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Which is your fave small specialist car--maker?


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Always fancied a Lotus or Caterham 7, and tried a Fiat-powered Lotus 7 decades ago; in the end the Fiat engine scared me off and l stuck with sidescreen TRs.

I put myself on the waiting list for a Morgan plus 4 - again, decades ago - but they were always slightly out of my financial reach, and my allegiance remained with TR.

More recently (well, a decade ago :D) l got a cheap TVR Chimaera and have just about convinced myself that TVR is THE best sscm: pretty (sometimes scarily) quick (tho l admit to being overtaken once by some sort of special equipment Skoda Fabia - and when l was really trying, too:laugh:), agricultural Rover V8, plastic body and HUGE boot.

What's the wider view?

Tim.

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I don't think I would have the guts to drive a Lotus or Caterham 7.........not on the open road, anyway.  Morgans don't excite me.  I like the TVR Griffith ( to look at, never driven one!!).  Some ( but not all!) of the Ginettas are pretty.  Although it's not in the small specialist category,  I think one of the prettiest modern sporty cars is the BMW Z4.  A real classic of the future.

The thing I love about the TR is the driving experience.  You 'wear' a TR and it becomes an extension of your body......just think/feel where you want to go and it takes you there.  I am a fan of simple engineering and not too many gadgets, bells and whistles.  Out of choice, I would rather enjoy the drive in an older/classic car, than steer a soulless modern.  

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That is the joy of Triumphs, simple engineering.  But maybe you haven't considered some other Triumphs that in the day never competed with TRs, but offer just as much fun at less cost.   The Vitesse and GT6, both offer 100bhp/ton, while the heavier TR6, has 120 or so, but a 2.5L engine in the first will get you the whole 130!

The Vitesse, or the Spit6/Gitfire, also has as much open top motoring as a TR.    Who needs  a Lotus?

Both Lotus and TVR cars show up similar figures to Triumphs on howmanyleft.co.uk, so Triumphs should qualify as 'small' now?

John

 

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A chum here in Warsaw is in the process of buying a Jensen Healey convertible... in that rather ghastly shade of tangerine burnt marmalade thingy as well - pure '70s.  I think he plans to drive it with gold-framed sunglasses and loud flares.

It's an odd kettle of fish (the Jensen Healey, not my chum).  It almost looks good, but doesn't quite (and is even worse in the Americanised rubba bumpa version). It has a decent Lotus twin cam under the (ill-fitting) bonnet and the interior is vaguely reminiscent of a Volvo P1800, but without the logic or quality.  The sports estate version definitely looked better, especially in gunmetal.

I agree with Vicky that some Ginettas pass muster (the G33 is a bit of a looker), but so many small British manufacturers seem to drop the ball just at the key moment and end up looking like kit cars.

Paul

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I've driven and passengered in a few Westfield /Caterham type things over the years with engines ranging from cooking X-flow to normally aspirated Cosworth to 1100 bike.

Great fun for the first 15 minutes (or 5 minutes in the case of the bike engined one) and I can certainly see their appeal for competition or track days.  However, for anything vaguely resembling transport - no thanks.  I suppose TVR offer one of the more comprehensive selections but the more modern ones are bit too "in your face" for me.

The only thing in the category that I really lust after would be a Gordon Keeble.  No chance of that though!  Occasionally fancy a Reliant Scimitar but it would have to have something other than that nasty boat anchor Ford V6.

On a more modern note, living just 3 miles from the Arial works we see more than our share of their products on test.  Stange looking but undeniably rapid!

Slightly hotted up Vitesse does the job for me - specialist manufacturer = Shade Tree Garage!

Nick

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On 10/01/2018 at 10:13 AM, JohnD said:

The Vitesse, or the Spit6/Gitfire, also has as much open top motoring as a TR.    Who needs  a Lotus?

1 hour ago, Nick Jones said:

The only thing in the category that I really lust after would be a Gordon Keeble.  No chance of that though!  Occasionally fancy a Reliant Scimitar

 

I always loved the Vitesse, particularly the 2L.

And G-K, the rather exclusive progeny of Peerless, with 99 made, and, l think, 99 surviving! I too like the SE5A, but never got one, tho l tried a 2nd hand example.

Tim.

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53 minutes ago, Nick Jones said:

You might like this then

http://www.club.triumph.org.uk/cgi-bin/forum10/Blah.pl?m-1470945995/

With modern improvements and being put together with skill and sharp eye for detail.  It'll be lovely when done :yes:

Nick

What an incredible thread. I just wish I had the space, skill, determination & willpower to tackle something like that. Its going to be awesome when finished.

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3 hours ago, Nick Jones said:

I've driven and passengered in a few Westfield /Caterham type things over the years with engines ranging from cooking X-flow to normally aspirated Cosworth to 1100 bike.

Great fun for the first 15 minutes (or 5 minutes in the case of the bike engined one) and I can certainly see their appeal for competition or track days.  However, for anything vaguely resembling transport - no thanks.  I suppose TVR offer one of the more comprehensive selections but the more modern ones are bit too "in your face" for me.

The only thing in the category that I really lust after would be a Gordon Keeble.  No chance of that though!  Occasionally fancy a Reliant Scimitar but it would have to have something other than that nasty boat anchor Ford V6.

On a more modern note, living just 3 miles from the Arial works we see more than our share of their products on test.  Stange looking but undeniably rapid!

Slightly hotted up Vitesse does the job for me - specialist manufacturer = Shade Tree Garage!

