A Rear-Engine Brit

Hillman Imp

Quick - name a small car with its' engine in the back that sold hundreds of thousands. Oh, and its British. Give up? It would be the Hillman Imp and its badge engineered cousins.

Here in the US of A we got very few of  the rear engine family of cars built by the Rootes group, even though for a time they were part of the Chrysler empire. Chrysler chose to import French-built SIMCAs as their primary Beetle fighter. Later, Chrysler would raid the Rootes cupboard for another small car to sell in the US in the form of the Plymouth Cricket.

But back to the Imp.The product planers at Rootes knew the same things that the gentlemen did who were designing the Mini at BMC: That there was a big opportunity to sell a small family car that delivered good fuel economy, could seat four and be inexpensive to produce. Thus was born Project Apex.

Commer Imp

Rootes chose a rear engine layout after extensively testing a Chevrolet Corvair. However, they saw early on that the swing axle setup on the Chevy was not the way to go so they adopted a more complex (and expensive) semi trailing arm design which would eliminate a number of weaknesses of swing axle rear suspension.

The 875cc four cylinder engine was a derivative of a Coventry Climax unit - the FWMA fire pump engine. The all aluminum, overhead cam unit was lighter than anything made from cast iron and it was canted over at a 45 degree angle for better space utilization as well as lowering the center of gravity. 

The Imp was built starting in 1963 in a new assembly plant near Glasgow and like most newly-designed cars, they had their share of teething pains. Both the automatic choke and pneumatic throttle proved troublesome and were dropped in later models. 

Sunbeam Stiletto

The Imp gave buyers a lot of versatility with its large front boot (that's a trunk, cowboy) and the opening rear glass. Other body styles followed that included a delivery van and estate car (and that's a station wagon). The Commer Imp delivery van and Hillman Husky wagon were dropped on 1970.

A coupe version of the Imp was brought to market in 1965 and it was a rather attractive car. Badged as a Hillman Californian, Sunbeam Stiletto and Singer Chamois they brought a bit of dash to an otherwise staid design.  

In all, the Imp and all its' variants sold less than 450,000 units over a 13 year run.  

I'd sure like to see one.

The Missus Broke the Mini

Well, not really broken- broken but she did snap the interior passenger door handle in two when she was trying to get out of the car. I had to laugh out loud when the handle broke cleanly in two and her eyes got as big as saucers. She then held the broken piece up against the stub on the door as if it would magically mend itself. Alas, it did not. New inside door handles are on the way from Great British Car Parts at a cost of under $7.00 each.

If you see her be sure to ask if she's broken any antiques lately.

One More Reason to Belong to a Car Club

Beer.

During one of our many club events the subject of good beer came up. It turns out that one of our multi-talented members is an accomplished home brewer. I didn't realize just how accomplished a brewer he is until he gave me a generously-sized bottle of his art.

Since home brewing is still a bit of gray area in Alabama law, I'll leave his identity under wraps. It wouldn't do to have an Alabama Elliot Ness kicking in his door. 

I enjoyed a truly superior stout that is as dark as any Guinness I've ever seen. "Chewy" is how I'd describe it and I can't wait for seconds! 

Thank you, my hop-scented friend!

It's Official: British Car Festival Has a New Venue

You may recall from an earlier post that SABCC was in a bit of a quandary as to where British Car Festival 2011 would be held. You see, the club received a letter from the City of Fairhope that all events conducted at Fairhope Beach Park would be subject to a raft of hefty fees. Fees so great as to imperil the event entirely. We had to find a new location.

The SABCC executive board considered several proposals - some of which would have taken event out of Fairhope - but in the end, a lovely spot was selected and arrangements were made. 

The Show Site - Courtesy Google Maps

BCF 2011 will be on the South Lawn of  Faulkner State Community College in downtown Fairhope. The chancellor of the institution was very enthusiastic in his welcome of the event. He sees it as an opportunity to expose Faulkner State to a wider audience and bring people to the Fairhope campus. If you've attended a Friday night welcome party, you've been on the campus of the community college. Dahlgren Hall is the quaint one-room schoolhouse that was part of the original Marietta Johnson School of Organic Education. 

