Leyland P-76 V-8.
Discussion
how would you like a 2 litre Cortina , with more room , and two engines !
Leyland P-76, 1250 Kg, 4.4 Litres, 198 Hp. 5 -6 seats.
Basically a P-7 rover. sim chassis dimentions to SDI ,
This is the Car that had 'The Big three' , Ford , General Motors , & Chrysler
WORRIED in the early 70s .(though Chrysler were an accoplice , so were unphased).
Currently styling features are employed in the New Commodores and Falcons.
A-Pillars , Wheel arches ,and a few others. apparently 35 years ahead of its time.
(they used to say 20) Unfortunately modern vehicals dont have the breadth in the
rear quaters aft .
Derogitarilly refered two as " P-38 " (half a car ) the aeronautical equivilant is
The P-38 Ligtning , aka P-51 'Mustang' (ford)
Dave Oxten won the N.Z. Pukekohe Benson & Hedges 1974 Production Car Race in one .
Great interchangeability with the Rover V-8 componentry (& TVR ?) for updateing
performance. 'A boot full of right arms' was Ewen Greens book on a early build
cars preperation and entry in the 74 London /Sydney RALLY.
Where it sert F.T.D. in the Targa Florio stage against the likes of Lancia Stratos ,
works Escorts et al.
(Im not up on computor tecqniques so will leave others to purloin pictures from the club site ,
or post pictures of there own. Yes , a few lived in england .A deep Navy Blue one in London .
Theres a few 'Force 7' derivatives seen about occasionally too . . .
Leyland P-76, 1250 Kg, 4.4 Litres, 198 Hp. 5 -6 seats.
Basically a P-7 rover. sim chassis dimentions to SDI ,
This is the Car that had 'The Big three' , Ford , General Motors , & Chrysler
WORRIED in the early 70s .(though Chrysler were an accoplice , so were unphased).
Currently styling features are employed in the New Commodores and Falcons.
A-Pillars , Wheel arches ,and a few others. apparently 35 years ahead of its time.
(they used to say 20) Unfortunately modern vehicals dont have the breadth in the
rear quaters aft .
Derogitarilly refered two as " P-38 " (half a car ) the aeronautical equivilant is
The P-38 Ligtning , aka P-51 'Mustang' (ford)
Dave Oxten won the N.Z. Pukekohe Benson & Hedges 1974 Production Car Race in one .
Great interchangeability with the Rover V-8 componentry (& TVR ?) for updateing
performance. 'A boot full of right arms' was Ewen Greens book on a early build
cars preperation and entry in the 74 London /Sydney RALLY.
Where it sert F.T.D. in the Targa Florio stage against the likes of Lancia Stratos ,
works Escorts et al.
(Im not up on computor tecqniques so will leave others to purloin pictures from the club site ,
or post pictures of there own. Yes , a few lived in england .A deep Navy Blue one in London .
Theres a few 'Force 7' derivatives seen about occasionally too . . .
Crikey , looks like AFQ-01E , was tan interior. 4 speed.
Much appreciate the picture.
The peculiar colour is for 'out west' .
Sabaru does a metalic, so 'in town' you
see a car that colour . EVERYTHING .
from the waist down . Wheels , Lamps ,
etc. It Matches the Bull Dust , in a
style reminisant of the 'Jelly Mold'
ford Sierra adds !
Options off Air Co. L.S.D.,auto or Manual
3 or 4 speed !
About 1979 in N.Z. , on a lift with the Neighbours
to Auckland , the traffic closed up when overtakeing.
Their lad (with the 1850 Galant GTO)was driving
forcing him to 'leave the welli in' to get back in.
However the holiday traffic wasnt co-operateing .
(How Unusual). Result (3 speed)ninty something in
second , before the change to top when past !
Through the right,bridge, left , straight,
(was that a straight ) & right.Balanceing it
on the throttle till the speed had washed off.
An awkward silence prevailed ,passengers were
Stirred but not Shaken !
First time I saw a car of that size take
bends as if it were a Ford Escort RS .
Much appreciate the picture.
The peculiar colour is for 'out west' .
Sabaru does a metalic, so 'in town' you
see a car that colour . EVERYTHING .
from the waist down . Wheels , Lamps ,
etc. It Matches the Bull Dust , in a
style reminisant of the 'Jelly Mold'
ford Sierra adds !
Options off Air Co. L.S.D.,auto or Manual
3 or 4 speed !
About 1979 in N.Z. , on a lift with the Neighbours
to Auckland , the traffic closed up when overtakeing.
Their lad (with the 1850 Galant GTO)was driving
forcing him to 'leave the welli in' to get back in.
