouble we had and I think there was a recall on it was the individual gear change cables between the stick and the box and the gave quite a bit of trouble in service. I don't know what they did to fix it, as I was only 12 at the time, but eventually it got sorted. The only other failure was a radiator top hose bursting whilst on holiday in the Lake District. It's biggest bug bare for my dad was the paintwork. He chose the Maroon paint colour and boy every time it rained and the sun came out the paint faded badly under those droplets of water, so fast that you could almost watch the colour fade in real time. Poor old dad used to rush out with a chamois leather and wipe any water droplet off of the car! After three years of the fading paint he chopped it in for a year old Rover 2000 SC.
My Grandad had a Austin 1800 when I was born in 1972, I have a photograph with me and my mum and dad sat on the bonnet. My Grandad was part of the team that built the M62 motorway, I guess he needed something that could handle the long drives and undulating surfaces. He later told me he loved the car and was one of the best he owned. Thank you for the video.
I'm old enough to remember Wheels magazine from Australia in the 60s. Their journalists would routinely journey forth on long road trips around the country for various purposes. It always amused me that they frequently turned their backs on the crude locally produced Fords and Holdens and used a Land Crab instead. I guess comfort was more important that waving the flag for the local models.
I didn’t know that much about the ADO 17, thanks for sharing this, a really interesting short video.
They were a brilliant car, my friends Father had one way back and worked as a mini cabdriver. Drove for donkeys years it went round the clock at least once, cracking motor
My parents bought one a 1965 UK assembled 1800 4 speed manual import to NZ second hand in 1967.
It had the cable operated gear change and always proved a bug bear to my mother getting 1st and 2nd to engage....probably only a matter of adjustment of the cables...but Mum wasn't a good driver and had no mechanical sympathy.
The car served us well for 2 years...
but the end came one day when she was driving and stalled on a railway crossing with an approaching train and the two of us children in the car.
She panicked couldn't start the engine and I screamed at her to jam it in first and crank the engine with the key...the starter slowly wound us off the crossing..after which, of course, there were no further problems starting it.
But the 1800 had to go......
We bought a Wolsely 1300 Auto brand new...which puked 3 pints of oil from the sump on the 6 mile journey home.
The crack in the crankcase was fixed under warranty...
but on a Christmas Eve about 4 years later it refused every gear except reverse....so backing home at 1am was an adventure.
Even got sworn at by a taxi driver who thought I was drunk...
The "fix" to the crankcase was a hole drilled tapped and plugged for a steel water pipe bung....which protruded and took out the forward clutch on the AP auto.
The dealer had gone out of business...
so BMC New Zealand disclaimed all responsibilty saying none of their dealers would have done that shoddy a repair.
This was followed by 2 Morris Marinas, (new, disastrous) as the only car dealers that would give a decent trade in were BMC.
Finally we got a Nissan...
which seved the next 20 years without dramas...
Japanese cars ever since throughout the family....
My first impression of the Austin 1800 was impressed l didn't drive it but rode in the back seat comfortable smooth it was a good it was sold in Australia they were everywhere and the advertising was called "car of the century "
My ex brother-in-laws father had one. We all went up to North Berwick for a caravan holiday in it one summer. Really lovely car - comfort and effortless towing
I never owned one but drove one often and I loved it.
Quick, spacious and cornered superbly.
Dad had an Austin 1800 Mk1 manual. Extremely comfortable car - seats were like armchairs, floated on fluid and huge amount of space.
My dad had one too, and compared to the Vauxhall Viva he had before it (and the 'jelly mould' shape Reliant Regal he had before that) it was like a limousine. Remember how the handbrake was a hockey stick type that went forward under the dashboard? Because of that and the front wheel drive there was nothing between the front seats, that's how they were able to make those seats so wide, so close together, and so much like armchairs!
He had a couple of Vauxhall Caveliers after that, and a Vauxhall Agila as his last car, but the 1800 was his favourite.
Dad had one .A AUSTIN 1800 SC ,IN THE EARLY 70S. the only problems were a broken speedo drive and the quote for a cluch replacemement which saw it sold on? A brilliant comfortable car for a family of 5.
Land crab?? I lived through it's era, never heard it being called that silly name. I went on a touring holiday all over Europe, in 1977. Lovely car. Like your videos.
