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xtarheel

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Hello all... I have had a terrible relapse of the British car bug and have come here looking for help and comfort.

The first new car I ever bought was a 1972 Triumph GT-6. In 1979 I bought a new MGB. Those cars are long gone but the memories remain. I have decided that I must jump back in. Here is my thought.

For the last several years my "toy" has been a C-5 6-speed Corvette. It is fast and reliable but there are no valves that need to be adjusted or carbs to sync, so where is the fun? So I have decided to sell the Corvette and buy a restored MG TD, A or Triumph TR-3. From what I have seen advertized I should be able to get a good one for what I hope to get out of the Corvette (low $20's).

I am intersted in what you think of my choices, and what is the best way to find one? Go to car shows, internet, etc. I am going to Scotland this summer and would love to bring back a right hand drive, but have no idea about inportation. Thank you in advance for your insight. I placed this same post in the MG section.
 
Welcome!
You can easily bring one of the cars you mentioned back from the UK. The import laws limit cars that are newer than 25 years (last time I checked), so you should be fine.
One problem. *Most* of the British sports cars built were sent to the US. Many Brits come here to re-export them to England. So you may have an easier time finding something here.
The TD is a bit slow for faster highway use (but still a lovely car). All three of the cars you mentioned are favourites of mine.
It is best to look around at car shows and get a real sense of what's available before taking the plunge.
You can check here at BCF for Events or try here:

https://www.mgcars.org.uk/events/eventusa.html

G'luck!
 
Hi - just to expand slightly on what was already said - the $ is very low vs the pound right now. Plus you are looking at cars that are popular in the UK. By the time you buy and ship (and pay tax) on one, its going to be an expensive proposition. You will probably do better to get a nice one here.
 
I'm resisting the urge to recommend a Triumph on the MG forum & vice versa. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
This a bad place to be, nobody to talk you out of it /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Your biggest problem may be getting used to the power differance, although some how a shade tree mechanic shouldn't have a laptop & chip as his most vital tools. There will always be something special about wrenching your own ride.
 
My thoughts exactly trboost. I had "go fast" mods done to the Corvette, but where am I going to drive 180+ mph? Also I miss figuring out problems and working on a car and with the new cars, there is not much an individual can do. You can keep your computer diagnostics, give me a timing light and a dwell meter.
 
Jaybird said on the MG forum that a T or TR3 would not be good as a daily driver.

I've had a TD and I agree on that part. Might just all be in my head but it was always painful pushing that poor little engine along at 65 MPH. MGA is pretty much the same. A TR3 has plenty of power for cruising and if you find one with an OD then you're even better off. And those cut-down doors make everything seem like you're going 20mph faster than you really are. I drove a TR3 every day for about 3 years and loved every minute of it.

Plus nobody has ever asked me if my car was a VW kit... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Having owned a GT6, would you consider one of the six cylinder Triumphs? I've got a TR-250, and I find it quite comfortable for regular use, and of course a TR-6 would feel very much the same. If you get a pre-1973 car, there will be very little extra "plumbing" and they won't be substantially more complex than an early TR, IMHO.

In any event, you are sure to enjoy yourself. In terms of power, I recently sold my 2003 Mustang Mach 1. Though I sometimes miss 330 hp, where did I ever really use them (not counting the occasional traffic light -- someone must educate the youth of our nation not to rev their engines at large displacement cars). /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

P.S. I love the photo of your GT6. I'm still looking for a really good GT6+ if anyone wants to sell me one! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif
 
Your idea on buying one that is already restored is a good one. It usually costs much more to restore one than it does to buy one already done. I think that everyone on this forum can agree that it's a labor of love, and we will never get back what we've put into our cars.

I would also add that it is a buyers market for these older cars, although the three you picked are more popular than most. There just aren't that many people interested in purchasing our old relics. Most people can only afford one car and it's probably going to be something a little more modern and reliable. A savvy buyer should be able to bargain down a motivated seller.

With the internet, it should be very easy to find a car. Do not, however, buy a car without inspecting it first. I made the mistake of buying an out of state TR3 on ebay. It was nowhere near the condition that my optimistic, buyer's lust filled mind thought it was in. Buying a Brit car is kind of like dating. In the beginning, you are trying to find all the good things about her/him, but after a while, you start to learn all the bad things. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Good sites for car shopping are
www.ebay.com
www.traderonline.com
www.craigslist.org
www.hemmings.com
www.recycler.com
www.vtr.org (main Triumph Club)
Your local newspapers within a few hundred miles should have online classifieds.
Also browse as many regional Triumph/MG club websites as possible. Usually, their classifieds aren't up to date, but if nothing else, it's good comparison shopping.

The Illustrated Mg Buyer's Guide and
The Illustrated Triumph Buyer's Guide
are great reading and great reference books. Both usually available on Amazon or half.com or ebay.

Paul W.
Torrance, CA
1956 TR3
1964 TR4
1969 Mustang Convertible
 
Thanks for the suggestions. I was not aware of some of those web sites. From the calandar I see that there is a car show in Champaign, IL next month. I might just go down there.

Ideally, I'll sell the Corvette fairly eaily and be able to bargain with cash in hand. I know my strengths and weaknesses. I can maintain a vehicle, but do not have the time or skill to restore one. I just need to find one that needs a good home. I do like the idea of a TR-3 since a Triumph was my first love.
 
I need to put a pitch in for my beloved TR-7 Spider, which in a 1979 road test in Sports Car Graphic, was cited as a car to give the contemporary Corvette a run for its money. The TR-7 would provide the tinkering you miss yet retain the ride and handling that you're used to in the Corvette. The TR-8 would give you the kick of a 'Vette with plenty of opportunity to tinker and improve. Both cost less than the TR-3 [which I would happily accept as a daily car] that's been restored for regular use.

Jeff
 
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