However the holiday traffic wasnt co-operateing .
(How Unusual). Result (3 speed)ninty something in
second , before the change to top when past !
Through the right,bridge, left , straight,
(was that a straight ) & right.Balanceing it
on the throttle till the speed had washed off.
An awkward silence prevailed ,passengers were
Stirred but not Shaken !
First time I saw a car of that size take
bends as if it were a Ford Escort RS .
Well !? At St Ives in 05 ,out by the showgrounds , waiting for a bus .
What should come along the Road , from Monavale way ? And again this
side of Chrismass , thought a AMC was comeing down the hill, but was
the Force 7 there .
-----------
Saw the orange one at the Club meet at Newcastle I inadvertantly bumped
into . Was talking to a HG Manaro driver and spotted a white P-76 in
the park , so told him "theres a real car ". went over for a look and
the next thing , they were everywhere ! Thirty cars . Good to see a
few entusiasts. Was also a Targa Florio at the Hill climb there last
time, but looks like the dampers need stiffening. was doing a aircraft
carrier at sea in a storm impersonation . If 1/2 the stories of the
sabotage of the Vehical Ive heard were true G.M & Ford must have been
pretty worried . Not without reason .Production stopped @ 25.000 odd.
Incidently , 8 in rims will clear front and 10 in rear . Designed so
as dried balled clay wouldnt lock wheels. (110 deg. dries it well ! )
The large valance under the front , the intakes are hidden by the bumper
acts as a hydrofoil , if you inadvertantly forget its been raining up
river , at night. Had the water half way up the bonnet, L.S.D. caught
a boulder washing down , so she kept it moving to the far bank , where
the inertia kept it moving till the axle touched bottom again . Nice to
know theres reserves of capability designed in. A modern car would stop
and sink as the air dam / bumper hit the stream at 45 mph or it might
fall off ? Force 7 coincided with factory closure . World rareist mass
production car , with about a dozen escapeing the disintegration ? ? ?
What should come along the Road , from Monavale way ? And again this
side of Chrismass , thought a AMC was comeing down the hill, but was
the Force 7 there .
-----------
Saw the orange one at the Club meet at Newcastle I inadvertantly bumped
into . Was talking to a HG Manaro driver and spotted a white P-76 in
the park , so told him "theres a real car ". went over for a look and
the next thing , they were everywhere ! Thirty cars . Good to see a
few entusiasts. Was also a Targa Florio at the Hill climb there last
time, but looks like the dampers need stiffening. was doing a aircraft
carrier at sea in a storm impersonation . If 1/2 the stories of the
sabotage of the Vehical Ive heard were true G.M & Ford must have been
pretty worried . Not without reason .Production stopped @ 25.000 odd.
Incidently , 8 in rims will clear front and 10 in rear . Designed so
as dried balled clay wouldnt lock wheels. (110 deg. dries it well ! )
The large valance under the front , the intakes are hidden by the bumper
acts as a hydrofoil , if you inadvertantly forget its been raining up
river , at night. Had the water half way up the bonnet, L.S.D. caught
a boulder washing down , so she kept it moving to the far bank , where
the inertia kept it moving till the axle touched bottom again . Nice to
know theres reserves of capability designed in. A modern car would stop
and sink as the air dam / bumper hit the stream at 45 mph or it might
fall off ? Force 7 coincided with factory closure . World rareist mass
production car , with about a dozen escapeing the disintegration ? ? ?
Edited by M Spencer on Wednesday 23 June 19:26
M Spencer said:
Well !? At St Ives in 05 ,out by the showgrounds , waiting for a bus .
What should come along the Road , from Monavale way ? And again this
side of Chrismass , thought a AMC was comeing down the hill, but was
the Force 7 there .
-----------
Saw the orange one at the Club meet at Newcastle I inadvertantly bumped
into . Was talking to a HG Manaro driver and spotted a white P-76 in
the park , so told him "theres a real car ". went over for a look and
the next thing , they were everywhere ! Thirty cars . Good to see a
few entusiasts. Was also a Targa Florio at the Hill climb there last
time, but looks like the dampers need stiffening. was doing a aircraft
carrier at sea in a storm impersonation . If 1/2 the stories of the
sabotage of the Vehical Ive heard were true G.M & Ford must have been
pretty worried . Not without reason .Production stopped @ 25.000 odd.
