Yesterday was one of those days when being the owner of a British car seems
worthwhile again.
To make a long story short, after tearing apart my bugeye for total
restoration last year I got itchy and bought a 1964 Mk3 Sprite. The car is
red with red interior and wire wheels. It was driven in the summer of 1964
and 1965 and then..........completely disassembled. Seems there was this
local racing maniac who would buy 2 or 3 year old sprites and use them as
feeders for his stable of race cars. Anyway, he bought this car with only
20,000 miles on it and took it all to pieces (I mean all!). The shell got
stored, on its side, against the wall of his workshop while all the
mechanical and pretty bits were carefully labelled and stored way. He lost
interest in racing a short time after and everything (about ten cars worth)
sat for years and years. This gentleman passed away 2 years ago and a
friend bought the whole lot from his wife.
O.K., that's the background. I bought the entire car "as is" last fall. I
have a very interesting video of the million parts involved spread out
across my garage floor. I started to bolt it all together over the winter,
hoping to be finished by spring (yeah, right!). No modifications, no 1275,
no 5-speed, only new gaskets, hoses, seals, kits etc. etc. Did nothing to
the engine, carbs, gearbox, etc. other than gaskets, seals and kits; same
for the brakes.
Finally got everything back together two weeks ago; my wife comes into the
garage, looks at the car and says: "so I guess you should start it". I look
back at her and realize she's right, nothing left to do but take the bugeye
battery sitting in the corner, drop it in and turn the key for the first
time in 32 years.................
Crank it for pressure etc. etc. etc. Timing already done "by eye".
Hook up the wires, notice fuel pump is doing nothing, put in another one,
crank it some more, fuel in the carbs now, hook everything up again, turn
the key and.........
BAM - ZOOM, the bloody thing runs like a watch straight away. HO, HO, HO!
Much dancing around and high fives. Engine still running like I'd just shut
it off the day before! And the sound! The sound is absolutely glorious.
I've heard a lot of 1098's, 948's, 1275's run, but even my well worn bugeye
never sounded like this. SMOOOOOTH! Not a ratlle or a creak or a groan or a
hiss anywhere. Just pure A series engine music circa 1964. If I sound
excited.....I am. No oil leaks, hydraulics work just fine, gearbox working
great, brakes work great....... radiator leaks like a sieve, who cares.
Drive it around the block a few times, every head turns, what a sound, just
wonderful! I always wished I was 35 years old in 1965, not 1998, so I could
savor these cars new; now, I've had the chance to get a little taste of
what it must have been like.
Rad is now out to get recored/repaired, will be back tommorow (suddenly I'm
in a big hurry). Want to drive it a couple hundred miles before I take it
to Stowe British Invasion on the 19th.
I would recommend this therapy to anyone who suffers from the
job/family/responsibility blues. Don't give up on your restoration, the
time will come when it is all worth it.
More later,
Daniel
AN5 612 1/3 of the way back
HAN8L 40474 back after 32 years waiting patiently....
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