DiDueColpi Fred Key West coast - Canada (1365 posts) Registered: 05/14/2010 03:06AM Main British Car: I really thought that I'd be an action figure by now! |
I need professional help!
OK,
I've just sold my 511cu.in. Interceptor. And my ultra rare, 4th to last made, one previous owner, 82 TR8 convertible, to a good friend. Who is going to do a nut and bolt restoration on it. Which is good because I can't. The temptation to modify it is WAY too great. So the question is, what to buy to fill the void? It needs to be British or British-esque. Must look cool or be ugly enough that it automaticaly becomes cool. Needs to be able to house at least a V8. Bear in mind that I built a mid engined Jag V12 Mini. Must be affordable. Nothing made out of unobtainium. Any ideas? I've been out of the dog house and off the sofa for a while now so time to dive in. Cheers Fred |
Moderator Curtis Jacobson Portland Oregon (4576 posts) Registered: 10/12/2007 02:16AM Main British Car: 71 MGBGT, Buick 215 |
Re: I need professional help!
So many great projects to choose from.
I think someone around here should build "The Ultimate Jenson Healey". Not sure what engine it should have though... |
Dan B Dan Blackwood South Charleston, WV (1007 posts) Registered: 11/06/2007 01:55PM Main British Car: 1966 TR4A, 1980 TR7 Multiport EFI MegaSquirt on the TR4A. Lexus V8 pl |
Re: I need professional help!
Hey Fred,
Since you had that TR8, and you know what you would like to modify, you could get a TR7 for cheap, and do about anything to it. Nobody would bust your chops for destroying a Wedge...(well, a few might) Dan B |
BlownMGB-V8 Jim Blackwood 9406 Gunpowder Rd., Florence, KY 41042 (6468 posts) Registered: 10/23/2007 12:59PM Main British Car: 1971 MGB Blown,Injected,Intercooled Buick 340/AA80E/JagIRS |
Re: I need professional help!
Here's one for you Fred, I've been reading up on zero point energy and there's way more out there than just Nikolai Tesla. A fella with your talents could really run with that and just about any car powered that way would become cool automatically. (That's a sort of pun actually since most of these systems get colder as power is drawn from them.) I can supply a link if you like...
JB |
Moderator Curtis Jacobson Portland Oregon (4576 posts) Registered: 10/12/2007 02:16AM Main British Car: 71 MGBGT, Buick 215 |
Re: I need professional help!
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DiDueColpi Fred Key West coast - Canada (1365 posts) Registered: 05/14/2010 03:06AM Main British Car: I really thought that I'd be an action figure by now! |
Re: I need professional help!
I like the Jensen idea Curtis. If I could find a GT it would be a go. Could put the lo-ver motor in it when it's done.
Have been looking around for a Hillman Imp. It could take a 6L.v12 that I have with a gm 325 trans axle thats under the bench. I have found a Herald localy. It would be a good home for a 4.6 with a blower or turbos. As odd as it sounds I like my cars to look like they came from the factory that way. They gotta stop and handle well. Be comfortable and able to drive anywhere. The wheels and tires need to fit inside the wheelwells and the car needs to sit at stock height or lower. Under the skin almost always a custom chassis and suspension. But still on the hunt......... Cheers Fred |
rficalora Rob Ficalora Willis, TX (2764 posts) Registered: 10/24/2007 02:46PM Main British Car: '76 MGB w/CB front, Sebring rear, early metal dash Ford 302 |
Re: I need professional help!
Fred, if you don't subscribe to the BaT (Bring a Trailer) daily email, you should. Lot's of interesting cars come across there -- 2 to 3 a day (www.bringatrailer.com to subscribe). There's a pair of Jowett Jupiter's listed there currently. May not be what you're after but probably fit the "ugly enough they automatically become cool" criteria.
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Moderator Curtis Jacobson Portland Oregon (4576 posts) Registered: 10/12/2007 02:16AM Main British Car: 71 MGBGT, Buick 215 |
Re: I need professional help!
I know next to nothing about Jupiters... but I noted that one of the Jupiters has its original engine and I'm thinking it would probably make economic sense to restore that one. The other one might be more fun. It was reportedly converted to a four cylinder Jeep engine a long time ago. I figure that can't be a good thing... except that it would give you a fine excuse to replace the Jeep engine with something much more powerful. Here's what the original Jowett Jupiter engine looks like:
Is it time to consider boxer engine swaps? Porsche? Corvair? Honda Goldwing? Subaru? (400hp and 4WD in a Jupiter!?!) |
Re: I need professional help!