Nick

Hello Nick

                 We had a Reliant Scimitar SE6a (Well it was the Memsahibs really)

When we bought it the Essex engine was tired to say the least! but at the time I worked for a car wash machine firm as a service engineer and one of my calls was a Main Ford dealer in Leicester so when I had finished nailing the car wash back together I went to have my fiddle sheet signed and I said to the store man have you got a Essex V6 engine in yours stores expecting no mate  all the German ones now(this was about1985)

But he said yes! so I quickly made space in the back of my HiAce van and they loaded it in(I can not remember the price now but it was way way less than I could get all the parts to rebuild the old one) even trade prices which I could get then!

But he said we have got to have the old one back as they are Exchange!!!!!!

I agree they are a rubbish engine the Cologne one must be so much nicer but when in overdrive top on the motorway it just ticked over and gave good economy then (rubbish around the town)

I would describe it as a genuine Grand Tourer or close to a Gentleman's sporting Carriage 

It had a full length  Webasto roof  and a little wind deflector that popped up when you opened it! and power steering and electric tinted windows

Roger

 

 

Edited by rogerguzzi
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I agree Dave on that G15 restoration , thanks for posting the link, Nick. 

I have always been fascinated by the Hurricane body for the Spit/GT6.  I think the lines are stunning.  Never seen one in the flesh, or know much about them (other than being a body swap made of fibreglass)......anyone?

I think the Triumph straight 6 is one of the most beautiful engines ever built - amazing torque and they sound superb.  It is the biggest thing I miss about our old TR6.  I'm with you, John, that there is so much fun to be had with the Spits (have had 2)/ GT6 /Vitesse et al.   Even those big 2.5PI saloons/estates look like huge fun.......from what I have seen of them on the RBRR (and boy, they went like stink!!:blink:).

When my daily driver packs up, I would love to get a big 2.5PI estates.

If I won the lottery I would get an Italia.............:wub:

Vicky x (stuck in a dream world somewhere!!!)

 

 

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If you liked the G15 thread, then you'll like this one too - same man.  Built with a 4 cylinder (tuned 1500) for the handling and beautifully finished.  He was kind enough to let me have a short drive in it and it drives really well.  Owned by some TRR brothers in Cornwall now IIRC.

http://www.club.triumph.org.uk/cgi-bin/forum10/Blah.pl?m-1304495495/

Also a fan of the Triumph S6 Vicky - though they are quite different in their various forms.

Nick

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On 10/01/2018 at 10:46 AM, PaulAA said:

A chum here in Warsaw is in the process of buying a Jensen Healey convertible

Such a sad story, the Jensen one - both in the mid-70s and then at the turn of the millennium. I love them all, from pre-war onwards. But l was lucky enough to get a ride in a J-H shortly after they came out and it felt and sounded brilliant. Under-developed as they were, l guess they were bound to be doomed, but a glorious failure, imo.

Tim.

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  • 10 months later...

Apart from TRs and many other small specialist cars of the classic era, the one modern small, specialist car I'd really like is an Ariel Atom. They look absolutely bonkers, but what fun. Anyone here driven one? 

Darren  

Edited by TR5tar
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14 hours ago, TR5tar said:

Apart from TRs and many other small specialist cars of the classic era, the one modern small, specialist car I'd really like is an Ariel Atom. They look absolutely bonkers, but what fun. Anyone here driven one? 

Darren  

Not me, but my youngest daughter has been desperate to drive one since she first saw one (top gear?) many years ago. For her 19 birthday last year we got her a 10 lap experience which she just loved. And the instructor was a tad surprised as a 5' nothing young lady actually stuck her foot down and went for it! She also had shorter drives in a lambo/ferrari and baby jag. She said nice, but the Atom was streets ahead in terms of fun.

Wife did a similar thing at Goodwood, again Atom came out as the drivers car. Fat jag was disappointing, but she really liked the skyline. Ferrari was a bit "ordinary" apparently!

I did something similar years ago, and found the instructors seemed to be there to stop you having fun. Saying that, Palmer Motorsport experiences are supposed to be brilliant, but not a budget option!

I keep thinking of stablemates for my Spitfire. Problem is, it is as quick as may modern sports cars, and shall I say the handling is more "involving". I thought about a caymen, or possibly a 996. But the wife wants another mx5.... I can see how this will pan out.

Sorry, I got distracted by the Atom.....

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Cooper Cars?   Initially a very small company and cars, like Hamish's dad's AJP, and like that bike power.   Allegedly in the back for purely practical, chain driven reasons but proving a break through in car handling that took the company to F1 dominance.   And production cars too, in the original Mini Coopers, so iconic that BMW bought the name for their revision of the concept.

A true original and a real 'garagist'!

John

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Great photos Hamish. 

What would put you off the Atom as a road car, Yorkshire? I wouldn't want one as a daily driver, but I could see myself using one the way I do the TR, i.e. fun days out. I think the only thing that might put me off one is the fear of looking a bit of a twit in it, although it's never put me off anything else, so I'd probably get over it quickly.

If Nick lives close to the factory, perhaps we should see if it's possible to arrange a Sideways tour. 

Here's that old TG film mentioned earlier ...

 

 

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I live in the North, and it's GRIM.... the number of times I've set off on a fun trip in the Spitfire with the roof down in glorious sunshine only to have to stop en-route to put the hood up.... driving something with no hood/roof at all round here doesn't seem feasible. Other than that I suppose all the criticisms I would apply should also apply to the Spitfire in fairness (and I enjoy using the Spitfire as a road car, so why not an Atom?) With the heavy (for a modern) controls I wouldn't want to spend a lot of time in traffic in one either (but as I said.... applies equally to the Spitfire)

Bags and bags of fun on track though....

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