We are considering buying our first classic car ('68) what should we ask
July 18, 2024 2:12 PM
What should we ask/know/do when we want to buy a classic car?
I was walking to coffee with a friend and saw a 1968 Triumph (very similar to this one) and was like yes, that should be ours. All I know so far is that it has 97k and they are fixing the breaks.
We have always wanted a fun classic car, and this seems like a good gateway. It would just be for bumming around town and would never see a highway.
It's currently at a mechanic who specializes in weird/old cars, and he is doing the sale. We are suppose to meet the guy on Saturday, and I realize we have always dealt with dealerships and have never done a private sale before.
What should we know to ask? We were hoping to bring it to our mechanic to take a final look over- is that a normal thing to request? How does this usually go?Is there a website I should be checking out? Tell me all thing things i dont even know to think of. Im also open for someone to tell me NO DONT DO IT HERE IS WHY.
We know this is a silly thing to do, but the heart wants silly sometimes.
I was walking to coffee with a friend and saw a 1968 Triumph (very similar to this one) and was like yes, that should be ours. All I know so far is that it has 97k and they are fixing the breaks.
We have always wanted a fun classic car, and this seems like a good gateway. It would just be for bumming around town and would never see a highway.
It's currently at a mechanic who specializes in weird/old cars, and he is doing the sale. We are suppose to meet the guy on Saturday, and I realize we have always dealt with dealerships and have never done a private sale before.
What should we know to ask? We were hoping to bring it to our mechanic to take a final look over- is that a normal thing to request? How does this usually go?Is there a website I should be checking out? Tell me all thing things i dont even know to think of. Im also open for someone to tell me NO DONT DO IT HERE IS WHY.
We know this is a silly thing to do, but the heart wants silly sometimes.
I owned a car built in the same year as the one that you're considering buying and for similar reasons. It was an incredibly frustrating and expensive few years before I finally sold it at a loss. It was in excellent, newly-restored condition by an expert who did a good job when I bought it, but even so, it required a lot of expensive and very difficult-to-find upkeep. I handled as much of the maintenance as I could but repair bills were still a fortune and the car only started up about half the time and left me stranded by the side of the road twice. The rest of the time it stayed in the garage, making me sad every time I saw it. Never. Again. This is one of those things that is 1000% better in fantasty than in actuality.
posted by mezzanayne at 2:45 PM on July 18
posted by mezzanayne at 2:45 PM on July 18
Unless you are a capable home mechanic or made of money then don’t do it.
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 2:55 PM on July 18
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 2:55 PM on July 18
I would do some homework about any potential issues w/r/t registration and insurance. Here in California it can be very tricky to get a classic car to pass emissions (smog) tests and insurance can be quite high. Your state may not care so much -
posted by niicholas at 3:05 PM on July 18
posted by niicholas at 3:05 PM on July 18
To answer some of your other questions:
- yes it’s totally normal to have a mechanic do a pre-inspection, in fact it’s called for. It would be odd not to.
- you should ask what non-standard electrical work has been done (i.e. what will be different to the diagrams) and what other aftermarket items are installed
- there will be websites, usually forums dating back to the 2000s, for the make and model, which are run by cantankerous old dudes. These are by some way the most trustworthy people on the whole internet, and you should treasure their knowledge
- you should ask yourself how comfortable you are with hand tools, electrics, and doing basic mechanical tasks yourself, or how comfortable you want to make yourself, because if it’s ‘not much’, yes, walk away now
- this is a very silly idea, but you already know that, and IMO that’s a cool car and you should do it
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 4:11 PM on July 18
- yes it’s totally normal to have a mechanic do a pre-inspection, in fact it’s called for. It would be odd not to.
- you should ask what non-standard electrical work has been done (i.e. what will be different to the diagrams) and what other aftermarket items are installed
- there will be websites, usually forums dating back to the 2000s, for the make and model, which are run by cantankerous old dudes. These are by some way the most trustworthy people on the whole internet, and you should treasure their knowledge
- you should ask yourself how comfortable you are with hand tools, electrics, and doing basic mechanical tasks yourself, or how comfortable you want to make yourself, because if it’s ‘not much’, yes, walk away now
- this is a very silly idea, but you already know that, and IMO that’s a cool car and you should do it
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 4:11 PM on July 18
I have owned several older British cars, an M.G. MGB, a Triumph, a Rover sedan. (I am writing from a British car owner in America perspective, YMMV if you live somewhere else.)
