I guess I'll jump in here and add my two cents. After I sold my first
Spitfire 22 years ago, I longed for another British sports car and stopped
dead in my tracks one day when I saw a straight, rebuilt '59 MGA roadster
for sale at a small used car dealership for $2,500. The carpets and seats
were new (and comfortable as I recall) and the car performed very nicely
with nice tight shift linkage and a fresh engine. The side curtains never
bothered me much and of all the mid-50's and up MG's (IMHO), the MGA was
truly a work of art. Reminded me of a baby Jag XK150. I spent $1,000 on
body prep, a fiberglass hard top and paint, and sold it a year later for
$3,500 when I moved in with my fiance who only had one parking space and
wasn't about to park her Camaro on the street. So rather than see my
beautiful white MGA with the red interior get nailed by some idiot who
doesn't know how to parallel park, I reluctantly sold it. I've never cared
for the body style of MGB's or Midgets -- especially in comparison to my
Spitfire, but the MGA sure gave me pause to consider buying another one
recently. Still, I chose the Spitfire with zero regrets. I was pretty
surprised to see how much MGA's have appreciated in the last 20 years,
however.
Best wishes,
Jeff in San Diego
'67 RHD Spitfire Mk3 aka "Mrs. Jones"
Jeff's Classic '67 Spitfire Mk3 site & Vintage Spitfire Webring
http://www.ohms.com/spitfire/spitfire.shtml
home of the NEW Totally Triumph Auction
"By Triumph enthusiasts, for Triumph enthusiasts"
http://www.ohms.com/cgi-bin/TRauction.cgi
and... The Triumph Autos/Parts Wanted Listings
http://www.ohms.com/cgi-bin/TRwanted.cgi
...plus a few other surprises!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
----- Original Message -----
From: Terry L. Thompson <tlt@digex.net>
To: <spitfires@autox.team.net>
Sent: Friday, June 16, 2000 12:16 PM
Subject: Re: MG Midget vs. Spitfire
>
> Visually, my Spitfire has been compared to an Alpha Romeo, a Fiat Spyder
(?)
> and an MGB. But I think for sleekness it beats all three.
> The B and the Alpha, have the rounded bonnet and round head lights, but
then
> the hood lines run a straight horizontal line back to the tail. They have
no
> slope to the door line or curve to the rear fender. It's like MG and Alpha
> designed a front end and then lost all creative urges when they got past
the
> door seam. But beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I've got a friend
that
> LOVES boxy BMW's from the 70's...The boxier = the better for him. His
ideal
> car would have a perpendicular rear window and windshield to the trunk and
> bonnet. And a hood you could put a ball bearing on and it would just sit
> there. (He shouldn't be allowed to breed, in my opinion)
>
> Finally, how can anyone NOT love the clam-shell hood of a spitfire? (How
> many production cars do that stock?)
>
> (I've also been asked if it was a Porsche or a Ferrari...but people are
just
> plain stupid).
>
> For those of us who are a bit on the tall side (6'+ with a majority of it
in
> the legs) some cars would be even more uncomfortable to drive. I've been
> told by midget owners that the midget is called a midget for a reason, and
I
> shouldn't even attempt to get in one.
>
> I've seen the seats in a friend's bugeye, and they look like they were
metal
> beer barrels that were cut in a diagonal fashion and set into the car tub.
> No lumbar curve or even any padding except a cover!
> My '76 has a very comfortable seat (now that I've replaced the foams and
> vinyl covers), and even get aknowledgements that the seats are more
> comfortable than a contemporary car. As you know, they don't have a lot of
> support. They're just firm enough to keep you from rolling out of the
seat,
> which is probably horrible for your back on a long drive...but it feels
> great for a short periods.
>
> As far as performance, I believe the Spitfire was the leader in the 60's
and
> 70's for total wins in American events in class. But Triumph had some of
the
> best drivers and engineers of the time (in small sport car class). But
since
> the racing history for the past 20-30 years has been supported soley by
the
> hobbiest/enthusiest and the occasional parts/mechanical shop, there may
have
> been a shift in power. (I'd actually like to know if there's a way of
> looking up the total number of SCCA wins in national events of cars by
make
> since their inception.)
>
> Terry L. Thompson
> '76 Spitfire 1500
> Maryland
>
>
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