Conference terri::cars_uk

    Depends how much you are willing to spend on initial outlay and how
    much you are willing to pay out on maintenance charges??
    
    The RS2000 is a better idea if you don't want to spend too much 
    on a good example (Although some go for silly prices)
    The RS is also easier to come across, much more selling in your 
    local weekly motoring paper. 
    You'll always sell an RS relativly easy too.
    And spare parts can be picked up at any scrappie.
    
    
    My 2p worth
    Ian.

    I currently have an RS2000 which I'm going to sell in the next couple
    of weeks, So if your interested I'm on DTN 7789-8439 or THERAJ::CGUEST.
    

    
    What about a Dolomite Sprint????
    
                         
    
    Graham

Does any one know any thing about the droopsnoot firenza, is it just a sporty 
Viva ? what did Bill Blydenstein and Chris Coburn develop with the Vauxhall cars of 
 of that time. what was the performance like. Did they eat mexico's sprints etc.

               
          I would be greatful for any info 

                                              Rich 

You seem to have overlooked one of the finest British Marques.
I am of course referring to the quaint old Enlgish automobile, the MG.
I am presently enjoying spritely motoring in my 1978 MGB GT which has brought
untold joy and pleasure over the last 8 years for myself and my good wife.
The performance from the 1800cc Sherpa Van conversion engine that I fitted
with lower compression (7.5:1) gives reliable performance.
I was once the proud owner of an RS2000, and it was a spiffing car to drive
for an Escort, but I found the MGB to be more of a challenge to drive.
They can still be obtained fairly cheaply if you're prepared to weld a floor 
pan in. Of course if you have the money to spend a dashing British Racing Green
MG is still one to be treasured.

Regards

	Barrington Hawthorne

    What about the old Marina 1800 TC?
    I was brought up around these cars and many other from this era, and am
    now the proud owner of a Marina TC. For me these cars give excellent
    performance and value for money. They are still quite cheap to buy (you
    can pick one up in very good nick for under a grand) and are a very
    underestimated car from that time. 
    I am currently a member of the Marina owners club and we have regular
    meetings if anyone is interested. 
    
    Rgds
    
    	Rich

    I rallied in a Magnum Coupe, which was similar ot the Firenza.
    
    It had a 2.3 engine and was built like the proverbial brick *house.
    Bloody hard work to throw through country lanes, but quick off the
    mark.
    
    If I was buying back, I'd go after the Mk 1 RS1600. Faster than an
    RS2000, handling was good to start with and could be made brilliant.
    But make sure it's a genuine one, with the correct bodyshell (B49).
    
    JtheK

    The Firenza, and the Magnum too for that matter, will be difficult to
    find I suspect. The RS1600 was a better car than the 2000. The Marina
    1800TC was the biggest pile of crap I ever drove, and I've driven
    several. They are slow, have a dreadful gearbox, and handle like a pig.
    Don't go near it. The Dolly Sprint is a nice car, but expensive to
    maintain and insure.
    
    You could always go for Reliant Scimitar or summat. The Holbay-engined
    Hillman Hunter GLS was quite a mover in its day, provided you did
    something with the handling, like adding decent tyres.
    
    A few other ideas, all of which should be available under two and a
    half grand:
    
    Rover P6 V8 3500
    Granada Ghia coup�
    Triumph Vitesse
    Triumph GT6
    Lotus Cortina
    Cortina Savage
    Triumph 2.5 PI
    Triumph Stag
    Viva GT
    Chevette 2300HS
    
    Laurie.

In reply to the chap with the Dolomite Sprint, I seem to recall that they were
a bit of a feminine car? Correct me if I'm wrong. My Auntie Lavender once had
one a number of years ago. It was a delightful shade of blue. I have very fond 
memories of My Aunt pottering around town in it on a Saturday to pick up her
groceries.

Regards

	Barrington

    ... or if you start to think about a Scimitar, a friend of mine has
    just bought one aiming to keep it for is "Classic"icity!
    
    He did quite a bit of research into what was good and bad about the
    different variants and would probably be only too happy to talk about
    this.
    