Join either a general British car forum or a Triumph specific one.
There are a few key parts suppliers- Moss Motors, The Roadster Factory, etc.
If you live near a metro area, there may be a British car club in your town... if you're a "joiner" or extrovert these can be a great resource and open up an entirely new social group to you. (I am an introvert, so mostly skip this stuff) Depending on the group, they may have social events, driving events, tech clinic events etc. As you might imagine, they tend to skew towards middle class and up, older white men, but there are a fair number of couples. People are generally very friendly and welcoming. In my experience, British car folks tend to skew far less MAGA-hat than people who are into classic American cars.
I am a serious home mechanic. Over the 20+ years I owned the MG, I rebuilt the engine, replaced literally every component in the brake system, had one under dash electrical fire I repaired myself, replaced the transmission with a good used one, etc. To be fair, I bought a really cheap car and knew it was a project (rather than seeking out one that had been carefully restored and maintained.) Many parts for British cars are shockingly cheap, cheaper than what I would pay for comparable parts for our everyday Japanese cars.
This is not something to go into without your eyes wide open. Join the forums, do some reading, maybe even get a Haynes manual for the car you're considering. Unless you're loaded, you're going to need to be willing to learn about cars to an extent even if you don't tackle the big stuff yourself. The driving experience is far, far more raw and visceral than any modern car...driving the speed limit will like you're contending for a land speed record- loud, lots of vibration/road feel, etc.
Good luck!
posted by Larry David Syndrome at 4:19 PM on July 18
Join either a general British car forum or a Triumph specific one.
There are a few key parts suppliers- Moss Motors, The Roadster Factory, etc.
If you live near a metro area, there may be a British car club in your town... if you're a "joiner" or extrovert these can be a great resource and open up an entirely new social group to you. (I am an introvert, so mostly skip this stuff) Depending on the group, they may have social events, driving events, tech clinic events etc. As you might imagine, they tend to skew towards middle class and up, older white men, but there are a fair number of couples. People are generally very friendly and welcoming. In my experience, British car folks tend to skew far less MAGA-hat than people who are into classic American cars.
I am a serious home mechanic. Over the 20+ years I owned the MG, I rebuilt the engine, replaced literally every component in the brake system, had one under dash electrical fire I repaired myself, replaced the transmission with a good used one, etc. To be fair, I bought a really cheap car and knew it was a project (rather than seeking out one that had been carefully restored and maintained.) Many parts for British cars are shockingly cheap, cheaper than what I would pay for comparable parts for our everyday Japanese cars.
This is not something to go into without your eyes wide open. Join the forums, do some reading, maybe even get a Haynes manual for the car you're considering. Unless you're loaded, you're going to need to be willing to learn about cars to an extent even if you don't tackle the big stuff yourself. The driving experience is far, far more raw and visceral than any modern car...driving the speed limit will like you're contending for a land speed record- loud, lots of vibration/road feel, etc.
Good luck!
posted by Larry David Syndrome at 4:19 PM on July 18
I loved the look of my old Rambler.
I hated:
No A/C in the terrible heat we get where I live
Inadequate heat in the terrible cold we get where I live
Road noise - so loud it was distracting
Poor windshield wiping / cleaning. They never were up to the task at hand.
The gawking oh dear God, the gawking. I am NOT a people person. I fly loooowwwww - I do not like attention. The first time I drove it countless other people on the road waved and honked at me. My tiny town wanted me to drive it in the annual parade. Every time I parked it and went into a store there was someone (or multiple someones) who wanted to talk and talk and talk to me about the car. I just wanted to buy my dog food and go home.
I have a dark blue Subaru Crosstrek now. No one ever notices me at all and I feel happy, safe and climate controlled driving it.
posted by hilaryjade at 4:29 PM on July 18
I hated:
No A/C in the terrible heat we get where I live
Inadequate heat in the terrible cold we get where I live
Road noise - so loud it was distracting
Poor windshield wiping / cleaning. They never were up to the task at hand.
