MG Sports Cars

Mostly OT but there is a picture of an MGA dash.......

I was mostly into LBCs then, MG TD and later XK140 but most guys I knew were into this.

[thefiftiesandsixties.com]

Even if it's off topic might be fun to find out what folks here drove back in the day. For my part, first car was a Morris Minor 1000 (my very first 'conversion') that received a small block following a blown motor. Then, in no particular order, Triumph TR-3, Jaguar MK1 sedan (a beast but I loved it), race-prepped 'bugeye' Sprite, AH 3000 and, finally, a '71 MGB. That's it for the British stuff. American iron included a '71 Z-28 (all Herb Thompsoned out), various hotrods from mild to wild, '53 Pontiac station wagon (complete w/indian chief that lit up and 'wood' sides), '49 Willys Overland (would go anywhere), '57 Dodge Power Wagon (former Forest Service vehicle bought at auction), and one of the first Ford Contour SVT's. Current ride is FFR Cobra w/small block (no side pipes, no roll bar, no hood scoop - strictly street) and, of course, the 'B' project (still in the building the motor stage).

71 Valiant with a 318... After a few years, I added my 71 MGB-GT. Then, I owned a 63 Buick Special for about one week... but I only drove it once. (I was being towed at the end of a long chain, because the transmission was shot.)

A '67 LeMans that I shared with my brothers. Bone stock but it was a nice car. Then a '70 Cutlass Supreme that became a W.Va. road burner and which I would still have today if not for my first wife who shortly thereafter became my ex. There followed a motley assortment including 2 Toyota Landcruisers (one with a drop tailgate), a Datsun 1100 jungle pickup, a pair of Corvairs (one turbo'd convertible), a Galaxie 500, a push button Belvedere, a Toyota Tercel, and finally a '71 MGB followed by several other B's, all roadsters. For most of them the experiance wasn't a good one and they ended up as parts. But one moved on to a new home and one is still with me. In the meantime I also acquired a I-H Travelall for a beater which eventually was replaced by the Lincoln Blackwood pickup and that pretty well brings us up to date. Motorcycles filled in the gaps as well, including two Bonnevilles, a Tiger, an Atlas, a Water Buffalo, a 350SL, a DT400, and now an ironhead Sportster. That will continue to evolve.

I had many favorites. The MGB, the Travelall, the Cutlass, and the Blackwood being at the top and all for different reasons, though when it came to driving style the Cutlass and the V8-MG were the most similar. Though the MG is considerably faster, the Cutlass was great fun drifting through the turns on mountain roads. In fact, most of them were fun cars in one way or another, except the Plymouth, which was as dull as dirt (and repeatedly tried to kill me), and the Galaxie which was very forgettable. I wouldn't mind having another Cutlass, but I'm perfectly happy with what I have now. Or will be once the 340 swap is finished.

Jim



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/16/2008 11:04AM by BlownMGB-V8.

My first car was a 1964 MGB that my sister gave me. I fell hopelessly in love with it the first time I rode in it and she gave it to me for Christmas 4 years later in 1975. She's responsible for my present affliction.

After that, a base model '76 Rabbit that was light and quick, '78 Scirocco special that was neither. A '74 Super Beetle, '68 Beetle, '58 Beetle, '56 Beetle, '84 CRX ($6200 brand new and was lighter and quicker than the Rabbit. Great car), '66 Chevy II 6 cyl, '81 Monte Carlo, '71 MGB, '67 MGB-GT, '66 MGB (still own it), '68 MGB, another '71 MGB, '73 MGB, '93 240SX (another great car), '71 MGB-GT (ex-turbo then NA, now Buick 300 and still in the garage), solid '76 Mini pickup that I've only driven around the neighborhood and still own but needs a total refurb, '05 Ford F150 Lariat that I loved for about a week then grew to hate. (Put about 4k on it then parked it and later traded it.), '06 Subaru Outback XT (modded ecu, catless up and down pipes. Went like stink but my wife hated it so I traded it for an....) '06 Honda Ridgeline, '95 Honda Accord wagon still in the driveway with 78K on the odo (bought as a DD to save miles on the Ridgeline). I've flipped 20+ other MG's and small Healey's, a couple of TR7's (one with a 3.8 Buick) that I either drove very little or not at all. '72 Norton Commando, '71 Triumph Bonneville, '75 Triumph Bonneville, stripped '75 Honda Gold Wing, '72 Honda CB 350, '82 Yamaha Maxim 400, '62 Honda Cub 50, '03 Honda VTX 1800C. Oh yeah, living in the garage there's a really nice '75K original mileage '78 Midget that I refurbed 6 years ago for my father in law. He put about 600 miles on it and gave it to my wife last year. And about 10 company cars. One of the most enjoyable cars that I've ever driven is my wife's '04 MINI Cooper S. if you haven't driven one you should. One of the least is her '05 Durango. What a pile.

