I owned an S600 coupe in the 60s, beautiful all aluminum, roller
bearing engine with 4 Miffune (siq) Carbs...but the redline was 8000
rpm, and top speed was 80 mph (8000 in 4th), it had a weird chain
driven trailing link independent rear axle, and it would handle...I
won many gymkhanas with it competing in the Spridget class...however
it is IMHO comparing apples to artichokes comparing modern rice
rockets to a Triumph. The Daughter's Miata for instance goes very
well, corners on rails, is reliable as could be expected, and is
great fun to drive but some how it lacks character.
A sidescreen Triumph is ALL character...certainly not fast (by
today's standards), corners reasonably well, and has pretty good
brakes, but that has little or nothing to do with it's Character.
Every time it is driven it is a challenge...will it make it there
and back to here...what else will go wrong this time. After a good
run and we are pulling back into the garage, I always say "Good job
Casper, thanks for the ride".
As someone said in the VTR magazine (I think), "when we turn the
key and press the starter button, these cars do not just
start...they come ALIVE" I don't get that feeling in the Miata
or in my Avalon, they are just "cars" not
Triumphs/MGs/Austin-Healy/Jaguar...need I go on??
>
>
>>By the way how much hp did the Honda S600 make in the 1960s less
>>than a Herald I'd bet?
>
>606cc engine. 57hp at 8700 rpm. Redline at 9500 rpm. Top speed 90
>mph. 4 cylinders, 4 carbs.
--
Bill Pugh
1957 TR3
aka
Casper
Wallace, CA
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