Date: Sat, 17 Nov 2007 11:44:36 -0600
Reply-To: Leslie Schwartz <lhs_emf@PACBELL.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Leslie Schwartz <lhs_emf@PACBELL.NET>
Subject: Re: Turning Circles in your mind. ;)
In-Reply-To: <04B0EB82-6135-4EE8-843C-4CB1E0D65952@telus.net>
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The GT6 of course was the up-rated 6 cylinder version of the Spitfire. I have a 78 which in my view is a somewhat better looking
version of the Spitfires from the variations.
It's a fun car to drive; it has a swing axle so its likely to over-steer in some conditions like an old Beetle, or Porsche 550
Spyder. But its predictable and controllable in that.
My Spitfire was not slow; but then I am not used to driving high end sports cars. Its in the garage at home, has a nice set of
Webers, but no linkage, a broken rear axle flex joint. The last thing I did on it was to replace a rusted thru freeze plug on the
head in-between it and the firewall not an easy thing to do for me anyway.
There are Spitfire parts vendors out there still, but for me its another hopeless case car project, one of several of mine. My
Vanagons are near hopeless cases, in my view.
BTW from the wikipedia;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miata
__________ excerpt ___________________________________________
Overview
The MX-5, as envisioned by its designers, is a small roadster with minimal necessary weight and mechanical complexity -
technologically modern, but a direct descendant of the small British roadsters of the 1960s such as the Triumph Spitfire,
Austin-Healey Sprite, MG Midget and Lotus Elan.
As a result, the MX-5 was designed with a traditional front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout and four-wheel independent double
wishbone suspension. It has a longitudinally-mounted four cylinder engine coupled to a manual transmission; an automatic
transmission is a cost option.
_____________________________________________
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Don Spence
Sent: Saturday, November 17, 2007 11:13 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Turning Circles in your mind. ;)
Never had a spit. Don't think I've even driven one. I did have a GT6 Mk III for a few years. Fantastic car. Sorry i sold it. I
currently have a 67 TR4A, off the road for over 20 years but slowly coming back together, and a 72 TR6, 99% restored. Had triumphs
before my Westy which is the new kid on the block.
There is something to be said for the simplicity and honesty of these older vehicles. And of course the enjoyability factor.
The Vanagon is complicated next to a Triumph. So much to learn, so little space left in my brain.
Cheers
On Nov 16, 2007, at 10:00 PM, Automatic digest processor wrote:
> Subject: Re: : Turning Circles in your mind. ;)
>
> Yes there seems to be a common thread connecting many of us with the
> types of cars we have, have had, or would like to have. That Vanagons
> and Triumphs are on this list show what masochists we really are. As
> for my Spitfire how many of can say that the the car was given to
> them and to date their personal expenditure on it is less than $50.00
> including a tank of gas and a distributor rotor? A friend decided
> that it was beyond his abilities to keep the car running and even
> though he could easily afford to pay someone to maintain it, I had
> even offered to help him with it, he gave it to me. If someone gives
> you a 28 year old British car are they still considered a friend???
> Have to ponder that question for a while. If nothing else it is nice
> to again have a car that I can work on when I want or shove in the
> garage(with drop cloths under
> it) and leave until I feel like working on it. I have not had this
> since I sold my 1964 1/2 Mustang convertible 5 years ago, and it did
> not require much more than gas and oil changes.
>
> Mark in AK
