here is an inspirational picture if you decide to go with a sunbeam alpine (64) last year of the fins on the tail.

This cars suspension was converted to Spax shocks and custom springs, it handles excellent. Stock engine and trans rebuilt using modern techniques and fully balanced which makes the car much more reliable and fun to drive. Electronic ignition, Positive to negative ground conversion and an internally regulated alternator instead of a generator. It's no race car for sure but it gets more attention than my 69 911S

Keep in mind that none of the 60s-70s era British sports cars live up to today's standards of fit, finish, reliability etc. Choose what you like and re-engineer the typical weak points, get AAA, and go drive it. Any of the old British cars are a blast to drive due to the fear factor and the illusion you are going faster than you really are.

Note the Porsche 924 wheels- seems to be an odd combo but they resemble lat 70 race wheels from the late 60's and they are cheap.

Enjoy your search!

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Spitfire or Spitefull?
 

I owned a 1964 Spitfire in 1968. Once I got kits to rebuild the carbs it was as dependable as any British car can possibly be! The swing axle handling took some
adjustment on my part, but once learned was no problem. I owned/drove the car
for a year and the only time the top went up was when it was raining! Didn't matter
how cold it got as I had a tonneau cover that would allow only the driver side to be
open. That along with the "heater from hell" kept the driver's bod warm. The only things that I changed on the car were the addition of driving lights in the grill opening and I dyed the interior black from red. I also make a walnut dash for it. Really spiffed up the interior!

Fours years of ownership (from new). 2 clutch replacements, a third throwout bearing replacement, multiple u-joint replacements, major electrical fire under the dash while driving at night, valve job. All after the mfgr's warranty expired. Spirited driving from time to time, but no abuse. The best day of my life was when I traded it in on a Datsun Z.

Get smart, buy a Sunbeam. :cool:

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What about a Triumph Stag. Michelloti-designed body, four seats, and ferocious engine growl.

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One of the best reasons to own and drive a 50's/60's British sports car! ;)

"Get Smart"...LOL

You bought the wrong car. Get a mid to late 60's Spit and its a totally different car built by different folks.

The Sunbeam is fun and a nice car but much more difficult to get parts for. I would vote for either one but just be ready for a much more difficult life regarding spares should you get the Sunbeam.

I would insist that your wife help u with repairs seeing that she is interested in this venture as well. If she is the only cook in the house u could both go hungry.

1965 AH Sprite


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Joe, you are the master of understatement. :D

Jim,

The 60's versions of the Spit are ok, the later ones were cobbled up POS's that simply carried the name badge.

The A-H above is a very nice option. Easy to get parts and a lot of fun to drive...

Joe

Well here goes - I had two, both were 1979's. One was real ugly, I left it in Hawaii as planned, the other was perfect and bought cheap in Seattle ($1500). Included were the hardtop, tonneau cover, softtop and softtop stowage cover.

Both were dependable, fun to drive, easy to work on, rattled like crazy and absolute dogs. But they looked cool. Since 50 mph seemed like 70 so I never got in trouble. I could sit in the car and reach over the door and touch the ground. I looked up to cars with 17" rims.

No electrical problems. Everything worked, or was easily fixable. Once sorted out it was no worse than the sorting out I went through with my 911, or any other car I've owned.

Drive it as an only car? Nope. Keep one in the barn? Sure. I'd have another one.

Thinking outside of the box.............

How about a Datsun 2000 roadster?


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I had a Sunbeam Alpine in 1968. Worst car I EVER owned...nothing but trouble. After one year of aggravation I traded it on my first Porsche...a used 912 with 16K on the clock..

Do NOT buy an Alpine...Tiger...would be a fine choice

A Sunbeam Tiger sat in the parking lot (or used to) where I once worked.
It had a Ford 260 ci engine. I think some of them had 289's and some Shelby upgrades.
Besides that one, I never see them so they have got to be very very expensive.
Hard to keep cool in warm weather.
I imagine their are lots of after market upgrades available through the Shelby
avenues.
I haven't checked for a long time but if you don't care about resale and being authentic... and you are a mechanic then check out the replica industry.
You can build one. More reliable than the originals and a lot less expensive.

I did that in 1990 with the AC Cobra and enjoyed 20K miles of fun.
You know the car intimately because you built it.
The Tiger would be a great car to build. Good luck.

Tiger - put a hotrod 289 in and Shelbyize it

Don't know what your budget is but the last time I drove one of these it beat the pants of either car you are considering. Of course sometimes that isn't the point.
I have NO knowledge of this car, but 30k miles seems good to me, but can't always go by pictures. Pretty close to what you are looking at for the money. Saw it on CL.

Lots of English history there to! If this was closer I would be out driving it.

1973 Lotus Elan
Runs great, fully operational
Engine: Kent Cross Flow
4 Cylinder 4 Speed
30,000 miles
Original knock off wheels
Carrera Racing Seats with 4 point harness seat belts
Paint in excellent condition, entire body fiberglass
No Trades, cash only, no bank checks, no wire transfers, no money orders
*Buyer responsible for vehicle pick-up or shipping*
Vehicle is located at Big Bear Lake


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When I see this it reminds me of the Lotus Elan and when I think of this I think Mazda Miata MX5. Pretty inexpensive if u get an early one- 1990 and on. Reliable, sporty and great handling. Perhaps it is not "English" enough?

about what it is worth

saddly a good one of any listed here are 5 to 10k today


A-H 3000 if nice is near jag money
bug-eye not a lot less