Calvin, they designed that weird ground clearance into this car to make it usable on almost any type road. A lot of roads in postwar Europe were still nothing more than goat paths. They needed the extra height to ensure that you didn't tear off a muffler or an oil pan. What amazes me is the fact that this'un's still running. When I was a young man, Italian cars were indeed beautiful, but extremely delicate and hard to service. Just driving one down a bumpy road could damage those hand-formed internal parts which often led to wait times of 6 months or longer to get the parts you needed to repair it. If I ever came across one of these, I would be looking for a good 3.8 litre V-6 and a 700R-4 auto tranny to replace all those impossible to find parts. I live in Central Florida, and this is somtimes what people do here when an imported car lunches one of its many specialty pieces. Add to that fact that we have very few foreign car mechanics here and you can see why we replace those foreign parts with American powertrains when this kind of thing happens. We then have the best of both worlds--European beauty with American reliability. If we didn't do this, there'd be a lot more exotic cars headed to the crusher. Other than that, nice car!
Bastardizing a car like this with an american V8 because you can't find parts from nearest part shop isn't an excuse.
If I can order parts from Italy, you can too.
If you can't afford it, you aren't a correct owner for the car anyway and should find someone who can and sell the car to him/her.
Old classics aren't really owned: With proper maintenance they'll last longer than the current caretaker will live. Italian cars too.
Throwing original engine and transmission to crusher and modifying everything from chassis to body and electrics so a V8 fits is basically a reproduction replica, even when some of panels are from factory and drops the value of the car to almost zero: It's a spare parts car after that, at most.
Sorry to ruffle your feathers, Thomas. But I'm old enough to remember a time in America when imported cars were almost unheard of. In the Midwest, where I grew up, the only imports I saw were the International Harvester trucks the farmers used in our nation's breadbasket. In fact, it wasn't until the Summer of '59 when our church pianist, Mrs. Alsine bought a brand new Beetle that I saw my first imported car. By the 1970's, I began to see Volvos, Peugots, Fiats, Alfa Romeos, and assorted other English cars dumped onto used car lots for lack of parts. Service was an issue too. While dealers may have sold some foreign cars, they certainly didn't service them. The owner was often forced to ship the car on a flatbed to the repair center--which was located in either Chicago or St. Louis just to get it tuned up. After a few expensive repairs, the owners traded them in for something American, and much more dependable. That's why they wound up on the aforementioned lots. Often, these cars were re-sold to poor buyers who could afford nothing else. And when they broke down for good, it was the poor buyers who would swap out entire drivetrains just to have something to drive to work. Those Cuban mechanics had nothing on the owners of imported cars when it came to keeping them running. I soon started seeing Volvo 122's running 235 CID Chevy sixes, Peugots and Fiats running GM's Iron Duke four bangers and Ford Prefect 100E models sporting 2300 cc Pinto engines and all synchro 4-speed trannies. Why, I myself was given a '59 Jaguar 4-door sedan by a friend of my Dad's who wanted it off his lot. It had suffered moderate fire damage after a backfire set the engine ablaze. I had lofty ambitions of restoring that car back to original condition. But those hopes were dashed when I found out that there were no parts available anywhere in the United States. To avoid scrapping the car, I bought an issue of Rod & Custom Magazine. The issue that showed you how to drop a 350 Chevy into a Jaguar XKE. Bear in mind that this was 1972. There was no Internet, no reproduction parts houses, nothing at all. With the help of a couple of buddies, several cases of beer, and that magazine, we got 'er all buttoned up. We replaced the unreliable British engine with a '69 350, and that gas-gulping Moss no synchro 4-speed gearbox with a silky smooth T-400 auto tranny. The way I see it, I saved that car from the crusher using good old American know-how and a GM drivetrain to boot. I sold that car to a local doctor for the unheard of price of $3,000.00. And he was happy to get it. So you see, Thomas, a lot of those import car driveline swaps kept a lot of these cars on the road where they belonged
captain's point is obviously valid, but thomas's point deserves to be underlined and bolded: we don't really own these now-rare historical objects. we're just stewards, and we owe it to future generations to preserve them so that they can continue to be enjoyed and appreciated.
Agreed. And though I wuold never do such a thing now, the Jag's case was indeed warrented. Except for the fire damage, the rest of the car was complete and well preserved. So much in fact that the picnic basket, plates, and utensils were found in their usual locations. The car also had the rare sunroof that opened just above the front seats. When you sat in this car, it was like sitting in your living room. Plush seats and wood trim were everywhere. The ride was smooth and the handling was superb. And the power steering I installed made the car very easy to park as well. With all that going for it, I just couldn't let it be scrapped. I was glad when the doctor bought it. I don't think anyone else would've appreciated it the way he did. I saw it a few times before we moved to Florida. I hope the car's still around for thers to enjoy.
I agree captain. If cars are left to rust instead of an American engine transplant, then something is lost. Several years ago two guys brought a street rod made from Austin Mayfair to British car day in Oakville Ontario. They found it in the woods with rust halfway up to the windows, but now its a street legal tubbed quarter mile monster with Strange axles, slicks and a Ford big block. They thought they were going to get blasted by purists, but it was fairly well received as it may have been the only Mayfair on site of 900 British cars that day. I was glad to see it!
Best of OPC. 
9 comments:
wow what a beautiful car!
clearly rooted in its time, but also timeless. weirdly high ground clearance?
