When did you buy your first LBC, and what was it?

longbridgehealey · Mar 27, 2016

For me it was a 1959 Bugeye, purchased in 1968. I drove it while in college, and traded it in when I was in the Marines a few years later. I traded it in on a 1969 Mach I. Wish I had both of them back

65_BRG_Sprite · Mar 27, 2016

- '70: '60 Morris Minor 1000
- '70: '64 TR-4
- '99: '65 Sprite

nomad · Mar 27, 2016

1948 MG TC purchased in 1968. I've owned at least one British car ever since but, sadly, couldn't turn down a high offer for the TC immediate after the movie "Love Story" came out. Not really a highway cruiser now days anyway.

Kurt.

tomshobby · Mar 27, 2016

purchased a new '64 TR4 in early summer of '65. Then traded it for a new '67 GT6 in early 1968. The TR4 was my favorite of all the cars I have ever owned and can't believe I was so dumb to ever let it go.

Rut · Mar 27, 2016

67 TR4a I traded my 63 VW convertible for in 69...still my favorite LBC and the reason I have 2 in the barn awaiting restoration.
Rut

HealeyRick · Mar 27, 2016

I was a junior in high school when I bought my cousin's bugeye in 1967 for $350. It really was just a little bit better than a POS, with rusty rockers, holes in the floor, a bad second gear synchro and no convertible top. It did have a non-factory hardtop that went on sometime in October and stayed on until spring, except for the New Years Day ride. It was terrible in a Massachusetts winter. It just didn't want to start when it got cold, the heater wouldn't defrost the windscreen and the sidescreens would freeze shut when I was in class. Yet it had tons of cool. I "fixed it up" with some galvanized steel rockers pop-riveted on, a repaint in '68 Corvette Yellow, some new floor coverings and stretch-on seat cover and a spray-on spatter cover vinyl roof on the hardtop. Sounds hideous, but it did't look that terrible. I hated the inconveniences of that car, but there was so much more I loved: driving around the roads on Cape Cod, smelling the different smells through the open top; having a British sports car during the days when the British Invasion, Carnaby St., the Beatles and other British groups were the height of cool; and learning my Alpine Rally techniques on roads between the cranberry bogs of southeastern Mass. Finally sold it to a couple of guys that had just returned from a round trip on the AlCan highway on a Norton Commando and BSA Lightning. They must have thought they ware buying a Rolls Royce. When I finally got a real job, I bought another bugeye in 1977 that I have toay. Totally redone to mimic the '59 Sebring Sprites. Makes me feel like 16 years old every time I drive it.

Bob Claffie · Mar 27, 2016

Bought a new AH 3000 in May of 1959. Drove / abused it for 16ooo miles and traded it in for a new 1960 Corvette and have owned Corvette's ever since (along with misc other LBC's over the years).

Gerard · Mar 27, 2016

That's funny Rick... my first Bugeye shown in my earlier post was Nevada Beige originally, but I had it repainted Safari Yellow, which was the new Corvette color is '68. My buddy had a brand new '68 L89 Stingray in that color and I loved it at the time. Here's and old B?W of out cars parked together. Once, while driving some nice roads one autumn day, we got stopped by a cop who accused us of racing. When my friend heard that, he fell down on the ground laughing. My 948 against his 427... it was just too much for him to keep a straight face. We were given our licenses back and the cop left, I'm quite certain, feeling mortified.

HealeyRick said:
I was a junior in high school when I bought my cousin's bugeye in 1967 for $350. It really was just a little bit better than a POS, with rusty rockers, holes in the floor, a bad second gear synchro and no convertible top. It did have a non-factory hardtop that went on sometime in October and stayed on until spring, except for the New Years Day ride. It was terrible in a Massachusetts winter. It just didn't want to start when it got cold, the heater wouldn't defrost the windscreen and the sidescreens would freeze shut when I was in class. Yet it had tons of cool. I "fixed it up" with some galvanized steel rockers pop-riveted on, a repaint in '68 Corvette Yellow, some new floor coverings and stretch-on seat cover and a spray-on spatter cover vinyl roof on the hardtop. Sounds hideous, but it did't look that terrible. I hated the inconveniences of that car, but there was so much more I loved: driving around the roads on Cape Cod, smelling the different smells through the open top; having a British sports car during the days when the British Invasion, Carnaby St., the Beatles and other British groups were the height of cool; and learning my Alpine Rally techniques on roads between the cranberry bogs of southeastern Mass. Finally sold it to a couple of guys that had just returned from a round trip on the AlCan highway on a Norton Commando and BSA Lightning. They must have thought they ware buying a Rolls Royce. When I finally got a real job, I bought another bugeye in 1977 that I have toay. Totally redone to mimic the '59 Sebring Sprites. Makes me feel like 16 years old every time I drive it.

