In article ,
Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In article .com,
CML wrote:
I used to own an MGB GT which I enjoyed enormously, but I found it a
tad slow. I haven't got oodles of cash but I don't mind driving
something a bit tatty (two to three thousand at most).

My question is: are there any decent classics (60s or early 70s
ideally) that are also capable of overtaking modern traffic but don't
cost a fortune to buy or run?

You'll get a respectable but not perfect SD1 Vitesse for that, and they're
still a pretty fast car.
Also 2.8 Capri. Reliant Scimitar. Even a TR7, which is a much better car
than some think. Dolomite Sprint.

SD1: Yup. Come to that, any V8 SD1 should fill the mark. The steering
isn't that (immediately) confidence-inspiing, but it works well once
you're used to it. The gearbox - well, the manual is OK. Not driven
an SD1 slushmatic but it might work well. Goes, handles. Brakes (like
anytjhing from that era) are marginal by modern standards. It's not
hard to run an SD1 out of anchors - if you're careless.

A good SD1 could be fun.

Other than that: 2.8 or late 3.0L Capri? Gilbern Invader?

--
Andy Breen ~ Interplanetary Scintillation Research Group
http://users.aber.ac.uk/azb/
"Time has stopped, says the Black Lion clock
and eternity has begun" (Dylan Thomas)

In article ,
Malcolm wrote:

"CML" wrote in message
roups.com...
I hae been toying with the idea of getting a classic and hiding it away
in a remote garage for weekend blasts.

I used to own an MGB GT which I enjoyed enormously, but I found it a
tad slow. I haven't got oodles of cash but I don't mind driving
something a bit tatty (two to three thousand at most).

My question is: are there any decent classics (60s or early 70s
ideally) that are also capable of overtaking modern traffic but don't
cost a fortune to buy or run?

Probably doesn't fit your cheap to run criterion but you could try one of
the 1970 Lotus offerings, Elites in particular are cheap. Top speed 130mph
0-60 7secs.

Trouble is you could get very familiar with the recovery man and the engine
isn't cheap to fix.

Y'know, I thought of the Elite when I first read this - then reckoned
an early XJS would probably be less expensive to keep running..

Same would go for Jensen-Healeys and Jensen GTs, possibly even more so.

--
Andy Breen ~ Interplanetary Scintillation Research Group
http://users.aber.ac.uk/azb/
Feng Shui: an ancient oriental art for extracting
money from the gullible (Martin Sinclair)

On Thu, 23 Jun 2005 16:51:49 UTC, "Dave Plowman (News)"
wrote:

In article dzZo7CxomoOm-pn2-dyXvdcKQwiPd@localhost,
Ian Johnston wrote:
My question is: are there any decent classics (60s or early 70s
ideally) that are also capable of overtaking modern traffic

Citroen DS23

You jest? Fine car though it may be, overtaking isn't one of its virtues.

panto

Oh yes it is.

/panto

It's just so much fun when the second choke kicks in. Mind you, at
that point you can hear the air whistling in to the petrol tank to
replace the fuel used: the second choke on a Weber doesn't go in for
cissy stuff like "mixture" or "metering". It just lobs fuel in as fast
as it can.

Mine's a 5 speed manual. The others may be less fun for overtaking.

Ian

In article ,
Andrew Robert Breen wrote:
SD1: Yup. Come to that, any V8 SD1 should fill the mark. The steering
isn't that (immediately) confidence-inspiing, but it works well once
you're used to it.

It makes a deal of difference which rack is fitted, as there are three.
The Cam Gears one is the best. The others are too light and lacking in
feel.

The gearbox - well, the manual is OK. Not driven
an SD1 slushmatic but it might work well.

It's as good as any three speed, really. The manual isn't the world's best
box. ;-)

Goes, handles. Brakes (like
anytjhing from that era) are marginal by modern standards. It's not
hard to run an SD1 out of anchors - if you're careless.