Edit: Ed's post reminded me of a few that I forgot.

'52 Chevy 4 door, '59 Bugeye with a factory hard top that I sold to pay attorney fees for a divorce, 1959 BSA Gold Star (Dad bought it for me when I was 16 and sold it 6 months later when he saw a kid hit a tree on a dirt bike), 1969 BSA B44 441 single, 1959 16' Fabuglas, 1975 Hydrostream Vandal w/135 Evinrude (14.5' long and the hull weighed 350 pounds. It would literally jump out of the water with a 19" prop), 1995 Bayliner 2050 LS with a Chevy 305 that I still own. It has less than 60 hours on it and I should probably sell it.



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 11/16/2008 01:57PM by Dave.

First was a 1957 Chevy (high school) then a 1970 Nova to my 1972 MG Midget to 1977 Pontiac Grand Prix.

Next was my 1978 Datsun 280Z, traded for a 1989 Nissan 200SX (mistake) which was soon sold for a 1990 Nissan 300ZX.

Sold it for a 1992 Jeep Cherokee Sport (got married). Traded it on a 1995 Nissan Pathfinder. Then Jean let me buy the 1996 Nissan 300ZX that I still have. I also drive a 2004 Ford F-150 heritage.

Add to this a 1969 MGB (sold after a year)...my 1978 MGB bought in 1986 (still have it)...my 1969 MGC bought in 1992 (still have it)...my 1974-1/2 MGB/GT bought in 2000 (still have it and SLOWLY converting it to a V8)...and my 1968 MGC (still have it).

In the interim, I've also had a 1986 Honda CRX and a 1990 Honda CRX (both used for winter cars)...and Jean has had a 1990 Nissan Maxima and currently drives a 2000 Mercury Mountaineer. She has developed "new car fever" over the past couple of weeks and I think I'll probably be buying another SUV for her in the near future.

I miss the 1957 Chevy, the 1978 Z-car, and the Midget. The CRX's were fun cars and I had badged them as MGs.

I hated the Nissan 200SX. The Grand Prix was a land yacht. My ex-wife rolled the Nova in a snow storm. I bought her a 1980 Honda Civic to replace it.

So...that's the "stable" and its empty/full stalls.

Neat stuff all.

Ok, I'll play also, being older has given me a long list. In order of purchase..........starting 1959...every one a story, may have forgotten some. God help us if someone looks over our life-time carbon footprint.

1954 Ford -6 cyl 3 on the tree
1952 MG TD -rebuilt motor myself, sold for $450 in good shape new owner totaled in 2 weeks hitting a cow
1949 Austin Devon A40 -1100cc series "B" block - bought for $40 drove to work until it didn't go anymore
1956 Jaguar XK-140 DHC -drove for a long time rebuilt motor started restoration that never got done
1960 Morris Minor - bought for $30 with bad rod bearing drove until it didn't go anymore
1956 Pontiac Star Chief -bought for $15 drove until battery stolen wasn't worth putting a new one in
1970 Opel GT 1900 -good car until the diff went out
1960 Bugeye Sprite -bought for $100 w/o engine or trans restored from various bits and below
1962 Sprite -driver while restoring Bugeye, then parts donor, gave rust-free body away for a 6 pack of beer
1965 Ford Econoline van -work truck bulletproof but ugly sold with business
1972 Lotus Europa Twin Cam -neat scooter but hated sealed Strombergs
1972 Datsun 240Z -back-up for Lotus
197? Pontiac -grey 4-door something company car
1981 Porsche 928S -company car when we started making more money
1982 Jeep Cherokee -full size 4wd -mountain car to cope with snow in SoCal
1984 Porsche 928 S4 -another company car
1990 Blazer -full size 4wd -replacement mountain car totaled when daughters boyfriend hit pole no one hurt
1956 Willys 4wd Wagon -390ci AMC V8 conversion -off road grunt
1992 Ford Bronco -full size 4wd -replaced Blazer
1968 Chevelle SS396 -LS6 454 Muncie 4-speed 4.11 diff -est 500hp w hefty cam solids Barry Grant 850 carb
1994 Cadillac NorthStar ETC -retirement car pos
1965 Mustang Fastback -6 cyl project was going to build very light weight version w Aussie turbo'd 6 at 300 hp
1977 MGB -Rover 3.5 EFI V8 chrome bumper conversion
2006 Dodge Magnum 3.5 HO