The actual show field is due south of that building and is bordered by South School Street, South Bancroft Street and Morphy Avenue. The open field is level and surrounded by trees of all sizes. There's lots of parking around the site, and best of all, it is only a block away from the shops, galleries and dining for which downtown Fairhope is so well known.


View Larger Map

The club membership is excited about this change, both from a standpoint of budget constraints and that we will be able to continue to make a charitable donation from a portion of the days proceeds.

We look forward to welcoming you!

A 'Continental Breakfast'

Coffee & Conversation

The club gathered early at the Panera Bread on busy Schillinger Road in west Mobile for another Mugs & Motors this morning.

I hitched a ride over with Richard Cunningham in the dense fog that blanketed the causeway over Mobile Bay. My long suffering spouse was a wee bit concerned that the Mini would be difficult to see in the low visibility conditions and Airport Boulevard was no place for a car of its diminutive stature. Of course, she was right and I took Richard up on his offer to ride in something a little larger.

The Gang at Panera Bread

The coffee and baked goods emporium was invaded by 27 SABCC'ers and their guests necessitating shoving several  tables together. I was proud of the of the group in that most of them limited themselves to only one of the delicious treats. One at a time. Coffee was enjoyed, sweets were consumed and the pleasure of each others company made the morning pass all too quickly. The store manager stopped by our table and handed over 10 Panera gift cards worth $5.00 each for us to distribute as we saw fit. He said that our group and the lovely British cars in his parking lot made his day, so the cards were passed out to those who drove their British cars to the event. Thanks, Mr. Panera Bread manager! 

Parked at the Collection

We topped off our mugs and saddled up for the short ride to the Continental Collection to see an incredible display of investment grade automobiles. These stunning cars are for sale and many of them would not be out of place in one of the many televised auto auctions that seem to be popular fare on so many cable channels.The products of Detroit were in abundance, especially muscle cars of the '60s and '70s. Rarities such as a genuine Camaro COPO, and a low mileage Plymouth Belvedere GTX were much admired by the group. 

The lone British immigrant was a splendid 1959 Jaguar XK-150 FHC with an automatic gearbox. While not the most lithe of the XK series Jaguars, the 150 was big and comfortable. The SABCC'ers were drawn to it like moths to a porchlight.

Yours Truly Stuffed in a '54 Corvette

Our hosts for the morning,  Dennis 'Junior' Lassiter and Dennis Parrish were gracious and very accommodating. They were completely laid back about the collection, insisting that we sit in several of the cars to get an idea of what driving these machines must have been. The highlight of the morning was starting up several of the large displacement V8s for our aural pleasure. What music. Thanks, guys - you really made us feel welcome.

Since it was just a matter of a few hours that we had gone without nourishment, it was suggested that we not miss another chance to eat as a group. Michael King recommended Orleans Po-Boys Restaurant for lunch. We didn't need a show of hands as the startup sounds of the British cars present indicated that it was a done deal.

The Cavernous Building

My brother, Alan, drove is '76 MGB to the event and complained of clutch issues. A quick peek at the master cylinder reservoir revealed low fluid level. Club President Noel Eagleson graciously offered to give Alan a lift to the nearest parts store to buy a quart of hydraulic fluid and help him with the top up while Alan worked the clutch pedal. 

The rest of the group headed out to grab enough table space for the gang at the restaurant. Shortly after we got everything set up, Noel arrived followed closely by Alan and his missus, Debbie in their now smooth shifting MGB. We devoured all manner of sandwiches, salads and sides at the po-boy shop while we continued the conversations started early in the morning.  