The gawking oh dear God, the gawking. I am NOT a people person. I fly loooowwwww - I do not like attention. The first time I drove it countless other people on the road waved and honked at me. My tiny town wanted me to drive it in the annual parade. Every time I parked it and went into a store there was someone (or multiple someones) who wanted to talk and talk and talk to me about the car. I just wanted to buy my dog food and go home.
I have a dark blue Subaru Crosstrek now. No one ever notices me at all and I feel happy, safe and climate controlled driving it.
posted by hilaryjade at 4:29 PM on July 18
A few more thoughts- the Triumph GT6 is a bit of an oddball (it's sort of based on the Triumph Spitfire convertible sports car, although some brit car pedant will point out the connection to the Herald/Vitesse) but it has a larger, 6 cylinder engine vs. the 4 cylinder engine found in the Spitfires. The GT6 sold in small, small numbers in the US, so the GT6 specific parts will be more challenging to find/pricier. IIRC, the GT6 engine is NOT the same one that's found in the Triumph TR-6.
The easy button in terms of classic British cars would be (if you want a coupe like the Triumph GT6) would be an MG MGB GT- the engine and mechanical parts are shared with the MGB convertible and they sold hundreds of thousands of the convertible versions.
posted by Larry David Syndrome at 4:43 PM on July 18
The easy button in terms of classic British cars would be (if you want a coupe like the Triumph GT6) would be an MG MGB GT- the engine and mechanical parts are shared with the MGB convertible and they sold hundreds of thousands of the convertible versions.
posted by Larry David Syndrome at 4:43 PM on July 18
Being in the U.S. makes owning a Triumph more difficult, as I understand.
This thread has some interested and possibly informative stories from the trenches.
posted by flug at 4:55 PM on July 18
This thread has some interested and possibly informative stories from the trenches.
posted by flug at 4:55 PM on July 18
It's possible I'm a bit biaised, as the owner of a 62 year-old car.
If you're not mechanically minded, definitely bring your mechanic with you and it's perfectly reasonable to do this. Any resistance from the seller should be treated as a warning. But make sure your mechanic is sympathetic to old cars, not just a parts-changer who can't diagnose anything without a laptop.
It's really important to remember that this is an old car and lots of things that look wrong or weird are just normal for cars of that era. The car is likely to have been restored (or 'restored') at some point and it's worth looking into how well that's been done - check over, under and into everything you can get your eyes on, looking for things like dodgy rust repairs or 'improvements' done by enthusiastic but ham-fisted previous owners.
As Larry David Syndrome notes, the Triumph GT6 wasn't built in large numbers and isn't as popular as something like an MGB, so sourcing parts and expertise won't be as easy as it might be with something else. But there's a lot of satisfaction in owning and driving something rare (there are about 12 of our car in the country). There are forums and car clubs and all sort of people that will be happy to help out. Here's just one as an example. I've learned a lot from similar forums and got a lot of good advice from belonging to a local car club. Being part of a car club also means there are lots of opportunities to take your car for a drive with others around you that can help if something does go wrong. This takes a lot of the stress away around reliability etc.
One way or another, you'll figure out all the vagaries of your new family member and, even if you don't know anything about fixing cars now, you can learn. Yes, old cars can be unreliable sometimes, but they're also very simple compared with modern cars and not having to rely on them for daily transport means fixing or improving things doesn't have to be rushed. Because you're not in a rush, you can take the time to learn how to do things yourself and there's a lot of satisfaction from that. The simplicity of old cars means they are easy to figure out.
Buying something that gives you joy is not a silly idea at all. We only drive our car maybe every 2-3 weeks, but getting into it and pulling out of the driveway just seems to take away the cares of everyday life. Mostly it's just around town, but we also take it on longer trips (2 hours plus on the highway and to the dragstrip). Will it be expensive? probably not, as long as you're prepared to get your hands dirty. Will it be frustrating sometimes? Oh, yes. Will it bring you joy? Definitely. Should you do it (assuming the condition vs price is right)? Absolutely. The worst that can happen is you end up selling it and that would likely be for more than you paid.
posted by dg at 5:13 PM on July 18
If you're not mechanically minded, definitely bring your mechanic with you and it's perfectly reasonable to do this. Any resistance from the seller should be treated as a warning. But make sure your mechanic is sympathetic to old cars, not just a parts-changer who can't diagnose anything without a laptop.
