Which classic would you desire...

[poprivet]

..if you didn't have the Jaguar?

For me,
1. Morris Minor van, (not the saloon or traveller) It was the first company vehicle I had and I loved everything about it. Being generally unloved and ragged mercilessly not many survive now and those that do fetch a lot of money.

2. MGB GT, (not a roadster) I wanted one when I was 18 but my dad persuaded the gullible me to buy a 'more sensible' Morris Marina instead! I always regretted it.

3. Rover P5 3.5 V8, An older friend of the family had one and the leather and presence on the road was impressive. The prime minister at the time had one as a ministerial car but the size and fuel consumption (and the cost) put me off with meagre wages.

I couldn't have any of them now as I can't do all the heavy restoration and servicing any more. I'm also not sure I want to deal with carburettors, points and dynamos any more!

So what were, or are, your car dreams?

[PaulGover]

I had a Rover P5 3 ltr coupe. A car with significant presence on the road, and a very high level of interior. Mine was a tatty rust bucket I bought for about £200 in 1975. ManuaL 4-speed with overdrive on top. Nice to drive once I replaced the steering box (not, sadly, a rack and pinion system, so wear means wander). It's most noticeable feature was that it overheated terribly, so in summer I had to run it with the heater on full blast! Eventually the engine seized - turned out to be a ball bearing that had somehow sneaked into a gudgeon pin and eventually hammered itself into small enough bits to get between the piston and the cylinder wall. Left two big gouges and a broken piston; replaced the piston and it worked fine, no significant engine blow. Lasted until the chassis rotted away, when I was able to sell it to a guy for banger racing, He drove it away from the Portsmouth area to, I recall, Glasgow. Rather him than me.

[drjohnehunt100]

Early on i had an MG BGT. Like you my father persuaded me against such a car but after a couple of years I decided to get one. My wife learnt to drive in - poor thing.
Other cars would include a Rover P5B or a P6 3500, or an Alvis greylady.
Beyond those we would be back to a Jag, probably a 60s compact saloon.

[JimMann]

In 1966 I watched the Ford GT 40 cross the line at Le Mans in formation and from that day on, that has been my true dream car. Never a chance to own one of course, but I did get to sit in one in the early seventies when I was a Marshal at the old Aintree circuit, which just cemented its position in my dreams.

Obviously, not a practical Tourer so I would stick with my Jaguar for that, but at the Auto Sports show in January this year (2024) there was a very presentable replica on sale, which was actually attainable. For about 30 seconds I swithered, but the old bones would not even get over that extremely wide sill these days.

This is one that I spotted at a Classic Car Show in 2021, colour is wrong of course, but still - a beautiful machine.

Jim M

[ptjs1]

I'm with you on the GT40. Jim! Even a good replica would do (That red one in your pic is actually a replica).

Apart from that I'd hark back to my childhood fantasies and an early E-Type, Aston Martin DB5, or even a Lotus Elan would fit the bill.

Perversely I find myself repeatedly drawn to any of the cheap cars that I actually owned in my 20s, a Vauxhall Victor FB, Triumph 1300, Triumph Vitesse x2, Hillman Avenger Tiger, Rover SD1 3500 x2 etc.

But there again, what I really should do is finally restore my TR6 which I've owned for 40 years and has now been sitting for 35 years!

Paul

[PaulGover]

Those pictures put me in mind of the Marcos, a beautiful car and AFAIR a fast one, according to the mags in the 70's. I guess they've all succumbed to beetles by now - they were made from plywood. According to wikipedia, one of the designers, Frank Costin, worked on the Mosquito, the plywood aeroplane.

[JimMann]

Hi Paul, I know what you mean about going back to cars in our history. My very first car was a Singer Chamois, an upmarket Hillman Imp. It was actually a fine little car and served me well - once I sorted out the overheating on the all aluminium engine. I worked out that there were 9 pints of coolant in the system, 5 of those were in the heater circuit with the matrix right at the front of the car and hoses through the sills. Once I worked out how to bleed it properly, it never overheated again.

I also enjoyed a couple of Ford Capri Ghia and have often thought about picking up another one now, but whilst they were great cars in the late 1970's, those around now are not faring so well.

I would urge you to get round to your TR6, those were / are great machines. I finally got around to putting my bike back together after it spent 40 years and 3 house moves in boxes. The result, I hope you agree is stunning.

Jim M

[ptjs1]

Jim,

the bike looks absolutely stunning! Great colour on those Z1000s! I really must also drag my '78 Bonneville 750 out of the garage where it hasn't moved for 14 years!

I forgot about Fords! A 3 litre Capri or an RS2000 Custom would also sit nicely with me!

Paul