NPOCP?

"michael bleggi" (mikalbleggi) 09/08/2014 at 22:14 • Filed to: None

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never even noticed these things, until i fell in love with a Triumph Spitfire today. What's the deal on these small little roadsters? MGB or spitfire? or other options? here's one super close to me... auto, but very clean and very cheap?

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Dsscats > michael bleggi 09/08/2014 at 22:16

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They never made it with an auto....and I hope you like Alfa-like service intervals (Hint: twice a week)

IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK > michael bleggi 09/08/2014 at 22:17

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Beware Lucas Prince of Darkness

michael bleggi > Dsscats 09/08/2014 at 22:20

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so... it's fake?

GhostZ > michael bleggi 09/08/2014 at 22:21

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Because I like not having to do pop the hood every time I want to leave the house.

Steve in Manhattan > michael bleggi 09/08/2014 at 22:27

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Had an MGB-GT for a few weeks. I cannot recommend these cars. If you have to get one, get an MGB with a manual transmission as cheaply as you can - make sure the top doesn't leak. Check to see which fuses are burnt out - those indicate problem components, which will include pretty much every gauge on your dashboard. You'll be putting in a wiring harness for a grand shortly thereafter. And the switches will all likely be ready to fail. Look for fuel leaks - mine caught on fire. Check the rear suspension links for wear, check the differential to see if it has any oil left in it ($800 if you get it done cheap). Drain the oil (pay for the change) and make sure there are no bits of metal in it. Look for structural rust, otherwise you'll be paying some big dude to weld on frame parts. And motor mounts - those famously fail. Or just get a Miata and have something that works.

LeadfootYT > michael bleggi 09/08/2014 at 22:31

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MGB vs. Spitfire isn't exactly a fair comparison. The MGB was more TR6-sized (perhaps a bit smaller), and the Spitfire and MG Midget were the true twins.

IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK > Dsscats 09/08/2014 at 22:32

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They were offered with an auto, but were apparently very unpopular. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MG_MGB#Dr…

Dunnik > michael bleggi 09/08/2014 at 22:38

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No, but clearly it's had an auto tranny dropped into it at some point.

I wonder from what. Some kind of British Leyland tranny would be keeping it somewhat OG, but ugh.

Otherwise, old British roadsters are demanding mistresses, and downright primitive compared to modern cars. The electrics on this car and other British makes from this era are notoriously bad.

But swapping out everything but the body shell and chassis with modern components would ruin its charm. Go that route and you might as well buy a Miata, which, obviously, was the Japanese copying this kind of car.

My dad had a from-new 1967 Austin Healey 3000 in - what else - British Racing green with wire wheels. When everything is working, it's one of the finest motoring experiences one can have.

So I'd say go for if you can meet one of these two conditions:

a) you can and will wrench it yourself, and have a reliable DD

b) you can afford to have it serviced by a specialist (once or twice a week)

Bycjoe > michael bleggi 09/08/2014 at 23:24

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I had an MG Midget as my first car, for all intensive purposes it was a spitfire. I wouldn't recommend one as your DD but they are lovely little cars(we called them LBCs or little British cars or classics) with tons of personality, and by personality I mean your clutch line would spring a leak 40 miles from home and you have to push it to sync with first gear to make it back. Tons of adventures and I couldn't take it out without having a conversation with at least 5 people telling me about how they used to own one 40 years ago :). I miss the old girl. Just make sure to keep extra hydraulic lines or fittings, fluid for everything especially Marvel mystery oil, I'm not sure what it did exactly but I swore by it, extra distributor cap and rotor. I never really had any problem with the electronics but my car only had turn signal, headlamps and brake lamps there wasn't too much too go wrong. It was the car that truely ignited my passion for cars and taught me how to drive a stick and fix just about anything that could go wrong.

grahamrh808 > michael bleggi 09/08/2014 at 23:58

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If you're going to subject yourself to the pains of owning an old British car, you should at least find one with a manual so that it'll be fun to drive on the rare days its working properly.