It's really important to remember that this is an old car and lots of things that look wrong or weird are just normal for cars of that era. The car is likely to have been restored (or 'restored') at some point and it's worth looking into how well that's been done - check over, under and into everything you can get your eyes on, looking for things like dodgy rust repairs or 'improvements' done by enthusiastic but ham-fisted previous owners.
As Larry David Syndrome notes, the Triumph GT6 wasn't built in large numbers and isn't as popular as something like an MGB, so sourcing parts and expertise won't be as easy as it might be with something else. But there's a lot of satisfaction in owning and driving something rare (there are about 12 of our car in the country). There are forums and car clubs and all sort of people that will be happy to help out. Here's just one as an example. I've learned a lot from similar forums and got a lot of good advice from belonging to a local car club. Being part of a car club also means there are lots of opportunities to take your car for a drive with others around you that can help if something does go wrong. This takes a lot of the stress away around reliability etc.
One way or another, you'll figure out all the vagaries of your new family member and, even if you don't know anything about fixing cars now, you can learn. Yes, old cars can be unreliable sometimes, but they're also very simple compared with modern cars and not having to rely on them for daily transport means fixing or improving things doesn't have to be rushed. Because you're not in a rush, you can take the time to learn how to do things yourself and there's a lot of satisfaction from that. The simplicity of old cars means they are easy to figure out.
Buying something that gives you joy is not a silly idea at all. We only drive our car maybe every 2-3 weeks, but getting into it and pulling out of the driveway just seems to take away the cares of everyday life. Mostly it's just around town, but we also take it on longer trips (2 hours plus on the highway and to the dragstrip). Will it be expensive? probably not, as long as you're prepared to get your hands dirty. Will it be frustrating sometimes? Oh, yes. Will it bring you joy? Definitely. Should you do it (assuming the condition vs price is right)? Absolutely. The worst that can happen is you end up selling it and that would likely be for more than you paid.
posted by dg at 5:13 PM on July 18
I was going to say go for it assuming it was a 1968 American car. No way I’d buy a vintage Triumph unless I was a vintage Triumph mechanic (like the guy selling it, hint, hint, nudge, nudge).
posted by LoveHam at 8:05 PM on July 18
posted by LoveHam at 8:05 PM on July 18
Here in California it can be very tricky to get a classic car to pass emissions (smog) tests and insurance can be quite high.
Dunno where the OP is (and everywhere's different) but to clarify these two issues, at least in California the current emissions cut-off is 1976, anything older is exempt. And for insurance, for me anyway, Hagerty seems quite reasonable, but the premium can depend on a lot of things.
The gawking oh dear God, the gawking. I am NOT a people person. I just wanted to buy my dog food and go home.
I drive a '65 VW and don't mind the gawkers so much as the talkers. I call these admirers Time Travelers because they've usually got a sheepish cheerfulness and they always approach with the same question: "What year is it?" Yes, we all know time machines aren't that accurate, frequently requiring calibration, but like hilaryjade I'm just trying to get some stuff done so I can get home and I don't really have the patience now to stand around talking about cars!
If you do buy this vehicle and you're not so inclined, a local mechanic is indispensable. If there's a TR-6 club to join, online or local, join it to get insight. Good luck!
posted by Rash at 8:44 PM on July 18
Dunno where the OP is (and everywhere's different) but to clarify these two issues, at least in California the current emissions cut-off is 1976, anything older is exempt. And for insurance, for me anyway, Hagerty seems quite reasonable, but the premium can depend on a lot of things.
The gawking oh dear God, the gawking. I am NOT a people person. I just wanted to buy my dog food and go home.