1965 Honda 305 Scrambler -first motorbike
1966 Honda 305 -street version
1956 BSA Goldstar Catalina Scrambler DBD-34 -desert sled rebuilt it sold it for $450 want to see me cry
1970 Honda SL-350 Scrambler -50,000 street and desert miles
197x Norton 850 Commando -hated the isolastic swing arm nearly killed me twice
1979 Honda CBX -bought new still have it and it runs great
1984 KTM 504 -MX Senior race bike, being morphed into cafe' recer

1946 Aeronca 7AC Champ 65 hp
1946 Globe Swift 125 hp
1976 Rockwell Commander 114 260 hp
1968 Cessna 310 Colemill conversion 2 x300 hp
1965 Piper Cherokee C 180 hp
1972 Starduster II homebuilt aerobatic biplane 150 hp
1971 Beechcraft Bonanza V35B 285 hp
1978 Cessna 340A 2 x 335 hp turbo/intercooled
1955 Beechcraft T-34B Mentor 285 hp

1956 16' Glaspar 90 hp Evinrude
1978 19' Cobalt 351 Ford OMC outdrive
1983 33' Wellcraft Scarab III 2 x 330 hp 454ci Mercruisers TRW outdrives



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/16/2008 12:18PM by Edd Weninger.

I started with a 1967 Karman Ghia, then a 1970 Lotus Europa, then 1n 1977, a 1972 Honda 600 when I moved to Texas. The Honda was my only car for 3 years (4 speed nonsyncro shift on the dashboard) and was used through a 6 month stint in Chicago and two NJ winters. Later I got a 1963 Mercedes 190 Sedan with a bad engine and put a 200 diesel engine in it (4 on the column gear shift). A few years later I got a 1979 Mercedes 240 D and then I restored the 190 and put in a twin carb 200 gas engine. The interior was from a junked 1964 300, and included red leather seats and door panels, accented with a wood dash, wood windshield trim, wood trim on the doors, and extra interior chrome trim; still with a gray (non-metallic) plain 190 exterior. I finally sold the car but wish I kept it.. I moved to Holland in 1989 and while there I had 50% interest in a Citroen 2CV. This had the high performance engine (relatively speaking) with a 2 barrel carb and would do 70 mph; though the tops of the doors started separtaing from the body at speeds above 60. It also had a 4 speed dashboard shifter, though a different pattern than the Honda had. I also had a 50% interest in a 1951 DAF army truck. This was the size of a full size pick-up, but was very heavy duty- weighing about 7,000 pounds. It had 4 wheel independent suspension with each wheel supported by its own trailing arms, and no cross axles. There was a cross shaft in the middle of the chassis, and each wheel was driven from it by means of its own drive shaft with right angle bevel gear boxes at each end. This gave amazing ground clearance. It was powered by a Continental flat head 6. We could not afford the dual batteries (24 volt) so we always started it with the hand crank. This was easy, though intimidating because the crank came out at about chest height. The only bad design feature was that the twin fuel tanks served as the driver and passinger seat bases. I also got a 60,000 original mile 1966 Morris Minor Traveler in Holland, and that I still have (original paint, wood, interior). I also acquired and restored over the years a 1958 Alfa Romeo Veloce Spider, and a 1966 Lotus Elan (I still have those). I bought these cars when I was living in Colorado before the move to Holland, so the Alfa was virtually rust-free. I finally replaced the 240 D in 2002 with a Subaru WRX wagon. Note that the WRX is the only car I have ever owned with any sort of exhaust emission controls and the only car with AC. I have never owned a car with an automatic transmission...

Well, let's see...

