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I think we may have lost track of where this thread was going. If I understand correctly, John was not starting a debate over whether stock was better than modified. I think he was just saying that we might be asking modified questions in a stock forum. In that case he is right but I don't think there would be a great many who have not done at least some mods whether it is tire size, paint color, carbs, electronics or maybe something else to make the car run better.
To be absolutely correct we should have Stock, Modified and Super Modified or Darksiders.
On the other hand maybe the moderators should ban us for posting in the wrong forum. Naw, that might be too severe.
We need to allow folks to do what they want to, without having/trying to understand them.
Jose
I know that some guys do drive their Alpines every day and enjoy them with their sewing machine engine, but I can´t handle that. I need a high performance car,
Jose
Easy answer here - MG had great marketing in the 60's, Sunbeam did not. How many of you have been asked about "what year is your MG"? I even have a bumper sticker (from our Austrailian friend) that states "This is Not and MG".
Many of those paying the relative big money, compared to an Alpine, for a MGBs is because their Dad, Brother, Mother, Uncle, Aunt or they themself had one in earlier days. In High School (1982-1985) my friends and I drove MGs (B,C and Midget), Triumphs, Fiats etc. I knew no one that had or had seen an Alpine. All of the salvage yards I went to for LBC parts did not have any Alpines in them either.
Your answer is marketing and sheer numbers of cars. Alpines may be better cars than an MGB but few people know what they are or have a strong desire to relive better days in one.
Michael,
Your "sewing machine" is almost exactly what I want to put in my SIV and am assembling parts.
As for the British 4 cylinder car sound, I've have several folks compliment the SIV on "how it sounds."
It's not V8, not V6 and not US.
It's a 40+ year old British 4 banger!
Yippee!
And the smell of an old English car interior is like nothing else on earth - my Triumph smells just like 1949 - the wood, leather and wool combine to give a heady scent of vintage motoring.
Tom,Aint that the truth, My car is up on stands for the time being, but every time I walk by I just gotta stick my head in and inhale, old car aroma ...wonderful !
Tom j
oopps wrong thread !
That said what I don't understand is why people who are not hampered by budget concerns buy 60's era cars and try to turn them into modern cars with different brakes, engines, transmissions, suspensions,and wheels etc. If you don't really like Alpines or Tigers or any other vintage car for that matter why not buy something else ?
If I wanted it as a museum piece the answer is no.If I planned to use it for the purpose it was intended I would modify it to the max so that it would do a good job without getting me hurt or killed. Thank goodness most of us don't fight with swords any more but we do drive our Alpines.Bill...
Would you take a Civil War sword and improve it's blade shape to pierce better then remove it's poor grip and replace with aluminum and neoprine for weight saving and improved grip then chrome it for improved appearance?
.
I, and I agree with you that there should always be stock ones. We don´t want to see the history of the marque disappear. What I don´t like to see, is someone criticising someone else because they had the temerity to express themselves through their modification of their own Alpine. No one here is God, to know exactly what anyone else should do.
If you don´t want to rouse strong opposition, just allow others to do as they wish with their cars, without commenting. No one is criticising those who want to worship what the factory made 40 years ago. I have already expressed my opinion of the wisdom of keeping it stock and trying to depend on the car every day, rain or shine. What you think of modifiers, I think of those who don´t agree. I never comment on their choice and I think the guys don´t appreciate disaproving comments about their choises either.
Your analogy doesn´t even fit. A Japanese sword is a true collectors item, where the Alpine is just an inexpensive , enjoyable sports car. They don´t even come close to being the same thing.
Jose
As I stated before this is a debate that will never be won.
Hey, how about them Mets?