series V alpine questions

[old hp 260]

did this car ever have a telescopic steering column? and driving lights with a cat image? just curious i couldn't find any information on this, also were wire wheels an option?

[Moderator]

I was curious... so I looked it up.

Here's a link the the series 5 owners' handbook: http://www.rootes1725cc.info/alpine/handbook/cover.htm

I think adjustable steering was an option on both splendid models, the "Sports Tourer" and and the "Gran Turismo Hardtop", but this brochure makes it sound like adjustable steering was standard: http://www.rootes1725cc.info/alpine/inside.htm. The control is labeled #25/#27 in these figures respectively: http://www.rootes1725cc.info/alpine/handbook/pages/08_09.gif  

Wire wheels were apparently an option too - although I don't recall ever seeing them. (You don't want them do you?) They aren't mentioned in the Alpine sales literature I've seen, but they are described in the owner's handbook, here: http://www.rootes1725cc.info/alpine/handbook/18_19.htm and here: http://www.rootes1725cc.info/alpine/handbook/20_21.htm

[BlownMGB-V8]

The cat image in the headlights indicate Marschal headlights, renowned as having a very high quality lens but having also drifted into the unobtainium category. Marschal lamps tend to draw an extremely high premium when you can find them. The current offerings from Bosch have very nearly the same optics.

Jim

[old hp 260]

thank you for the great information!! i'm buying a complete rusty car (also a tree limb hit the front fender) with this stuff on it and an extra set of wire wheels in the trunk, iv'e seen pics. of the series 1,2 & 3 with wire wheels but not the series V, the owner of the car was asking me these questions and i didn't know either. thanks again for all your help and curtis i'll let you know about the wire wheels. not sure of the condition of the wheels i think they are a 60 spoke 13" wheel, i'll know more when i see the car in person in about 2 weeks.

[old hp 260]

i was also wondering if the tiger ever came with the telescopic steering column?

[ex-tyke]

Mark,
      If my memory serves me correctly (from driving my friend's Tiger back in the 60's), it has a telescopic column.

[old hp 260]

thanks Graham........

[old hp 260]

well i got the car home last night, the underside is very rusty the engine looks very good, the marschal driving lights (not headlights) are there but one looks like it has a broken filiment. can they be rebuilt? 6 of the wire wheels are in good condition, and in the trunk there is a mount for the lead hammer is this factory? and there are 2 items with the chrysler star emblem, the drivers side mirror, and passenger side lower front fender, i'm going to see if i can get the engine running next weekend!!

[old hp 260]

well just for fun i put a new battery in the car (battery box is almost rusted out) cleaned the terminals, the head lights and turn signals work, the blower motor works, horn wants to work lol, windshield wipers don't work, and the starter solinoid is bad, so i tried a jumper wire and the starter bendix works but doesn't engage the flywheel. i'll do some more work when it gets a little warmer outside, i'm just very curious to see if i can get the engine to run after all this time sitting. all the glass cleaned up very nice, as well as the stainless trim pieces. the brakes need to be rebuilt, and the hydraulic clutch too!! the milage is 79,000 when it was parked, and last registered in 94, so it;s been sitting about 15 years outside. the right front fender where the tree limb hit is not to bad and can be repaired without to much trouble, i'll post some pics. soon.

[old hp 260]

worked on the car some more today, i got the engine to fire and run for about 5 seconds with starting fluid. seems the fuel pump isn't working, but at least it fired!! the engine is very quiet when it was running lol....more later also the engine is a 1725cc with the aluminum head, 4 speed no overdrive.

[old hp 260]

i got the tiger home today and sure enough it has the telescopic steering also.

[old hp 260]

i installed a 94 S-10 rearend under my 66 alpine (it's a bolt in) with 2- 14" 5" wide wheels from a 65 buick skylark, looks good, and has 28 spline axels just like the 8.5 rear. it should handle the power from a 3.4 engine with a 5 speed. here's the pic. link http://s652.photobucket.com/albums/uu246/sunbeam_2009/   click on small pic. to enlarge.

[67 Tiger]

My 67 has the telescope column, I think all series 5's had them.