Incidently , 8 in rims will clear front and 10 in rear . Designed so
as dried balled clay wouldnt lock wheels. (110 deg. dries it well ! )
The large valance under the front , the intakes are hidden by the bumper
acts as a hydrofoil , if you inadvertantly forget its been raining up
river , at night. Had the water half way up the bonnet, L.S.D. caught
a boulder washing down , so she kept it moving to the far bank , where
the inertia kept it moving till the axle touched bottom again . Nice to
know theres reserves of capability designed in. A modern car would stop
and sink as the air dam / bumper hit the stream at 45 mph or it might
fall off ? Force 7 coincided with factory closure . World rareist mass
production car , with about a dozen escapeing the disintegration ? ? ?
this is almost impossible to read , why so many paragraphs ???What should come along the Road , from Monavale way ? And again this
side of Chrismass , thought a AMC was comeing down the hill, but was
the Force 7 there .
-----------
Saw the orange one at the Club meet at Newcastle I inadvertantly bumped
into . Was talking to a HG Manaro driver and spotted a white P-76 in
the park , so told him "theres a real car ". went over for a look and
the next thing , they were everywhere ! Thirty cars . Good to see a
few entusiasts. Was also a Targa Florio at the Hill climb there last
time, but looks like the dampers need stiffening. was doing a aircraft
carrier at sea in a storm impersonation . If 1/2 the stories of the
sabotage of the Vehical Ive heard were true G.M & Ford must have been
pretty worried . Not without reason .Production stopped @ 25.000 odd.
Incidently , 8 in rims will clear front and 10 in rear . Designed so
as dried balled clay wouldnt lock wheels. (110 deg. dries it well ! )
The large valance under the front , the intakes are hidden by the bumper
acts as a hydrofoil , if you inadvertantly forget its been raining up
river , at night. Had the water half way up the bonnet, L.S.D. caught
a boulder washing down , so she kept it moving to the far bank , where
the inertia kept it moving till the axle touched bottom again . Nice to
know theres reserves of capability designed in. A modern car would stop
and sink as the air dam / bumper hit the stream at 45 mph or it might
fall off ? Force 7 coincided with factory closure . World rareist mass
production car , with about a dozen escapeing the disintegration ? ? ?
Edited by M Spencer on Wednesday 23 June 19:26
RW774 said:
Help me get this right, I assume this was a NZ/Aus production car not available here in the UK?
It was definitely developed in Australia but I don't know if it was ever brought over here - you could think of it as the Australian Marina. Was famous for 2 things: being able to fit a 44 gallon drum in the boot and for build quality being absolutely pitiful - British Leyland was doing the same thing as in the UK in the 70s. Perhaps they were capable of being a good car but no-one really got the chance to find out. They are now rare and perhaps are starting to be appreciated for what they could have been.
Yes, the English arnt exactly renowned for there intelligance. Amongst other things.
Was a Aus & N.Z. Production item . Vehicals in Early 70s were built more to a price.
Than to a standard.Items like Radiator resivoirs and decent horns being absent .
Jap cars were more sophiticated (the Cressida used a rework on the Mechotti P-76 Styling.
But were generally like there fighter planes . A bit light in the chassis and Armour.
A 'P-38' with A.U. Falcon L.S.D. disc brake , and decent front discs , a 4.6 range rover
(or T V R ) bolt in . A Kiwi bolted a P 76 engine in his Escort Sport, and ran in the Top
ten in the international rallys , and won half the hill climbs it entered.
Chrysler won 'wheels ' big R.T.S. (RADIAL , the new fangled tyres) handling test,
from G.M. & Ford. Stock 'Land Barge' , 'Shopping Baskets'.P-38 beat em at Pukekohe.
Certain people should stick to RD 350s , there abuse would damadge decent Vehicals.
Was a Aus & N.Z. Production item . Vehicals in Early 70s were built more to a price.
Than to a standard.Items like Radiator resivoirs and decent horns being absent .
Jap cars were more sophiticated (the Cressida used a rework on the Mechotti P-76 Styling.
But were generally like there fighter planes . A bit light in the chassis and Armour.
A 'P-38' with A.U. Falcon L.S.D. disc brake , and decent front discs , a 4.6 range rover
(or T V R ) bolt in . A Kiwi bolted a P 76 engine in his Escort Sport, and ran in the Top
ten in the international rallys , and won half the hill climbs it entered.
Chrysler won 'wheels ' big R.T.S. (RADIAL , the new fangled tyres) handling test,
from G.M. & Ford. Stock 'Land Barge' , 'Shopping Baskets'.P-38 beat em at Pukekohe.
Certain people should stick to RD 350s , there abuse would damadge decent Vehicals.
braddo said:
RW774 said:
Help me get this right, I assume this was a NZ/Aus production car not available here in the UK?
