The MGB Pony Express

As some of you know, I also own a 72 MGB. While at first this may not appear to be Porsche related, I posted this website as an indication of what a bunch of people with a passion for sport cars can accomplish. I know some may say the MGB is not a sport car, but believe me taking the twisties at 40mph in my 72 B can bring just as big a smile to my face as the same curves at 70mph in my 72 911 E. Anyway here is the site: http://community.webtv.net/JP76MGB/MGBPonyExpress

Kurt V
72911E

Kurt,

I have known a couple of MGB fanatics, and I am sure they can be fun to drive once you get past the prehistoric engineering and Lucas elecrics!

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Warren Hall
1973 911S Targa

I could only imagine that an english sports car bbs would get about 10 times the posts of problems that this site gets. Sold a 1980 Spitfire 2 years ago. The car had two phases, running or broke down. Fortunately it was sold in the "running" phase. Kudos to the Germans for giving us reliable sports cars.

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8 9 9 1 1, The last of the line.

Gees, you were lucky. My 75 spitefire had 2 phases as well, but they was broken and "needs near imediate attention"...

Jean-Paul

You know, guys, it is a good thing Ralph Nader didn't make early Spitfires with their swing-axle suspensions and 'comical handling traits' [Road & Track quote, not my idea] the object of his diatribe ... or he might have killed off the entire British auto industry, instead of just one GM model!!! Of course, they have come pretty close to committing suicide, without his help!

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Warren Hall
1973 911S Targa

there is such a thing as the "British auto industry"?!?!?!

Or, do you mean "British Car Companies Now Owned By The Germans/Japanese/Americans-- Formerly Known as the British Auto Industry"?

Jim,

There is TVR of course.

The last bastion of the "real" British sports car industry.

It could be said they spirtually closer to the Porsche of old - they would never consider making an SUV.

A TVR is one of the only things I would consider buying after a Porsche.

Alex.

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911 2.7S Targa
email:alex@cascade.f9.co.uk

Alex,

There was a test around '74-'75 in which two TVR models were reviewed in Car and Driver, ... Vixen and some other model. The more powerful one (I don't remember which) was well liked and referred to as 'the truculent troll' ... and for some reason, I have never forgotten that reference to TVR!!!

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Warren Hall
1973 911S Targa

Warren the other TVR was a Griffith. Don't know if it could be classified as English since it had a ford 289 in it. Ahhh but it still had the lovely Lucus electrics and a generator that wore out every three years. And lets not forget the Moss gearbox with overdrive, it ate second gears syncs and split the overdrive units all the way around.

Ask me how I know, two Austin Healy 3000s, a 63 XKE, and a short stint with an MGB GT.

I do have to agree that when they are running well (about 3 months out of the year) they are a kick to drive.

I truly enjoyed my Spitfire (forget the year, though.) Rarely did I ever have the top on. And it ran very well for about a year and a half. Never any problems, xcept getting the choke to work. Not until the back end slid out during a tight right hander and smacked the curb. Never could get the rear end to line up right thereafter. And that's when the wonderful Newport Beach Police decided to tow it for parking on the street for more than 72 hours. It was actually cheaper to let them keep the car then to repair it again. Fond memories of my first car with a low center of gravity and the ability to take a corner fast (relatively), especially after dealing with the muscle cars, such as my 69 440 Roadrunner. Now, i have the best of both worlds.

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Paul
78SC Targa