My Dad had a Morris 1800 mark 1, then an Austin mark 2. I remember an epic trip to the South of France in the Austin, in 1973-4 ish. Two adults two children, heavy camping gear and a round trip of about 3000 miles. The Austin landcrab did it in style, no mechanical issues whatsoever and very comfortable. A truly under-rated car.
It set the current standard of front-wheel drive family saloons (along with Citroen). Love and peace.
I had an immaculate Austin 1800 back in about 1971. It looked like a million dollar motor but it was a heart-breaker. Despite being a wonderful drive; smooth, fast (for the era) comfortable and impossible to roll unless you were a complete maniac...it was as rotten as a pear underneath and the big-end bearings failed twice within months. Personally, I loved the bus-like steering, but the damned thing nearly bankrupted me due to the constant stream of repair bills.
Back in 1988 I bought a '73 Wolseley Six with 6 months' MOT for 45 quid because it was the cheapest way of getting four people from Coventry to Canterbury for a 21st birthday party one weekend. It was a complete wreck, but I loved it! When the MOT ran out I sold it for 50 quid to a bloke who wanted it for banger racing. It was the only car I have ever owned that I made a profit on!
My Dad had one we lived in Adelaide and drove it through the Flinders ranges (you Poms grab your Atlas) and even up a as far as Brisbane. I was just too young to drive legally but he let me drive out bush. It was easy and comfortable and gave no trouble apart from the big end bearings failing….bugger.
Great motors my dad had an identical colour 18/85 back in the early 80s and he loved the things but he also had a very early grey C plate Austin variant which I preferred as it had that lovely long BMC speedo and beautiful red leather and the quality toggle switches and the minimalist interior was amazing and I can still smell that leather now.
The grey one sounds lovely. I remember sitting in a used example as a young child at a local showroom while my dad was having his car serviced. Admittedly I was physically small, but the size and comfort of the car made an impression on me even at that age!
I'm now in my 60s and have been driving since I was 17. I still think that the 1800 is one of the best riding cars ever and I've had some pretty expensive motors over the years. The 1800 simply floated over the road surface, all passengers insulated from all road surface issues. They were very smooth, especially compared to today's super stiff " sporty" offerings that remove your kidneys for you !
As a Freelance Motoring Writer, I've owned and driven a wide variety of classic cars. I had one of these gems as my daily driver years ago, and although it wasn't the most powerful car on the planet, it would cruise all day at 110 km/h. I undertook many trips of more than 700 kilometers and always emerged as fresh as a daisy. I love these and wish I'd never sold mine.
Dad had a new morris 1800 on an E plate we had it throughout its life amazing old workhorse , bulletproof engine tons of space and lovely comfortable seats better than the Wolseley six we also had later. I rebuilt the six engine at about 75000 it was burning so much oil and the crank was rumbling . It was a lovely smooth motor if not as reliable as the old B series. They look a bit funky by todays designs but spacially they are like all Issigonis designs all about maximising use of and feeling of space. 1969 we went to visit family in Canada, cars were huge but dad always commented that they didnt have the room that the morris had even with their size.
You needed to rebuild the engine at 75,000? That's terrible. Mile or kilometers, it doesn't matter, most car engines could at that time go >100,000 miles / 160,000 km without needing any attention. These days we have low sulphur gasoline & better oils and car engines routinely do 300,000 km without needing a rebuild. I had a 1971 Falcon - did 130,000 miles in it and it still drove like new.
The Austin 1800 certainly was roomy inside though. I always thought the Valiants a bit silly. As big as a Holden on the outside but cramped inside, particularly in the back, and they had poor visibility for the driver.
@@keithammleter3824 I'm guessing about the mileage but its was somewhere near , the 2.2 wasn't a great motor , unlike their cylinder version that was in the Maxi . They had a habit of dropping the crank thrust bearings although ours burned oil in a bg way. I took it to Devon on holiday and it burned over a gallon of oil about 600 miles, and yes it smoked like hell. I bored it and reground the crank, I was about 18 so it would be about 1980 and the car was the very last of the wolseley sixs on an N plate so 75 I think. It was really cheap ad BL were already selling the new wedge shape. It was going rusty within six months so god knows how long it had been sat around. Brazil metallic paint if I recall.
