Any British car nuts out there?

[robs]

Apart from silly cars with huge great Blown Engines in them..... coff coff 8)

I also had a few rather nice alternatives over the years, there were also a few real Dogs.

I had both the Mk 1 and then the Mk2 Lotus Cortinas. (Dogs)

Shortly after that I had the Twin Cam Europa and I have to say, it was a very quick car. Sadly, it was also the most claustrophobic car I have ever sat in and I sold it on almost immediately, only to replace it with a superb Sunbeam Tiger. What a beast of a car that was! VERY quick. Along the way I have had a few Triumphs ranging from a GT6 through to the mighty TR6 which was a very nice, if quirky, car.

The one car that I always wanted but never actually owned was the Austin Healey 3000. That car, to me, said all there was to say about the British Sports Car. Beautiful classic Car and worth a fortune today.

 

[octaviusasshammer]

sorry it took so long to post my picture...

 

[octaviusasshammer]

man, thanks for all the great posts...glad i'm not the only one...the pinnacle for me when i was a kid was a Ferrari Dino and then i grew up and had to pay bills :lol: ...so then i thought i might want an Austin Healey 3000 but they are still quite expensive and they just don't look right unless they are properly restored (to me)...my dad always talked about his 1960 MGA that he owned until he popped over a hill and lost to a dump truck in the middle of the road (he also had a 1967 Austin Healey 3000 that he sold because he couldn't keep up with the maintenance which always regretted)...so next in line was the MGA...i really started getting into them the more i read about them and their history...they became the new pinnacle for me, and i think the pinnacle of British automobiles because of the simplicity, the curvaceous lines, and the aviator inspired cockpit...so at 6'4" i made the only sensible decision that could be made and purchased my lady about two years ago...keep the pictures and stories coming, i can't get enough of this things...
romeowood: thanks for the suggestion...looking forward to trying Perique and whiskey Cavendish, any suggestions for a particular brand?
robs: i'm digging that Stag...maybe a contender for my stable someday along with about every other automobile listed in this thread!!!

 

[ssjones]

Wow, your MGA is gorgeous. I hope you get it back on the road soon!

The MGA and TR3's are my favorite British car shapes.

 

[glpease]

Great thread! These pictures are bringing up bittersweet memories.
I had an Austin Healey 100-6 that was great fun, sort of the predecessor to the 3000. A couple of Triumphs, my fave being a Mk3 Spitfire, though I always coveted the TR5 a friend had. A Mk 1 and a Mk 2 Sprite. Almost bought an MGA, but the deal fell through when a "friend" offered the guy more money than I had. I've always wanted an E-type, to me, the pinnacle of the British roadster.
I've had a parade of Italian iron, too, including Alfas and FIATs of all stripes, the most fun being an 850 Spyder fitted with a 1L twin-cam Abarth motor. THAT was a fun project, and a blast to drive. I think that car holds my personal record for the most times blown up and rebuilt.
Now, I drive a 10 year old VW GTi that I absolutely love, but daily dream about another classic old roadster. I've got a 68 Spitfire in the garage that needs restoration, but lack both the time and the funds. Some day. Some day.

 

[glpease]

Oh, and I SO wanted a Europa, but know exactly what is meant by claustrophobia with those. I went to test drive a used one, once, that needed some love and, so, was affordable, but the size 10 footwell didn't accommodate my size 12 shoe size. I literally couldn't drive the thing.

 

[markw4mms]

I've always wanted an E-type, to me, the pinnacle of the British roadster.

I hear you there Greg, the E-type is about as good as it gets in my book!

 

[uapiper]

I was fortunate to grow up with my Dad loving British cars, we had and he still has a 1967 Mini Cooper S and a 1973 Lotus Europa Twin Cam Special. I learned most of what I know about working on cars dealing with the issues of having Vintage British motors in the garage. For me, I still want an old Lotus Élan or Jag E-type but for now I've got the complete opposite with a 2002 WRX in the garage.