I drive a '65 VW and don't mind the gawkers so much as the talkers. I call these admirers Time Travelers because they've usually got a sheepish cheerfulness and they always approach with the same question: "What year is it?" Yes, we all know time machines aren't that accurate, frequently requiring calibration, but like hilaryjade I'm just trying to get some stuff done so I can get home and I don't really have the patience now to stand around talking about cars!
If you do buy this vehicle and you're not so inclined, a local mechanic is indispensable. If there's a TR-6 club to join, online or local, join it to get insight. Good luck!
posted by Rash at 8:44 PM on July 18
I have owned two classic or historical cars. Know that any car that is 50+ years old will have its quirks and minor issues. Things like you have to pull on the steering wheel while scratching your nose when you start it. I would ask about if it was ever in an accident, how many owners, does the engine leak oil, does the car run hot (I had to install an additional radiator fan), is this the original paint, what modifications have been made to it, any upgrades like upgraded brakes. I would take it for a test drive at least. I think it is reasonable to ask about having your mechanic look it over. If you are talking to the current owner's mechanic, feel free to ask him what work he has done to it over the years. I don't think there is any question that is off limits.
I would also ask if he has the service manuals. If you are in the US buying a British made car, even if it was made for the States, having the service manuals really will help you and/or your mechanic. I had a British sports car, and having the manuals really helped. There was also an online community that had an email list where people asked questions and exchanged tips. That too was a huge help. I ultimately sold that car because of my divorce, but I would buy it back if I had the opportunity as well as the vintage American Muscle car I had.
I guess the bottom line is I really enjoyed tooling around in my convertible, I liked the lookers as well as all the questions and I am a private person in public. The one thing that seems to be emphasized above is that this will not be a plug and play. It will not be like owning a newer car where you have total confidence it will start and all the parts will work in unison. Just having a carburetor rather than fuel injection can alter the reliability of the vehicle.
After all that, Go for it!
posted by JohnnyGunn at 9:29 PM on July 18
I would also ask if he has the service manuals. If you are in the US buying a British made car, even if it was made for the States, having the service manuals really will help you and/or your mechanic. I had a British sports car, and having the manuals really helped. There was also an online community that had an email list where people asked questions and exchanged tips. That too was a huge help. I ultimately sold that car because of my divorce, but I would buy it back if I had the opportunity as well as the vintage American Muscle car I had.
I guess the bottom line is I really enjoyed tooling around in my convertible, I liked the lookers as well as all the questions and I am a private person in public. The one thing that seems to be emphasized above is that this will not be a plug and play. It will not be like owning a newer car where you have total confidence it will start and all the parts will work in unison. Just having a carburetor rather than fuel injection can alter the reliability of the vehicle.
After all that, Go for it!
posted by JohnnyGunn at 9:29 PM on July 18
A friend of mine once had a GT6, he described it as 'the worst money pit of all time', the previous owner spent more than the value of the car on repairs, he then spent more than the value of the car on repairs (in just a few months) and I suspect the person he sold it to spent much the same.
If you want a car of that era the MGs are a bit better built, with less rust problems, still terrible compared to any modern car but not as bad as the spitfires.
Or the sensible option is to find an old Miata which will give you all of the fun without the breakdowns and expense.
posted by Lanark at 3:33 AM on July 19
If you want a car of that era the MGs are a bit better built, with less rust problems, still terrible compared to any modern car but not as bad as the spitfires.
Or the sensible option is to find an old Miata which will give you all of the fun without the breakdowns and expense.
posted by Lanark at 3:33 AM on July 19
My father had a Corvair of about that vintage. He liked it so much, he kept it and drove until after he retired. The suspension problems of the earliest Corvairs were fixed. When it was right, mostly meaning good tires at the correct pressure, it was nicely balanced and a hoot to drive.
posted by SemiSalt at 4:39 AM on July 19
posted by SemiSalt at 4:39 AM on July 19
Any GT6 or Spitfire offered for sale today is either a total wreck or has been restored. A good mechanic will tell you if the restoration was done correctly. They are dead simple vehicles (only three fuses!) and most parts are easy to obtain. A bonus is that they use SAE nuts and bolts and no Whitworth tools are needed. They are about the most fun you can have while remaining dressed.
posted by leaper at 9:21 AM on July 19
posted by leaper at 9:21 AM on July 19
The problem with taking old cars to mechanics is the unfamiliarity with old systems. Is your rough idle a mis-tuned carburetor or a failing part in an ignition system which is of a design that hasn’t been used in 40 years? Is the replacement part for that ancient ignition system which is only made by a cut-rate parts supplier even any good right out of the box?