The Lone Brit

Having had our fill (twice!) we headed to our respective homes. Mike Darby, the restoration wizard of Silverhill, invited me to ride shotgun with him in his beautiful red MGA back across the bay. I think I was belted in before he finished his invitation. We pressed on down Government Street towards my home in Spanish Fort when were halted by preparations for an afternoon Mardi Gras parade. We were forced to detour back to Michigan Avenue and on to I-10 for the river crossing. It was a glorious day and I was riding in a lovely MGA with a good friend. How does it get any better?

I want to thank everyone who attended this fine event and especially thank Ron Wolverton who suggested the activity and Richard Cunningham who arranged the visit.

Jaguar Factory Fire Video

Readers of these humble scribblings know by now that I can't stay away from the fabulous British Pathé web site. All manner of historic British newsreel footage is cataloged there and it is an easy search to find what you're looking for. This time I wanted to share the news item about the aftermath of the Jaguar factory fire of February 1957.

Jaguar enthusiasts will remember that this event put an end to the production of Jaguar's racer tamed for the road - the XK-SS. Just 16 of the 100 planned cars were completed before the the fire destroyed the tooling, assembly fixtures and partially completed cars. 

Try not to cut yourself on the narrator's diction. 

JAGUARS COME BACK FIGHTING

MG's New Look

You don't have to look far to find a version of The MG Car Company's history. First owned as personal property of William Morris (later Sir William; later Lord Nuffield), MG was controlled by Morris Motors, then by British Motor Corporation, then by British Motor Holdings, then by British Leyland, Rover Group, British Aerospace, BMW, MG-Rover and now by Shanghai Auto Industry Corporation.

Throughout the years since Cecil Kimber first developed his Morris-with-a-difference, the MG flame has been kept alive by a secession of both passionate managers and eager enthusiasts. It is no different today. Even though the head office is now half a world away, MGs are going to be built in England once more after a hiatus a few years. 

MG is introducing the new-to-Europe MG6 saloon car (that's a sedan, cowboy) in the UK at the historic Longbridge assembly plant. Along with the new MG6, MG is unveiling a new badge. Gone is the traditional brown and cream "sculpted" badge and in its place a silver "three dimensional" look logo over field of red. 

I'm an old guy that likes old cars, but I think I'm going to need a little time to let this new look grow on me. 

No, you can't buy an MG6 in the US of A.

Why I Belong to a Car Club

The old car hobby, like most other hobbies, is one best enjoyed with friends. Any activity or interest that can be shared with other like-minded people tends be one that is enjoyed more fully.


When my MGB came into my life in 1996, my younger brother (also an MGB owner) made sure that I had an application for membership for the South Alabama British Car Club. My first general membership meeting with the group verified for me that I was in with the kind of people that I wanted to know. I met machinists, lawyers, teachers, students and retired people that shared my interests and found pleasure in most of the same things I did.

At my first club event - a family picnic - I drove my tatty new (to me) MGB and I was immediately struck by how much the club members wanted to help me with it. Most of the gauges were non-functioning as were the turn signals. In a matter of minutes the three heads under the bonnet found a couple of loose wires and solved my problem. Even though the car was a bit down at its heels, it was never judged as inferior to anyone's car and it was always  welcomed as warmly as the most perfectly restored museum quality car was. 

I became active with the club, first as a member at large then progressing to activities chairman and finally a stint as president. The entire time I was surrounded by people that simply enjoyed the hobby and each others company. In fact, I've made several trips with fellow club members to non-club events just because we became fast friends. 

During my time as a club member, I've been able to help others with their projects, swap a few parts and find a bargain or two by networking with the members. I've also been the recipient of much generosity in the way of parts and advice. 


If you've got a special interest automobile, there's bound to be a local club that promotes your interests. Seek them out and become an active member.
 

Happy Valentine's Day

Love Story movie still

Those amongst us of a certain age recall what must be the original "chick flick" - Love Story. The 1970 film starred Ryan O'Neil and Ali McGraw. Oh, and an MG-TC.

In case you've never the seen the movie, let me spoil it for you: Ali McGraw's character dies, Ryan O'Neil's character says "Love means never having to say you're sorry," and then drives the MG off into the sunset.

And they lived happily ever after.

