Classic car conundrum

philw696

philw696

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You have to remember that these are old cars and the engineering even older but that is the charm for me.
Everyone today is used to modern high tech cars which even high performance are easy to drive and cover long distances easily.
As a mechanic for over 40 years I know what I now prefer to be working on to finish my career.
The first time I drove an E type it was not up to my expectations but boy it was Cool.
All old cars have their faults and can be improved or modified as to what you feel you want the same with any car.
For me the smell and mechanical noise are the real charm's along with looks that make them stand apart.
Driving a proper Classic down to the South of France is what it's all about.
 
Scaf

Scaf

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6,586
philw696 said:
You have to remember that these are old cars and the engineering even older but that is the charm for me.
Everyone today is used to modern high tech cars which even high performance are easy to drive and cover long distances easily.
As a mechanic for over 40 years I know what I now prefer to be working on to finish my career.
The first time I drove an E type it was not up to my expectations but boy it was Cool.
All old cars have their faults and can be improved or modified as to what you feel you want the same with any car.
For me the smell and mechanical noise are the real charm's along with looks that make them stand apart.
Driving a proper Classic down to the South of France is what it's all about.
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Which is exactly why I have always had a classic car, in fact if I had to choose between and modern exotic or a classic I would go for and exotic Classic if that makes sense.
 
zagatoes30

zagatoes30

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Never been a fan of the E Type roadster but love the coupe and that twin cam 6 is a work or art. Agree these are old cars and drive as such and that needs to taken into account the big difference with the E Type is that it is an early monocoque design, i.e. no separate chassis (which both TR6 & Healey have) which makes it feel more modern, it does however have engine and front & rear suspensions mounted in subframes similar in overall design to the mini of the same era. They were built to a price but must cars these days have had modern tweaks especially to brakes and cooling only the real anoraks want a factory fresh original and most of those are only for show purposes.

I always find the E Type is the gauge of the classic market, they are first to rise in a boom and first to drop in a crash
 
Ewan

Ewan

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philw696 said:
Driving a proper Classic down to the South of France is what it's all about.
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Late next month a friend and I are travelling in convoy from the UK to St Tropez and then on to Mallorca via Barcelona. He‘ll be in his soft-top 1968 series II Landie, and I’ll be in my soft-top 1973 series III Landie. Does that count? (Obviously no where near as glamorous as doing it in an AH 3000 or an E Type.)

To the OP, if going for a convertible, I’d chose the AH over the Jag.
 
Scaf

Scaf

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Ewan said:
Late next month a friend and I are travelling in convoy from the UK to St Tropez and then on to Mallorca via Barcelona. He‘ll be in his soft-top 1968 series II Landie, and I’ll be in my soft-top 1973 series III Landie. Does that count? (Obviously no where near as glamorous as doing it in an AH 3000 or an E Type.)

To the OP, if going for a convertible, I’d chose the AH over the Jag.
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You guys are truly bonkers do that length of journey in a landie “respect” !
 
LDM 3200

LDM 3200

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Always liked the E-Type although prefer the Coupe (it was however designed as a soft top and the coupe was the backroom addition) and strangely like both the S1 and S3 although I see them as two different types of car. Seriosly considered buying one a few years back (and probably should have). I think part of the problem for me was there are quite a few of them about, possibly more chance of seeing an E-Type when out than a MGB?

That being said I still think they are a great looking car and maybe at some point I will find a space for one, I also like both the Healey (which can fell a bit heavy) anf thr TR6 which in many ways seems the "cooler" of the 3 despite being thr cheapest - although I have never agreed that price is a full reflection of a cars "worth"

A friend has 2 Es at the moment, avery clean standard '64 = Which I think may be for sale for right price (it is barely used) and a white special complete with the wider rear arches and alloy bonnet.
 

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midlifecrisis

midlifecrisis

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SteviePea and I were chatting on the way down to Le Mans about his future Wife (SkyePea or just Skype? ;) )wanting a TR6. I expressed an interest in Daimler SP250 (Dart) . They've got a V8, are fibreglass and being old easy to work on. All faults are known, what's not to like? Apart from its looks that only a mother could love.
 