The vented discs and four pot calipers on the EFI models are ok - just.
The early ones are more than marginal for a car of that performance.

--
*When blondes have more fun, do they know it?

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On Thu, 23 Jun 2005 18:20:00 +0100, "Mike G" wrote:

For similar money a '72-'75 BMW 2002Tii will show a Scimitar a clean pair of
heels.

Very likely, but you can buy a whole Scimitar for the price of a Tii
gearbox.

In article ,
Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In article ,
Andrew Robert Breen wrote:
SD1: Yup. Come to that, any V8 SD1 should fill the mark. The steering
isn't that (immediately) confidence-inspiing, but it works well once
you're used to it.

It makes a deal of difference which rack is fitted, as there are three.
The Cam Gears one is the best. The others are too light and lacking in
feel.

Aha. That could explain a good deal.

The gearbox - well, the manual is OK. Not driven
an SD1 slushmatic but it might work well.

It's as good as any three speed, really. The manual isn't the world's best
box. ;-)

Well, it's better than the big Ford manuals of the time, not that's saying
a lot. ISTR 2nd and 4th being - difficult - until it warmed up, though

Goes, handles. Brakes (like
anytjhing from that era) are marginal by modern standards. It's not
hard to run an SD1 out of anchors - if you're careless.

The vented discs and four pot calipers on the EFI models are ok - just.
The early ones are more than marginal for a car of that performance.

Stepping from a Citroen GSA to an earlyish SD1 V8 could lead to
moments of interest, as I found out once.

--
Andy Breen ~ Interplanetary Scintillation Research Group
http://users.aber.ac.uk/azb/
"Time has stopped, says the Black Lion clock
and eternity has begun" (Dylan Thomas)

Ian Johnston ) gurgled happily, sounding much
like they were saying :

One of my quickest runs through mid-Wales was in a 2CV6 (my absolute
record was in a GSA-X1, though - now that was absurdly fast on the
twisty bits).

For the twisty lanes near me the 2CV is definitely the fastest car I
have: its top speed may not be high, but you never have to slow down
for corners. I beat a colleague in his nice new Peugeot back from
Bromyard to Malvern in the 2CV by more than ten minutes once ... he
said he just couldn't believe how fast it would go round corners!

Yep, and on narrowish lanes, you can zip through gaps where you'd have to
stop and tuck into the hedge in a wider car.

A 2cv is a much under-rated hoonmobile. Ssshh!

Andrew Robert Breen ) gurgled happily, sounding much like
they were saying :

Probably doesn't fit your cheap to run criterion but you could try one
of the 1970 Lotus offerings, Elites in particular are cheap.

Y'know, I thought of the Elite when I first read this - then reckoned
a serious heroin habit would probably be less expensive to keep running..

I've fixed your post for you.

"Andy Dingley" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 23 Jun 2005 18:20:00 +0100, "Mike G" wrote:

For similar money a '72-'75 BMW 2002Tii will show a Scimitar a clean pair
of
heels.

Very likely, but you can buy a whole Scimitar for the price of a Tii
gearbox.

Prices of parts on older cars often exceed the price of a complete car.
Frinstance.An early Celica GT4 turbo baught for under £500 can fetch well
over a £1000 you break it and sell the parts separately. That I know for a
fact.
In the price guide I used a 2002Tii in average condition is £2500. An
excellent one £4800.
Mike.

In article ,
Andrew Robert Breen wrote:
The vented discs and four pot calipers on the EFI models are ok - just.
The early ones are more than marginal for a car of that performance.

Stepping from a Citroen GSA to an earlyish SD1 V8 could lead to
moments of interest, as I found out once.

It's a relatively easy job to fit Jaguar discs all round. I'm told they
work very well.

I always thought it strange that the SD1 brakes were so poor at launch.
After all, the P6 was famous for having excellent brakes in its day.

--
*Artificial Intelligence is no match for Natural Stupidity *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.