Simple pleasures - a sign of the times?

[Sideways Tim]

So, I used to run a new 300+bhp V8 Mustang for fun. Oh my, it was fun. However, austere times and all that meant it had to go, as it was an easy asset to turn into cash. The empty garage did keep troubling me however, so I looked for some solace in a lower cost package.
I picked up a near mint Triumph Spitfire a few months ago and while it's no cosseting, roaring GT, I have to say I it's been brilliant so far. Sub £3k to buy, nothing to tax (pre '73), £100 to insure. It might only have circa 50bhp, but you're dragging your arse on the floor, top down, wind carressing your shiny pate, the noise is great, the smell is great, there's no driver aids - never mind ESP, ABS, TC, not even servo brakes or power steering and you have to think about driving again. Not much chance of just putting your foot down and a waft of torque and a wall of noise carrying you past folk at speeds far in excess of the limit - here it's more a case of planning your move, using the gears and the revvy little 1300 to get you around.
I have to say I actually enjoy driving this little toy a lot more than I thought I would - the 40mph everywhere brigade are just about fair game, but after 60 it runs out of steam quite spectacularly, there's always the niggling fear that it might break down at any minute too! So, perfect for low speed, recession proof motoring fun, bringing a sense of occassion back to tackling what might otherwise be dull trips.
Anyone else thinking of trying something similar - I can highly recommend it.

Long live the British sports car!

[greeneggsnsam]

I drive one too, although mine has the larger 1500 engine so it is a bit more peppy I expect! Great fun to drive, 30mph feels like 100 when you're so low down with that long bonnet in front of you. I've even got servo brakes fitted to mine so it's a bit more reassuring when you get an idiot in front of you. Love the look of it, too, it's a beautiful little car (more so with a hard top on but during summer who would have that?!).

[Caulkhead]

I guess you've just described why basic, underpowered little British sports cars always sold by the bucketload in America despite them being badly suited to most of the roads and costing more than some decent US iron. There's more to driving pleasure than straightline poke. Nothing suits a sunny British B road like an old MGB or Spit or TR.

<Hurries off to scan the classifieds in Classic Car mag>

[CaptainSlow]

Yep, this is why the MX-5 is such a fun car.

[60]

Great cars, my dad's got its bigger brother the mk2 vitesse convertible, 2l 6 cylinder so a bit more power (100hp when it was new) and loads of fun, hopefully taking it to a triumph day at duxford next sunday

http://duxford.iwm.org.uk/server/show/conEvent.364...

Edited by 60 on Sunday 22 May 15:12

[V88Dicky]

I'm sure it's fun, but I don't think I could go for a drive out and enjoy the sound of a 4pot.

So along those same lines, I'd probably opt for a pre-73 Vitesse or a GT6, an MBGGTV8 or even a Stag.

Perhaps even a nice old Mustang of some sort, how about a '71 Mach 1?

None of the above would be cheap to buy though. Bugger.

[eldar]

V88Dicky said:

I'm sure it's fun, but I don't think I could go for a drive out and enjoy the sound of a 4pot.

So along those same lines, I'd probably opt for a pre-73 Vitesse or a GT6, an MBGGTV8 or even a Stag.

Perhaps even a nice old Mustang of some sort, how about a '71 Mach 1?

None of the above would be cheap to buy though. Bugger.

Just stick a Vitesse engine in the Spitfire. Econo GT6.