Ferrari Mailing List: Re: My Experience with a Kit Car Owner

[LarryT (l02turner]

Hi Britt,
You wrote<<modifications......Wouldn't a MGB with a V8 added really be a 
replica of an MGC?>>  All the reference  books call them MGB-GT-V8s - a lot of 
alpha/numeric stuff but it defines them pretty accurately.  Sadly they were 
never officially imported here although a few were brought in as gry market 
cars - and of course, some MGB-GTs had a Rover Alum V8 installed to mimic the 
original as closely as possible.

But they used different nomemclature in US Vs UK I believe - the MGC was the 
straight 6 which I believe was the Austin Healy engine?  BTW, I spoke with a 
Brit years ago who said the MGC was a White Elephant in the UK that few people 
wanted or liked.  Does that ring true?

Later --

Larry T (67 MGB, 74 911, 78 240D, 91 300D)
www.youroil.net for Oil Analysis and Weber Parts
Test Results http://members.rennlist.com/oil
PORSCHE POSTERS!  youroil.net
Weber Carb Info http://members.rennlist.com/webercarbs
Porsche Road Test http://members.rennlist.com/roadtest/
.
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Britt2Asa [at] aol.com 
  To: l02turner [at] comcast.net 
  Cc: ferrari [at] ferrarilist.com 
  Sent: Friday, December 08, 2006 10:53 AM
  Subject: Re: [Ferrari] My Experience with a Kit Car Owner


  But of course the MG was AVAILABLE with a V8 here in the UK, my neighbor has 
one and its a MGC so unless you want to argue that its not the original type V8 
its not that big a step as they were produced at the factory that way.

  Didn't the lowly Alpine contribute to the original Cobra design where the big 
V8 was shovelled into the little British chassie?

  On eof the neat things about living in the UK is the huge number of very 
small motor manufacturers that exist or use to exist here....Bristols, TVRs 
(until two months ago), Lotus, Noble, Jenson (which comes and goes every year), 
ect.

  True these are not really replicas of OTHER cars (and I understand that 
point) but I think there is a fine line between a replica car (minus its 
badges) and a "genuine" car with modifications......Wouldn't a MGB with a V8 
added really be a replica of an MGC? 

  Its interesting to see the way people feel about these things. I do find it 
funny that a person who copies a type of boat as close as possible (maybe the 
hull design and layout work has already been done but they want it out of steel 
for instances) would never call their boat a "replica" no matter how close it 
looks to the genuine thing. I wonder if its because boats are still largely 
handmade and many people don't know the difference between them?

  Hey, does anybody make flying replicas of WWII aircraft? Now that would be 
neat! Would you car guys feel the same way about a carefully made 
P38/Mustang/B24 flying replica
  as you would a car? What if it was a type of plane that there were none left 
in flying condition or say the only one was in the Smithsonian so that the only 
way you or your kids could experience the sight and sound of that aircraft was 
with a replica. You wouldn't wear a fake Rolex but would you look at and admire 
a replica plane?

  Britt


    Many MGB owners prefer a V8 because 
    of the wonder burble that comes with a bog ol 'merican V8.





  BR in the UK
  1986 328GTS (LHD 89,940km) Died August 19, 2006 Shrewsbury UK
  1980 400i (RHD 72,000 miles)