A friend's dad said that the crank on his Morris 22000 went out every 60.000 kms
In my youth I bought an automatic Austin 1300 and loved it. as a disabled driver it was perfect. I fitted hand controls to it, and travelled from Doncaster to Aylesbury regularly in it. Great little car.
I had an Austin 1300 Countryman automatic before upgrading to a Wolseley SIx.
My father had a Morris 1800, followed by a Wolseley 18/85 and then a Wolseley Six., with Rostyle wheels! We spent many a summer holiday travelling around the UK and to French campsites in those cars!
I bought a second hand Austin 1800 in 72/73 and it was extremely good value. My kids could walk around in the back! The only snag was having to go to a garage on a monthly basis to have the hydrolastic system recharged as the car tended to lean over on one side. It even became a selling point with the local dealers who advertised that you could pop in anytime and have your suspension "pumped up". The clutch failed in the end and I had to scrap it !!!. My Jag XJ8 had nowhere near the room as my dear "Landcrab".
Superb cars. Brother had an 18/85 and a friend a Wolesley 2200. Great handling given the superb ride, excellent space. What it needed is what Issigonis could not give it: style.
We have a Wolseley 18/85 MK.1 (1968) it looks exactly like this and it runs smooth at 70MPH on the road and it has no rust, and the paint is like this but more vibrant and glossy, my father and I have been working on it and its a great piece of art, I heard that they used this car for Rallying a lot back in the day too but I forgot why.
i had mine for 12 years it never let me down
I passed my driving test on my dad's Austin 1800. I loved it, easy to drive, comfortable, hugely roomy interior. I was always borrowing it and
my friends laughed at me turning up in it, but soon changed their mind when I gave them lifts.
Dad drove a Morris 1800, DOW117C, and then an 18/85, WBE915J. Brilliant cars for taking the whole family on drives around the Peak District. A few weeks after selling the Wolseley (replaced by an Audi 100 Coupe of all things) we had a visit from the Police looking for information about the car. It had been used in a ram raid robbery!
my dad had three. i learned to drive in one, one was passed to my brother. they were awesome cars
My dad had a 1972 model with twin su carbs (the wolseley version )it ran on 5 star fuel absolutely brilliant car never let him down heartbroken when he traded it in for a princess
Watching this brought back some lovely memories from childhood. My Dad's version was the Austin 1800 - "H" Reg, I think. Previously we had had a series of 1100s and 1300s and this was positively cavernous inside. I seem to remember leather seats but probably they were just vinyl. Either way they were quite slippy. One one occasion I was out with my dad and my gran. I always got car sick so rather than risk me soiling his upholstery with the contents of my stomach I was given a front seat. My gran was a tiny, fragile woman and she sat in the back behind my dad. At one point I remember my dad taking a corner in a rather brisk manner and seeing my gran just sliding across the back seat in a vaguely upright position and bumping off the opposite rear door - no seatbelts in those days. It was the first and only time he ever did that whilst his mum was in the back. It was a lovely car and one of the few BMC cars we had that wasn't a reliabilty disaster.
There was so many great British Cars we never even heard of in the US, sure we Jags, MGB’s and Triumphs. But like this lil beauty I’d never even heard of it
We had an F reg Austin 1800, the drive up to the farm was a tenth of a mile and steep. My abiding memory was that it would plough through snow drifts and always seemed to get to the top whereas any other vehicles would be lucky to get half way. The weight ratio and the ability to just feather the throttle seemed to be just right.
Drove an 18/85 for a while, it was a great car.
I remember driving down the A19 at 70mph in third for miles, before realising and changing into fourth, it was that quiet and refined.
Best car I've owned. All my future cars have 1800 motor: last of the small motor, start of the bigger motor; an in-betweener. I bought an Austin 1800 for $100, not a speck of rust on it. It was automatic but I replaced it with a manual; all the necessaries were already in place with plates screwed in place. I refitted the interior with the more luxurious Wolseley interior. It could fly. It was white, I called it White Terror. My wife, two kids and I did regular long trips on it. People were surprized at how spacious it was inside. The only downfall was the front engine mount deteriorated quickly.
