They kind of started the sports car craze in the US after WWII. At least that's what some folks say. I've had a couple over the past decade or so. First, in 2015, a 1967 Triumph GT6 which I got working after it's long slumber, and sold it several months later to a guy back east. Then in 2021 I got an MG TD, which had been sitting for 50 years in Albuquerque, and I got it working, and took it on a LeMons Rally. Then sold it to a guy in Santa Fe. So...now I know of two other little British cars that are in need of rescuing. One is a mid 60s Sprite, which has been sitting for about 15 years. The other is an MG TC, which is the one that started it all, according to the standard history. It's in pieces, some parts are missing, the wood is rotted, and it's probably something that I should avoid like the plague, but at the same time it's intriguing. Let's hear some of your stories!
Only one I've had was a 1958 Morris Minor 1000 four-door. I bought it because I was fascinated by Issigonis's thinking behind it, and had a notion of sticking a flat-four of some kind in it, like the original concept had. After a few years as my daily I moved to another city and the Minor went into storage. Initial plans didn't work out, so it stayed there for the next 20 years. By that time I'd researched a flat-four Minor swap very thoroughly indeed! I ended up having to sell the car after losing my shirt on a property deal at the tail-end of Covid, which saw me selling the house where the Minor was parked to cut losses. The Minor is perfect for driving a slow car fast. It is a graphic demonstration of the difference between handling and roadholding, the former being excellent and the latter nonexistent. Its steering was probably the best I'd ever experienced. Its brakes, on the other hand, were such that one motoring writer noted that emergency stops should be planned well in advance.
Long ago, before I was bitten by the "buy American" bug, I had a plethora of English sports cars. Most were either XK-120's or TR-3's but there were also Spridgets, MGA's, a TR-2, and XK-140, a Healy 3000, a Porsche, and others. After Uncle sent me to Japan in 1969, I became acquainted with Honda's (the S-600 roadster), and Datsun roadsters. Once I returned to the US, the rest of the English cars I still owned were sold, and I acquired a few Datsun 1600 and 2000 Fairlady's. Difficult for many to believe (at the time) just how quick that 2000 Fairlady was in the stop light grand prix. Had more than one loser ask me to open the hood so he could see what V-8 was installed. Well, they were half right. And the 2x2 carburetor set-up looked great! Major issue was Datsun had a choice of an open rear end or a Detroit locker. Both were quite unsatisfactory for the street. Opted for the open rear end; and a set of Blue Streaks helped, but did not solve the problem. About 1978 or so, the aforementioned buy-American bug bit me, and all remaining non-USA vehicles departed from our family. Still think of good times with the S-600, the XK-120-S, the TR-3A, and of course the 2000 Fairlady. Jim (squirrel), a good friend had a TD which needed an engine overhaul. We didn't have a hoist, and there were no hand-holds on the rear of the engine. So we (two of us) lifted the engine, bolted to the transmission, out of the car, and packed it down the stairs to his ba*****t where the overhaul was accomplished. After the overhaul, carried it out and installed it. No wonder I have back problems. Jon
I used to go to northern England often when I was young, my Uncle had a repair shop a used car lot and a junkyard. I had a couple of minis which are a blast to drive and a Morris minor. I would love another mini. I also forgot my first car here was a 1966 Cortina GT, now really pricey....
Every day on my eighth grade bus ride we would p*** the British Leyland dealer. Out front were every imaginable British sports car, from MG, Triumph, Sunbeam, and so many others. There were Jags, Bentleys, and even Aston Martins in the used car lot. I was determined to have one! By the time I was 16 I had saved enough to buy a car. My Dad wasn't real enthusiastic about little sports cars, but he have me ride to take a look. There were three that were in my price range in decent shape; a Sunbeam Alpine, a Triumph TR4a, and an MGB. After driving all three with my dad, I decided to buy the MGB. 1964, black, red leather, wire wheels.... $950 and it was all mine! Wow..... I drove that car all thru high school and college. I probably would have driven it forever but I made the mistake of loaning it to my dumb*** brother who wrecked it beyond repair. But I soon replaced it with an MGA, then a TA, a midget, another MGB .... For the last 56 years there's always been a brit car in the garage. Jags, triumphs, even an old Aston Martin. I'm down to just this car now, an engine swapped MGB GT. Took it for a little 80 mile drive just today.
In my younger years I had several Sprites, Midgets and Minis. This one went through several iterations over 15+ years.