1960 Saab 93
1962 Volvo 122S
1962 Jaguar 3.8L MK2
1964 Volvo 122S
1963 MGB
196? Karman Ghia Coupe
1970 Fiat 850 Coupe
1959 Triumph TR3
1969 Rover 2000TC (Arden Green)
1969 Rover 2000TC (April Yellow) (plus several parts cars)
1969 BMW 2800CS
1952 BMW R68
1982 Alfa Romeo Spyder
1970 Rover 3500S (Tobacco Leaf)
1970 Rover 3500S (Davos White)
1970 Rover 3500S (Arden Green)
1970 Rover 3500S (Zircon Blue) (parts car)
1970 Rover 3500S (Zircon Blue)
1982 Porsche 928
1933 Franklin Olympic Convertible Coupe

Still have the white Rover 3500S, the 928, the BMW R68, and the Franklin.

The Franklin is the only American car I've ever owned! 8)

James

Here goes:
53 Ford 6 cyl
53 Chevy 6
51 Crosley wgn
52 Crosley Super
55 Hillman Husky
57 Chevy 6,265,283,3 speed, overdrive
63 Chevy Impala
58 Hillman Minx
60 Hillman Minx
63 English Ford Cortina, Auto
71 Merc Comet
63 English Sord Cotina wgn
59 Sumbeam Alpine
76 Maxda 808, wgn
68 Rover Sedan (2TC?)
74 MBGT, still have it
86 Peugeot 505 STI, first new car
83 Jag XJ6
70 MGBGT, Now a V6
02 Toyota Avalon

All were fun at the time.

Steve

This must be one of those "He who dies with the most toys wins" type of threads. Like my fantasy football league, I just can't compete. But I did share the LeMans with Jim, but I thought it was a '66. He also failed to mention the Mercury Marquis and the Crack 'em Up truck.

I really liked his 62 Plymouth. You could not kill that car. I remember him running it up the side of roadbank to where the driver door mirror picked up gravel from the berm. Maypop tires helped with the bat turns consistently made in that car. I was following Jim in my 78 Magnum out a dirt (clay) road when it started to rain. The voice on the CB came in loud and clear, "It's getting slick....we're not going to make this curve....we're going over the hill...OOOH NOOOOOO..."
I had a hard time keeping from following them over. We had to get Dad's MF tractor to retrieve the Plymouth. Do you count tractors in the list?

I drove the LeMans, a 67 Impala 283 2speed, 69 Galaxie, 72 Toyota Corona, (all bought by parents for us to share?) We also drove the farm pickups.

When I started paying, it was a 78 Magnum, the 66 TR4A we just fuel injected, a 83 Dodge Rampage, 78 Datsun 510, 85 Daytona, 83 Colt, 86 Ranger, 87 Caravelle, 90 Ranger, 91 Explorer, 89 Grand Am, 91 Spirit ES, 94 Aerostar, 95 Ranger, 96 Aerostar, 90 F150, 92 Corsica, 92 Shadow ES, 98 Explorer, 2000 Sienna, 2002 Explorer and the latest addition, 1980 TR7. That is the chronological order, of course. Only the TR4A and the last three on the list are still around my place.

My first 2 cars: a '64 MGB & a '65 Stingray...sure wished I had kept both of them.

1957 Ford Fairlane 4 dr
1957 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1960 Dodge Senaca 4 dr
1959 Cadillac Coupe Deville Convertible (wish I had held on to that one)
1960 Cadillac Fleetwood
1966 Corvair Corsa (140 HP 4 1bbls)
1963 Ford Galaxie XL 500 Convertible (390 V8 Police Interceptor Hurst 4 speed)
1964 Chevy Impala SS Convettible (327 V8 power slide transmission)
1966 Yamaha 305
1971 BSA 650cc Lightening (I still have her but she was chopped/customized in 1976)
1965 Corvair Monza
1966 Ford Econoline Van
1969 BSA Rocket 3 (Still have her)
1971 Volvo 144
1980 Mercury Wagon (company car)
1978 MGB (still have now with Stroked OldsmobileV8 and Nitrous)
1980 Mercury Maurder Wagon (company car V8)
1981 Mercury Zepher Wagon (company car)
1983 Mercury Zepher Wagon (company car)
1983 Olds Cutless Wagon (company car)
1969 BSA Rocket 3 (second one still have her too)
1985 (?) Ford Wind Star Van (company car)
1985 BMW 325e (still have her)
1995 Ford Explorer Sport 2 dr 5 speed stick
1994 Volvo 960 Wagon
1998 Ford Ranger 4x4 Off Road Sport Pick up truck (rolled her but still sitting in my yard)
2001 Lexus IS 300
2005 Subaru WRX STi (still have her my daily driver)
1967 Chrysler Newport Custom 4 dr (my other show car still have)
1987 Dodge Dakota 4x4 Pick up truck (w/snow plow keep her upstate just to plow the driveway that is 1/4 mile long)
2008 Jeep Patriot Limited (trail rated my wife's daily driver)

In that order and I don't think I left any out (edited for corrections).



