An informal guide through 'whats new?'

Oh!! Almost forgot...November 1st, 2011 was our 37th anniversary.....we opened our doors on November 1st, 1974 and on that first day, sold a red 1962 Mini Cooper 997 and a 1964 red Morgan +4 four seater. Which was my first Morgan.

And now, over 37 years later (now as we are in 2012) we are still at it...Morgans, Mini Coopers, MGs, Triumphs, Healey, Jaguar, Lotus...all the wonderful, fun sports cars from the 40s through 70s. Still capable of offering a lot of motoring enjoyment.

We have been selling a LOT of MGs, Morgans, and Triumphs...our 'best sellers' Meanwhile, in our sales department, we suggest that a potential buyer consider this: while the world of investments is going through gyrations, the classic car market is thriving...maybe 'cause what we sell has both collector's value (rare, appreciating) and also real use. 'USE value.

Like having fun. Going somewhere. Playing. Isn't that what life is all about?

And anyway, HOW MUCH FUN is owning stock certificates?

THIS is our philosophy. Enjoy life to the fullest. And remembering a common saying in pop psychology which referred to 'the journey' being as important as 'the destination.'

Look through our inventory....or better yet, visit our showroom. MGs, Morgans, Lotus, Healeys, and Triumphs. Great classics, easy to service, fun to use, and wonderful to own.

And speaking of MGBs, check out the variety we currently have in stock. Several unrestored project cars, a number of completely rebuilt/restored cars, mostly early but a few later model cars, two competition cars, some rubber bumper cars converted to chrome bumpers (and lowered), and even a few GTs. All perfect examples of that old Air Force term....KISS....KEEP it simple...stupid.

And I shudder at the thought of repairs to 911s, Astons, Jaguars, and other similar exotics. When one can make a hell of a quick MG or Triumph that will NEVER be expensive to service or repair.

And to quote a former professional racer friend of mine....'you can't make a pig into a race horse. But you can make an awfully fast pig.' And if you have never driven a really well prepared MGB, TR6, or even an MGB powered MGA........you can make an awfully fast old British sports car.

Right now, we have TWENTY MGBs in stock....from early to mid 1960s (the purest form of MGB), through the late sixties and early seventies (still chrome bumper but with added refinements) and a number of inexpensive rust free later 'rubber bumper' MGBs. Several have overdrive, one has a 5 speed, most have wire wheels, and all are great fun for the money.

Of course, a step up the 'food chain' is MG's beautiful 'A' cars. 1500, 1600 Mk I, and 1600 Mk II. Now, eight MGAs in stock....red, green, black, maroon, and Old English White. Not only one of the prettiest cars ever built but with superb ride, steering, handling, braking.......in some people's mind a bit underpowered compared to TRs and Healeys BUT add an MGB engine (as a few of our cars have) and you get glorious performance. With power up from 72 (1500cc), 78 (1600cc) or 83 (1622cc) horsepower. Early B engines were rated at 98hp and with a cam and other work....substantially more. Go even further with a modern 5 speed transmission and the result is probably the absolute best all around classic English sports car. And this is from personal experience.

Amongst our personal favorites are older Lotus cars....and with thirty four years of personal experience with our own Lotus 7, we have for two super rare (242 built) Lotus 7 series 1s and a rare (one of 330 built) Super 7 Series III. What is best about these cars are they are FUN at legal and usable speeds. And being alumium or fiberglass, not prone to rusting.

Less expensive? One of the nicest Sprites I have ever driven.....rust free, nice paint, all new interior, new tonneau, freshly rebuilt engine, new wiring harness, performance exhaust, good chrome and trim, THIS is a wonderful classic Sprite...for under $8,000.

So enjoy looking at our inventory and read our testimonial page...all unsolicited. We do our best to describe, prepare, and offer the older classics we keep in our inventory.

Come visit and see what we are doing. You might find it interesting, you might find it makes sense, and you may wish to share in the fun we have!

PS.....my own latest toy.....great English classic alas without any wheels. ??????? Just purchased a Coventry Climax English military portable fire pump. A brief history: in the late 1930s, industrial engine supplier (at the time, supplying 1122cc engines for Morgan) Coventry Climax built a large number of side valve powered portable fire pumps. Which during the Nazi blitz of 1940-41 helped save numerous English cities.

In 1950, with the start of the Korean War, and worry of a new world conflict, the English government signed a contract with CC for an even more advanced and powerful unit. Designed by Walter Hassan and Harry Mundy (with pre WWII experience with Bentley, ERA, others), this 'FWP' powered unit ('Feather Weight Pump') doubled the output. The 1020cc SOHC all aluminum engine was light, powerful (35+hp), and was put into service by April 1951. This engine begat the FWA ('A for automotive') 1097cc sports car engine made famous by Lotus XIs, Lola Mk Is, Elvas, Tojeiro, Turner and others. And the 1460cc FWB unit for Cooper Fm IIs (the unit in my own Lotus Super 7 Series 1), and finally the 1216cc FWE ("E" for Elite) employed by Colin Chapman in his first production GT car.

Later pumps received the lighter, smaller, 745cc FWM ('M' for Marine) and this is the unit in my new acquisition. 100 pounds lighter and, in fact, the entire assembly....SOHC engine, magneto, high pressure pump, frame, fuel tank, fan, battery box, valves, switches, duct, etc....weighs a mere 180 pounds. Easy for two people to lift and 'carry into action.' Of course, so far, the 'action' was my son and I lifting it into the back of my Explorer.

Now, of course, THIS engine evolved into the CC FWM Grand Prix engine which carried Jim Clark to two World Championships in Fm I. Good reason these engnes were, somewhat jokingly, referred to as 'The pumps that win Grand Prix.' I even had a postcard from England showing a race track with a firepump, a forklift (another product of Coventry Climax) and a Cooper Grand Prix car all racing together.

Now, the obvious question is 'what to do with this new toy?' Pump out neighbor's flooded basements? Drain swimming pools? Certainly rated at 350 gallons a minute, this piece of automotive history and mechanical work of art has the ability and capacity. But, in reality, when cleaned and painted, I suspect it will get a glass top and become a delightful and somewhat whimsical coffee table!

Fun stuff.

As for racing, we have been fortunate to have raced at Le Circuit at Tremblant, Quebec, in the Laurentian mountains. Ran at Bobby Rahal's Legencs event in the Mallock, just managed to squeeze into 2nd place on the last corner of the last lap when 'punted' off the track by a 600hp Shelby GT350...finished 4th overall and won the B/Sports-racing class. And recently, did the Fall Classic at the same venue....against smaller, more genteel driven sports and racing cars, finished 1st in all three races...and in the last, came within a few seconds of lapping the entire field.

And now? Yup. Getting ready for the 2012 season where our latest race pro will be joining in with the fun. Son (and heir) will be racing a well prepared 1964 MGB racer and it will be fun living vicariously through him.

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