 

[papipeguy]

Got the '76 MGB back from the shop today. Got it in the garage just before the skies opened up and dumped a couple of inches of rain on us. Runs great. Now if can only get a day of sunshine. Its been raining here in Pa for 9 days.

 

[baronsamedi]

I like British bikes. Triumphs, BSAs, Nortons. I current;y ride a Triumph and they've made a helluva comeback, bike-wise. Don't think there'll ever be another car like the spitfire, though.
Not mine, but a cool Cafe'd out Norton Commando 850

Of course, I never get tired of showing off my slightly retroed-out 2004 Triumph America

OK, Back to the car guys.

 

[hobie1dog]

Oh, and I SO wanted a Europa, but know exactly what is meant by claustrophobia with those. I went to test drive a used one, once, that needed some love and, so, was affordable, but the size 10 footwell didn't accommodate my size 12 shoe size. I literally couldn't drive the thing.

The footwell of the first generation of Lotus Esprit's were the same way...you almost need to wear the thin wrestling shoes to shift and brake the thing.

 

[glpease]

Love the bikes! For years, I've dreamt of finding an old BSA (with right shift!) in great shape. I did find one, about 20 years ago, but couldn't afford it. In retrospect, the $6000 the guy wanted was a bargain, and I should have done whatever it took to get it. It was a 65 Lighting in perfect original condition with fewer than 8000 miles on it. Dammit. Reminiscence can be painful...

 

[markw4mms]

I hear you Greg, kinda reminds me of the near mint condition E-type I stumbled across about 10 years ago, they only wanted $6k for it, but I couldn't scrape up the money at the time.

 

[hobie1dog]

I missed buying a re 69 E type Jag that went for $900.00 back in 1974 because they couldn't get it to run, come to find out it was just a bad alternator. A friend of mine told me years later he ended up being the one that fixed it.

 

[judcole]

TR5. Drools. Want. 150 BHP. 2300 pounds curb weight. Less than 3,000 built.

 

[papipeguy]

TR-5 is the rarest of that group and, consequently, a lot more expensive.

 

[glpease]

TR-5 is the rarest of that group and, consequently, a lot more expensive.

True that. The car was marketed in the US as the TR250, with an additional 8000 cars made for this market. I went to high school with a guy who had a 250, and I always coveted it. And his girlfriend. But, that's another thing altogether. (I'm sure she was only with him because of the car.)

 

[ssjones]

This is my first LBC and I have a lot to learn.

The PO sorted the car pretty well and it's been trouble free all summer, until last Friday when Lucas, The Prince of Darkness stuck me.

We drove 20 miles to WV and had a great dinner on a nice evening. On the way home, at 10 PM, we crossed the Potomac river into MD and I looked up at the stars, remarking how clear it was. Just at that point, the headlights winked bye-bye. Suddenly I'm driving 50 mph in total darkness. I get the side of the road, dig the maglight out of the trunk and investigate known fuses. All are fine, even with a replacement, no lights or horn. My corner markers were working as were the brake lights, so we drove home with the 2-D cell maglight lighting the way. The next day, after a few hours of investigative work, I found a melted fuse holder from a poor ground to the relays the PO installed to operate those items. Been fine since....

 

[markw4mms]

Yeah, Lucas electrics is the biggest downside to owning a British car, my MGB would eat alternators for breakfast, aside from that issue, I loved that car.

 

[ssjones]

Yeah, Lucas electrics is the biggest downside to owning a British car, my MGB would eat alternators for breakfast, aside from that issue, I loved that car.

Gratefully, the PO removed most of the trouble some Lucas items (modern Ford alternator conversion, relays for key items)using Bits4Brits conversion pieces. But, his wiring is a bit sloppy, as evidenced by this ground caused failure. It's been so much fun driving this summer, I've put off redoing any wiring till the cold winter months. We a couple of shows to chose from this weekend and may shoot up to Gettysburg PA for an event.