Best places to shop for British car in U.S. & ? on replicas

Hi all,

I am looking to change things around here. Going soon will be my 1956 Harley Panhead bobber to be replace by a 4 wheels of the sports car variety. At the moment a driver TR3 has my interest as I had one back in the early 70s. But back then I also had an Austin Healey which my Dad helped me shoehorn a small block Ford into the engine bay. I was also looking at the MG T series cars, but until I can drive one I am not sure that is 100% what I want right now.

My questions are as follows. Where does one track down a car? I have been on eBay, Hemmings, Bring A Trailer, and Craigslist with mixed results, in addition I seem to have signed up for TROVIT which is sending some pretty remarkable deals to me ( fakes???) If you were looking for a car, where would you go?

Next question; what is everyones thoughts on the AUstin Healey 3000 clones out there? I know they are not worth as much as a steel body car ( man did they go up in value!), but the bang for buck seems to be there.

Being this is a British Car forum I expect some, if not many, of you do not approve of clones. But for those who are looking for a driver vs an investment what do the rest of you think?

Thanks,
Harry

Harry - there are a zillion cars on various generic Buy My Car websites. But I've had the best luck using a Marque specific club, or British car club, etc. Many users of those sites actually know what they're talking about, know the car's history, and can answer detailed questions. Not so on many generic sites.

I just sold my 1953 MGTD on an MG site. Got more than triple what I paid for the car several years ago, enough for a down payment on a new home.

Join the forums/websites, do what you're doing here, asking questions and opinions. I would *never* buy an old car without seeing and driving it in person.

Just my two shekels.

Tom M.
PS - if you just want quick and easy fun, a clone may be for you. If you want quality, tradition, and history, "not a clone" would be the choice.

I have nothing personal against a clone/replica. Some are well thought out, some less so. If you go that route you need to know if it based on another car or if the component combination is unique to it. For example, there were a lot of MG TD replicas built on VW Beetle floorpans. Now I never drive a replica but I did drive a 73 Bettle for a bit and the experience just wasn't fun. Not bad, just not fun. And I suspect the TD replicas drive like a Beetle.
Then, those it look like the car it is replicating. Or is it off just enough to notice that something isn't quite right. That may or may not bother you, but if you're looking for authentic you want to be sure.
Parts?? Just like everything else what is the parts availability. For example, if you need brakes are they off something obsolete that could be a challenge to replace/rebuild?? How about the powerplant/drivetrain?? Obsolete production someone found would work, specialist or current??
Is the car a kit, a well done homebuilt or maybe less so??
None of this is intended to put you off a replica if you find something you like and aren't concerned over the price and what you might eventually want to get out of it. Just thoughts about the subject.
In the end, it's about what you decide you like looking at and driving.

Welcome to the forum and to LBC's / BMC's ( British cars ) Here are some ways to find look and or drive a British car. Find a club in your area they are the safest people to deal with. Contact British Marque Car Club News 401-766-6920 . Look for British car events C 19 put the skids on that for now. If you see a British car leave a note any mark most have more than one BMC parked. If you find one on line try West Coast less rust. Size fit dollars all come into play the places you looked have high dollars, for drivers 20% less as a rule. MG T are not to offend anybody not the best driver I had a 1953. AH cost can be up TR's are a always a good value 3's 4's 6's. MG B's are less dollars and easy to keep all have many parts on line and also have market space ( cars listed for sale ) Every car has a weak point and you are looking for a car 50 plus years old. I have own a number of British cars mostly TR's but others also. I now have a 1973 TR 6 a frame up restoration done in 1993 I did it in one year starting with a driver and two parts cars to build my car today. I now have a car that is over 25 years old again so did a $ 4,000.00 redo front to back. It is a road car with trips from Canada to Mexico most Western states and Nat. Parks. I live in Reno NV. You should find a car for around $ 7,000.00 to $ 10,000.00 USD I sold my 1967 MG B driver that I put back together after an owner striped and painted then let sit for six years. I got it cheep as a flip all new tires, top missing parts safety checks rims do to rust seats carpets, rebuilt trans ( that was the hold up by past owner ) I tried to sell on line many Scammers found a local byers wife who bought it as a gift for fathers day this year $ 7,000.00 and a club membership to our club. If you find a car that running drive it a while do not put money into a dog. If it has been parked for years most any price you pay for it will need to be doubled to get back on the road. and that not the paint. Again Welcome we are here for you . Madflyer

As you say, the Healey replicas sell pretty cheaply. They aren't very accurate reproductions and as a result aren't thought of very highly in Healey circles. If I was looking for a replica that wouldn't cost too much, I'd probably look at a used Factory Five Cobra. Some can be had fairly inexpensively, although build quality is important. I just don't see the Healey reproductions as being a very sound investment, you're more likely to have a better chance of reselling a FFR.

