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buying used

1960 Austin Healey 3000

Although the British car industry wrestled itself to the ground in the 1980s, English sports cars remain a fixture in North America. There are still plenty of MGs, Triumphs, Austin-Healeys and so on putting along the roads in Canada and the U.S., and well-attended show and shines and picnics are held from coast to coast every year throughout the continent.

Thirty-plus years later, the Little British Car (LBC) still resonates with people, and pound for pound, still has a high driving fun quotient.

I reckon I have owned at least 30 LBCs over the years, and have spent my share of time both in and under them. I have restored at least a half dozen, have spent countless hours tracking down those mysterious electrical glitches and elusive oil leaks, have redone an engine or two, and have owned at least one of the major marques at one time or another.

I constantly get asked what model(s) I recommend and what neophytes should look for when contemplating entering the wonderful world of English cars. Though this is far from being a comprehensive rundown of every LBC on the market (Mini, Sunbeam, and Lotus aficionados: don't feel left out), here are some things I've learned over the years.

MGB

Not the fastest roadster out there, the B is a tough and surprisingly comfortable two-seater. As long as you don't abuse them, Bs can go on forever, and are one of the more reliable LBCs.

Many people, unsatisfied with the performance of their Bs, tend to run the engine too hard. It does not like this and revving it past 4,000 rpm is risky and pointless. Employ the gearbox judiciously (using overdrive if you have it) and take advantage of the engine's torque, and things will be just ducky. Some purists prefer 1967 and earlier models because of the lack of power-draining emissions equipment, but all MGBs can be fun to drive.

Things to watch out for include low engine compression, inoperative gauges, wonky front suspension, worn-out kingpins, leaky carburetors and the all-pervasive rust. This last item is the enemy of all LBCs, and Bs, by this stage of the game, will have it in abundance if they haven't been attended to. Places where rust likes to live include the floorboards, rear wheel arches, fuel tank, inner front fenders and, well, just about everywhere.

Morgan

Contrary to popular myth, Morgans do not have a wooden frame. They have a glued ash-wood body tub with sheet metal/aluminum nailed to it, and a Z section steel frame.

A wide assortment of engines were fitted to Morgans over the years, but the most popular had the redoubtable Standard/Triumph four-cylinder, which was originally designed for use in farm tractors. Although it's as tough as old boots, the problem with this engine is that it's heavy, and can crack the frames of older cars, which can lead to body sag and a wonky drivetrain. Ford Cortina engines – especially the Kent "crossflow" unit – provide almost as much power and are considerably lighter. Not to mention being easier to service. The Rover V8-engined Plus 8, meanwhile, was one of the fastest and most nimble LBCs ever made and is still a favourite with club racers everywhere.

Things to watch for with all Moggies: cracked frames up near the engine mounts and at the rear suspension, rotten wood around the door frames, inadequate engine cooling, rusted-out bulkhead and scuttle, worn-out front suspension, engine blow-by and rusted out frame cross-members.

Morgans are immensely enjoyable to drive, but, all things considered, the 4/4 (four wheels/four cylinders) is the most accessible and user-friendly. Try to get one that still has its side curtains and a useable top, and ignore the "St. Malvern's Palsy" front-end vibration at 100 km/h.

Austin-Healey

Timelessly beautiful, the "big" Healey has skyrocketed in value and pristine ones can fetch up to $100,000 nowadays.

Of all the LBCs I've owned, Healeys (I've had three), required the most attention. This is a high-maintenance car and you need to watch out for: rusted-out frame and outriggers, corroded body components, worn-out engines, tired front suspension, shot gearboxes, stripped rear wheel splines and clapped-out exhaust systems.

Six-cylinder Healeys are also uncomfortably hot to drive in the summer (I once partially melted the sole of my right sneaker after a particularly long mid-summer run, years ago), and leak everywhere in the rain – including up through the floorboards and through the windscreen.

Models made from 1964 to 1967 are the most civilized.

Triumph

To many, this marque is the quintessential LBC and it came in a range of sizes and shapes. Not counting the Spitfire, TR6/7/8, and limited-production Stag, the Standard two-litre four-cylinder was the arguably the car's strongest component. Problem areas include a fragile gearbox and no first-gear synchro with the TR2 and 3, wretched weatherproofing, overheating issues with all models, a fussy clutch mechanism with the TR6, hard-riding suspension with the TR4, disappointingly inferior handling with the 2,3, and 4, problematic rear suspension with the 4A and 6, treacherous rear suspension with the Spitfire, notoriously hard-to-diagnose wiring problems, rusty rear frame sections, front-end wobble, and Stromberg carbs that, once they let go, are almost impossible to get right again. Other than that, they're fine.

Although it has its issues, the TR6, in particular, is an underrated LBC.

Despite its sketchy reputation, the LBC is actually quite dependable. I have only been stranded a few times over the years, and, if you take care of it, the LBC will return the favour.

You can also upgrade your LBC with new-fangled gadgets such as electronic ignition, aftermarket cooling fans, Weber carburetors, and halogen headlights. But, even with these add-ons, you can't ignore basic maintenance and have to keep an eye on things. Unlike the Universal Japanese Car (UJC), the LBC doesn't like being ignored.

That accounts for its charm, and partially explains its demise.

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