Bill Sandell wrote:
> Just read Jay Laifman's submission in which he identified his car as
> a 'late' series V. I have a late car also (B395018705), with
> non-peaked headlight rings (these cars are also distinguished by
> manual adjust brakes, bumper mounted license plate lights -- anything
> else?). I understand these trim rings are the same as used on Mk II
> Tigers, and I always assumed that the differences in the late Alpines
> was because they were 'using up' left over stuff. My car also sports
> color code #127 (most color code lists I've seen only go up to 125)
> 'turquoise blue metallic', which I'm told was a test color for the
> fastback Rapiers (sold in the states as the '69 Alpine). Anyone know
> any details? Chris?
>
> Bill Sandell
Jay Laifman replied,
>Bill,
>
> I also have the bumper mounted license plate lights. The other item I have
>that I believe is different is the back-up lights mounted to the body just
>under the rear bumper. Other than that, I am not aware of any other
>differences. I'll bet the best one for that information would be Dick
>Sanders. Dick?
>
>Jay
>
Jay,
Bill probably knows as much as anyone about the late V's. The latest V I've
owned was only in the 13,000's. The only additional difference I can think
of is the aluminum head; the very late V's head has recessed pockets around
the spark plugs rather than the cylindrical holes on all previous Alpine
heads. The outward appearance is the same as on the later fastback Alpine
GT's. The Alpine GT head also had single valve spings and narrower inlet
ports than on the Series Alpines, and about five fewer horsepower as a
result, but I don't know if these changes were introduced on the late V
heads.
As far as paint codes go, the Alpine Club's Members Handbook lists several
colors as being used only on late Alpine V's:
106 Commodore Blue 108 Polar White 109 Orchid
Green
127 Turquoise Blue Metallic 130 Gunmetal Metallic
.....and on VERY late V's: 107 Holly Green 122 Signal Red
I've seen 106(very pretty), 108 & 109(definately an acquired taste) on Mk II
Tigers, and 127 on a couple of Alpines (including Bill's), but never 130, 107
or 122 on an Alpine/Tiger. Anyone out there have an example of these?
Dick Sanders
P.S. A couple of other 'possible' differences come to mind: the temperature
guage. I've seen several on late V's (and on a few Mk II Tigers) that had an
unnumbered face with a colored band across the top, changing from green to
red.
Also, the solenoids I've seen on late V's are usually the kind without the
remote starter "button."
And, of course, the late V's have the 25-spline clutch.
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