Nelson · Mar 27, 2016

I have only owned one LBC. For that matter I still do. It was January 8 in 1962 that I drove Little Mo away from Donald Healey's dealership in England. I haven't driven it since Thursday this past week. I was 24 years old when i bought it but I'm not going to say how old I am now but I still plan to put more miles on Little Mo.

SaxMan · Mar 27, 2016

Well, it's only been less than three years, and Larry, you should know the story of the car. :encouragement:

For those who don't remember, I kept seeing the Sprite with the "For Sale" sign parked along the main drag in New Market, MD, when I went to visit my parents. This went on for at least a month. Finally, I said "If that car is still there, I'm going to stop and take a look at it". It was, and, as they say, the rest is history. If I knew owning an LBC would be this fun, I should have bought one 20 years ago.

I had Baby Blue out today. It was a little chilly, but it was the first long run the car had since it's winter overhaul. Very happy with the car's performance. The string alignment worked very well, and the motor was running baby butt smooth. First time I stopped at a light, I thought the car had stalled out as I'm always used to some shaking at idle.

glemon · Mar 28, 2016

I post here from time to time even though I don't have a Sprite, but I have had many years of LBC ownership so I still weigh in. But this time I can really be part of the Spridget gang. My first car was bought in 1978, it was a 1966 Sprite, 1098, repainted from pale primrose to an olive drab green. It was about halfway between a pristine, well preserved example and a piece of junk. It ran decently, wasn't too rusty but had a bubble or two in the usual spots, didn't like to start when it was really cold, and had some dents and dings. But it was great fun. Loved tearing around in it, loved the musty smell of the aged interior mixing with the smell of autumn leaves on a warm fall day.

Second car was a 67 Sprite, when I bought it it had a shaved head and what they called a 3/4 race cam and front and rear sway bars. Above 3500 RPM it really moved, and it did corner as if "on rails". Unfortunately I only took it for a 5 minute test drive and all seemed fine. After purchase and a long enough drive to heat the oil up pressure dropped to just off the peg at idle and 20-25 psi when revving the **** out of it. Although I wasn't happy to discover the motor was on its last legs (it smoked pretty good when warmed up too) I do have great memories of the what the **** driving I did for the month or two after that. Beating a guy in a new TR7 at the stoplight grand prix, as well as a few 70s smog strangled V8 cars. Good times. Despite all my efforts I never did blow it up, a stock 1275 was fitted a couple months later. (EDIT: I know this is a G rated forum but really, starred out for H E double toothpicks!)

Gerard · Mar 28, 2016

Now that's a poetic description I can relate to...

I don't think you can really be in love with these cars without an appreciation of this sentiment... :cheers:

glemon said:
... Loved tearing around in it, loved the musty smell of the aged interior mixing with the smell of autumn leaves on a warm fall day.

AngliaGT · Mar 28, 2016

Back in '75,or '76,I bought a '59 Austin Healey 1oo 6 for $1000,
that was in great shape.First car my Wife & I ever went out in.
Sold it about a year later for $2,100.I made $800 on it!

mxp01 · Mar 28, 2016

I purchased a Sprite MK II in November 2002 as my first project car. It was in pretty bad shape but a goo car to start on. About six months later it got hit while parked in the street. I paid about 1700 for it plus $600 for delivery. The insurance company gave me $7500 that allowed me to finance the work on a Sunbeam. .

After the MKII I discovered the BE and there's been no looking back.

MXP

JPSmit · Mar 28, 2016

Technically the first LBC I ever bought was the Vauxhall - 2011? The Midget followed me home ("He got it for free and he got what he paid for!"