Mechanics don’t have the familiarity in diagnosing these archaic parts anymore. And if your does, he’s got to be getting close to retirement.
This is also the era where a 100k mile car was considered fully used up.
posted by Huggiesbear at 10:51 AM on July 19
Mechanics don’t have the familiarity in diagnosing these archaic parts anymore. And if your does, he’s got to be getting close to retirement.
This is also the era where a 100k mile car was considered fully used up.
posted by Huggiesbear at 10:51 AM on July 19
May be too far off the wall: There are many options for electrifying existing cars; EV West is a provider that pops up in every search I've ever done, but there are likely others. Twisted Voltage EV lists "EV conversion" as one of their services; there are surely others but just pulled that out of the stack. If I were going to tool around town in a Triumph, I'd look into something like that. Low maintenance, goes when you push the 'go' button... but if you like the sensation of rumbling, smelling the exhaust, hearing the engine note it may not be for you.
posted by adekllny at 11:43 AM on July 19
posted by adekllny at 11:43 AM on July 19
Ask where it has (geographically) spent its life. If it's anywhere even close to the Northeast or within a 100 mile radius of winter road salt usage, run away and do not look back. This thing is basically going to be a rust bucket, and you need to find out how bad it is. Bring a flashlight and stick your head under the car and look at the frame, rocker panels, door jams, wheel wells, trunk, and any channel where water is supposed to run (esp. seams along the windshield/door). Would not be surprised if this thing is in Flintstone mode, i.e. you can see the road below your feet.
Also if you've never owned a car with a carburetor, manual choke, points, etc. you're probably going to need to learn some skills. Carbs don't start on the first try. They don't like extra hot or extra cold weather. Points need regular cleaning, plugs foul from bad mixture, etc. Before cars had computers and electronics there were a number of these little jobs that you(*) were constantly doing to get a car driving, especially one that you don't use daily. It's nothing at all like a modern car where you can more or less turn the key no matter the weather or how long it's been sitting.
(*) gas stations used to also be service stations and there was usually someone hanging around that could help out; that kind of station is virtually non-existent now.
posted by Rhomboid at 12:33 PM on July 19
Also if you've never owned a car with a carburetor, manual choke, points, etc. you're probably going to need to learn some skills. Carbs don't start on the first try. They don't like extra hot or extra cold weather. Points need regular cleaning, plugs foul from bad mixture, etc. Before cars had computers and electronics there were a number of these little jobs that you(*) were constantly doing to get a car driving, especially one that you don't use daily. It's nothing at all like a modern car where you can more or less turn the key no matter the weather or how long it's been sitting.
(*) gas stations used to also be service stations and there was usually someone hanging around that could help out; that kind of station is virtually non-existent now.
posted by Rhomboid at 12:33 PM on July 19
I used to restore classic air-cooled VWs, and loved owning them.
You don't really own a classic car the way you own a regular car. Once you have one you also have a Classic Car Hobby. You will spend time and money searching for parts that wear out and break and are hard to find. You probably want to build up a collection of spares just in case, because you can't just get parts off the shelf. If you aren't able to do your own work then you will spend big bucks on someone else fixing it, and they will need regular repairs. Rust never rests with old cars, and they require much more frequent maintenance and tune-ups than modern vehicles.
Life circumstances and the lack of a garage at my house means I no longer have old cars, but I miss them sometimes. Maybe you will develop a life-long car hobby, maybe you will just have a fun old car for a couple years and sell it on to the next owner.
If it all sounds overwhelming and you want something similar that is more modern and reliable, you could always look for a used Miata . . .
posted by fimbulvetr at 12:50 PM on July 19
You don't really own a classic car the way you own a regular car. Once you have one you also have a Classic Car Hobby. You will spend time and money searching for parts that wear out and break and are hard to find. You probably want to build up a collection of spares just in case, because you can't just get parts off the shelf. If you aren't able to do your own work then you will spend big bucks on someone else fixing it, and they will need regular repairs. Rust never rests with old cars, and they require much more frequent maintenance and tune-ups than modern vehicles.