This is my MGTF replica - a Victory 1800. Uses MGB running gear, fibergl*** body, and all original body hardware like windshield, lights, radiator shell, etc. This one was originally factory built by Victory Company in 1984 and the only one built with a Chevy 3.8 L V6 and Muncie 4-speed. I recently updated it with a later model 4.3L Vortec V6. Some history on the car and the Victor Company is here: https://cl***icmotorsports.com/arti...-more-cylinders/#:~:text=Central Florida MG e
I have had a couple Spitfires, not fast but fun. My parents had a couple Sunbeam alpines, nice solid driving cars. I have owned my 57 TR-3 for nearly 50 years. My pop let me have one of them instead of a C-1 Corvette. (He would not let me have the Corvette. lol). The TR is, I think, as much fun to drive as my C-1
I had fun putting these two together. They were both just shells when they found me. The first was 1950 Austin Devon that I converted into a Dorset. I spread and boxed the frame with a Heidts MII front narrowed 5" and an XKE IRS because it had the correct track to fit outside the rear inner fender well. I picked up a 350 "Corvette" and added a 700R4. The next was 1933 Austin Seven "Ruby". I widened the body 4" and stretched it 6" in front of the firewall and built the frame and floors. I narrowed an 8" Ford rear and a narrowed '40 ford dropped axle for the front with split wishbones. I powered it with a Craigslist find 215 Buick in front of a T5 transmission.
You should look on the net for pics of a well known UK show car called small fry which is a blue Austin ruby still around and still looks the same
Dad had a Xk120 when I was born, sold for the new family. Replaced with a TR3, one of my earliest memories. He owned Alpines including one he restored that I helped a bit with. Always wanted a Tiger, but they were always just out of reach. R&T (and CW) was his mag, although he'd get HR too. I've had a Spitfire, yearned for a V8 Anglia and have helped friends and bosses with Midgets and Sprites. The British sports cars have deep talons in me, but I don't live in environs suited to them. I know a T-Bucket is in many ways the opposite of a Lotus, but it shares some choices.
Yes, I saw that in a post and downloaded the magazine article. I'm toying with another 215 block that had been bored and sleeved without top hat liners that had lifted. It appears they shut it down before any damage was done so I pushed them back down and pinned them in the web. It also had a 300 crank that had been ground to fit the 215 block but required a spacer to carry the rear seal and an externally balanced flywheel. Just for fun I added a mild cam and the small Holly spread bore carburetor. We shall see.
My first old car was a Karmann Ghia, followed by a Volvo 122s... then a slew of American cars, and now I'm working on a full custom Jaguar Mk2 ("big" British car). My ex had a 1958 Morris Minor 2-door project, but sold it for a 58 Morris minor 4 door. Smallest brakes I've ever seen.
Back in yesteryear, Volkswagen and Budweiser had the very best (opinion) commercials on TV. Check out this one on the Ghia: Jon
I had a ‘74 MGB chrome bumper car as my one and only. It had SU carbs and was a great runner. I traded a ‘50 Plymouth that I had for it because I wanted something more drivable as I wanted a cool daily driver. Kept it a couple years, daily drove it for 2 spring/Summer/Fall seasons. Lots of fun but lost winter storage and got bored.. I’d buy another
I've had two in the past. A Bugeye sprite and a 70 MG Midget. Fun cars to race around in but only you know you're doing it. A few years ago I helped my friend's widow sell off his collection of British bikes and cars. One thing that stood out from that is his 67 MG. Knock off wires and an overdrive trans. He went on many long road trips in that car and the overdrive was real nice to have. Another thing that stood out was he had two MG GTs. RHD drive silver anniversary edition or something like that. The RHD cars were kind of a hard sell here in the states, even a**** the MG enthusiasts.
I have a 64 AH Sprite that was my dads doing a complete restoration on it. I’ll have more $s in it than it will ever be worth. But I’m having fun. It’s a 1098 with the better Westlake head, a home designed and built header and a fairly rowdy cam. A mini hot rod if you will. Spridgets are fun relatively cheap, handle well and are fun to drive. I have a thread on the restoration https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/45-year-family-sprite-project.1316237/ Dan
Little rear engined Hillman Imp had a good following as a saloon racecar. Also as a obvious candidate for a mid engine V8 racecar.
SuperFastMatt on YouTube put a motorcycle engine in one of those. Interesting build! He also put a Tesla motor in a Jag Mk 5 (I think), just so we stay on topic.
The 59 M.G.A. I wish I had, instead of the P.O.S. 59 M.G.A. I drove when I was in the military in Lawton Oklahoma in the winter snow, Never again!
I owned a couple Morris Minor 1000 cars. 2 door saloon. 1961 and 1962 years. One was a 91k mile original car. Throttle in those cars are on - off switches... First gear - floor it till the engine lays down. 2nd gear - floor it till the engine lays down.. All the way thru 3rd gear , then 4th gear when you are doing mayb 55 mph.
The Jalopy Journal
