tunatussle 14 Report post Posted May 11, 2013 66 Original AH Sprite[ATTACH]20157[/ATTACH] Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
0 Jake Clark 17 Report post Posted May 11, 2013 Randy, That is the car and color that got me through college in Boston! Thanks For the memories! Jake Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
0 John T 744 Report post Posted May 11, 2013 Cool.. Almost reminds me of the car Dustin Hoffman drove in the movie the Graduate. http://www.topsonline.com/blog/alfa-romeo/the-graduate-car-alfa-romeo-spyder/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
0 tunatussle 14 Report post Posted May 11, 2013 With the top off I now remember why I had gloves in the '60s driving AH 3000's Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
0 Douglas Hicks 128 Report post Posted May 11, 2013 Lucas Electrics? That will keep you busy. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
0 Adrian 155 Report post Posted May 11, 2013 That's gonna be fun! Didn't those used to be called "Bug Eyed" Sprite? Nice , good find. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
0 Scott Stone 604 Report post Posted May 11, 2013 Those were later then the bugeye sprites. The bugeye sprites ad the headlights in the hood. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
0 tunatussle 14 Report post Posted May 11, 2013 LUcas-Prince of Darkness, Bugeyes were 58-60 and originally were to be lights that would flip up but found too expensive. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
0 RPetry 564 Report post Posted May 11, 2013 (edited) Randy, Congrats! The AH looks to be in terrific condition. A few years after college, bought a well used '74 1/2 MGB-GT with Lucas, and the dual SU carbs that were near impossible to balance. Learned some basic mechanics real fast! But the cars a lot of fun to drive when running right. If interested, there is a get together not far from you of British car buffs tomorrow from 9 - 4. The weather looks to be sunny so I plan on stopping up in the morning with my Lotus Elise. Come on by! More info at: http://lotuspals.ning.com/events/ragtops-and-roadsters-spring-open-house-1 Edited May 11, 2013 by RPetry Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
0 tunatussle 14 Report post Posted May 11, 2013 Rick, I might have gone but just bought tickets to the Battleship NJ with the turret firing option. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
0 RPetry 564 Report post Posted May 11, 2013 Rick, I might have gone but just bought tickets to the Battleship NJ with the turret firing option. Randy, You will have a great time touring the New Jersey. Jake Clark and I visited the battleship a few yrs. ago on a Sunday after an ACR roundtable, prior to his flight out of PHL. It is surprising, but there are a veritable ton of newer and vintage British car enthusiasts in the greater Delaware Valley. Clubs, "spirited" drives, and track days, usually at NJMP. If you have an "unsolvable" parts or mechanical problem, let me know. Bill Thomas is my go to guy since day one of my Lotus, and does meticulous work. His website is: http://www.wtroadsters.com/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
0 tunatussle 14 Report post Posted May 11, 2013 Rick, thanks for the name/site, you know how they can be at times. Belong to AH Sport and Touring now but looking at others. Had a couple 3000's in the 70's before I was shipped out and no place to store them when underway for 6 months at a time. So I sold them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
0 RPetry 564 Report post Posted May 11, 2013 ... you know how they can be at times. Randy, I'll never forget! Keeping that MGB-GT in good road worthy, top running order was a real challenge! British Leyland in the '60's through '80's was a gov't/private enterprise nightmare. As usual, Lotus is in shaky financial straits. The Engineering division does quite well and is possibly the only asset that keeps the car manufacturing afloat. However, so far I've been pleasantly surprised with my 2005 Elise. Purchased it used, about 18 months ago, from the original owner with 20K on the odometer. Have added another ~ 16K miles and 4 track days without a mechanical problem. Bill Thomas did a few minor mods for tracking, but the little car has been bulletproof so far. A Katana2 supercharger and Larini exhaust goes in the end of the month, which should be a huge WHP and torque performance boost. The car N/A can be scary at times in the turns, but I'm tired of pointing the Porsche's by on the straights! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
0 tunatussle 14 Report post Posted May 12, 2013 Rick, We are still looking for a good condition 3000 but they are either out of site on price or trash. Saw one that I was almost ready to jump at In Ky until I read a little further in the description and found a Chevy 283 with Power Pac and a Powerglide trans. Too much to turn it back to original. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
0 RPetry 564 Report post Posted May 12, 2013 Randy, Give Bill Thomas a call. He restores and finds a lot of British cars. Knows the market and "gotcha's". Warning. Older metal can be a $ sink. Like track cars. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
0 John T 744 Report post Posted May 12, 2013 You guys are making me think about the "Good old days" :). I almost bought an MG Midget around 79-80. I really wanted that car. I was into Jim Conner racing https://jimconnerracing.com/ so I bought a 72 Opel GT(poor mans Corvette) and my Dad and my Uncle along with myself spray painted it with 7 coats of paint to make it look like glass. Then I had the engine blue printed from Fontana racing where we had dual webber carbs added. This car was a rocket. It was also my everyday car until I left to serve the USN. I have the pics of this car in my night table. I'll try to remember to take pics of the pics. Those were good times. This thread brings back good memories:) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
0 RPetry 564 Report post Posted May 12, 2013 John, Hah! We're getting long of tooth. I remember the Opel's, great looking cars. Back in those days, Weber carbs were king. And "blue printing" an engine! Don't think anyone needs to do that today! Relatively new sports cars are so much more reliable, powerful, and handle like a dream. Like mass production cars, tolerances, engineering, and ECU's have made autos easier to maintain and just drive. Progress, instead of wrenching. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
0 RSuds 24 Report post Posted May 12, 2013 Good to here you are able to enjoy some good retirement plans. Hope all is well. Let me know if you need anything. I just got another new flatbed. Stop over the shop anytime. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
0 RSuds 24 Report post Posted May 12, 2013 I do love how my 500 sl drives. It has some good power and the hard top is so much nicer than our old one with the soft top. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
0 RPetry 564 Report post Posted May 12, 2013 Good to here you are able to enjoy some good retirement plans. ... Brian, Purchasing or restoring sports cars are a financial advisor's nightmare! But fun and one deserves to enjoy long delayed passions. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
0 tunatussle 14 Report post Posted May 12, 2013 Brian, been working on the car and still working on both boats although the 38 is for sale, too expensive to take to the canyons any more(500 gal diesel per trip) think i will stick with the Sea Ox as a pocket rocket. But the car is real relaxation. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
0 Chappy 138 Report post Posted May 12, 2013 Warning. Older metal can be a $ sink. Like track cars. Yeah, I had to give up my TR6 when my first child came. Too much money to keep one for a hobby.... And Im not sure which of the two that statement attaches more appropriately to. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
0 Adrian 155 Report post Posted May 13, 2013 Opels were really cool. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
0 RPetry 564 Report post Posted May 13, 2013 Yeah, I had to give up my TR6 when my first child came. Too much money to keep one for a hobby.... And Im not sure which of the two that statement attaches more appropriately to. Jon, Cars are transitory, children are forever. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
0 James 624 Report post Posted May 13, 2013 (edited) I had a mint MGB before for the kid and trailer . A very sad day indeed watching it drive away....... I just remembered I drove it too the guys house for my last drive with my son and dropped it off. Almost kept driving by ! Edited May 13, 2013 by James Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
0 tunatussle 14 Report post Posted May 15, 2013 Lot of LBC owners over the years. Seems we had something else in common. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
66 Original AH Sprite[ATTACH]20157[/ATTACH]
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