It was definitely developed in Australia but I don't know if it was ever brought over here - you could think of it as the Australian Marina. Was famous for 2 things: being able to fit a 44 gallon drum in the boot and for build quality being absolutely pitiful - British Leyland was doing the same thing as in the UK in the 70s. Perhaps they were capable of being a good car but no-one really got the chance to find out. They are now rare and perhaps are starting to be appreciated for what they could have been.
infinately superior to the english early 70s ones . See what comes from being in a hurry !
P-76 Was not sold in england , though a few imported. ( was Leyland PROJECT 76 , utilised as car TYPE )
Q.C. was largely propoganda. Early build mayve leaked . Mayntve too. First could set fire to rear seat (foam) heat shield standardised fix.
G.M. the Prime Minister , The unions and others did the 'Tall Poppy ' bit. Optioned up , there a Brisk , comfortable cruize (Grace , Space, Pace ? )
Are twice the Volume of a Marina . Marinas here (and Kimberlys and Tasman X-6 s had S.O.H.C. 2.2 six (similar to Montego engine + 1/2 )
The 76 had a 2.6 litre six . The V-8 option was faser (! ? ) and more economical Generally .Similar size to a XJ 6 or 12.
An ounce of Handling's woth a Pound of H.P. , at the build weight , it had both . Decent exhaust system , cooling and carburation will
have them embarass 1/2 the cars built today. As far as effortless roadholing goes .Not the thing for a 'instant consumer' society though.
Edited by M Spencer on Saturday 26th June 09:15
RW774 said:
Hindsight is a wonderful thing. Is that right the Aussie Leyland dealer network just was not big enough to handle , what was `back in the day `a good but expensive product . Not enough dealers mean`t not enough sales, or they could not afford to buy/ stock them ,right?
Niet , Comrade. Goeff Whitlam' , the prime minister refered to them as a Lemon. On T.V.
The Neibours car was that colour so I wonder if they were friends of his.
Steel workers and other unions halted early production twice .So in the
first six months very few were produced. So very few people were able
to obtain one.People after a new car with deposits were forced to spend
them elsewhere on the whole.
Anglo - Italian or Ital - American .
Theres a few Italians in Australia. They sent the Charger E-49 prototype
to Italy to have the Triple 45 D.C.O.E.s dialed in by the Weber Factory
for ROAD use .The car raced succesfully in N.Z. had RACE Chokes and Jets
fitted.
The Bodywork of the Leyland was Australias most Popular Car ,the Kingswood
The 1`970 HG .( a big oops perhaps ) restyled by Italian Studio ' Mechotti '.
To compound maters there, G.M. wasnt entirely enthused as to its Aluminium
Oldsmobile Engine 'Going Walkabout'.
That it did in the Brabam and McLaren racing cars in the late 1960s wasnt
usefull advertiseing footage,with the engine no longer in production in
G.M. Plants .Just those 'Quaint' Rovers ( P-5 ).
As a matter of fact , A 4.4 Litre Repco - S.O.H.C. P - 6 Rover was built
and Raced in Australia ,by a Mr 'Smith'. This Car is still extant.
Seeing where talking to the Italian's The Auto is a 'Quatro-port '
A Mechotti - Oldsmobile - Quattroport . Only in Australia. And New Zealand.
Dave Oxten's Garage was on the corner of the Auckland Domain. He Drove the
Formular 5000 Open wheelers Common then in G.B. , Australia and Newzealand.
Most survivours are running correctly and meetings recently have Aired them.
This was the cowboy 'Full Whellie'round Pukekohe, His home Circuit.Assembled
in New Leyland P-76 V - 8 . Possibly an automatic , Like the Chargers raced
there ( They held the 6 Hr B & H Title 5 yrs running ).
Maybe the unions had got every bodys nose in line with there own .
Out of Joint.Though looking at Movies from then, I doubt that's what they
were out of .
What could have evolved after ten years of production is Hypothetical.What had
evolved in 18 months was a sorted High Spec Shopping Baskit. Remember 70s Ex.
systems.And big windmill fans. The Race options in fords from 1974 for Fords
came from there L.T.D. limo ,and Landau 'Coupe' Brother . The Chairmans Car .
They Leyland Coupe whose first run of Shells were crushed resembled an A.M.C.
Fastback , The Marlin. A Touring car .Pictured one of twelve sold at auction.
G.M. was without its Alloy Engined 'Skylark'. A Vehical a similar size to a
Falcon 'Compact' of 65 on,or the Earlier Fairlane Compacts, Canadian Versions
were very similar to Australian Tthough the later a few years poste haste .
