Go Back   The 75 and ZT Owners Club Forums > The 75 and ZT Owners Club Forums > The 75 and ZT Owners Club General Forum
Register FAQ Image Gallery Members List Calendar Mark Forums Read
Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 20th May 2017, 14:07   #1
KLM
Posted a thing or two
 
Rover 75 Club CDT

Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North West
Posts: 1,289
Thanks: 691
Thanked 394 Times in 240 Posts
Default Overdrive

In the 1960's I had a Sunbeam Rapier 3A with Overdrive on 4th gear. With the flick of a switch it kicked in, like cruise control really.
it was a pretty cool feature to have in those days.
It had the name of Laycock de Normanville overdrive.
Anyone remember them?
I think some Rovers used them too.
Here is a photo of mine, the unit is to the rear of the gearbox.


Kev.

Last edited by KLM; 20th May 2017 at 14:13..
KLM is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20th May 2017, 14:13   #2
clf
This is my second home
 
clf's Avatar
 
MG ZT CDTi

Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: carrick
Posts: 7,859
Thanks: 3,494
Thanked 2,657 Times in 1,973 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by KLM View Post
In the 1960's I had a Sunbeam Rapier 3A with Overdrive on 4th gear. With the flick of a switch it kicked in, like cruise control really.
it was a pretty cool feature to have in those days.
It had the name of Laycock Normandeville overdrive.
Anyone remember them?
I think some Rovers used them too.
Here is a photo of mine, the unit is to the rear of the gearbox.


Kev.
Funnily enough, I just watched a Car SOS extra on Facebook about the gearbox of a Sunbeam Alpine, and it had a brief explanation of its Laycock overdrive.

LINK (dont need Facebook account to watch )
__________________


It is not gloss primer .............. it is duct tape silver!
clf is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20th May 2017, 14:17   #3
KLM
Posted a thing or two
 
Rover 75 Club CDT

Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North West
Posts: 1,289
Thanks: 691
Thanked 394 Times in 240 Posts
Default

Wow That's a coincidence.
Kev.
KLM is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20th May 2017, 14:57   #4
another_clean_sheet
Posted a thing or two
 
another_clean_sheet's Avatar
 
Rover 75 CDTI Tourer

Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Great Bardfield, nr Braintree
Posts: 1,409
Thanks: 303
Thanked 436 Times in 317 Posts
Default

The Standard Vanguard also used the same Laycock overdrive which worked on the 2nd and 3rd gear turning the 3 speed box into 5 speed.
Unlike cruise control the speed was still controlled by the driver and throttle.
another_clean_sheet is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20th May 2017, 15:27   #5
Gareth.Richards
Loves to post
 
Gareth.Richards's Avatar
 
Rover 75 Saloon

Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Oswestry
Posts: 399
Thanks: 263
Thanked 93 Times in 84 Posts
Default

My TR6 had overdrive on 3rd/4th gears also!
Gareth
Gareth.Richards is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20th May 2017, 15:33   #6
cengar
Loves to post
 
rover 75 saloon cdti

Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Trelights
Posts: 351
Thanks: 158
Thanked 168 Times in 123 Posts
Default

Served my apprenticeship on those took many apart
cengar is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20th May 2017, 16:07   #7
KLM
Posted a thing or two
 
Rover 75 Club CDT

Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North West
Posts: 1,289
Thanks: 691
Thanked 394 Times in 240 Posts
Default

Hey that's nice that many of the guys on the forum remember the overdrive feature of the 50's and 60's.
Driving was a real pleasure back then, and finding somewhere to park.....well,
you virtually parked where you needed to.
Kev.
KLM is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20th May 2017, 16:22   #8
Freebyrd
Posted a thing or two
 
MG ZT-T

Join Date: May 2010
Location: Edinburgh
Posts: 1,667
Thanks: 992
Thanked 384 Times in 277 Posts
Default

Overdrive (on 3rd&4th gear) was fitted as standard on the Vauxhall VX4/90. Vauxhall's rival to the Mk. 3 Cortina. It certainly quietened the engine noise at 60-70 mph.
__________________
MG ZT-T 180+Sports Auto
Date of Birth: 21 May 2002
Freebyrd is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20th May 2017, 16:30   #9
wraymond
I will find or make a way
 
wraymond's Avatar
 
75 Auto 2.5 SE

Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Westcliff on Sea
Posts: 5,167
Thanks: 423
Thanked 1,680 Times in 1,014 Posts
Default

Also on my Humber Sceptre Mk 1 and my Sunbeam Alpine Mk 3. Always thought it was a Rootes thing but apparently not! Not exactly cruise control but next best thing. My alpine had a Holbay lump with twin Webers, most enjoyable.
__________________
member no. 235
wraymond is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20th May 2017, 16:34   #10
suzublu
This is my second home
 
suzublu's Avatar
 
rover 75 1.8 vvc club se wedgwood blue

Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Seaton Carew
Posts: 26,880
Thanks: 65
Thanked 7,142 Times in 4,642 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by wraymond View Post
Also on my Humber Sceptre Mk 1 and my Sunbeam Alpine Mk 3. Always thought it was a Rootes thing but apparently not! Not exactly cruise control but next best thing. My alpine had a Holbay lump with twin Webers, most enjoyable.
Funny you should mention that, my Humber Sceptre (Hunter shape) also had overdrive. It was on the column iirc.
suzublu is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 17:00.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright © 2006-2023, The Rover 75 & MG ZT Owners Club Ltd