The Prince of Darkness
Mar 30, 2019 08:06:38 #
Wonderful! I owned a 69 MGB. I was also an electronics specialist in the Army at that time, That helped a lot!
Mar 30, 2019 08:08:13 #
FrankR
Loc: NYC
I had a ‘66 Austin-Healey 3000 and if cat licked its whiskers anywhere in the five boroughs of NYC, it wouldn’t start. But it was beautiful and on the days it did start, when it was nice enough to put the top down, I forgot about the other stuff.
Mar 30, 2019 08:18:27 #
Mar 30, 2019 08:20:46 #
Muddyvalley wrote:
Having owned a AH3000, a couple of MGTDs and an MGTF, I have to agree. There was a reason MG built a tool box on the firewall under the hood accessible from either side. However, I've yet to have another car so dependably easy to work on.
I had a couple of Midgets, a TD, and a TC. They were a lot of fun and remarkably reliable. I took some long rides in the TD.
Mar 30, 2019 09:43:14 #
Mar 30, 2019 10:13:01 #
dpfoto
Loc: Cape Coral, FL
I've never owned an English car, but I've had 3 Fords in my lifetime, so I can relate to your problems. The last Ford I owned was towed in THREE times while still under warranty.
Mar 30, 2019 10:55:51 #
"Btw, is that louvered hood the jar is on an XKE, a Heally LeMans or???"
Looks like XKE to me.
Looks like XKE to me.
Mar 30, 2019 10:56:33 #
Don W-37
Loc: Bangkok, Thailand
I understand; I was once a member of the San Diego Jaguar Car Club! When I joined, an expat Brit told me, "One should own two Jaguars so you have something to drive while the first is in the repair shop!"
Actually, my 1970 XKE roadster ran well and I had very few problems. Not everyone in the club was so lucky!
Actually, my 1970 XKE roadster ran well and I had very few problems. Not everyone in the club was so lucky!
Mar 30, 2019 11:29:41 #
I had an MG Midget about 35 years ago. You did not walk up to that car without a wrench or screwdriver in your hand. I saw the title of this thread and immediately thought of Lucas.
There was a shop in Santa Clara back then that specialized in older MGs. Primarily TCs, TDs, etc. They had a bumper sticker that I should have bought and put on the Midget. "I'll have you know that the parts falling off this car are of the highest British quality!"
There was a shop in Santa Clara back then that specialized in older MGs. Primarily TCs, TDs, etc. They had a bumper sticker that I should have bought and put on the Midget. "I'll have you know that the parts falling off this car are of the highest British quality!"
Mar 30, 2019 11:35:33 #
1Feathercrest wrote:
Two Mark III AH's, variety of MG's, Triumph "bug eye" Sprite. They are all in English sport car heaven now as I was always too poor to maintain them as befitted their heritage. I had a manual personally signed by Donald Healy that I gave with one of the cars. It recommended leaving slight oil (from leaks) on the undercarriage to prevent (delay) rusting.
And there was ALWAYS oil on the undercarriage from some source. When I mentioned the propensity of British cars to leak fluid for every available orfice to an imported car salesperson, he replied (in a perfect English accent): “sound to me like you don’t know how to tighten your sump bolts mate”.
Mar 30, 2019 11:58:06 #
Oil leaks are a feature. The cars were self-lubricating, you never had to worry about external rust.
And my Jeep doesn't leak, it's just marking its territory!
And my Jeep doesn't leak, it's just marking its territory!
Mar 30, 2019 11:58:26 #
jaycoffman
Loc: San Diego
I've had five 60s models English cars--all with Lucas--so I totally appreciate this list and will send it on. (And, yes, I am slow on the uptake.)
Mar 30, 2019 11:58:56 #
jaycoffman
Loc: San Diego
FrankR wrote:
I had a ‘66 Austin-Healey 3000 and if cat licked its whiskers anywhere in the five boroughs of NYC, it wouldn’t start. But it was beautiful and on the days it did start, when it was nice enough to put the top down, I forgot about the other stuff.
That's the charm of English cars.
Mar 30, 2019 12:06:18 #
I had twin SU carbs. Getting them balanced was like reeling in one fish while trying to let another one go.
Mar 30, 2019 12:14:23 #
ntonkin
Loc: western Upper Peninusla of Michigan
Gee, I always thought Dick Cheney was the Prince of Darkness.
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