In a message dated 98-11-04 12:37:04 EST, fergie@ntplx.net writes:
> Now HERE's a car for ya...!! Saw the ad in the Baltimore Sun.
> Dan, you interested?
>
> '51 AUSTIN MINI
> 350 V8, 400 turbo, new brakes & tires, lots more. $9800 or BO. Buying
> house, must sell. 410-679-3305
Michael,
I'm not sure what kind of car the ad is really talking about, but I would at
least like to see it, it not own it.
During the late fifties, early sixties, one of the more common swaps was
putting a big V8 into one of the small European cars. Many, many Anglias and
Fiats were done this way, most of them for the purpose of drag racing (big
engine, small car - just the ticket for acceleration contests). The rules of
drag racing changed, making these cars obsolete, or at least non-competitive.
As a result, most of them wound up, engineless, in the back of someone's
garage, where they've sat for all these years.
The latest fad amongst the Street Rod set is to find these cars and refurbish
them, modifiying them for street use. More and more of these are beginning to
show up at various street rod shows around the country, and for sale.
Would I like to have one? You betcha, I would! But, finances being what they
are, I guess I'll stick with my TR6V8. If finances were better, I would add
one (or two, or three) to the other cars I would have in the 40 acre garage I
would own!
If this truly is a Mini, I would drive a long way just to see it. Putting a V8
in a Mini would be a lot like pulling your lower lip up over the top of your
head. I'm not sure there is enough metal in a Mini to cover a V8.
Dan Masters,
Atlanta, GA for a few days (spoiling my grandson again!)
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