Listerteers,
Thought that you all might like to hear of an interesting car that I saw
today on the way to the cleaners.
It had started life as an MG ZA, according to the old fellow driving, but I
thought it was hardly THAT any more.
What had inially caught my forever roving eye was the discreet little V-8
emblem on the hood (bonnet to you ab initios in the old country). As I
trailed the ZA into the local drug store parking lot (the old guy must have
thought that I was a stalker), I noticed the twin pipes under the rear of
the car.
I parked beside the beast (car, not the old man)and walked over to talk MG.
It seems that the driver was a retired aerospace engineer (on the Saturn
main engine project), and in his spare time had installed the ubiquitous
Rover-mobile 8 cylinder and automatic (no retching noises, please) along
with PS, P disc B, and A/C!
Granted, the engine compartment was as full as that of the '67 Jag
420...but it was a quality installation. Even the switches in the interior
were period, and looked as though they BELONGED there.
I cajoled him into allowing me a ride and then, after tiring of the whining
noise coming from the area of the right front seat, allowed me to drive his
car.
This ancient vehicle drove almost as though it was a modern car! I didn't
try the a/c (too damn cold), but everything else worked to perfection. As
we cruised along, he explained that he had gone with the coil over
suspension in the front and telescopic shocks in the rear, with front and
rear sway bars and widened and strengthened wheels. "Well", I said through
a smile, "it worked."
The little car had power to spare, with modern amenities for comfort.
I was sorry to let the two of them go, but the owner said that if I ever
decided to do one up, to give him a call; he still had all of the plans
that he drew up for the project!
Now that I know what a Magnette could be with a (little) bit of worked, I'm
tempted to push one of my other projects back into the ever-lengthening
line of projects waiting to be started!
Please, no thread about vandalizing old cars; most of my cars have SOME
improvement, even the Morris. After all, they have to live in the real
world when I drive them on the street.
Thought that the list might be entertained!
Safety (very) Fast!
Regards, Ray
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