My current car, also rebuilt is a 94 Honda Integra 1800 DOHC. The body is a bit beat up but it too can fly although you wouldn't know it to look at it, heh heh heh.
One of these was the first car I got paid for fixing. My father & Grandfather had since I was 10yo been teaching me about fixing cars and engines. A neighbor had one of these with a hole in the petrol tank.
So I removed it and my Grandfather and I welded up a patch. Trick here :. Empty the tank, wash it out 3 - 5 times with water and washing up liquid. Then get a garden hose set on ' mist '. Fill as much of the tank with water so it is about an inch below the hole and the spray is covering the rest of the interior. Clean up the metal with a sanding block and weld on the patch. A small tack at a time can take a while. Cover in sealant to protect and refit. I got £ 10. But that was nearly 50 years ago.
Best car I ever owned. Most comfortable and a joy to drive. No driver fatigue in this beauty. Worsley 18/85 best of the bunch!
It would have made an interesting SUV if they had extended the rear out a bit more. Sort of a Land Lobster.
The Austin 3 litre was known as the Land Lobster..
My first car was a Morris 1800. I learnt all my car knowledge on it. The only repair, or change I could not were the CV boots. I kept it serviced by myself. It never failed its MOT. I had it for five years and never let me down. Until one day we a one day snowfall, and being a bit cocky I went too fast on a right hand junction, and went straight into the causeway, knocking the front end out of line by just an inch. Sadly, it was written off. That was a very sad day for me.
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The leg room in the back was phenomenal. Very comfortable.
My dad had an 18/85 throughout the 1970s and we loved it as a family car. It seemed so much nicer the Cambridge it replaced.
They were terrific cars absolutely brilliant, I had 2 followed by an Austin Maxi. I wanted the Austin 3 litre also but never did manage it. I'd have another Land Crab tomorrow.
I had an 1800 in the 80s, we went from Scotland to Cornwall with 4 adults 5 kids one a baby who slept all the way on the rear parcel shelf,the other kids played games on the floor in the rear in front of the adults,some car. Brian Marshall.
I owned sveral of these lovely cars, it was great for me and the wife and 2 children. Oceans of room and it just drove nicely, mpgs were not an issue back then as wages were ok and we could afford it, I got between 24-30mpg which I thought pretty good. It was big, comfy and easy to drive, like a mini just much bigger.
My grandad had the wolseley, great memories, leather and walnut with picnic tables in the back seats . I might buy one
I owned a 1970 MK2 here in the Pacific Northwest making it a very rare car. It was a wonderful driving car.....sorry I sold it!
We had the Morris version - I was about 14 and oldest of 4. Automatic with bench seat at front - perfect - wide and good leg room, firm ride so no car sickness. But parents didn't like automatic (probably crude in those days). Replaced with two cars - Mum bought her own second hand Morris Traveller for transporting her upholstery work. Dad got Morris Marina new as his weekend A to B and don't care about cars motor. It was a sort of orange beige and it's one of a handful of number plates I remember: PKE 614G
I remember going to brands hatch in my dad's Austin 1.8 when I was a kid, very comfy and it was novel to have shelves in the back seat so we could have a picnic.
I loved our Wolesley 18/85.and used it for a caravan holiday in 1977.
Unfortunately the engine was a bit tired and drank quite a bit. A few months after our trip the car suffered from "piston broke". The top inch of one piston decided to stop at TDC while the rest decided to drop in on the gearbox with the inevitable grinding noises.
A cheap, second engine was fitted but it, too, proved troublesome. The car was eventually abandoned, blocking the gate of a local 'scrappie' who could never "find the time to uplift the car".
I had a Mk 2 Austin 1800, which was a truly great car. The only problem I had was with the cable gearchange linkages, which were changed to rods on the later ones. I loved it, it went well, it was economical for a big car and the space inside was like a limousine for rear legroom. I could never understand why there was so much bad press. I think the early ones may have been troublesome but by the time my 1970 one was made they were an excellent and reliable car. I sold mine to a friend when I got a company car and he loved it as well.
I remember a neighbour having one of these,didnt realise how advanced they were.not sure i would have driven that one with that rather illegal lookin knackered front number plate tho.interesting upload tho on a much forgotten car.