Calvin, they designed that weird ground clearance into this car to make it usable on
almost any type road. A lot of roads in postwar Europe were still nothing more than
goat paths. They needed the extra height to ensure that you didn't tear off a muffler
or an oil pan. What amazes me is the fact that this'un's still running. When I was a
young man, Italian cars were indeed beautiful, but extremely delicate and hard to service. Just driving one down a bumpy road could damage those hand-formed
internal parts which often led to wait times of 6 months or longer to get the parts
you needed to repair it. If I ever came across one of these, I would be looking for a
good 3.8 litre V-6 and a 700R-4 auto tranny to replace all those impossible to find
parts. I live in Central Florida, and this is somtimes what people do here when an
imported car lunches one of its many specialty pieces. Add to that fact that we have
very few foreign car mechanics here and you can see why we replace those foreign
parts with American powertrains when this kind of thing happens. We then have the best of both worlds--European beauty with American reliability. If we didn't do this,
there'd be a lot more exotic cars headed to the crusher. Other than that, nice car!
Bastardizing a car like this with an american V8 because you can't find parts from nearest part shop isn't an excuse.
If I can order parts from Italy, you can too.
If you can't afford it, you aren't a correct owner for the car anyway and should find someone who can and sell the car to him/her.
Old classics aren't really owned: With proper maintenance they'll last longer than the current caretaker will live. Italian cars too.
Throwing original engine and transmission to crusher and modifying everything from chassis to body and electrics so a V8 fits is basically a reproduction replica, even when some of panels are from factory and drops the value of the car to almost zero: It's a spare parts car after that, at most.
From $60k it is as original.
Sorry to ruffle your feathers, Thomas. But I'm old enough to remember a time in
America when imported cars were almost unheard of. In the Midwest, where I grew up,
the only imports I saw were the International Harvester trucks the farmers used in our
nation's breadbasket. In fact, it wasn't until the Summer of '59 when our church
pianist, Mrs. Alsine bought a brand new Beetle that I saw my first imported car. By the
1970's, I began to see Volvos, Peugots, Fiats, Alfa Romeos, and assorted other English
cars dumped onto used car lots for lack of parts. Service was an issue too. While dealers may have sold some foreign cars, they certainly didn't service them. The owner
was often forced to ship the car on a flatbed to the repair center--which was located
in either Chicago or St. Louis just to get it tuned up. After a few expensive repairs,
the owners traded them in for something American, and much more dependable. That's
why they wound up on the aforementioned lots. Often, these cars were re-sold to poor
buyers who could afford nothing else. And when they broke down for good, it was the
poor buyers who would swap out entire drivetrains just to have something to drive to
work. Those Cuban mechanics had nothing on the owners of imported cars when it
came to keeping them running. I soon started seeing Volvo 122's running 235 CID
Chevy sixes, Peugots and Fiats running GM's Iron Duke four bangers and Ford Prefect
100E models sporting 2300 cc Pinto engines and all synchro 4-speed trannies. Why, I
myself was given a '59 Jaguar 4-door sedan by a friend of my Dad's who wanted it
off his lot. It had suffered moderate fire damage after a backfire set the engine ablaze.
I had lofty ambitions of restoring that car back to original condition. But those hopes
were dashed when I found out that there were no parts available anywhere in the
United States. To avoid scrapping the car, I bought an issue of Rod & Custom
Magazine. The issue that showed you how to drop a 350 Chevy into a Jaguar XKE.
Bear in mind that this was 1972. There was no Internet, no reproduction parts houses,
nothing at all. With the help of a couple of buddies, several cases of beer, and that
magazine, we got 'er all buttoned up. We replaced the unreliable British engine with
a '69 350, and that gas-gulping Moss no synchro 4-speed gearbox with a silky smooth
T-400 auto tranny. The way I see it, I saved that car from the crusher using good old
American know-how and a GM drivetrain to boot. I sold that car to a local doctor for
the unheard of price of $3,000.00. And he was happy to get it. So you see, Thomas,
a lot of those import car driveline swaps kept a lot of these cars on the road where
they belonged
captain's point is obviously valid, but thomas's point deserves to be underlined and bolded: we don't really own these now-rare historical objects. we're just stewards, and we owe it to future generations to preserve them so that they can continue to be enjoyed and appreciated.
Agreed. And though I wuold never do such a thing now, the Jag's case was indeed
warrented. Except for the fire damage, the rest of the car was complete and well preserved. So much in fact that the picnic basket, plates, and utensils were found in
their usual locations. The car also had the rare sunroof that opened just above the
front seats. When you sat in this car, it was like sitting in your living room. Plush
seats and wood trim were everywhere. The ride was smooth and the handling was
superb. And the power steering I installed made the car very easy to park as well.
With all that going for it, I just couldn't let it be scrapped. I was glad when the doctor
bought it. I don't think anyone else would've appreciated it the way he did. I saw it
a few times before we moved to Florida. I hope the car's still around for thers to enjoy.
Does an Alfa collector frequent this place?
http://www.oldparkedcars.com/2011/07/1967-alfa-romeo-gtv.html
http://www.oldparkedcars.com/2010/10/1965-alfa-romeo-spider-1600-veloce.html
I agree captain. If cars are left to rust instead of an American engine transplant, then something is lost. Several years ago two guys brought a street rod made from Austin Mayfair to British car day in Oakville Ontario. They found it in the woods with rust halfway up to the windows, but now its a street legal tubbed quarter mile monster with Strange axles, slicks and a Ford big block. They thought they were going to get blasted by purists, but it was fairly well received as it may have been the only Mayfair on site of 900 British cars that day. I was glad to see it!
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