Who else has thought about doing it? I got on this whole tangent when I realized how fun it would be to drive a classic car down to the weekly Cars & Coffee meets I attend instead of an Accord no one really cares about. I’d really like something from the 60’s/70’s, euro or American. I have been thinking about starting out with something that’s somewhat simple/cheap that still has some appeal and fun factor. Triumphs came to mind…these cars are affordable, parts are readily available, and they still turn heads. So I’ve been looking at Spitfires, GT6’s, and TR6’s since the production numbers are good in the US. I started seriously considering using my tax refund to buy a Spitfire local to me, when I suddenly realized I’d have nowhere to keep it. Right now I’m saving for my next car, but still I always find myself looking at classics, constantly. Anyway, I’m interested to hear from others who are planning to own, or already own, something classic (to me at this point a classic is 1980ish or older). Share your story. Spitfire roadster (2nd pic w/hardtop) GT6+ (kind of a Spitfire coupe but a little more special): TR6 (probably what I’d want to own):
Those are good looking cars. I've definitely thought about it since I was raised on classic Muscle. Just four more years before I can apply for this:
My buddy has a '76 TR-6 that semi restored for him. He sold the red one to his brother and he now has a green one; both '76s and fully restored. Pics are potato quality because they were taken circa 2005ish on a crappy cell phone. In between my old TA and RX7 (see my old FC with the wheels that I have on my CG now) You can kind of see my CG in the garage when it was my parents. The two on a sunday cruise.
man i wish my tax refund was enough to buy a car. sense i moved to alabama i've thought about it sense old american cars are easy to find here. But there are a couple of old jaguars around here that i really like and I almost bought a toyota corona once. My most recent idea has been to buy a 1st gen prelude and put a k20 in it. But, I'm saving for a house and a lexus so none of that will probably ever happen.
Look into a Locost! You get old style, with modern performance. I have seen almost anything moving them. Chevy V8, Ford V8, RX7 wankle, Honda K20 stuck to a Toyota trans, numerous I4s, and motorcycle engines (and trans, 6 gears, no reverse ) A copy of the ~1957 Lotus 7, btw. Usually homemade, mostly it's welded 1" Sq Tube steel.
^I think I saw one of those at C&C once, guy had Lotus badges on it. I bet they're fun to drive but not very pretty lol. Nice. You gonna put that on your Accord? lol Whenever I go home I long to drive my dad's '66 Chevelle SS 396. He is in the process of making it road worthy right now, it just needs a couple things. He also has a '37 Studebaker coupe but it needs so much work. Aww man I'd love to talk to him, hear what he knows. I'm reading all I can about em so I know what to look for but Triumph did some weird things over the years. How extensive were the restorations he did? I like how his doesn't have the amber lights below the headlights. The green looks great, that's the color I'd want. And definitely wire wheels with the tri-star knockoff like the maroon one I posted above. Your RX looks like it was in great condition! Get married. haha Spitfires are cheap, as in you can get a decent one for a couple grand. Here's the one I was looking at, it was $2400. They're like Alfa Romeo Spiders in that they're not hugely desirable, but I think the Spitfirer looks classic enough for the money, and what a cool name. I'm a huge Jag fan, what models do you like? I'm also saving for a Lexus...ISF if I can manage. You're still wanting an LS?
My dad's best friend had a Chevelle. I like the more agile look of them, but I personally prefer the big bodied Dodges and Chryslers. He'd either bring his 'Cuda or '69 Charger to the drag strip twice a month. Probably why I can't hear anything as an adult. lol
Sorry this is so long: Thanks! He isn't the most knowledgeable of car guys. Hes the kind of guy who will drop it off at the shop and have it completed for him. When I worked on the red one it had been sitting in his dads warehouse (along with the green one) for many years. The red one was his dads, purchased it new in '76! He got the green one as a parts car but eventually had a shop restore both of them when he came into some money. Both engines blueprinted and drive trains rebuilt. Both were repainted because they both needed body work. Both interiors redone keeping as much original as possible. Both cars got the same treatment. Frame off wasn't necessary as both had immaculate frames with no rust (California cars + proper storage= easy restore). All brake systems replaced and basically anything that was deteriorating was replaced or restored. At first he was only focusing on the red one when he originally decided to pull it out of the warehouse and have me go through it to get it running. I basically did some minor things to get it road worthy again tune up and a few gaskets, rebuild both carbs and tune them. After a month or so of sunday cruising he ended up storing it again for a few years before the restorations... Oh to have money. As for my FC, a sad story at that. Had a turbo II swap clean body and no rust. Convertible top was in perfect condition. Lowering springs, sound system etc. Nothing crazy just a clean fun ride. Well, I'll try to keep this short; I was at an open drift day at Adams Motorsports Park in Riverside CA. I was using my stock wheels for the day and had burnt the tires up pretty bad. After I left, I began the 45min drive home and it started raining. Rain+severely bald tires= easy hydroplaning. Coming down a steep hill after dropping a buddy off I couldn't keep the rear end planted nor could I slow down for the wide sweeping turn at the bottom of the hill. Which in turn, hydroplaned me into a streetlight pole totaling my sweet baby to make it worse I had liability insurance and got no $$ back for the car. Also received a hefty reckless driving fine and had to pay the city for the light pole. Didn't help that I was 17 years old and despite being respectful, I still was looked at as a stereotypical reckless teen tearing up the streets like an a$$hole, even though I was at a track safely. This was before my TII swap and suspension. Right two cars are my dads, Supra&FD- left two are my CG (moms at the time) and my FC It was so pretty Booo
That's the key! Real sport cars have one purpose: Move It doesn't add extra style, that costs weight! Even has a 'crappy' interior: design calls for no seats, just pads stuck on the floor & back.
I actually just picked up an 87 mercedes 190e 2.3 5speed with immaculate interior and straight body for 700 bucks. Im already about 1200 into it with tune up but i figure i will fix her up as i go and works great as a back up car. Surprisingly the new car did actually save me since the day before i started my new position at work, i cracked my oil pan on my accord and would have been stranded but luckily i had my benz! Plans are to turn her into a DTM race car with a LSX!!!! eventually