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/17/2008 06:54PM by MSDMGBV8.

Cars we drove, not parted out right?

Okay, cars I owned and drove:
(NOT including cars that were purchased for my wife, but mainly just for me)

1977 Dodge 318 4 dr (free- fixed and sold right away)
*1961 Sprite MKII (was Dad's car, still undergoing restoration)
1972 MG Midget
1968 MGB convertable
1972 Datsun 510 station wagon
1984 GMC S15 2.8L V6 T5 long box
1984 Chevrolet S10 2.8L 4 speed short box
*1959 Austin Healey Bugeye
1982 BMW 320i
1983 BMW 320i
1982 BMW 528
*1982 Chevrolet S10 Longbox (was 2.8/ 4 speed, became 3.4L L32 V6 w/ T5)
1968 MGB GT green, shag (almost) interior
*1959 Austin A40
*1980 MGB 3.4L V6
1991 Mazda MPV V6 auto
*1994 Saturn Sedan DOHC 5 speed (owned for 6 months. Total 1 mile driven- winter car)
(I may have forgotton one or two)

NOTE: * = Cars I still own.

This list does not include cars I never drove, that were purchased as Jennifer's primary transportation and others. If it did, the list would grow to 2 or 3 times as long.

Can I include the John Deere Garden tractors? They have been fun toys too!!? We have a 1972 Deere 140 H3 with all steel cab, blower, tiller, belly blade, narrow belly mower, wide belly mower, intrical hitch (with a receiver hitch that I added to it for hydraulically lifting the trailers) and a bit more. We move the boat, car trailers and drag cars into the shop with this stout little thing. I could care less about the three wheeler and other toys I have owned, this one is practical and fun that those who live in town miss out on...

-BMC.

Graham, is there much of a story to that '64 MGB? Looks like the wheel arch has been cut and big wheels/tires fitted. Stock engine?

Here's mine:

1959 Bugeye Sprite (first car in 1967)
1962 Volvo 122S
1967 Firebird 'vert 326 4spd
1970 Fiat 124 Spider
1962 VW Convert.
1972 Fiat 124 Spider
1959 Bugeye Sprite (still have)
1979 Fiat X1/9
1986 Saab 9000 Turbo
1963 Austin-Healey 3000 (still have)
1980 BMW 320i
1995 Camaro Z/28
1983 BMW 323i
2006 Chrysler 300C SRT8 (still have)
1996 Chevy Caprice LT1 (still have)

Seems like the Bugeye Sprite is a common denominator with more than few here. Was also pleasant to see I wasn't the only one who had the pleasure to own a Morris Minor. I'm begining to think that cars are like dogs...you can tell a lot about a fella from what he drove/drives (just like dogs and owners seem to go together). Fun thread.

Curtis, the 6" chrome reverse rims came off a friend's Mustang which necessitated the wheel arch radius job. Powertrain was stock and the only other modification was an egg crate grille fabricated from a '70 Vega - could I have beaten Ken Costello to the punch?

Here's a few of mine - as reported in the Newsletter a few issues ago.


[www.britishv8.org]

Dogs now? Well, OK somehow we ended up with this guy named Dingo who is half black and tan coon hound and half Manchester Terrier, which incidentally looks almost exactly like a black and tan and very similar to a Doberman. Half the time he acts like a hound dog and half the time he acts like a terrier. Loves to run, howl, and dig holes. As well as being a total maniac about half... no make that 3/4 of the time, Dingo is a thief. He absolutely delights in sneaking off with small items that you've just set down and chewing them up and is totally incorrigible. Luckily he is not my dog. I do worry that he belongs to my boy, he could be a bad influence. Maybe he'll grow out of it.

Jim