This is where the Leyland V 8 - sat. The 2.6 Six cylinder sold around 1:3 or
so, more a suburban passenger wagon.
Country Vehicals were Expected to Work.
Though mine had been in a shed for 20 years .He'd bought another, an Executive
for $ 1400 or so ,It had towed a Caravan from Canberra to Bathurst Ea. Year. A
part of which is a steep gravel road canyon signposted 'This Road is unsuitable
for towing of Caravans' , to the Castrol six hour at Mt Panorama.
One of the 4 Leylands had been with a bloke who'd got the E-49 that had come 2nd
there in 74. He'd said the Charger had lost it by two laps.
They'd lost it by the 'Cold Lug nut trick ' .
Those days the wheel changes (and Brake Pad.) were by trolley Jack (2) and wheel
Brace (4) . Then there was gloves and things.In actual fact the Lugs were anything
but 'COLD'. They figured the'd be right if the Lug NUTS were. Two minutes later
they wernt so convinced .Theyed put the hot ones back on ,as New Wheel Nuts on
HOT simering studs ,wasnt happening .A Norton 850 did the same trick same year.
they haddent recon'd on a Pad Change.The pads there went A.W.O.L. in the front
brake. Lost time there wasnt recouperated.People are in a hurry.
Digresing Further.The 1970 Bonniville got the 6 Hr then , Amaro Park , from the
Electric start Hondas.Next year, at the line The Bonniville was told to Replace
its worn footrests .The American Model had folding rests.An Oversight in Australia.
Dispite Global unrest , times were HI , and Japenese hadnt gained predominance in
international automotive production .
Tall poppys and Open Fields .
hmm, off on a rant there 
1972 was the year that a charger lost by 2 laps, and they finished 3rd and 4th, so they weren't even second, had the supercar scare not been stirred up by the media about people killing themselves with 160mph supercars you would have seen a ford finish first, like they did in 73 and 74.
73 a charger finished 6th and 13 laps behind the winner, e49 undoubtedly a great car but never a winner and therefore will never be worth as much as a phase 3 xygt, or the only phase 4 made that would have gone racing in 72
1972 was the year that a charger lost by 2 laps, and they finished 3rd and 4th, so they weren't even second, had the supercar scare not been stirred up by the media about people killing themselves with 160mph supercars you would have seen a ford finish first, like they did in 73 and 74.
73 a charger finished 6th and 13 laps behind the winner, e49 undoubtedly a great car but never a winner and therefore will never be worth as much as a phase 3 xygt, or the only phase 4 made that would have gone racing in 72
Right you are , 2 laps lost , an E-49 . its the off coloured one plastered with stickers. Still extant.
DBS v8 , last decent car made in England , could getem for 5 to 10 tousand pounds once.Mass produced now
With TWO Montego Engines.
The Kiwi E-49 scared moffats Mod. Prod. Falcon , so Allan went home .Kiwis often applied more mechanical
ingenuity. Such as young Bruce McLaren. often workoholics though & exploited by Snivling P..s .
H.O. Falcons were fitted with 4 bolt Nascar engines. Hardly Aussie built. Then most Aussies thought Valiants were wog's cars !
P.S. Q, whats a Lotus 40 ., A, a Lotus 30 with 10 more mistakes . . .
To put it in perspective , A New Bently Coupe & two people, is the weight of a P-38 with 20 Passengers.
AND doesnt sufer from a PLASTIC grill .Leave the passengers out on a hill , and youll start to get somewhere
particularly if its not fitted with 70s tractor Carb & Ex. system . Popular Rad. is the WB. Holden Ute. one .
DBS v8 , last decent car made in England , could getem for 5 to 10 tousand pounds once.Mass produced now
With TWO Montego Engines.
The Kiwi E-49 scared moffats Mod. Prod. Falcon , so Allan went home .Kiwis often applied more mechanical
ingenuity. Such as young Bruce McLaren. often workoholics though & exploited by Snivling P..s .
H.O. Falcons were fitted with 4 bolt Nascar engines. Hardly Aussie built. Then most Aussies thought Valiants were wog's cars !
P.S. Q, whats a Lotus 40 ., A, a Lotus 30 with 10 more mistakes . . .
Edited by M Spencer on Monday 28th June 09:13
To put it in perspective , A New Bently Coupe & two people, is the weight of a P-38 with 20 Passengers.
AND doesnt sufer from a PLASTIC grill .Leave the passengers out on a hill , and youll start to get somewhere
particularly if its not fitted with 70s tractor Carb & Ex. system . Popular Rad. is the WB. Holden Ute. one .
Edited by M Spencer on Monday 28th June 10:22
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