WANTED 64/65 Sedan

[Pombellett]

Morning all, new bloke here, and from the UK as well, I'm looking for a pretty specific Bellett, can anybody help? I think I've done enough homework but correct me if I'm wrong. It needs to be a 64/65 Sedan, NOT GT, smaller inboard headlights, 1500, 4 door, manual. Condition not so important as long as it's complete and original. I'd prefer one in better nick than a basket case though. And lastly it needs to be a runner, apparently this makes export easier.
Sorry if this sounds a little demanding but I have good money waiting here for the right car.
Help really put Bellett on the map over here.
Any advise on cars, not cricket, appreciated.
Mark

[PR91]

smaller inboard headlights,

they are actually the same size outer's and inner's. all 5 3/4 inch units.
the headlight surrounds around the outers are what make them look bigger tho.

all australian delivered PR20 sedan's used 4x 5 3/4 lights, as did the 68.5 onwards PR91 GT's.
PR90 GT's used 7 inch headlights with 4 inch (i think) fog lights in the grille.
early PR91 GT's had 7 inch head's, with 4 inch fog's mounted on the front bumper.

hope this helps.
cheers.

[Pombellett]

Cheers PR91, that's a start. Is the said headlight surround part of the grill or seperate, ie can I make a later car look like an earlier car with the correct grill and/or headlight surrounds?
Mark

[gt orphanage]

mark
you could change the grill if you like the early ones but there are other things that would be wrong on the car. They also have differant tail lights,rear bumpers and lots more. But in saying this there would not be too many pomy bellett purists to confuse i suppose.
Why 64/65 model ? looks ? or some authorities ie racing or government ? as they are a little rare over here also.

[Pombellett]

Thanks GT, I'm slowly beginning to understand the murky world of Bellett ownership, you're right, though, there's not many folk over here that would know one end of a Bellett from another, but to give my masterplan the best chance of success I need a car that is as close as dammit to a 64/65. All will be revealed once the right car is shipped and prepared, but until then I can only promise that success will only raise Bellett's profile to new levels over here.
Is there any Bellett model that isn't "a little rare"?....This is what they're telling me in Japan as well.
Mark

[gt orphanage]

They still come up from time to time bell qld has one for sale but its a later model it has a little rust but it is a tidy one. I have a 65 model that is a little rough that has very little body rust but has had some damage that has been repaired.Where a tree branch fell on it. It needs floor pan rust repaires and its interior is in a bad way. I have started repaires as i plan to hill climb it. I am not attached to it.
I suppose its up to what you need ?
Most untouched ones will have some rust in the towers as bell qld has a small amount in both towers and my 65 has some in the left tower.

[RobSA]

Hmmm .... I suspect a replica of a certain car only seen in an old newspaper clipping, maybe ???

If so, my best wishes to see it happen.

Cheers
Rob

[Pombellett]

Hmmm...carry on suspecting Rob. Love the hammer/electrical thing though. GT, is your 65 a runner and any danger of some pics? Because so far it's my best (and only) offer, oh and by the way I'm really appreciate your help on this.
Mark

[PR91]

Hmmm .... I suspect a replica of a certain car only seen in an old newspaper clipping, maybe ???

if u mean kiwi bruce's sedan, it's seen in more than just a newspaper clipping....
like here:

McLaren Bellett Orig1.jpg (143.08 KiB) Viewed 31230 times

which is the only original photo known of it....
and yep, it's in my collection....

mark, if ur doing a replica, then my suggestion is start with the correct model.
if u use a later one, and fit the early headlight surrounds and grille (yes, they are separate), as GT said, the tailights are then still wrong....
also, the early dashboard was totally different too, and it's not a bolt in dash.... it's welded.... and that's just the start, as there really were alot of differences over the years with them.
honestly, replica's must be done correct, or they just aren't a replica.
cheers.

[Pombellett]

No guys I'm definitely not doing a replica, the grill thing was just me trying to understand how to spot the car I'm after, ie which parts are shared/interchagable etc. Basically it can't be a 66 or later, PR, what year is the one you've pictured above? As it looks exactly like the one I'm after, and if it is a pre 66 car, can you tell me the shape of the taillights as I gather this too is diagnostic.
Thanks Mark

[mrflibbles]

the early belletts had teardrop shape brake lights, good luck. the last 2 early belletts i found were fairly rotten in the floors so are being used for parts.

[oz_toffa]

Mark

Shape of early 64/65 series sedans were a round indicator (yellow) separate to the brake light which is "teardrop" (red)
Agree that it is one of the most difficult to find but in saying that we recently pulled 2 complete cars out of a paddock in the hills here in Adelaide.
Would be more than happy to part with one but they are real basket cases! Floors completely rusted out and jack points that recess into the car frame as you try and lift the car weight off the ground...
GT orphanage car is pretty complete but would sure need some work. I think the only thing missing was the distributor which should be not too hard to find.
Good luck with the search



OZ

[Stickman]

These are the tail lights for a 64/5

[oz_toffa]

now the rear of that car looks awfully familiar... Except it is much cleaner!

is it for sale to the highest bidder?

OZ

[RobSA]

which is the only original photo known of it....

Awesome ... it was a picture of this car and working on Chris's car that got me started on the road to Bellett madness.

Thanks

Cheers
Rob

[Stickman]

It would take more then a team of wild horses to drag this little tear drop away from me!
And your right Chris, it does look somewhat cleaner in that pic. Must have rained all that week!

I'd sell up and live in a shipping container for another like it.

Stickman

PS:- Still haven't found any use for the cleaning kit I got in the lucky draw at Coona yet. Might have to donate it for next years nationals.

[PR91]

PR, what year is the one you've pictured above?

1965. the grille badge was mostly a black background on a 1963-4 model.
this one has the 'white' 1965 version, but they are interchangable anyway.

can you tell me the shape of the taillights as I gather this too is diagnostic.

thanks to stickman for posting his pic above.

[Pombellett]

Thanks Oz for the offer of a basket, but at the moment I'll keep looking for one that needs less work, and in fact, thanks to everybody for your help and advise, I reckon I must be the top Pom Bellett spotter over here, why are they falling asleep in the pub when I start talking?

[PR91]

why are they falling asleep in the pub when I start talking?

because they typically think the greatest cars ever built were anything british....
but only when painted in drab colours, fitted with gasping side valve engines, wobbly wire wheels, and the car itself tells you that they need more oil.... when the leaks have stopped!

[degruch]

because they typically think the greatest cars ever built were anything british....
but only when painted in drab colours, fitted with gasping side valve engines, wobbly wire wheels, and the car itself tells you that they need more oil.... when the leaks have stopped!

Don't forget what Isuzu started with!