Vic, I have always heard the TR engines were hotted up David Brown tractor
engines. Is that true, or were the tractor engines detuned car engines?
These things really are not important, other than to realize that a good
engine is a good engine is a good engine. They can play any role with
proper modification. Hence, the heritage of any car is unimportant! In the
Alpine List, someone put down the Ford 2.3 by stating it was designed as a
truck engine. I don't think that is true, but if it is, it doesn't matter.
The finished product is all that matters, which is in pretty good agreement
with your closing statement. Personally, I like the TR's and think that
Rootes ended up with something that was way beyond its time and price.
By the way, has anyone ever made a REAL SPORTS CAR that a working stiff
could ever dream of buying new? By REAL SPORTS CAR, I mean one that shares
no parts with a more pedestrian vehicle, be it sedan, truck or rickshaw.
Bill
----- Original Message -----
From: "Victor Hughes" <v.hughes@student.canberra.edu.au>
To: "Jan Eyerman" <jan.eyerman@usa.net>
Cc: <alpines@autox.team.net>
Sent: Monday, March 05, 2001 5:46 PM
Subject: Re: [Was now what to do with it.]
> Jan Eyerman wrote:
>
> > I am glad to hear that some very capable people have been able to take a
> > Hillman Husky chassis and a hotted up Hillman Minx engine and beat the
tar out
> > of real sports cars (MG, Triumph, etc).
> >
>
> Jan,
>
> No offence, but you're not suggesting the Alpine is not a 'real' sports
car are
> you? Let's not forget the original MG was a hotted up Bullnose Morris,
and MGA's
> and B's used the same basic engine as the Morris Oxford sedan. Triumphs
of all TR
> series used engines from sedans as well, and you'll find all sorts of Ford
bits
> (including engine) in a Lotus.
>
> A sports car is a sports car not from what you put into it, but from what
you get
> out of it.
>
> Cheers
>
> Vic
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