75ZT Community

..and wondering what practical ideas folks have in regards to our cars and how we can ensure long term survival of them?

One good thing is that the tooling exists in China plus the cheaper manufacturing costs there.

However, a large number of cars have been scrapped so how many exist as a cheap runabout and how many as a cherished car - will Xpart be happy / make enough money providing parts for the number of cars.

Will a supplier such as Rimmer Bros want to invest as it does for Triumphs?

There is the example of the Stag whereby 25,000 were built and the owners clubs have tool funds etc.

At the end of the day it will be down to co-operation and strong clubs that can speak for their members and whose main reason for being is to keep the cars on the road

I'd guess the best way to ensure some degree of longevity would be to snap up a "parts car" or two, if you have the space and the money that is

I don't ever want to get rid of mine, but guess that one day there'll be some part I can no longer get for it, or worse, that it'll be in an accident and written off....

PaulT wrote:
At the end of the day it will be down to co-operation and strong clubs that can speak for their members and whose main reason for being is to keep the cars on the road

Not much chance of that happening unless there is a change of ownership of the biggest club.

Bernard wrote:Not much chance of that happening unless there is a change of ownership of the biggest club.

That's very topical!

Well if anyone is that keen, there's a brand new saloon bodyshell for almost nothing available. Been stored outside but no salt or chips so it should be like new.

Edit: just read what I wrote, and it sounds like Friday tea!

My bought from new Tourer is now 9 years old (and beginning to show it ). My original plan was to keep it 3 years and trade it in for another new one. Alas, Rover didn't last that long so that option wasn't available to me. So, I then took the decision to get my moneys worth out of it and just drive it into the ground . . .

More lately, I'm of the mind to start stockpiling the necessary parts to upgrade it and return it to as new condition (new interior, body panels where necessary, and a respray etc) when it reaches 15 or so and then retire it from daily use. Obviously in the meantime I will also need to accumulate service items as well 'just in case'.

I try very hard not to be too sentimental about the 75 but sometimes it is a struggle - but being the only car I've ever bought from new (whether that was a wise decision or not, I'm still not sure) I would like to keep it long term.

I think spares will remain available for the forseeable future but in the long term I'm not so sure - I doubt the 75 will ever be considered 'classic enough' to have anything more than a few specialist suppliers.

As for the part to be played by the owners clubs (note the use of the plural), I appreciate that we're not supposed to slag off the biggest one on here but under the present regime I can't see that they will ever do anything positive.

Clearly door finishers are far more important than proper, practical consideration of what could / should be happening to preserve the marque..

I think Basil, that has to be the most sentimental post I have ever read from you....

The parts issue... at the moment S/H parts are cheap...as are even some new bits. But,it would be really helpful for example if certain things were to be 'held' for potential future use in getting replacements made - like ECUs, BCUs airbag ECUs etc... things that may become impossible to get in years to come? The 260s are investing in such a programme.

Thanks for all the suggestions so far, do keep them coming!

[quote="Zeb"

I think Basil, that has to be the most sentimental post I have ever read from you....)[/quote]



Is that a slight chink in the armour? Almost brought a tear to ones eye

Bernard wrote:Not much chance of that happening unless there is a change of ownership of the biggest club.

Don't see why that would be necessary, it could be groups of the membership making arrangements for re-manufacture of parts, with tacit support from the club owner (singular). I presume they would have to fund it themselves though.
However, if anybody using this forum wanted to use the Community name as a bargaining chip in support of their endeavour, being a free, gratis and for nuthin' venture we cannot, of course, offer any financial assistance as we don't have any funds to speak of but can offer the use of the forum to publicise and gain support for any venture.

Earlier I mentioned the Stag clubs and their remanufacturing endeavours. Perhaps they can offer some guidance.

As a PS, having recently moved to Lincolnshire there seems to be a great many 75s and ZTs here - far more than I saw in Surrey

PaulT wrote:Earlier I mentioned the Stag clubs and their remanufacturing endeavours. Perhaps they can offer some guidance

Also look at the MG Owners Club - they supply enough parts to build complete cars!

PaulT wrote:As a PS, having recently moved to Lincolnshire there seems to be a great many 75s and ZTs here - far more than I saw in Surrey

I know of one in Sleaford, a couple near Skegness, and God knows how many now near Metheringham!

Dave wrote:

PaulT wrote:Earlier I mentioned the Stag clubs and their remanufacturing endeavours. Perhaps they can offer some guidance

Also look at the MG Owners Club - they supply enough parts to build complete cars!

PaulT wrote:As a PS, having recently moved to Lincolnshire there seems to be a great many 75s and ZTs here - far more than I saw in Surrey

I know of one in Sleaford, a couple near Skegness, and God knows how many now near Metheringham!

Currently 3, however one of them isn't ours! (and no we didn't steal it!)

JakeWilson wrote:Currently 3, however one of them isn't ours! (and no we didn't steal it!)

What about that nice funny coloured one (chromatic?) from Ireland? Any chance you'll be getting that!?

Not sure yet! Fingers crossed though.

Dave wrote:

PaulT wrote:Earlier I mentioned the Stag clubs and their remanufacturing endeavours. Perhaps they can offer some guidance

Also look at the MG Owners Club - they supply enough parts to build complete cars!

The reason I mentioned the Stag is that only 25,000 were made and a number have been dismantled / crashed etc so the number of surviving cars is relatively low.

MGs on the other hand had large numbers built and large numbers survive thereby giving economies of scale

PaulT wrote:The reason I mentioned the Stag is that only 25,000 were made and a number have been dismantled / crashed etc so the number of surviving cars is relatively low.

MGs on the other hand had large numbers built and large numbers survive thereby giving economies of scale

Yup, that struck me after I had typed what I typed!

Having said that though, the fact that any owners clubs make an effort to re-manufacture supply and supply parts can only be a good thing!

zojosc wrote:[quote="Zeb"

I think Basil, that has to be the most sentimental post I have ever read from you....



Is that a slight chink in the armour? Almost brought a tear to ones eye

I promise 'normal service' will resume shortly

JakeWilson wrote:Not sure yet! Fingers crossed though.

Keep us posted!

Dave wrote:

PaulT wrote:Earlier I mentioned the Stag clubs and their remanufacturing endeavours. Perhaps they can offer some guidance

Also look at the MG Owners Club - they supply enough parts to build complete cars!

PaulT wrote:As a PS, having recently moved to Lincolnshire there seems to be a great many 75s and ZTs here - far more than I saw in Surrey

I know of one in Sleaford, a couple near Skegness, and God knows how many now near Metheringham!

yep I was just about to add about the MG Owner's Club. If there are enough owners of the 75 and ZT who want to keep them on the road, manufacturers like Rimmer Bros etc will see a market for their products