In the late 70s I had a Morris 1300, which was like a smaller version of this. They too were quite advanced with their transverse engine front wheel drive layout (as used on 90% of modern cars). The problem was that they were so advanced that they didn't really know how to do it right. The gearbox and diff sat in engine sump oil and basically ate themselves. Luckily a mechanic mate of mine was also a fan of these cars and kept a good selection of spares from our local junkyard! We could do an engine/gearbox swap in forty minutes. What we couldn't do was stop them rotting like bad teeth. It was a lot colder in those days and the roads got ten times as much salt.
I had a Wolseley Six. They are amazing cars
My dad had the Wolsley version which he bought new for a family holiday in France, it managed to get as far as Avebury when it broke down, fortunately a very knowledgeable and wonderful mechanic took two hours to fix it. We just about managed to get on the ferry before it sailed. Otherwise it was a great car and performed fsultlesdly for the whole holiday and was admired by the French!!
I have never been a huge BMC fan...but i really like that Wolseley version.
During my late teens (1974) my dad bought a second hand 1971 Austin 1800s. This was the only one I ever saw in the flesh and I have only seen one picture of one. From the outside it had a stainless /chrome strip along the side, about half way up. Under the bonnet it had the twin carb engine as fitted to the MGB with a siamese front exhaust down pipe. The performance was very good and on a decent run the economy wasn't bad either. It didn't give us much bother throughout our 13yrs of ownership other than it didn't like it when 5 star petrol disappeared, we also had 3 new exhaust front pipes and a couple of new downpipes. The front exhaust flexi hose giving way to a ball and socket flex joint on later front wheel drive cars was a much better idea. My dad never wanted to change from this car but eventually rust made the decision for him.
Such a lot of interior room inside a car slightly less in length than a Cortina and a ride quality better than many modern cars. Unfortunately I suspect the styling was much appreciated by those with an interest in functional design - but less so by the general buying public.
It was brilliant. I learned to drive in one of these in the late 70s (Father's car). I did manage to crash in to a brand new Nissan Cherry - the Cherry was destroyed - along with a 6ft garden fence - and all the 18/85 needed was a new nearside wing and bit of T-Cut. Very comfortable on long journeys and plenty of torque and power in the engine.
One thing I find interesting about this car is not the wheelbase but the positioning of the wheels near the corners of the car. That kind of spread was something that came out in the 90s with the whole "cab forward" design element that was happening in the United states. Pinning the wheels further to the corners increase stability and prevented the car from rolling over an added to the smoother ride. Although what surprises me about this car is that there's no "kettle holder". It's not really British car unless it's got a kettle holder, LMAO!
Was it such a dud? These cars were greatly misunderstood at the time they were made, but so much about their design and packaging makes sense. They were roomy, very comfortable and technically advanced. What they lacked, as with many BMC/BL was great styling, and being in tune with the market. Compare them with contemporary Fords or Vauxhalls, and it was light years ahead mechanically.
Absolutely, Simon! There's plenty to love about the Landcrab!
I disagree. In a comparable Vauxhall Victor you got a decent OHC engine, decent performance and economy, and some styling that was at least sufficient to obviate the need to drive everywhere with a brown paper bag on your head.
So, Landcrab? No thanks, I'll have a VX 4/90 instead thanks.
@@ColinBarrett001 what’d you expect from a saloon car named “Land Crab”
Excellent presentation...thank you
Thanks Declan! -Joe
This American loves your videos, and your accent.
"Let's go find eowt".
Drove one as a company car many years ago and loved it, comfortable and spacious and the styling was nice. Then they brought out the awful princess styled replacement. Fortunately by then the firm had given me a new Ford Granada to cruise around in.
I love the Wolseley grille styling. Classic.
I owned an 1100 cc variant for a short while. Amazingly spacious to drive, and choc full of character. Vastly underrated.
I bought a 1966 Austin 1800 in 1975 for £45. It towed large loads and was great to drive and comfortable. When silly things went wrong after 18 months I sold it for scrap/spares for £85. Bought an 18/85 served me well for another 18 months. Great cars.
I never knew that captain Mainwaring and his brother moonlighted as test drivers for BMC 😂
I vividly remember numerous family summer holidays from Belfast to Stuttgart with seven up across those bench seats. Amazing holidays. Amazing car.