Had the car out tonight.. BRRRRRR

Gotta get my roof finished.. Still the car wouldn't even hit 60 degrees on the guage.. Makes a pretty nice roar in the cold air though!

Took my Elan out for a spin on Sunday topless (the car that is). Was chilly but invigorating...even dodged some snow flakes along the way!

What temperature did your guage get up to?

When I bought my Spitfire there was snow on the ground but it didn't stop me from driving it with the top down. Got some real odd looks but definitly worth it!

My Elan usually hovers around 70C, but on this frosty day is stayed closer to 60C

I was told the motor should be run at 80 degrees..
( about 180 to 190F ). What do you think?

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by 78Z:
When I bought my Spitfire there was snow on the ground but it didn't stop me from driving it with the top down. Got some real odd looks but definitly worth it!<hr></blockquote>

I drove my Healey Sprite all winter one year in Winnepeg.. Mostly with the top down, as it rarely snows there for more than a few days at a stretch.. It was really fun.. and freaking cold!

I'm reminded about a Peter Egan article I read awhile back.

He had a story about his sister's boyfriend showing up at Christmas time with his British sports car (in Wisconsin!). Basically he made the point that now we coddle them all winter because they are collectors items, but at one time it was fairly common for people to drive them year round. Peter has many stories about the Triumph TR3A that was his only car when he attended university, and driven year round.

Yea that bugger has had quite a few great cars..

I'd love his 356 that he has now...

All my sports cars have been winter cars, but here on the west coast that just means you get wet more often than other drivers..

my Elan never gets much above 70, even in summer. Do you think that's a problem? sorry for the late reply

We drove the 63 in winter as it was my wifes driver. I drove it one winter in -52F when it was the only car to start.The front of the rad was completly blocked with insulation.This was back then and never was driven in the winter after restoration. As to snow in Winnipeg; that must of been the year it hardly snowed and set a record I'm smiling as we almost have enough snow to go skiing.

I was in Windypeg for two years.. I guess I didn't get it quite right.. There was lots of snow, but it all came at once mostly and then the wind just kept moving it around. I have never been in a sunnyer place in the winter in my life. Comming from back east ( Montreal born and raised ) it was quite a treat to suntan in the back yard on calm days with snow all around ( and minus temps to boot )

As far as the temp thing goes on the Elan, I have a couple of articles suggesting the 185 range for the motor is optimal. Mine will run at whatever the thermostate is, so I am going to switch to a 180 and see how it runs..

As soon as I find my stash of thermostates that is..