An informal guide through 'whats new?'

Oh!! Almost forgot...November 1st, 2009 was our 35 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, 35 years later (now in 2010) 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.

Oh, and now in the midst of the winter of 2009/2010? A wonderful time to look in the garage or barn and ponder the end of winter and the beginning of the 2010 fun driving season.

We did a fairly brisk business in open cars last Winter and Spring saw sales come close to the pre recession days of 2007 and 2008. This Summer and Fall we sold a LOT of MGs...our 'best sellers' have been MG TFs, As, and Bs. While lately, Triumphs have been our best sellers. And, to that end, we have a wonderful inventory of all of these models....as I write this, Eleven rust free MGBs are in our workshops being prepared for sale or in the showrooms (how are we so lucky to find so many rust free Bs? Well, visit our shop and watch our staff welding in floor panels, sills, rockers, fenders, etc....they may not all be rust free when they come in the doors but they are lovely cars when they depart). Most with wire wheels, two with overdrive, all colors but most are my favorites...red or green. Even a pair of historic racing Bs and four rust free MGB GTs.

Hard to beat a good MGB in the price range. Solid, reliable, good ride and handling, spirited performance with the capability of 'as much as one is willing to pay for,' and a lot of style and utility for money. Also, no classic sports car has as high a degree of parts availability or ease of servicing.

We recently had a local customer bring his tired 1979 rubber bumper B in for refurbishing. He has owned it since new so there is a lot of sentimental value and with overdrive, a nice car. Potentially.

We cut out all of the rust in the rockers and replaced the pieces with new factory panels, repainted the areas, redyed the faded tan seats so they look better than new, and exchanged the gutless 68hp low compression engine for one in stock...bored to 2 liters, H/C forged pistons, balanced, high lift cam, new 45 DCOE Weber...and around 25+ horsepower. NOW it is a nice little classic tourer. And in the end, didn't even cost very much.

Gee, these cars are much maligned but they actually are very nice, somewhat refined classics. More wheel and axle travel, better electrics, better cooling, and a very nice dashboard. Check out a deep brown '79 we just acquired...wood dash, tan interior and top, Weber carb, good stereo, rebuilt front end, actually a lovely car. And with the addition of air conditioning (now readily available...just installed a kit in my own BGT) you can have a wonderful older MG for all season use.

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? When, as the weather clears, it will be SO much fun heading for the hills (so to speak) in a TC or Morgan or Lotus Elan? Stocks are fun, I guess, when they go up. But when they go down, where did the fun go?

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.'

Which reminds me of those great Cunard shipping line print ads of the 20s and 30s. Showing a beautiful couple leaning over the railing of some fine steamer headed to Europe. The caption was 'getting there is half the fun.'

Which would be our company motto but, gee whiz, they beat us. Leaving us with 'never buy a race car you can't push by yourself.'

Makes sense, huh?

Probably even applies to a classic English road car. Every once in a while. (actually, I have remarkably few 'issues' with my old cars...AND they are easy to fix. Just get a large hammer and give it a whack once in a while)

AND CLASSIC ROAD CARS we have! Some really juicy, delicious cars in the wonderfully affordable $10-40,000 price range. Lotus 7s and Elans, Triumph TR3, 4s, and 6s, MG T Series, MGA and MGB, Morgans, and even Sprites and 'Big' Healeys. All of which are our specialty. Add an occasional Morris Minor, an old Austin Mini Cooper, and add Alfa or 356 Porsche now and then are you get a real picture of what we sell.

Go, look through our inventory. And see the various collector's cars we offer for sale....... '

Just acquired: a pair of rust free MGB GTs....one, a 1967 in primrose, wire wheels, a sweet rust free original car...new interior, new chrome, older but very presentable paint, and as pleasant a small GT as exists. The other being a mostly restored Royal Blue 1973...wire wheels, a lot of new factory panels, a looooong list of mechanical repairs and replacement parts. Two lovely inexpensive classics.

Lotus Elans.....at the moment, have a Series 1, Series 2, Series 3, and Series 4.....four classic Lotus Elans, all with Webers, all in great condition...either super low mileage OR rebuilt and restored. Absolutely the best small, light sports car ever built and we have 'one of each' of the early cars.

And just in, a beautiful pair of MGAs....a restored MGA 1600 Mk I, show quality paint and engine bay detailing, new chrome, rebuilt mechanically...and a restored MGA 1600 Mk II, new leather seats, beautiful exterior, excellent mechanically....both with wire wheels, both with disc brakes, and both as good a 'deal' as one can get in a classic 100 mph sports car.

