[Nordschleife]

NEW THREAD added here to continue discussion started in "Professional Help" section; thread name "Need a Race Car Painted -- Recommendations?"
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Many of us who eventually found Porsches have also owned (or still do!) British cars.

The MGs, Triumphs, Jags, Healeys and others coming to our shores, especially from the late 1950s up through the 60s and early 70s, gave a bunch of us our start in sports cars. And how to repair them.

I'll lead off... we have a 1962 Marcos GT Gullwing that has been a race car since new and has period international and UK racing history. We've owned it twice, in fact -- back in the 1990s and again after I tracked it down in 2005 and bought it back. I wrenched on it for 3 years to restore it, Dave Handy's crew at Sasco Sports (www.sascosports.com) at VIR finished it and the engine was built by Sandy at Quicksilver Race Engines (http://qsraceengines.com/services.htm) in Frederick, MD.

It has a plywood(!) monocoque chassis, uses a Cosworth-Ford MAE Formula 3 1-liter engine (9,500 RPM redline) and weighs in at 1290 lbs. Right hand drive of course....

So what did you own or lust for in terms of British/UK cars? Or still do?

Best Regards,
Andy

[Clarke]

Great pictures of your Marcos. Brian was sharing a bit of the history you gave him on the car. My British cars have all been MG Midgets. My first was a '75 that I only had 12 days (got T-boned) I bought a '73 last year that need a lot of work, but surprisingly it has no rust in the floors or rockers Here is a picture of the '74 that was my DD for several years.

[Trak Ratt]

IIRC they also had Spitfire/Herald suspension and steering. But does it have 4 wheel Disks or drum out back?

[edevinney]

I got cured of my Britcar interest by a 1971 Triumph Stag. Fun car to drive and not a bad looker, but you will never find a more wretched hive of crappy engineering than the 3L Triumph OHC V8. What could be better than the TR7 engine? How about two of them on a common crank?

[Fritz]

I had a 1959 Austin Healey Bugeye. Loads of fun, but not nearly as safe or fast as rolling down the highway in a soup can. Had it a long time and never had any major mechanical problems and was easy to work on. The body was on it's way out due to rust and decided I'd rather have something faster and safer, hence the '70T(sorta).

Many photos and details here!

[Nordschleife]

DR,

Rear axle on the Marcos is a modified Anglia 105e. Anglia rear drum brakes mounted to it have 1.25" width brake shoes rather than 1.5" wide as found on Ford Cortina GT or Lotus Cortina. Good enough for a lightweight car.

Diff is Ford 4.5 CWP with alloy nose. Axle is located with 4 trailing arms and a panhard rod. Gearbox is 105e "bullet" 3-rail but with straight-cut gearset (LOUD!) by Tran-X in England with 2.5:1 first gear, etc. Remote shifter by Wooler + alloy bellhousing and alloy tail extension.

Brakes are Girling alloy front calipers with Triumph discs but mated to alloy Ford PCD hubs so bolt circles are 108mm all around (Ford Anglia/Cortina/Escort). Front suspension is Triumph Herald (same as Spitfire) as you guessed.

Best Regards,
Andy

[Nordschleife]

Fritz! Love the Bugeye -- especially the twin SU carbs + original steering wheel. The rollbar seems lower than the windshield...

Thanks for the link to your Bugeye photos you posted.

Clarke -- nice Midget, what engine is in your 1973 car? Is it a 1500?

Ed -- "wretched hive of crappy engineering" -- cracked me up! But I remember how much nicer the trim and interior on those Stags was than earlier cars. Good candidate for the Olds/Buick 215 V8, perhaps?

[Clarke]

Originally Posted by Nordschleife

Clarke -- nice Midget, what engine is in your 1973 car? Is it a 1500?

The '73 has the 1275cc with twin SU carbs. '75 was the first year for the 1500 in the Midget.

[Fritz]

Originally Posted by Nordschleife

Fritz! Love the Bugeye -- especially the twin SU carbs + original steering wheel. The rollbar seems lower than the windshield...

Thanks! I did love that car. Had it for over 12 years.. The roll bar was definitely an after market deal. It was added when the car was being tracked in the '70s. It was as tall as it could be and still allow the hard top to fit. I think it was more for decoration cause my head was above it.

[tdatk]

Though not a huge fan of the prince of darkness, I happened upon this guy's repair shop/car lot in New Hampshire last year and had to stop to take a couple of pics. The double image is actually a shot through the front window of the showroom. Maybe you guys know of it.