Welcome to the dedicated "6" area of the Forum

[BernieParticipant]

Since purchasing my 15/6 in 2016 I have discovered that there are a lot more Sixes within the TOC- both Slough- and Paris-built –  than I had imagined.

Several owners have been very helpful to me as I tackle the steep learning curve of 6 ownership and maintenance.  In addition, several others have posed their own questions but my limited experience has meant I have been able to satisfactorily answer very few of those myself.

I therefore hope this facility will help all owners to not only obtain answers to their particular questions but to also share useful information unique to 6-cylinder Tractions.

The current three topic sub-headings are simply a starting point.  Should a clear need arise for additional topics, they can be added at any time in the future.

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[Philippe AllisonParticipant]

Bernie,  Thank you for taking the time to set this up, I am sure lots of 6 owners will find it useful. I have a 1950 Slough 6 that was sold new to South Africa, it was repatriated in 2013. I had no idea what I was taking on, a few people warned me but thinking I knew best I went ahead. The car has been subject to a total rebuild and now has been on and off the road for 2 years. I am still trying to sort out all the teething problems! This weekend I think I may have fixed the radiator leak and also the gearbox oil leak. Oil seemed to be escaping from the speedometer drive, one or two people said “impossible unless the gearbox was overfilled”, well it turns out the high pressure pipe from the gearbox oil pump that feeds into the centre of the pinion shaft had sheared off allowing the high pressure oil to fill the pump body and having no place to go it was forced out through the speedometer drive!! Happy days, sorted now just need to put the grill back on!

Happy tractioning!  Philippe

[Julian PrattParticipant]

Bernie, thanks for setting this up.

It would be interesting to know how many TOC members have 15/6 and Big 6 cars in their garages! Mine originated in Ireland and was brought over to the UK and registered in April 1990. Sometime later it passed into the hands of Ray Fielding, who was an extremely wealthy motor racing enthusiast with an impressive collection of (now) extremely valuable racing cars including the 1956 Le Mans winning D Type Jaguar, a Type 57 Bugatti and a 1953/54 Maserati A6GMC. He also had Maserati, Peugeot, Lancia and significantly, Citroen dealerships.

The car was restored by a retired or nearly retired Citroen trained mechanic and used a display vehicle in the Citroen garage in Forres near Inverness from about 1999. Just a few years later Ray got very ill and the business was folded up and the family kept the car in the empty garage for the next 15 years! I heard about the car and went to see it. It had not run for many many years, but with a new battery and petrol it started immediately and ran beautifully. I put it on a trailer and took it home. Brakes had all seized up, but apart from that it seems in super order. Mark Harding did the brakes and felt it was a car that had been in a time warp and he was excited that he found the “fingerprints” of the original Citroen mechanic in several places on the car.

Below is an old picture of the car in the Citroen dealership celebrating Christmas!

Regards

Julian Pratt 07824 313541

 

[Kevin TaylorParticipant]

I bought my 1951 Slough built Big 6 in 2016 and it is in need of a total renovation. The engine needed new liners and pistons and the cylinder head was scrap as one of the valves had melted a valve seat. I have just finished rebuilding the front brakes and currently struggling to get the steering rack back together. It was bought as a retirement project and it certainly keeps me busy. One of the biggest issues has been getting hold of the numerous special tools that are needed for just about every job. Living in Australia the bodies suffer less from rust but they are not completely immune. Parts availability is good but at a price.

[BernieParticipant]

In (partial) answer to Julian’s thoughts  ….. GDPR now makes it very difficult to keep lists and distribute information but, by my reckoning, there are at least 34 Six-owning TOC members.

I sent an initial introductory e-mail to 32 TOC members whom I believed to be 6 owners advising them that there is now a section of the Forum dedicated to 6-Cylinder matters.

Twenty-one of those have UK addresses.  Of the other eleven, three are in Australia, one in Belgium, three in the Netherlands, two in New Zealand, one in Portugal and one in Uganda.  I know one other UK member who definitely has a French-built car but I have no e-mail address for him and  if I have missed any others I shall be very pleased to receive their details.

I also copied the message to one member in the United States who does not have a car but I know he does have a very keen interest in the model.

I am also aware of several other UK-based Sixes that are not owned by TOC members.

 

As a personal initiative, I intend to create a record of all the Sixes I can find in the TOC plus any other UK based vehicles.  I believe the contact information alone could be of benefit to owners at some time sooner or later.

However, as I said above, GDPR is making such information difficult to gather and possibly “dangerous” to hold so I do not want any responsibility for my list to fall on the TOC.  My next step will be to write once more to the 32 – this time as an individual – and ask if they are willing for me to add their details to my record which I shall keep on my PC in a password-protected file accessible to me alone and with the undertaking that nobody’s information will ever be divulged to any other person without their consent.

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[Mark RobinsonParticipant]

Bernie,

you can add

Bernie, you can add another Big 6 i have just purchased a Slough built one that’s been hidden away in a shed fo 46 years Chassis No 118704 

Bernie,

[BernieParticipant]

Yippeee,

Looking at the condition, I guess this was not found in the UK.

Congratulations – and good luck.

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[Mark RobinsonParticipant]

No not UK, I’m in Melbourne Australia, the car was on a farm out side of Melb, body is solid no rust but unfortunately motor is seized .

[Julian PrattParticipant]

Mark

That looks a really interesting project, where the bodywork looks good (hard to replace) but the engine is in trouble (lots of parts available). I have found out that other Big 6 owners have developed various contacts and if you have any problems sourcing bits come on to this site and ask for help. It will make life much easier!

Regards

Julian

[Mark RobinsonParticipant]

Hi Julian,

parts are what I’m going to need, when i looked into the oil filler cap i found the one of the push rods was not touching the rocker so i have removed the head and found 2 bent rods and 2 stuck exhaust valves so it a head rebuild. As for the motor I’m not sure yet still haven’t been able to turn it over even with the end off, Ive got diesel soaking in the bores.

Regards

Mark

[Philippe AllisonParticipant]

Hi Mark,

Not wishing to teach Gran to suck eggs. Please make sure the cylinder liners are clamped down hard before you try and turn the engine over otherwise they may move and break the seal at the bottom and that will mean a total strip down.You may be able to see from the attached photo I used some large repair washers and suitable bolts.

Good luck and keep us posted. Philippe Allison

 

[Mark RobinsonParticipant]

Thanks Philippe,

that’s a nice fresh looking motor. I couldn’t find big enough washers on hand so this in my fix

chees

Mark

[Philippe AllisonParticipant]

Mark,

 

Thats perfect, good luck.

 

Philippe

[887Participant]

Hello folks, some advice if you can:  My 1949/50 Big 6 has developed a very leaky radiator.  Looking at the TOC spares list a reconditioned one is £1200, rather more than for a four cylinder car!  I wonder if anybody can recommend a company that recons rads or an alternative supplier.  Much as I would like to support the TOC that is a rather expensive option!  Tony

[Julian PrattParticipant]

I have dealt with Classic Automobile Service and they are excellent! They have a new 15/6 Radiator for 741 Euro + VAT. The link is https://www.cas-shop.com/en/product-categorie/cooling-system-grill-heating-15cv/. I do not know the differences between a Big 6 and a 15/6 radiator and the experts may not like this idea. But I have a Big 6 with a 15/6 radiator and it looks and seems fine!

As a point I guess you can buy this less VAT and then pay the UK VAT when it comes into the UK. Needs some thinking about but has to be worth it!

[Author]

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