Help for a Newbie please?

[madaza]

First of all, hope you all had a great Christmas!

Right, here goes:

I've loved small classic cars for years and always promised myself I'd get one, and finally I'm in a position to not only do so, but also enjoy playing with it.

I must admit to not being stuck on a particular manufacturer (forgive me!), but am particularly fond of Sprites/Mk3 Midgets/Mk3 Spitfires, and for the larger engines, TR4/5/6's.

So the question is this; what to get? Whatever it is, it'll end up being toyed with so I can use it for classic rallies/tours etc... and to go on the odd continental jaunt without worrying (too much, I know, I know) about reliability. So will I be able to get enough out of the A series engines, or will I have to revert to an engine transplant? Is the Triumph 1300 engine as tuneable as the 1275 A series? As reliable? Or am I looking at spending a lot more money and going down the TR4/6 route (can't afford a 5), and am I looking at a totally different set of problems with these.

Finally, I know I can do all kinds of suspension mods to the Spridgets to make them almost modern day cars, but what about the MK3 Spit and it's 'distinctive' handling? Any way of sorting that?

Hoping for some inspiration, and the benefit of all your expertise....

Many thanks.

p.s. Forgive me for the generic questions, but I've posted this on both the Triumph and MG forums.

[//j17]

madaza said:

I've loved small classic cars for years and always promised myself I'd get one...am particularly fond of Sprites/Mk3 Midgets/Mk3 Spitfires, and for the larger engines, TR4/5/6's...what to get?

Not really a question anyone can answer for you really. My advice would be to get in contact with a couple of the MG/Triumph clubs and go along to a few of the local area meetings nearest to you. You may have to wait a few months for the convertables as most will be hiding in the warm this time of year but you are sure to meet a range of owners that will let you at least sit in their cars to get a feel for them.

Once you've done that you will know if you prefer; the flat-cap/pipe feel of the Sprite/Midget, with it's up-against-the-windscreen driving position, the younger/less masculin feel of the Spitfire, where you sit further back from the windscreen, or the hairy-chested TRs, that I've never spent my time in so can't really comment.

madaza said:

Whatever it is, it'll end up being toyed with so I can use it for classic rallies/tours etc... and to go on the odd continental jaunt without worrying (too much, I know, I know) about reliability.

All much of a muchness really. They will all leak a bit (they are 1960's British-made convertables so leaked from new) but if in good condition and you keep up with the regular maintainance (more work than a modern car, requiring things to be oiled/greased every 3-6000 miles but doesn't take long when you are used to it/know where everything is) shouldn't be especially unreliable.

I've driven my Spitfire to Le Mans and back 4 or 5 times without major issue and people in MGs/TRs do the same.

The cars are very basic so a few spares and tools in the boot can fix most minor issues that come up - provided you are mechancially minded and don't mind getting your hands dirty.

By far the easiest way to keep any of these classics reliable is to use (and abuse) them regularly. The people I know that drive their cars all year round have far fewer issues than those that only use them on high days and holidays.

madaza said:

So will I be able to get enough out of the A series engines, or will I have to revert to an engine transplant? Is the Triumph 1300 engine as tuneable as the 1275 A series? As reliable? Or am I looking at spending a lot more money and going down the TR4/6 route (can't afford a 5), and am I looking at a totally different set of problems with these.

It's all much of a muchness really, with little to choose between the A-series and Triumph SC 4-cylinder. Similar power to start with and spending a similar amount of money will push the power up about the same amount. The 90-100BHP ball-park can be achieved relativly easily with hotter cam, tubular manifold/exhaust, free flow filters and carb fettling.

If you want to go for big power then you are in to engine swap terratory. I don't know about the Spridget but the Triumph SC 6-cylinder engine from a GT6/2000 will fit in to the Spitfire but you need the uprated brakes/rear-end from a GT6. Going up from here there's quite a lot of room in the Spirfite engine bay and everything from K-series, Zetecs, up to Rover and Ford V8s have been fitted. Of course the more power, the more work required - the Spitfire diff. doesn't like much over 100BHP.

madaza said:

I know I can do all kinds of suspension mods to the Spridgets to make them almost modern day cars, but what about the MK3 Spit and it's 'distinctive' handling? Any way of sorting that?

By 'distinctive' handling I assume you are referring to it's 'mythical' handling. Basically drive like a tt and yes, it will bite you on the ass but then so will a similar vintage Porsche 911 or AC Cobra.

To experience the 'distinctive' handling in a Spitfire you have to try quite hard - enter a corner too-fast and lift off the gas mid-corner and you will head backwards in to a ditch. Then again I've got a friend who lifted off mid-corner and headed backwards in to a ditch...in his Honda S2000.

Anyway it can be fixed for under £100 (new) by fitting the rear spring from a Soitfire Mk IV/1500.

[stevie_a]

madaza where about are you ?

the start of the season for the classic car shows start in the Glasgow area

with a small show in east kilbride at the end of April at National Museum of

Rural Life East Kilbride but for having a good look at lots of different cars

Culzean castle is the best show next to the Selkirk show at the end of the year

P.S

don't rule out the TR7 / 8 as there very good cars that have been given bad

reputation by the press in there day and some of the car clubs

unjustifiably in my opinion.

Ah yes i have a tr7