A Modern Golden Era Car: the TD 2000.

[MEDIUMMYND]

I had a 1949 MG-TC in the early 50's. They were really not very good cars, but back in the day we loved them.

If I had a choice between a Morgan and kit car with more modern engineering, I would take the MOG. At least it is a real motorcar manufacturer with a history. I guess it is the only British owned and British manufactured car left unless TVR or some other very small specialist firm is left.

At one time there were a number of kit cars and if my memory is correct that was due to the very high purchase tax on new cars - it was 100% as I recall. I think Reliant made a 3 wheeler for the same reason.

I find most new cars to be rather boring and for the most part, they look alike, but the Morgan coupe that someone posted a link to is a great looking car. That is one car I could get excited about - well, until I saw the price most likely.

Cheers, Jim.

Jim talks a lot of sense.TVR did produce their own engine for a short time but like Morgan relied for many years on the buick designed V8 Morgan now use BMW V8"s and TVR are no more after being bought out by a Russian bilionaire.

[Lou]

For some though, we know that certain old British autos need regular pushing out of intersections. For me I wouldn't mind a car with the look and maybe a bit more reliability. I love actual vintage (or tradition) - but my practical side is hard to sway when functionality is involved.

I experienced this exact same situation with a '77 Triumph TR7 I owned while I was in the US Air Force. As I started accelerating from a stop at an intersection, the car sputtered and broke down right in the middle of the intersection. It so happened that I was blocking a colonel, and he was out of his car in a flash ordering me to get my car out of his way immediately . The mechanic said the electrical system failed (Triumphs were apparently known for faulty electrical systems) and quoted the repair at $3,000. That was the end of that car. It was cool while it lasted though. I occasionally think about redoing it via a Miata.

[odyssey220]

The original MG TC,TD,TF etc were not particularly reliable cars but back in those days no cars were reliable.

But the TD 2000 is a car with all the style and nostalgia of the golden age but with none of the pain that goes with classis car ownership.

The Toyota engine has to be one of the most reliable engines ever made.

IIRC the Bufori is (or was) rear engined using a Beetle engine, which is just .....sooo wrong!

[JimInSoCalif]

Jim talks a lot of sense.TVR did produce their own engine for a short time but like Morgan relied for many years on the buick designed V8 Morgan now use BMW V8"s and TVR are no more after being bought out by a Russian bilionaire.

I did not know that TVR manufactured their own engine. The first one I saw was about 1960 and over the years they went through a number of reorganizations.

TVR like Turner, Rochdale, Genetta, Marcos, Morgan, and a number of other small builders used various engines during the life of the companies. Some favored BMC engines, but I would guess the English Ford engine was the most popular. At first the 105E Ford engine and later the larger 116E Ford engine of 1600cc. I think I have the model numbers and displacement correct - it has been a long time since I have thought of such things.

The AC Ace (roadster) and Aceca (coupe) used engines sourced from Bristol who liberated the design from a pre-war BMW. They also had their own engine but it was a 1920s design and I doubt any AC cars made it these shores with other than the Bristol engine. Of course, Carrol Shelby put a Ford V8 in the roadster and thus was born the Cobra.

As a bit of trivia, MG-TCs still used wood for the door posts so it did not take long for the doors to sag on these cars. I think this 'feature' was upgraded for the TD or at least by the TF model.

With the exception of Marcos which I don't know much about - I have only ever seen two - Morgan was a great user of wood. The classic design Mog might still have ash framing for all I know - I don't keep up with these things.

I am surprised that the TR-7 would have any more electrical problems than any other motorcar using Lucas Electricals. I can't imagine such an expesive repair to the electrical system. That car was known for warped cylinder heads however.

Cheers, Jim - who resisted all temptation to repeat any of the many jokes about products made by Lucas.

[JimInSoCalif]

The original MG TC,TD,TF etc were not particularly reliable cars but back in those days no cars were reliable.

But the TD 2000 is a car with all the style and nostalgia of the golden age but with none of the pain that goes with classis car ownership.

The Toyota engine has to be one of the most reliable engines ever made.

IIRC the Bufori is (or was) rear engined using a Beetle engine, which is just .....sooo wrong!

I don't know the Bufori (sounds like an Italian pasta dish), but back in the day when a lot of fiberglass kit cars were made in the U.S., I saw one that looked like a TD, one that looked a bit like a SS-100 Jaguar, and one that looked like a Ford Model A and they all had air cooled Vdub engines and they were all way wrong.

I was surprised back in the dune buggy days that no one made a kit to look like the Porsche Speedster. A least the sound from the VW engine would have near correct.

I manufactured exhust systems for Porsche, VW, and dune buggies and later headers (tubular exhaust manifolds) for a large range of imported cars. When the dune buggy craze stopped it was like someone turned a switch. At one time I sent dune buggy exhausts to Chicago by air freight (expensive) and 6 or 12 months later I remember how happy I was to get rid of the last batch of twenty that I had on the shelf.

Cheers, Jim.

PS - I often wondered how many of those kits were never finished - quite a few I would guess.

[WildCelt]

It so happened that I was blocking a colonel, and he was out of his car in a flash ordering me to get my car out of his way immediately .

Doncha know? Rank is given by god denoting a superior human being.

[odyssey220]

I was surprised back in the dune buggy days that no one made a kit to look like the Porsche Speedster. A least the sound from the VW engine would have near correct.

.

There have been a number of 356 repicas over the years including one that is sold by the same company that imports the TD2000 into the UK, called a PGO

www.lifestyleautomotive.co.uk

The PGO has a mid engined layout as opposed to rear and in the same way that TD does, has all mod cons and reliable mechanicals.

[H.Johnson]

The Bufori LaHoya (well, that's how they spell it) actually has a similar physical presence to the Aeromax, but at a fraction of the price. Externally, the finish and fit are really impressive. Sitting in it is an equally pleasant experience. When you get down and crawl underneath you're in for a not so pleasant (to me anyway) surprise. I imagine this impressionwould be reinforced if you drove one (the example I saw was in a mall, so they couldn't start it). I think it's derivation from a 1980 UK kitcar (and not the best one at that) still shows.

Who says cars have to be reliable? That's a modern concept. In my day, we used to be able to fix 'em...

I find most new cars to be rather boring and for the most part, they look alike, but the Morgan coupe that someone posted a link to is a great looking car. That is one car I could get excited about - well, until I saw the price most likely.

Cheers, Jim.