Spitfire vs Midget vs Sprite vs ???

[MK11]

Personally, I think you're in trouble no matter what you buy .  

There will forever be the nagging upgrade bug in the background, nibbling away at your self control.  Go on, you know the Midget/Spitfire/Sprite needs bigger brakes, a 5 speed box, Weber DCOE, lightweight flywheel etc etc.  Having run a Spitfire and now the XI I can say that the parts are readily available and generally cheap, the Midget A series is easily tunable (get the Vizard book), and both are fun to drive compared to the modern clone mobile, just don't expect modern safety!! (But then safety is all in the right foot)

[Man On The Clapham Omnibus]

Had a 'J' reg 1275cc Midget (1970) for a daily driver over 5 years in the early seventies. First gear is weak and has no synchro - rebuild gearbox a near certainty by 40-50k. Front dampers use mariginally more oil than the engine, and nuts fall off the wishbones from time to time. Screws holding the end on the starter fall out, bypass hose blows, roadholding in the wet is diabolical. On mine the clutch fell apart - centre broke out. The rear window clouds over in time. All that said, it's better than a Spitfire by a mile - the rear suspension on Herald based cars is appalling and the chassis outriggers rust away in a couple of years. I absolutely loved mine despite all the hassle. In the seventies hassle was built in to cars - especially British Leyland ones.

[Mid life crisis]

I had Spitfires and Midgets during the 70's. Spitfire for looks Midget for chucking about. I had the Spitfire Mk 3, but the rear suppension, as has allready been stated is truly awfull, however they are a lot easier to work on than a midget, ten srews and four bolts to remove the center tunnel (made of what looked like cardboard covered in plastic film) and there exposed is the prop and  gearbox.

 

I then went on to a Triumph GT6 and ended up fitting a supercharger to it, big mistake   spent my weekends fitting new head gaskets.

If you fancy something unusual why not pick up an old and tidy TR7 convertable, "fairly cheap" and drop a Rover V8 into it. From memory I think the 5 speed Tr will accept the Rover engine,        

             

[DickieB]

Nice idea, but I never liked the look of the TR7.  My Dad used to rally a TR3a....

[Mid life crisis]

Guess what one of my rally cars were        (clue, it had a V8).

Great on tarmack, nightmare in the forests.

         

[Fat Albert]

Dickie

Glider Pilots Do It Quietly

I was only ever any good at sports I could do lying down

Unless you get super competitive you'll spend more playing squash twice a week!