Patrick,
I wouldn't throw anything at you. You expressed my opinion exactly. Someday
I hope to put a bigger engine into my Spit also for exactly the same reason.
I like the looks of the Spitfire better than any other car I can think of.
Its just lacking in umph. I personally like the idea of a GT6 engine in a
Spit with a small hood scoop. If the scoop is done well and not too big it
could look really nice. Then if someone wanted to race you at a light at
least you would have a better chance than the proverbial snowball.
David Gates
'73 Spitfire 1500
'78 Spitfire 1500
Hawaii
http://members.aol.com/gatesdavid/index.htm
In a message dated 10/16/98 7:46:11 AM Hawaiian Standard Time,
jak0pab@jak10.med.navy.mil writes:
> Eric, I believe in the spirit of the car. I believe that the Spitfire was
> a radically designed car that was forced to use anemic power plants due to
> corporate corner cutting. This car was also a low cost entry sports
> vehicle. As it turns out however the styling that good ol' Giovanni did
> for us was outstanding, enough to influence many other car manufactures
> (i.e. datsun, chevrolet, and others). I own my car because it has, IMHO,
> the best lines and spirit of any car out there. 98 Corvettes do not get
> the same look as I do driving my faded paint Spitfire down the street.
> Unfortuneately, the car we all love just lacks enough strength to go head
> to head against a Geo Metro (that's embarrassing). Not mention the fact
> that everyone that pulls up next to you at a light suddenly wants to drag.
> I own my car because I want it to be my sports car, Giovanni gave the body
> to do it with, I just want to add a power plant that completes my picture
> of what the car should be.
>
> OK I'm done - stop throwing things.
>
> At 10:55 AM 10/16/98 -0500, Eric A. Yates wrote:
> >
> >Hi folks,
> >
> >I have a question about engine conversions: why do people do it? I am
> >curious as to why folks make changes to something as fundamental to a
car's
> >character as its engine.
> >
> >I am not a person who places a major priority on originality, but I would
> >hesitate to make such a drastic change to my car. If I wanted a Triumph
> >with more power than my Spitfire, I'd get a TR6 or GT6. Probably the TR
> >since I love top-down driving, but then again, a GT would be a cool
> >compliment to my Spit. Either way, I'd seek out a car that has the larger
> >engine rather than wedge one into my current ride.
> >
> >I think a Spit-6 conversion is not a bad conversion, because for one
thing,
> >the cars are very similar. Secondly, it keeps it "in the family." In other
> >words, it's a Triumph mill in a Triumph car. It makes sense.
> >
> >On the other hand, a conversion like sticking a Chevy V8 in a TR6 seems
> >strange to me. I respect the amount of work and effort that goes into such
> >a conversion, and it is impressive to see the final product, but I wonder
> >why the builder didn't start with an American car in the first place to
> >build his hot rod. That way, the final product retains a certain amount of
> >the character of the original car.
> >
> >Let me stress once again that I am not snobby keep-it-original kind of guy
> >(my Spitfire is far from stock and it's fine with me), so don't flame me
if
> >you've got a killer Ford V8-powered Austin Mini. :)
> >
> >I thought this would make a good discussion topic. What are your thoughts,
> >folks?
> >
> >Eric.
> >
> >
> >---------------------------------------
> >Eric A. Yates * eyates@earth.nwu.edu
> >1978 Spitfire 1500 * FM 71614 U
> >Chicago, IL USA
> >
> Patrick Bowen
> '79 Spitfire
> Jacksonville FL
>
>
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