Mathis type TY 1932

[ScruffyB]

Hi all.
I am new to the forum and to classic/vintage cars really. I have a 1989 Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit and I am in the process of buying a Mathis TY 1932 model. Does anyone on the forum own a Mathis? The car is sound underneath and has had a rewire and engine overhaul in the past two years. There is some body trimming to do as someone down the line has replaced the original metal trims with DIY strips of wood and very retro posidrive screws??

I would like to see photos of other similar cars so I can restore sympathetically and I think converting to hydraulic brakes and clutch may be a good idea.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

I live in Brittany. France

[davepen]

ScruffyB said:

I am in the process of buying a Mathis TY 1932 model.
....
I live in Brittany. France

A Mathis is a pretty rare car in the UK, and pre war cars are a small minority on pistonheads. The couple of Mathis I've seen have been at VSCC events, so a little earlier than yours and one had a Riley 9 engine, although I read that that car has now suffered from the "body snatchers". So I'm no expert!

ScruffyB said:

can restore sympathetically and I think converting to hydraulic brakes and clutch may be a good idea.

Perhaps two different things? Not sure what adding a hydraulic clutch adds, although possibly you mean a modern (Borg Beck) clutch assembly. Hydraulic brakes might need the finding of suitable back plates, seen it done on A7, 30-98 and nashes, later A7 were hydraulic, 30-98 needs something and I've heard one can use land-rover bits. It is suggested that in decent condition, period brakes should be okay, make sure all the pivots pull up to 90 degrees, possibly by shimming the heal of the brake shoes. Adding new brake fabric also helps. But then, I drive a A7 with uncoupled brakes...

[ScruffyB]

Thank you for your reply. Since I posted my question I have found a thing on the interweb showing the renovation of a 1931 Mathis TY estate/brake with similar back end to the Moggy 1000 traveller. The car had hydraulic brakes before the restoration so I assume parts are available somewhere, just a matter of finding out what parts. As you say perhaps it better to make sure the brakes are properly functional before going to a lot of expense and work.
As I live in France you would think bits for this car would be about, somewhere, but at what price.
Regards.
ScruffyB

[Allan L]

Dave's right that there are not many people here that understand pre-war cars, but don't give up!
I'm no Mathis expert but Michael Sedgwick, writing in Georgano, tells us the TY was only 904cc which isn't that much even for the time.
I'd guess their mechanical brakes would be bought-out parts from (e.g.) Bendix so relatively easy to sort out once you found which brake company made them. In any case old mechanical brakes are easier to maintain than old hydraulics as you can't make hydraulic seals in the workshop but all the metal parts can be hand made if necessary.
Similarly I can't see any point in changing clutch actuation as the relatively solid engine mountings of the time don't require the flecibility of cable or hydraulic operation.