Rootes seems to have used a unique type of vinyl uphostry-it gives off an odor
that you can only smell in a Rootes car. Even after all these years, my '59
Minx with the original interior still smells like a Hillman. I am sure the
same is true of Alpines if they have the hardtop on and have the original
Rootes interior.
But I do have to agree with you-who needs guages? You know what is happening
by the smell of whatever it is that is burning or vaporizing at that moment.
Jan Eyerman
1959 Hillman Minx Series III DeLuxe
1973 Hillman Avenger (ex Plymouth Cricket)
rnanzig@webtv.net (robert nanzig) wrote:
A while back I was making a sales call on a store owner not far
from here and told him that I occasionally brought my kids to his store
for ice cream in my Alpine. He got all glassy eyed and started
reminiscing about HIS Alpine ( small world ) and that he could still
remember what it smelled like.
Ever since then I've been wondering what smell he remembers. Is it
gas fumes from the cross-over tube in the trunk, clutch fluid smoldering
on the hot downpipes, antifreeze spewing from the radiator, or rodent
droppings from last winter's mouse carnival in the upholstery?
I asked my brother ( my SV's previous owner ) about the accuracy of
the guages and his reply was " Who needs guages, just sniff to see which
fluid is burning or leaking and that's the system that needs attention."
God I love these cars!
See you all in Dayton.
Rob Nanzig
67SV
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