LDM 3200

LDM 3200

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midlifecrisis said:
SteviePea and I were chatting on the way down to Le Mans about his future Wife (SkyePea or just Skype? ;) )wanting a TR6. I expressed an interest in Daimler SP250 (Dart) . They've got a V8, are fibreglass and being old easy to work on. All faults are known, what's not to like? Apart from its looks that only a mother could love.
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I believe handling could be a little interesting, especially on the early ones. As previously mentioned, most issues that affected most classics when new can be rectified now and really there shouldnt be too many issues these days, and well maintained should be as reliable as any modern car yet simpler to work on, just need to remeber what they are and that they are older.
 
Cyclone1

Cyclone1

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A member of my local car club bought a Healey earlier this year and absolutely loves it. He switched from a 2 year old Vantage, so polar opposites and the Healey suits his motoring needs much more. His is a beautiful example, but still allows him to tinker where needed. I’m more than happy to pass any questions you may have to him.

Jules

pics added to tempt you haha!

104523104524104525104527
 
RodTungsten

RodTungsten

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safrane said:
Give all the cars mentioned will be in their mid to late 50s or older, is it any surprise they are not as sprightly as a modern car today... I mean look at most of us!
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Our DS is not the fastest but those big inboard front discs and power assistance can surprise many behind.
 
GeoffCapes

GeoffCapes

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outrun said:
I had an e-type for a while. Series 3, v12 FHC.

It was rubbish. I loved it but there was no hiding from it being not very good. I think you need to really consider one with modern upgrades from Eagle or similar such as disc brakes, air con, proper cooling, upgraded ignition and so on. Otherwise, they are old cars, relatively mass produced, relatively cheaply and not very well.

These days, I think i'd be looking at a proper restomod Alfa as being where to go for a cool classic.
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I knew someone on here had previously owned an E-Type and thought it was rubbish!

I am also looking for a classic Alfa. Ideally a 1973 (year of my birth) Alfa Romeo GTV 2000. And then send it off to Ian Ellis Alfa Romeo to have it uprated and improved (not quite got Alfaholics money, by a million miles!). And hopefully it'll come back looking like this.

104529

Unfortunately he currently has a 2 year waiting list for recreations.
 
zagatoes30

zagatoes30

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GeoffCapes said:
I knew someone on here had previously owned an E-Type and thought it was rubbish!

I am also looking for a classic Alfa. Ideally a 1973 (year of my birth) Alfa Romeo GTV 2000. And then send it off to Ian Ellis Alfa Romeo to have it uprated and improved (not quite got Alfaholics money, by a million miles!). And hopefully it'll come back looking like this.

View attachment 104529

Unfortunately he currently has a 2 year waiting list for recreations.
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I have known Ian for years and his work is fantastic hence the waiting list, I remember when I could ring him up for a quote and he would say bring it round an an hour later he was working on it but in those days he did Beeltes and Campervans as well.

Little known fact Ian use to earn money in the 70s as a David Bowie lookalike ;)
 
GeoffCapes

GeoffCapes

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zagatoes30 said:
I have known Ian for years and his work is fantastic hence the waiting list, I remember when I could ring him up for a quote and he would say bring it round an an hour later he was working on it but in those days he did Beeltes and Campervans as well.

Little known fact Ian use to earn money in the 70s as a David Bowie lookalike ;)
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I didn't know that. :D I'll mention it next time!

He's very thorough. I look at his classifieds every week to see if he has anything for sale.

Although the last time I spoke to him he said most never even make it to his website.
 
Marco07

Marco07

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Scaf said:
One day —— if I can ever afford to sink 400k into a classic, that’s where it would go.
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I was lucky and bought mine in 2009 when still affordable but even at £400k+ I think they’re worth it. Good luck.
 
StuartW

StuartW

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A JH for me Sam. I have never really warmed to the E Type, particularly the hard top. The JH is a little more under the radar but looks good from any angle plus seems like a natural progression from the TR6. Nice conundrum to have though
 
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