Anatoly Arutunoff Injured in Hit and Run

Vintage car collector and racer Anatoly Arutunoff has been seriously injured in a traffic mishap while on his way to an SCCA meet in Las Vegas. He stopped on Interstate 40 to assist a driver that had run into a snow drift during a severe storm. Anatoly was pushing the car when he was hit by another car. According to an article in Autoweek, Anatoly lost a leg and severely injured the other.   

I had the pleasure of meeting him last spring at the Legends of Motorsports meet at Barber Motor Sports Park in Birmingham. Both he and his wife Karen are delightful people. 

Here's hoping he has a speedy recovery.

Grab This Tiger by the Tail

Only 536 built in 1967, says the seller

While browsing the Hemmings Motor News web site, I ran across this very  pretty 1967 Sunbeam Tiger. The seller claims that it has been given a complete restoration and has been the recipient of several show awards. You can own it for just $90,000.00. Ee-yow!

Ron Wolverton - get your Tiger back on the road.

It's a Stag Party Now

I spent a pleasant Sunday with SABCC'ers Stuart Waddington and Richard Cunningham. Stuart purchased another Triumph Stag, this time a local car.

Readers of these humble scribblings may recall that Stuart purchased a 1972 Triumph Stag located in California through an Ebay auction. I had the thrill of seeing the car not long after it was offloaded from the hauler that brought it to south Alabama. The car was complete and, as expected of a California car, largely free of the dreaded tin worm.

Photo courtesy of Stuart Waddington

Richard and I, no strangers to buying up unloved old British cars, looked at a 1972 Stag about six months ago with an idea of either parting it out as we did with the 1969 Jaguar E-Type or selling it on to another enthusiast as we did with the 1972 Triumph Spitfire. We could not reach an agreement on price with the owner - she had a serious emotional attachment to it as it was one of her late husband's cars. We left it promising the owner that we would try to help her by passing word of its existence on to others.

Stuart's recent return from an overseas work assignment meant that he could strike into the disassembly of his California Stag. Richard happened to mention to him that the owner of the local '72 Stag was ready to deal on her car since she was making preparations to leave the area. Stuart inspected the car, made an offer and became the owner of a second Stag. 

The car was going to require some pushing and heaving to get it out of its garage of the last four years so it could be hauled up on the rollback that was hired for the occasion. Since pushing and heaving are two of my long suits, I offered my services. The Stag was duly delivered to the Garagemahal in Daphne where it joined joined its brother. 

The new Stag is a pretty solid car, too. It spent all its life in the Mobile area - it was likely sold by the late, lamented Freeman Sports Cars on the Beltline. Unfortunately the car was the victim of an engine transplant - a not uncommon fate for a Stag - but Stuart's first car has the original Triumph V8 engine so he has options. 

Stay tuned for more news on this project as it develops. 

A Milestone - Maybe

One of the automotive news web sites I visit regularly noted that Mazda's Miata or MX5 hit the 900,000 mark in units built. "The best selling sports car of all time," the article (likely a press release written by a corporate wonk) trumpeted. 

Photo courtesy of Rusty Heaps

The first generation Miata was a shameless crib of the original Lotus Elan. They got the look spot on and for the driver, they also gave the little car a big dose of driving fun. Add bulletproof Japanese build quality and you've got a car that can't help but be successful.

The Miata MX5 has gone through three generations with each successive design becoming more elaborate and perhaps finding its own unique style. The current MX5 is even available with a folding metal roof. While Mazda can rightly claim that the Miata (North America), MX5 (Europe, and now North America), Eunos, Roadster (Japan) is the best selling sports car, it is more accurate to say that they have the best selling model.

You see, the trusty old MGB sold over 500,000 cars and it was pretty much the same basic car from beginning to end. I know that there were several major changes to the car, the biggest being the switch to rubber bumpers, but deep down it was the same basic body, engine and drive train built on the same production line all its life.

Interestingly, about the same number of Miata MX5s and MGBs have been sold in North America.