875 - April 1966 to February 1970

Mark A Mark B Mark C Mark D Mark E Mark F Mark G Equipe Bug Scooters Production statistics		VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS BY CHASSIS NUMBER   Date Chassis Number Details of modifications and changes in specification AUG. 1965 Q/8/50001 The Mark I 875 Saloon was announced. An all glass fibre four-seater body with the 875 cc engine and transaxle assembly as used in the Hillman Imp car. The rear mounted, water-cooled engine behind the transaxle drove the rear wheels. It had a 4 speed and reverse gearbox and independent suspension on all wheels. The main front down tube incorporated a leading arm and the whole assembly was designed to lean the front wheel over when the steering was turned. Tyres were 12"x5½ ", with 8" hydraulic brakes, a 6 gallon petrol tank and conventional 12 volt lighting/starting. Early first vehicles (50002, 50003, 50004 - Cactus Green and 50005 - White) were shown with “Equipe 2+2” aluminium front ¼ bumpers, an aluminium bonnet and engine cover, a full width Imp fascia panel, fully sprung “car” type front seats and “Triplex” opening rear side windows. Length 10' 8", width 4' 7" and height 4' 3". APR. 1966 R/4/50006 Saloon production finally commenced. Delays prior to this were partially caused by problems with producing the body moulds and the need for a certain amount of redesigning due to weight, steering and cooling problems which were experienced during the testing of the early prototypes. Vehicles were now fitted with the lower compression 875 cc, 34 b.h.p. engine from the Commer van. Production vehicles emerged without front bumpers, a bonnet and engine cover in glass fibre, non-opening rear side windows in Perspex and thin, tubular, front seats padded with foam. The Imp fascia panel was discarded and the instrument binnacle mounted on a simplified glass fibre design. Steering problems had also been overcome with the introduction of the fully floating front brake back plate. Price £410 plus £86 19s 7d purchase tax making a total of £496 19s 7d. (£496.98p) Optional extra’s (offered as “extra’s” to help keep the weight down) were a spare wheel costing £9 4s 6d (£9.23p), a heater/demister at £9 4s 5d (£9.22p) and a roof mounted suitcase for £12 12s 4d (£12.62p). Colours available: White, Cherry Red, Wedgwood Blue, Cactus Green, and Golden Sand. The interior trim colour was Grey JUNE 1966 R/6/50033 Non standard colour - Primer. OCT. 1966 R/10/50232 Non standard colour - Quartz Blue. NOV. 1966 R/11/50284 The prototype 875 Ranger Van entered the Gosford Street production line on 10th November and was tested on 3rd December 1966. This vehicle was used to establish the unladen weight of the Ranger Van and was submitted to H.M. Customs and Excise for approval. Body colour White.             DEC. 1966 R/12/50395 This Saloon was the last recorded entry in the surviving production records. Tested on 10th December 1966, the body colour was Golden Sand. MAR. 1967  S/3/50730 The Inhibitor used in the cooling system for the summer months was now coloured purple to differentiate it from Bluecol A.A. antifreeze. APR. 1967  S/4/50779 Production of the 875 Ranger Van was started. A van version of the Saloon with a lift up tailgate, no side windows, single drivers seat in the front with aluminium side partitioning and 40 cu. ft. of goods carrying capacity on a flat rear floor extending into the passenger compartment. A single wing mirror was fitted - by law - to the right hand front wing. Price (with no purchase tax payable on commercial vehicles) was £417 10s 0d (£417.50p) in primer or for another £10 the body could be painted! Optional extra’s cost £9 4s 6d (£9.23p) for a spare wheel, £9 4s 5d (£9.22p) for the heater/demister and £9 15s 0d (£9.75p) for the front passenger seat. (This was never a popular “extra” and appears to have been fitted as standard almost straight away.) New colours of White, Dolphin Grey, Winchester Blue and Signal Red were available for both Ranger Vans and Saloons. SEPT. 1967 S/9/51??? A Ranger Van to “Show” finish was converted into an Estate Car to consider the problems of weight. The Product Development Committee meeting minutes of October 3rd 1967 reported that, after weighing, the vehicle’s unladen weight was 8 cwt. 21 lb. “It therefore seems unlikely that we could produce an Estate car version of the 875 within the statutory weight limit.” The matter was left in abeyance. MAR. 1968 T/3/52030 The Mark I Saloon was discontinued. The last chassis number. MAR. 1968 T/3/52039 The Mark II Saloon was introduced. An identical mechanical specification, but the body featured a restyled front with a larger opening bonnet, rectangular headlamps, combined sidelights/flashers and a front grille concealing the heater air intake. Windscreen washers and a heater became standard fittings. Price £449 10s 0d + £126 18s 1ld purchase tax making £576 8s 1ld (£576.44p). Colours initially available were White, Signal Red, Winchester Blue and Prairie Beige but sometime in late 1968 or early 1969, Winchester Blue was replaced and new colours of Bermuda Blue and Bahama Yellow were introduced. (Ranger Vans were then only available in Signal Red, White or Bermuda Blue.) Interior trim colour changed to Black. The registration number of the first Mark II produced is believed to be GRN 297 F. MAR. 1968 T/3/52041 Windscreen washers became standard fittings on the Ranger Van. JUNE 1969 U/6/***** The Production Meeting Minutes of 6th June 1969 recorded that the remaining number of 875’s to build till the end of production, as of Monday 2nd June, was 240. FEB. 1970 V/2/53440 The Mark II Saloon was discontinued. The last produced came off the Final Line during w/e 20th February 1970. It had White bodywork and the registration number YMU 51 H. FEB. 1970  V/2/53441 The Ranger Van was discontinued. The last produced, and the last chassis number, also came off the Final Line during w/e 20th February 1970.