Mark F - November 1958 to January 1963

Mark A Mark B Mark C Mark D Mark E Mark G Equipe 875 Bug Scooters Production statistics		VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS BY CHASSIS NUMBER   Date Chassis Number Details of modifications and changes in specification NOV 1958 J/11/21181 The Mark F was introduced. The body was identical to the Mark E with a 2/3 seater Tourer and Saloon Coupe, but the Villiers 31A, 250 cc engine with a 4 speed positive stop gearbox and a Siba Dynastart was now used. A 4 seater Family Saloon with two small, forward-facing, rear hammock seats also became available. There were no changes to the dimensions and the weight remained at 672 lb. The colours of Scarlet, British Racing Green and Light Green were also unchanged. Prices started at £379 13s 9d (£379.68p) for the 2/3 seater Saloon Coupe and Tourer and went to £389 14s 6d (£389.73p) for the 4-seater Family Saloon. Reverse was extra at £9 17s 0d (£9.85p). DEC. 1958 J/12/21300 A new type of dash panel not incorporating the bottom dash finisher strip was introduced. DEC. 1958 J/12/21378 This Scarlet Family Saloon was recorded as the Villiers Show vehicle. DEC. 1958 J/12/21430 The “Easistart” decompressor was fitted. JAN. 1959 K/1/21650 A new type of hard top with larger side windows was introduced. FEB. 1959 K/2/21760  Seat frames were secured to the floor using clips instead of being mounted on studs. FEB. 1959 K/2/21815 An 18 mm decompressor was fitted. MAR. 1959 K/3/22000 Triplex glass was introduced for the rear side windows of hard top vehicles. MAR. 1959 K/3/22130 The material specification for the front trailing arm was changed. JUNE 1959 K/6/22900 A new type of etching primer was used on the hard tops. AUG. 1959 K/8/23223 The clutch and accelerator pedals were modified by machining a piece from the rear. This gave more movement for the clutch and increased the amount of lift on the carburettor slide. AUG. 1959  K/8/23434 The rear axle channel drilling was modified for “toe-in”. SEPT. 1959 K/9/23500 All Villiers 31A engines now had big ends with caged rollers and bushes in the gearbox high gear pinion. OCT. 1959 K/10/23740 Exhaust pipes were repositioned to relieve stress in the pipe flange. OCT. 1959 K/10/23961 Michelin “C” tyres made in Italy were fitted to front wheels only. NOV. 1959 K/11/24300 Michelin “C” tyres made in England were fitted to all wheels. JAN. 1960 L/1/24904 The “White Lady”, registration number NRN 800. This was a specially prepared Tourer for Sharp's Commercials Managing Director, Colonel Gray. It featured White paintwork with dark trim strips on the wings and doors, a Black hood, leopard skin seat covers, white steering wheel and a dark coloured dash panel. A radio was fitted, along with wheel trims, twin “Notek” spot lamps and the engine was tuned by Ralph Bilbe of Thrift Motors, Southall, Middlesex. A top speed of 60 m.p.h. was claimed! MAR. 1960 L/3/25409 The first vehicle recorded with a new type of brake shoe fitted and the wheel rim bolts increased in size to 5/16". MAR. 1960 L/3/25618 The first recorded chassis number for the Mark F Ranger. This was a commercial version of the Family Saloon. It had no side windows or rear seats, but was fitted with an opening rear window for loading purposes. The carrying capacity was 3 cwt. or 31 cu. ft. Body colour Scarlet. Price was £295 0s 0d (£295.00p) for a vehicle in Primer and an extra £4 10s 0d (£4.50p) for it to be painted! Reverse was also available for £8 2s 6d (£8 13p) extra. MAR. 1960 L/3/25670 A Family Saloon painted in a new colour, Sunburst Yellow. APR. 1960 L/4/25733 A Family Saloon painted in a new colour, Shark Blue. APR. 1960 L/4/25739 A Family Saloon