) That technicality aside, I got Ms Triss in 2004 and got her on the road in 2009. While one of the first cars I ever properly fell in love with was an Iris Blue Bugeye when I was 14 - it was $350 and still too expensive, I also have to admit that while I love my LBC it was more that a British Car found me than that I was looking for a (specifically) British car. Actually I wasn't looking for a car - but a European or even an American car could have just as easily been in my driveway (though most of you know my tastes run to small and oddball!). That said, in retrospect, I am glad my first restoration was British, partly because of simplicity, partly because of part availability and especially because of the British Car Community (particularly BCF) - it continues to be my impression that this community is friendly, more helpful and much more DIY inclined than some others.

nomad · Mar 28, 2016

Gerard and glemon make a good point. The olfactory senses are a big part of the experience. I love twisty mountain roads not just for the roads but for the smell of the pines!

Kurt.

LarryK · Mar 28, 2016

I bought a coworkers 64 Spit MK IV for $250, did not run. Brought it home, changed all the fluids, tuned and covered the bright orange paint with gray primer. Had a hardtop, but drove top down for 8 months. Saved enough money to buy a Mustang Mach 1, and sold the Spit for $300.

Bayless · Mar 28, 2016

My first LBC was the 1948 Prefect I am currently restoring. It was given to me in 1962 with the worn plumb out motor separate a few weeks later. We used it as the second car for a few years and put about 35000 miles on it even though it sounded like the pistons were swapping holes every few revs. Story here https://enfoprefect.org/cars/My_Prefect.html.

hcallaway · Mar 28, 2016

Picture is it coming out of storage. Should get it back on the road late this year if I have time.

1964 MGB built in 1963. Restored it for the wifes 40th birthday. This was in 2000 or 1999 when I bought it.
This is it in it's new home.

Wife drove it maybe 5-10 times over the first 5 years. I decided to put it away for when the kids are gone and the Suburban or Van were not needed to transport kids. Now Grandkids are here but the time is approaching where she wants it to be used again.
She can finally use it as I had intended.
New project in 2015. 1960 Bugeye Miss Eva.

Not much to work with but we are making progress. Slow progress.

markberry · Mar 28, 2016

HealeyRick said:
I was a junior in high school when I bought my cousin's bugeye in 1967 for $350. It really was just a little bit better than a POS, with rusty rockers, holes in the floor, a bad second gear synchro and no convertible top. It did have a non-factory hardtop that went on sometime in October and stayed on until spring, except for the New Years Day ride. It was terrible in a Massachusetts winter. It just didn't want to start when it got cold, the heater wouldn't defrost the windscreen and the sidescreens would freeze shut when I was in class. Yet it had tons of cool. I "fixed it up" with some galvanized steel rockers pop-riveted on, a repaint in '68 Corvette Yellow, some new floor coverings and stretch-on seat cover and a spray-on spatter cover vinyl roof on the hardtop. Sounds hideous, but it did't look that terrible. I hated the inconveniences of that car, but there was so much more I loved: driving around the roads on Cape Cod, smelling the different smells through the open top; having a British sports car during the days when the British Invasion, Carnaby St., the Beatles and other British groups were the height of cool; and learning my Alpine Rally techniques on roads between the cranberry bogs of southeastern Mass. Finally sold it to a couple of guys that had just returned from a round trip on the AlCan highway on a Norton Commando and BSA Lightning. They must have thought they ware buying a Rolls Royce. When I finally got a real job, I bought another bugeye in 1977 that I have toay. Totally redone to mimic the '59 Sebring Sprites. Makes me feel like 16 years old every time I drive it.

Hmmm. my Bugeye was yellow with pop riveted rockers on it when I bought it.