Fred I don't know which part of Canada you reside in, if you are on the west coast you should check out
USED VICTORIA.COM and check out the specialty cars that are for sale. Victoria area is the place to check out for odd, ugly "cute" British cars. I just checked and I found the following available at reasonable prices: 1949 Anglia 1956 Morris Minor 1960 Ford Zodiac ( I would grab this one as it would look real cool lowered with fat tires and nice wheels with an LS engine under the hood) 1967 Austin 1958 Austin A55 One car that would be cool would be a 1960 Vauxhall but I am sure that to find such a car would be difficult. I remember seeing many of these when I was a kid and I hated them because they looked so ugly. Cheers Byron |
gt40mk1 Pat Cargan Biggin Hill, Kent, England (18 posts) Registered: 12/30/2010 03:22PM Main British Car: 1949 Jowett Javelin 318 cu. in. Chrysler |
Re: I need professional help!
Hi Fred,
What you want is a Standard Vanguard ( the one with the round back, not the saloon ) or a Volvo pv544... cheers, Pat. |
DiDueColpi Fred Key West coast - Canada (1365 posts) Registered: 05/14/2010 03:06AM Main British Car: I really thought that I'd be an action figure by now! |
Re: I need professional help!
Thanks for all the great ideas guys.
Ive been laid up from eye surgery for a bit. Now that I'm back in the game here's what I've found locally so far. 1964 Anglia 105e 1980 TR7 vert with 56,000 miles 1966 Hillman super minx Wolseley hornet of unknown vintage I also have some of my own cars for doing up 1975 Lotus Elite 1982 Delorean 1972 Citroen SM 1975 Mercedes 450 SL 1968 Volvo 122S 1975 Volvo P1800ES After some thought the engine is going to be a rover 4.0L compound charged with an Eaton blower and twin Garret turbos Megasquirt or SDS injection will be used Porsche 928 trans axle or Toyota 6 speed depending upon the vehicle. This is all stuff thats lying around so I'll just drop it in the magic blender and see what comes out. I'm still working on my TGB so there's no rush, and I guess thats why I can't seem to make a decision. Any ideas from the crew? Cheers Fred Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/19/2011 02:54PM by DiDueColpi. |
Moderator Curtis Jacobson Portland Oregon (4576 posts) Registered: 10/12/2007 02:16AM Main British Car: 71 MGBGT, Buick 215 |
Re: I need professional help!
Such great options!
A spectacular Hornet Mk3 raced at the Watkins Glen Vintage Grand Prix in September. I felt compelled to take 107 photos of it - quite a lot for a dolled-up Mini. So many hot Minis still competing should put trick parts and advice close at hand... but packaging a V8 in a Mini will be tough. Maybe you'd prefer something with bigger tires. Article coming "soon". Preview: (Can you spot an MGB part that has been cleverly added by the current owner?) The 105e is, I believe, what Ron Weasley drove. That's fun. The original engine was absolutely brilliant for its day... (and it should have high value to a vintage "monoposto" racer.) |
Scott68B Scott Costanzo Columbus, Ohio (561 posts) Registered: 10/25/2007 11:30AM Main British Car: 1968 MGB GM 5.3 LS4 V8 |
Re: I need professional help!
"(Can you spot an MGB part that has been cleverly added by the current owner?)"
Would it be the air intake grill at the base of the windshield? |
DiDueColpi Fred Key West coast - Canada (1365 posts) Registered: 05/14/2010 03:06AM Main British Car: I really thought that I'd be an action figure by now! |
Re: I need professional help!
Yeah I feel the same about the Anglia Alan.
I used to service one back in the seventies when I was an apprentice. It was the sorriest thing I had ever seen. The engine bay was just a mass of undulating black goo. My ride back then was a 10 second mid engine Datsun PU, so the Anglia seemed kinda silly. Now it would be the coolest thing ever! The 122 would be nice too as I'm an old Volvo tech and the VOX rendering makes me go all squidgy. Then Curtis put up the Hornet pictures ( I thought he was a nice guy) and now I'm starting all over again. Yeah I feel the same about the Anglia Alan ............ Cheers Fred |