painted in a new colour, Vulcan Grey. APR. 1960 L/4/25743 A Family Saloon painted in a new colour, Smoke Grey. APR. 1960 L/4/25812 A new front brake drum with a thicker wall was introduced. APR. 1960 L/4/25856  Avon tyres were fitted to all wheels. MAY 1960 L/5/26184 Michelin “C” tyres were again fitted to all wheels MAY 1960 L/5/26263 A new type of exhaust pipe was introduced with a turned flange welded to the pipe. JUNE 1960 L/6/26416 This vehicle was recorded as a Van and not a Ranger. Along with 26440, 26551 to 26572, 26574 to 26580, 26582 to 26584, 26587 to 26591 and 26593 a total of 39 Vans appear in the records. It is assumed that these vehicles were the ones fitted with a drivers seat only - the passengers seat being omitted for increased load carrying capacity. OCT. 1960   L/10/26850 Taken as the start for the 1961 models. New colours of Sunburst Yellow, Shark Blue and Smoke or Vulcan Grey were officially introduced. Hardtops could also be ordered in Ivory White instead of Stone. Prices reduced to £366 13s 2d (£366.66p) for the Tourer and Saloon Coupe and to £376 6s 2d (£376.31p) for the Family. OCT. 1960  L/10/26855 A Shark Blue Family Saloon model, with reverse, for the Motor Cycle Show. OCT. 1960 L/10/26856 A Smoke Grey Family Saloon - “Show” model. OCT. 1960 L/10/26860  A Shark Blue Family Saloon with reverse - “Show” model. OCT. 1960 L/10/26862 A Sunburst Yellow Family Saloon - “Show” model. OCT. 1960 L/10/26866 A Light Green Ranger - “Show” model. OCT. 1960 L/10/26867 A British Racing Green Ranger - “Show” model. OCT. 1960 L/10/26868 A Scarlet Ranger - “Show” model. OCT. 1960 L/10/26869 A Sunburst Yellow Ranger - “Show” model. OCT. 1960 L/10/26871 A Vulcan Grey Ranger - “Show” model. OCT. 1960 L/10/26873 A Shark Blue Ranger “Show” model. Note: Whilst the above vehicles were all for the Motor Cycle Show, it is interesting that none of them was either a Tourer or a Saloon Coupe. JUNE 1961 M/6/27210  The glass fibre type front mudguard (as fitted to all Mark G’s) was introduced. JUNE 1961 M/6/27248 The Saloon Coupe was discontinued. The last produced was Sunburst Yellow and tested on 29th June 1961. JUNE 1961 M/6/27268 The Tourer was discontinued. The last produced was Scarlet and tested on 30th June 1961. JULY 1961 M/7/27277 A new specification for the Villiers 31A engine. This featured a modified clutch, an exposed clutch lever adjustment giving improved access and the S25/8 carburettor with the choke slide operating inside the body. Engines were numbered 179D for forwards and 180D for reverse. Mark G clutch cables were used. (Also fitted to 27270, 27274 & 27275.) AUG. 1961 M/8/27379 The Family Saloon was discontinued. The last produced was Scarlet and tested on the 17th August 1961. NOV. 1961 M/11/27489 The bulkhead “A” frame was modified to fit the thicker bulkhead casting, when it was available. DEC. 1961 M/12/27529 A larger silencer, as fitted to the Mark G, was introduced. DEC. 1961 M/12/27536 The Villiers 35A engine was now fitted to all Rangers. FEB. 1962 N/2/27544 Phosphor bronze trailing arm bushes were now fitted to the main downtube. MAR. 1962 N/3/27564 A hardened pin was fitted in the gearbox and the Siba cover plate was modified, with the reversing type bracket now fitted to all engines. APR. 1962  N/4/27624 Mark G engine plates were now fitted. (Also to 27614, 27616, 27617, 27618 & 27620.) OCT. 1962 N/10/27678 The Ranger was discontinued. The Production Records list this vehicle as the last produced. Body colour Scarlet. JAN. 1963 O/1/27679 An extra Ranger, registration number SRN 681 and body colour Sunburst Yellow, is known to have been made but for some reason it was not recorded in the Production Records.