Note my old and beloved Ginetta G-4 race car. NOW converted to road use but still ready for competitive historic racing. Few cars are more beautiful and none can be had for the price quoted. Fast, superb handling, and more fun than most any other road car. And on the track...a bona fide race winner. LOOK at the photos...where can you buy such a gorgeous, exotic road/racer such as this? Looks a lot like a Maserati 200S...and they haven't been in this price range since Kennedy was in the White House.

There are more. Read about 'em. Look at photos. Read testimonials. Understand our sales philosophy ('we are not miracle workers as all we can do is our best and, to be candid, our best is not perfect'), visit our showroom. Talk to our staff. And be aware, sometimes we CAN produce miracles.

Miracles? Having owned some wonderful expensive, complicated, exotic cars over the years (Aston Martin, OSCA, HRG, Frazer Nash, amongst others) I have become quite fond of simple cars. Based on the term 'KISS' (keep it simple, stupid). And to that end, have been enjoying the most common of all English sports cars....MGBs.

Too basic? Too common? Too...dull? Well, we just finished a completely rebuilt and restored 1965 MGB roadster for my collection....virtually show condition inside and out. And gorgeous in tartan red with red leather and black piping.

BUT....we performed some 'magic' to this car. Engine bored to 2 liters, gas flowed big valve alloy head, roller rockers, balanced, high lift cam, lightened flywheel, new 1 3/4" SUs, powder coated racing headers, electronic ignition...and around 135hp. Mated to a close ratio Ford T9 five speed all synchromesh transmission.

Negative camber front control arms, thicker sway bar, new springs...this car is as fast as a Lotus Elan S4, handles very well, sure braking, and....simple to service and repair. VERY simple. And inexpensive.

We prepared a somewhat similar BGT for my collection...starting with a restored car purchased from a local enthusiast, rebuilding the engine with a big valve 18V head, high compression pistons, c:r raised to 9.5:1, new SUs, balanced, high lift cam, around 115hp. And with an overdrive transmission, a nice, quiet, refined classic touring car. Now fitted with air conditioning.

The result of all of this is a matched pair of classic MGs, both fun to drive at speeds that approximate legal speed limits yet both will keep up with most any high performance car....and how often does the average Porsche Carrera cruise through Connecticut or New York above 100 mph?

We can 'perform miracles' on other cars. Just sold a TR3A in which we installed a Toyota 5 speed trans. And have two TR3s in our workshop, at the moment, with freshly installed rack and pinion steering set ups. Yes, you can take a fine old sports car (like an underpowered MGA or a poor steering TR3) and make 'em better. MUCH better.

Add a solid state ignition, a back up solid state fuel pump, a modern reduction gear starter motor, and a high output shrouded electric cooling fan and voila! Honda or Toyota reliability in a beautiful, simple, appreciating English classic sports car.

Will miracles never cease? Can it be? IS it possible?

Yes it is. With our own cars and many we have sold to customers all over the world.

Interested? Call and we can discuss your requirements.

NOW..................having fun with classics: took my supercharged MG TC and restored Lotus Elan S4 Sprint to the Greenwich Concours last June....neither won anything but we had a great time and were well fed. Gorgeous weather, had a wonderful time, and can't wait until next year.

Now, I ain't exactly a show car person but had never been to the Fairfield County Concours at the Westport Hunt Club. Took my Lotus Elan S3 Drophead and rare cycle fendered competition Morgan +4 Flat Rad. And without even washing either, incredibly, took a 1st place ribbon/trophy with the Moggie and my son and I pondered next year...what will happen if we actually wash the cars before the show?

And racing.... did Summit Point and NJ Motorsports Park in May, back to back weekends in July at Tremblant followed by Pittsburgh, did the Fall event again at Tremblant, we were 'snowed out' of running at Watkins Glen in October and had a great time at the finale at Summit Point in November with a 1st and 2nd place finish. Running the Mallock Mk XIB at all other than Pittsburgh where we ran the Lotus Super 7 Series 1.

Had a fabulously enjoyably summer with 'the fleet' and got through the season with all running perfectly. I am always pleasantly surprised at how much fun an MG, Triumph, Healey, Morgan, or Lotus can be for daily, weekend, or ever touring use. As they say, 'you gotta have a good one.' And we do our best to find, prepare, and sell 'good ones.'

Come visit and we can show you a whole world of fun classic sports cars.

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