George,
Peace be with you & merry Christmas. I've heard of the program you
mention, whereby the Morgan Motor Company was doing everything
incorrectly by his estimation & by proper business sense. Yet, the
company survives. I hear that they are planning to increase production,
but by a modest amount - not what that gentleman envisioned!
I agree that the sliding pillar suspension is both antiquated & a pain
in the ass (according to others). However, I have yet to change ours at
over 30,000 km & nine years - and our wheels have yet to fall off!
Granted, we are not fastideous when it comes to perfection on our car,
but I haven't noticed any ill effects attributable to wear of these
components. Also, the bushings & rods are rather cheap, the only hassle
is machining them to the required 1", which most machine shops can do.
If I ever do this repair, I'll let you know how ugly it was. Engine
rebuilds seem more of a task to me, as well as turbo rebuilds &
replacements, which I've managed to do myself (of necessity) on our
other dependable vehicles!
The Bristols sound interesting. I doubt that I could well afford one.
Perhaps their price is related to the fact that there are only about 6
produced a year?
Seasons Greetings!
Fred Kuzyk
"Perhaps all perception boils down to: things that are 'similar to', or
things that are 'different than'...." -Anonymous.
----------------------------------------------------------
George Mowat-Brown wrote:
>
> Dear Fred,
>
> You write:
>
> >Light my flamegun! I know little about TVRs, other than they are one of
> >the remaining cottage-industry British manufacturers, like Morgan.
> >According to the London Times of August 2, they are among the few
> >remaining "British" manufacturers
>
> True, actually I have had several Bristols which are still British (even if
> the Engine/gearbox is modified Mopar, these days), but the sight of BMW &
> Daimler Benz arguing over the purchase of Rolls-Royce (Motors) from Vickers
> is a bit dispiriting.
>
> Alas, many of the TVR models are nice to drive and quite well designed for
> the price, but reliability is truly awful judging by the half a dozen or so
> friends who have owned them. I recently sold one of my Bristols to a chap
> who had poured a Prince's ransome into trying to get his 6 year-old TVR
> even half reliable.
>
> >I have owned our Morgan since 1989 & we
> >average about 5000 km/year in it. It has never had any problems with
> >major components.
> [desciption of minor failures]
>
> Do not get me wrong - I really like the Morgans I have driven, but minor
> reliability is often not their strong suit. The styling, by the way, is
> very much to my taste, I have been on the verge of purchase several times
> in my life.
>
> >Any that do need restoring can be, and is economically
> >viable.
>
> Without doubt, one of their strengths. I think you probably benefit from
> people who can make some of the necessary bits to keep it running. I have
> seen quite a number that are barely a decade old with fairly rotten wood
> and completely corroded metal where it folds over wooden sections.
>
> What of that ancient design of front suspension? I do have to say that my
> ex-Morgan owning friends were not thrilled to have to spend a fortune have
> this rebuilt time and time again after relatively low mileages (one friend
> always took his car to Morgan for this job, so one can only presume it was
> done correctly).
>
> Did that strange Sir Harvey Jones programme on suggested restructuring of
> Morgan ever make it to your part of the world (about 6 or 7 years ago)?
>
> For the record, Bristols are extremely reliable, but attention to detail is
> awful and a car costing that much (you could buy a few Morgans for the
> price) just ought to be better made (as they once were).
>
> Peace ought to break out for the season?
>
> Best wishes,
>
> George
>
> 'We must aim at the fixing of standards in order to face the problem of
> perfection'
>
> Charles-Édouard Jeannerat
>
> $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
>
> Dr. George Mowat-Brown, Tel & Fax.: +44 (0)181 580 8430
> High Point,
> 13 Borough Road, e-mail: geomowat@vossnet.co.uk
> Isleworth,
> Middlesex, (University e-mail:
> TW7 5DY, g.mowat-brown@surrey.ac.uk)
> UK.
>
> $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Subject:
Morgans & TVRs
Date:
Sat, 20 Dec 1997 10:13:57 -0800
From:
Fred Kuzyk <msccc@sympatico.ca>
To:
geomowat@vossnet.co.uk
George,
Light my flamegun! I know little about TVRs, other than they are one of
the remaining cottage-industry British manufacturers, like Morgan.
According to the London Times of August 2, they are among the few
remaining "British" manufacturers - even Lotus is owned by Malaysian
concerns! Regarding reliability, I have owned our Morgan since 1989 & we
average about 5000 km/year in it. It has never had any problems with
major components. The only times we had problems with it were a result
of the Lucas components, also used on the "reliable" British cars! We
were towed home once due to cooked generator bearings. The other time it
wouldn't start was the result of the distributor cap carbon center going
missing (a spare cap was installed). My Mustangs, in comparison, have
broken down & have been towed home on many occasions. A member's 30s
trike has served well for many years & it fires right up on the first
crank! These are my experiences. I haven't come across one yet that has
"fallen apart". Any that do need restoring can be, and is economically
viable. Can the same be said for a rubber bumper B? Many folks have
poured more money into those cars than they are worth. Inevitably, when
we are touring with members of the local British Club there are usually
failures on the reliable MGs, etc - bent push rods, carb problems,
electrical fires, etc.
I guess we are just lucky or blessed! Then again, even Toyotas have been
known to fail! Granted Morgans are archaic in styling, but at least they
are still in business, while Leyland & BMC are just memories! How many
of those cars have air bags, fuel injection, or CDs, or any current
safety or reliability technology? Just my opinions....
Fred Kuzyk
Morgan Sports Car Club Canada
Marcus suggests:
>The TVR won 0-100mph. And it can go around a corner.
According to a recent consumer programme on the U.K. television, if you
push it!!
I have had a bit of a soft-spot for TVRs, but every single friend of
mine
who has owned one (older ones to contemporary models) has found them
even
more unreliable than even Mr. Morgan's products (the U.K. benchmark of
antiquated cars that fall apart?)!
He also suggests:
>When you visit the UK next, try a new Caterham
>Superlight R, TVR Cebera (Any TVR for that matter), Marcos, or even a new
>Mini Cooper....they all weigh in at around 2000ib
Phew, I should hate to write his insurance (life, not auto!) - but then
I
like larger, heavy cars!
Best wishes,
George
PS Anyone want a light for their flameguns?
'We must aim at the fixing of standards in order to face the problem of
perfection'
Charles-=C9douard Jeannerat
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Dr. George Mowat-Brown, Tel & Fax.: +44 (0)181 580 8430
High Point,
13 Borough Road, e-mail: geomowat@vossnet.co.uk
Isleworth,
Middlesex, (University e-mail:
TW7 5DY,
g.mowat-brown@surrey.ac.uk)
UK.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
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