OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Restoring, Customising and Modifying Paint and Decals Rover Rancher colour code

Does anyone know the colour code for the Blue Rover Ranchers from the 1970's ?
I would like to respray mine.
Not worried about it being in a spray can or not as I have a compressor, spray gun etc.

Hello Cliff Ryan,

A warm welcome to these forums.
No response yet; but members have restored Rover 'blue' machines here.

I guess there is some flexibility as to colour because, like many brands,
the colour was never consistent over the years. I prefer a deeper hammertone
blue than the lighter blue of some later machines.

Anyway, hopefully a member will be able to quote a of-the-shelf colour.

Related thread:-
https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=60410

Hope this helps.
-------------------------------
JACK

Jack
Thanks for the reply and info.
I am not too worried about what shade of blue I use but you are right, the hammer tone blue look great.
I think I will find somewhere on the mower, Rover dozer blade or trailer that still has the original blue in a reasonable condition and see if I can get a close match with a colour card of some sort. I can then get this cross matched with an auto paint.
Having just finished painting a car roof in metallic silver (the hardest part of a car to paint with the worst colour to spray) I am not expecting too much issue in painting a ride on mower.
No rush, I am just gathering info at this stage.
Cliff

Hello Cliff

You obviously know what you're doing paint-wise.
I guess you have a Rancher 2. These were a incredibly successful machine.
Here is a photo of a brand new machine on a demo:



It'd be great to see some photos of the restored machine.
That you have accessories - trailer and dozer blade - is a bonus.

All the best.
--------------------------
JACK

Send rover a Email for the colour thay will tell you

Jack
I have been looking for the dozer blade and trailer for years and finally won them on ebay not too long ago.
I missed out on the front mounted cutting disk he also being sold but the blade and trailer are fine by me.
It is interesting in that the bloke who I bought the blade and trailer off delivered the items to me and while he was here informed me my machine was a very early model.
It has no ID plate, the 3 speed transmission and the narrow rear wheels.
I thought the steering wheel was home made but he stated the wheel was original and does not look like the steering wheel in your photo.
Soon after I also bought from the same bloke a rear axle with a diff and original turf tyres and I also bought from him all the items to turn the mower into an electric start machine.
The axle has a third mounting point which the original solid axle doesn't but I can add this easily enough.
I keep hearing and seeing the Rover Rancher 2 but was there a Rover Rancher 1 ?
I cant explain the odd steering wheel.
I consider all of this info as correct as the bloke I bought the items from use to work in a mower shop who dealt with the Ranchers and knows a lot about them.

Hello Cliff

Yes, there was most definitely a Rancher 'One'.
I believe that it must have been introduced in the early 1970s, to be
replaced by the Rancher 2 in the mid 1970s. The Rancher 2, itself, would
be replaced by the new 'orange' Ranchers in about late 1981.

I had forgotten about the optional front slasher!
We would appreciate any photos you have of this seemingly rare Rover!
This is one that should be documented as early Australian ride-ons are
only starting to become collectible.

WE have a help post for uploading photos HERE.

Cheers and thanks.
-----------------------------
JACK

Jack
Thanks for the feedback.
The photo in my signature is the machine in question though the bonnet, rear guard, Rear wheels and gearbox are all from a Rancher 2.
I think most people would agree that the 5 speed gearbox is better that the original 3 speed which is why I fitted the latter 5 speed.
I only installed the Rancher 2 rear guard as it has the correct size hole to suit the 5 speed gear box casing.
I did this so I wouldn't destroy the original rear guard just to fit the 5 Speed.
I will be sending photos when time permits but is there anything that will help to ID a Rancher 1.
I intend to take a photo of the steering wheel and bonnet (the original is now back on the machine) but if there is anything else I could be taking a photo of I will do so.
As I mentioned the machine has no ID plate which is normally attached to the side of the mower below the bonnet catches but not this machine.
I am just wondering what differences I could be looking for between the Rancher 1 and the 2.

Hey, great to see someone else interested in these great machines! I am currently restoring my old girl to original. I am using wattyl killrust blue ocean hammertone. Only trouble is locally they only have it in pressure pack and they dont go far.
As it turns out I won the front slasher deck from the guy on ebay, I was also bidding on the blade and trailer.

I have done lots of research and i have still never seen a rancher 1. Even the very early ones all have rancher 2 on the bonnet. There were a few generations of rancher 2 though, the first had the wire steering wheel, skinny tyres, no i.d. plate, the footrest on the left side was the brake pedal and the foote gearbox. Then they widened the rear tyres, added a brake pedal, then went to a 5 speed and added a diff, the very late ones were red just before they changed the shape.

Hello Nath

So, Killrust Blue Ocean hammertone is your preference.
That's a big help - for future reference. Thank you.

I, too, would like to understand the specification of the original Rancher,
and its introduction date. I'm guessing early 1970s, rather than 1960s.

Any information most welcome.
---------------------------------------
JACK

From what i understand rover were around in the mid to late 60's but mainly with push mowers. Greenfield had the hd8 in the mid 60's because they used a fairly common horizontal shaft engine. What i can work out vertical shaft engines werent as readily available back then in higher horsepower. Even the early cox ride ons only had a 5hp. If there is a rancher 1 they must be very rare. I need to scan my original rover sales brochure for you all, it is in full colour with the whole range.