Wow, many thanks for the well thought out responses, I really appreciate that.

A little more on my background and goals. Over the last 50 or so years I have restored or customized several old Harleys, a '74 Vette ( resto mod), a 1967 Grand Prix ( full 998 point restoration ), and a handful of others. In my high school days I did a lot of "horse trading" so I always had something intreresting to drive. There has usually been something in the garage that I am working on. Paint, custom fab, and assembly work are the things I like the best, machining I send out as there are folks who have spent their lives collecting the tools and mastering that skill and I say let em rock on!

Now that I have retired the idea here is to have a project car that my 11 year old grandson and I can work on and enjoy, with an eye toward passing it down to him when the time comes, but that should be many thousands of miles from now!

Best regards,
Harry

First off welcome, there is a lot of expertise here as well as other sets of eyes in other markets.

I very much agree with the - look for a club advice - people do know about their cars and more importantly know what they are really worth and not what the various TV shows imply they are worth.

In terms of the replica Healeys To my eyes they are bloated and not quite right proportionally. They sit high and wide on the chassis and just never seem quite appropriate.

In terms of project cars Big Healeys are gorgeous but spendy (even as projects) There are many slightly off brand cars that make a much more accessible (and sometime more interesting) ride: Sunbeam Alpine/ Jensen Healey/ Sunbeam Talbot/ Austin convertibles of various description/ TVR to name a few.

keep us posted though!

Hi Harry,

I just noticed where you live. We're "neighbors" of sorts. I live on the NW side near OHare. I have respectable 68 MGB that could meet your needs. PM me and we can find a time to chat.

Silverghost Madflyer here your Morris's Do you know my club member Bruce Blair from Nevada ??

Hey, Old Dad -

IF you can find one, the Victor TF replica will not disappoint! Attaching a picture of mine.

What makes these different is that they utilize all MGB drivetrain, front and rear suspension, and quite a few other bits from a donor MGB. They have a proprietary chassis that is quite stout and weigh in at around 1750 lbs. Handling is very quick; mine has the coil-over front suspension and it tracks beautifully. I also installed an MGB overdrive transmission, so it hums along at speed without having to rev so high.

As far as accuracy, they will fool quite a few folks. The company advertised that fenders, doors, and running boards could be installed on true TF's. In fact, a friend borrowed one of my fenders for his body guy to use as a template to make repairs to his. Visible clues to differences from it and a true TF are the dash layout (though one could build one to match the TF), exhaust exit side, and harder to see at first glance, the hood is one-piece rather than the "butterfly" center hinge style of the TF.

The only problem is that the company only lasted a short while, and it's reported that there were only around 30 of these kits ever made and maybe around a dozen factory built ones sold.

Good luck and have fun with your search. Let us know what you find.

Mickey

Harry - best of luck on your venture with your grandson, those kinds of things are the best part of being a grandparent.
My thoughts:
You've seen both sides of the sidescreen vs roll up windows. I don't think my son would have kept his TR6 for 17 years if it had sidescreens.
Ease of work - pre 74 smog emissions.
Parts availability - the mainline British parts are available from 15-25 reputable sources?
Where to find - car club connections/members. The Panhandle Club (Florida) has an interesting link that is well outside of the southeast US, http://pbca1.com/links.htm. I'm sure other clubs have similar info.
My son ans I almost chose an MG rubber bumper to chrome bumper conversion, but he liked the TR6 body style and 6cyl engine.
Again, good luck.

Madflyer I don't think I know Bruce.

Hi Dad, I own an Austin Healey 3000. It has roll up windows that’s important to me because I drive these kind of cars a lot. I have restored many LBCs and to be completely honest with you, I think the MG is the best LBC ever made. The “A” or the “B”. The B is definitely the better car. Don’t ignore the rubber bumper cars. They are a tight little roadster but stay away from electronic ignition and the one with single carb. Twin SUs are still the best ticket. The B is a monocoque body. Very well built.
One thing to consider is how well you fit in the car. The B is fairly roomy. I like to use CRAIG’S LIST because I can keep expanding the search area and keep checking same areas if I want. Also the ads are fairly current. Good luck.

I do feel compelled to add however that roll up windows are just a fad. as are trunks (boots) :grin:

JPSmit said:

I do feel compelled to add however that roll up windows are just a fad. as are trunks (boots) :grin:

Click to expand...

I do agree, they’ll never catch on.

A true sports car doesn't have roll up windows.

Not a problem if you have or need a question about Morris Minor's I can pass on information. He has 14 any and all and a org. 1,000,000. In meets I have gone to his name comes up as of my Nevada plates.

Madflyer

We all do not live in a BUG EYE world. My MG TD was a fare weather car in Sacramento always to hot to cold to much fog. As for my TR 6 windows were for side spray on wet roads and snow seldom to have top up. Madflyer