Thread starter	Title	Forum	Replies	Date
	General MG What wheels did I buy?	MG	8	Sep 22, 2013
M	what did I buy	Spridgets	25	Aug 6, 2012
	Who did you buy your interior kit from?	Triumph	54	Dec 8, 2006
E	What gearbox did I just buy	Austin Healey	5	Mar 15, 2004
K	TR2/3/3A New head gasket is installed.....did a compression check motor cold.	Triumph	3	Yesterday at 1:38 PM
Y	MGB How did become such a mess up????	MG	2	Oct 17, 2023
	Did Big Healey Drivers Go Soft?	Austin Healey	8	Jan 24, 2023
V	MGB Mystery fastener from '66. Did I miss something?	MG	6	Dec 26, 2022
	Heres one i did.	Other Cars	9	Nov 22, 2022
	How did people in the 1950's manage to fit in the Prefect????	Other British Cars	16	May 9, 2022
	Did BN2s have adjustable steering wheels?	Austin Healey	5	Feb 14, 2022
	MGB Don't post like I did 10 years ago.	MG	7	Oct 31, 2021
	MGB What Did You Do on Your MGB Today?	MG	6	Jun 19, 2021
	Honey, did you hear that clunk?	Other British Cars	0	Jan 24, 2021
B	TR4/4A What did I do wrong?	Triumph	19	Jul 31, 2020
	Finally did another onboard video!	Racing	4	Nov 7, 2018
	When did Mini’s get so expensive	Spridgets	20	Jan 24, 2018
J	TR4/4A Did my own carpet	Triumph	16	Dec 28, 2017
	So what did I do wrong here with Bugsy.	Spridgets	2	Jul 12, 2017
	Did my clutch just bleed itself?	Spridgets	11	Jul 8, 2017
	Where did the smell go?	Austin Healey	11	Apr 24, 2017
	Did I find another need for a Whitworth Wrench Set/ Did I screw up intake manifold	Spridgets	5	Jan 16, 2017
	MGB Things I remember that I did to my MGB...	MG	4	Sep 20, 2016
	TR2/3/3A Did sombody just get lucky?	Triumph	4	Aug 12, 2016
	Morgan fans - how did I miss this?	Other British Cars	2	Aug 9, 2016
	Hyundai Stellar - when last did you see one?	Other Cars	6	Apr 3, 2016
H	1925 Rolls Phantom I "round door Rolls" in Petersen collection: what did it sell for?	Other British Cars	5	Mar 26, 2016
H	Joan Baez flat floor '61 roadster, what did the Feds sell it for at auction?	Jaguar	0	Mar 19, 2016
	Did you know.......	Austin Healey	15	Mar 18, 2016
K	General Tech Why did MGB's come with oil coolers but Triumph's didn't?	Triumph	17	Dec 28, 2015
R	Where did it go? A who-done-it mystery!	Austin Healey	18	Oct 21, 2015
	TR4/4A I did it again...	Triumph	27	Sep 17, 2015
	didn't spot a 911 or a Javelin but did see a station wagon	Spotted	1	Jul 14, 2015
T	TR4/4A Access to a professional sandblasting set up - why the heck did I wait so long...	Triumph	4	Jun 4, 2015
	FYI re "What Did You Do On Your Austin Healey Today?"	Austin Healey	0	May 27, 2015
	What Did You Do On Your Austin Healey Today?	Austin Healey	98	May 18, 2015
	TR2/3/3A just removed the pistons/sleeves... can't believe she ran as well as she did!	Triumph	6	Mar 27, 2015
H	Joan Baez flat floor series I e-type roadster: what did the authorities dump it for?	Jaguar	0	Dec 27, 2014
H	Michelotti one off body on an E-type? What year chassis and what shop did the work?	Jaguar	0	Dec 3, 2014
C	The "Lightweight" Jaguar E-Type.....why did they only make six??	Jaguar	2	Nov 28, 2014
D	Challenger 2.5 did 419 one way at the flats today.	Racing	2	Sep 8, 2014
	TR6 Did one of you guys lose this?	Triumph	10	Aug 28, 2014
P	General TR What vehicle did this windscreen come from?	Triumph	2	Jul 11, 2014
	TR5/TR250 Did I screw up?	Triumph	4	Jun 23, 2014
	General TR What Did You Do to Your Triumph Today?	Triumph	119	Mar 22, 2014
	TR2/3/3A PeterK, or others -- How did you mount your BMW fan on the TRactor motor?	Triumph	3	Feb 14, 2014
	Off Topic What did you expect?	Triumph	6	Dec 15, 2013
R	How long did it take to restore your car?	Austin Healey	18	Sep 9, 2013
	How did you come to own a Bugeye?	Spridgets	17	May 6, 2013
	New trailer - Did I miss the mark?	Spridgets	8	Apr 10, 2013

When did you buy your first LBC, and what was it?

Share this page

Obi Wan

Jedi Warrior

Yoda

Yoda

Obi Wan

Yoda

Jedi Knight

Luke Skywalker

Jedi Warrior

Darth Vader

Yoda

Luke Skywalker

Great Pumpkin

Jedi Warrior

Moderator

Yoda

Yoda

Yoda

Jedi Warrior

Jedi Trainee

Similar threads