Life circumstances and the lack of a garage at my house means I no longer have old cars, but I miss them sometimes. Maybe you will develop a life-long car hobby, maybe you will just have a fun old car for a couple years and sell it on to the next owner.
If it all sounds overwhelming and you want something similar that is more modern and reliable, you could always look for a used Miata . . .
posted by fimbulvetr at 12:50 PM on July 19
Points need regular cleaning,
I swapped out the points in my classic for an electronic thingamabob with a magnet that sits on the distributor shaft under the rotor. Points are barely made anymore, and are absolutely a wear part, and the ones they still make are nowhere near as good as they should be. Plus my dad scared me with his teenage stories of being able to replace and gap points in the dark on the side of the road.
you could always look for a used Miata . . .
This is the best advice for anyone looking for a classic sporty car. It is literally a Lotus Elan that starts every dang time, regardless of the weather.
posted by Huggiesbear at 1:53 PM on July 19
I swapped out the points in my classic for an electronic thingamabob with a magnet that sits on the distributor shaft under the rotor. Points are barely made anymore, and are absolutely a wear part, and the ones they still make are nowhere near as good as they should be. Plus my dad scared me with his teenage stories of being able to replace and gap points in the dark on the side of the road.
you could always look for a used Miata . . .
This is the best advice for anyone looking for a classic sporty car. It is literally a Lotus Elan that starts every dang time, regardless of the weather.
posted by Huggiesbear at 1:53 PM on July 19
I grew up around these cars, literally. After I was born, I came home from the hospital in a Spitfire. And as a teenager I took several rides sitting sideways on the shelf behind the seats of a GT6.
My dad started collecting Triumphs starting in the 70s, when they were still making new ones. He was in a local Triumph club that ran autocross and rally events, had monthly meetings and a newsletter, and even hosted the national convention one year. And even with all of that support network, it was still a gigantic amount of work to keep the damn things running and looking good! They were constantly breaking down, rusting out, or having their electrical systems fail. We had a garage full of car parts and “parts cars” in pieces and oily unidentifiable hunks of metal and rubber.
Don’t get the idea that this is anything like a modern car that you can just hop in and drive around and park back in the garage for the next weekend. They will require a lot of maintenance, and people who know the tricks are farther and fewer between, as the old guys who grew up with these cars pass on. If you don’t know who exactly is going to fix the car, it’s going to be you.
That said: the GT6 is great to work on because the whole front end tilts up for easy access to the engine compartment! But get used to that view, you’re going to be seeing it a lot.
posted by xil at 2:57 PM on July 19
My dad started collecting Triumphs starting in the 70s, when they were still making new ones. He was in a local Triumph club that ran autocross and rally events, had monthly meetings and a newsletter, and even hosted the national convention one year. And even with all of that support network, it was still a gigantic amount of work to keep the damn things running and looking good! They were constantly breaking down, rusting out, or having their electrical systems fail. We had a garage full of car parts and “parts cars” in pieces and oily unidentifiable hunks of metal and rubber.
Don’t get the idea that this is anything like a modern car that you can just hop in and drive around and park back in the garage for the next weekend. They will require a lot of maintenance, and people who know the tricks are farther and fewer between, as the old guys who grew up with these cars pass on. If you don’t know who exactly is going to fix the car, it’s going to be you.
That said: the GT6 is great to work on because the whole front end tilts up for easy access to the engine compartment! But get used to that view, you’re going to be seeing it a lot.
posted by xil at 2:57 PM on July 19
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It’s going to be a lot more expensive than you think, the car will be less reliable than you’re used to, and you’re going to learn a lot about the ins and outs of how cars fail. You’ll have old car parts supplier bookmarks in your browser and shop manuals on your shelf. There are likely to come times when you’ll be up for very large sums just to keep it running, which is not evidence of it being a lemon, just of being an old car. If you’re into that, that’s all part of the appeal.
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 2:27 PM on July 18