    Call me if you'd like to get in touch. (830-3605)
    
    JfK
    

    Regarding Holbay engined Hillmans.  I bought a crashed H120 Rapier for
    the bits. 2 days later a con rod exited my 1500 Vogue Engine.
    
    I then fitted the H120 engine into the Vogue (1965 version)  It went
    like the preverbial stuff off a shovel, I even managed to spin the
    wheels in all 4 gears (175 radials, cresting a hill).  I then fitted
    185's on the rear and it would still spin the wheels in third without
    much help from cresting a hill.  About a fortnight later a con rod left
    that engine as well.
    
    I then gave the car away, the guy who got it from me then fitted a
    standard 1725 motor, and guess what, that too threw a rod.
    
    Do you think that these engines suffered from a weak bottom end?  I do.
    
    Cheers Ian...

    Sounds to me, like your's mostly suffered from a heavy right foot. What
    a silly way to treat an old engine.
    
    Laurie.

    re: 10
    
    A friend of mine bought a 'dolly' sprint a while back. We fitted it up
    with high lift cams, a Janspeed exhaust, skimmed/gas flowed the head and 
    bolted two 45 Webber carbs onto it....tuned to perfection too!
    
    One day we pulled up at a set of traffic lights just outside Glasgow
    onto the A77. Pulled up next to us in a 911 Porsche was this rather 'smug' 
    guy, hell bent on 'blowing' away the old 'dolly' sprint. 
    
    We thought to ourselves, what are our chances.....none? The lights
    changed to green and my mate gave the 'dolly' it all it had. The
    Porsche driver did the same....oh yes he did!!!
    
    Guess what, up to about 70 MPH we had him beat hands down. It was close
    all the way though, but I remeber giving him the thumbs down when we
    got a cars length in front.
    
    In standard form the 'dolly' could sprint to 60mph in 8.6 seconds. My
    friends was probably doing it in about 6.5 or 7.
    
    Boy could that thing move off the mark. What I pity it could not go
    round the corners though!
    
    
    

    The 911 probably would have stopped quicker too, had the need arrived
    in the road ahead!

    Laurie,
    
    2 things, when I rodded the H120 engine, it wasn't that old, and
    secondly after I gave the car away another engine chucked a rod, I
    wasn't even a witness to that one.  I didn't really want to wreck the
    H120 motor as I has only just agreed to sell it or �200, when the
    Rapier had only cost me �65.
    
    Cheers Ian...

>    2 things, when I rodded the H120 engine, it wasn't that old, and
                      ^^^^^^

Rodded ? Is this the latest "hip" word ? Or am I just behind the times ?

    
    Ha, a Sprint a Feminine car? At the time it and the RS2000 had NO
    competition and the Sprint was much more solidly built (if you ignore
    the engine! :^)), but the RS had better handling.
    
    The Dolomite Sprint was also a very successful rally and race car
    winning National Group 1 championships in both forms of motor sport.
    
    Mark

    But it was only successful if you re-balanced the carbs every 150
    miles!
    
    JK-ex-RS1600 driver, was happy to see them coming in the top ten,
    behind me!

    Wot, no Italian cars suggested yet ?
    
    J.R.

    What about...
    
    		Capri RS 3100 (3k-12k) of about 1973 vintage and quite
    quick or the better but more difficult to find Capri RS 2600 Injection
    of about 1970-72 vintage (5-15k). The RS by the way is VERY quick (0-60
    in 7.1 seconds, standing quater in 15). 
    
    								G.P
    
    

    re.20
    
    Most Italian cars such as Alfa's, Lancia's, Fiat and the 
    likes, went superbly well, but rusted to death rather too quickly!
    
    The Fiat Super-Miafiori (2000cc) saloon that I owned, had a five bearing 
    steel crankshaft, alloy head, and produced something like 115-120 BHP.
    it handled great, was mega reliable, but it fell to bits!
    
    In the end, I took out the engine and gearbox, then scrapped the shell.
    The Fiat engine and box was fitted into a Mk1 escort shell 'with a few
    mods' plus some fancy carbs, camshafts, pistons, and exhaust etc etc. It 
    could leave any RS2000 in its exhaust fumes.......what an engine!!!!  
    
    Reading this note, has brought back the crazy things one did with cars, 
    when one was a 'boy'.