Help Me Find a Race Car!

bravenrace wrote:

Woody wrote: TVR? http://longisland.craigslist.org/cto/4873167952.html Vintage road racing car , 1970 era, TVR/2000 Car has a Ford 2000cc motor worked heads, cam, Duel Webber carbs, four speed trans, TVR tube frame, Allum. body. Raced east coast from the 70s till end of 80s. Car has been in storage since then, but is brought out every year and maintained and run engine. POSSIBLE WILL TRADE ? Need minor work, body has new paint. PLEASE NO TEXTS......

Well that's interesting. I guess they took a TVR tube frame and built a race car around it?

That looks awesome fun to $ ratio

In reply to Adrian_Thompson:

I just wonder if it's legal to race with any group.

I saw that TVR years ago. It was very cool.

Having owned two TVR road cars, I'd like to have another one of those to vintage race. The only problem is I would really want an M model, and they didn't start making those until 1974, out of the range that is accepted in the race I want to run.

bravenrace wrote: In reply to fanfoy: I would likely have to remove the fender flares, but I may look into that one. Thanks!

I'd be half tempted to run with them until you're asked to do something. Depending on the club you may be fine since they're so small and don't really allow you to run wider tires.

In reply to atm92484:

Good point.

Check out

www.improvedtouring.com

Not much site traffic, but stuff does pop-up there sometimes.

In reply to fornetti14:

Thanks. I'll keep an eye on that one.

Hey guys, this just popped up on a Bring a Trailer Auction. Looking for opinions.

http://bringatrailer.com/listing/1960-alfa-romeo-giulietta-spider-super-veloce/

Then there's this one on Ebay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/301665238046?forcerRptr=true&item=301665238046&viewitem=

No one has any opinions on these cars? Seriously?

Price replacement fenders for the MGA. I have a friend who just got one to restore and had a bit of a sticker shock.

In reply to Apexcarver:

Good point. Looks like they are about $1500 for repro's. But I also found some decent used fenders on ebay for $150.

I really didn't think I'd have such a hard time getting opinions on two cool vintage race cars. I'm seriously looking to buy one, and would like some opinions from those with experience. Thanks!

Sorry, my direct MGA experience amounts to helping load one of them on a trailer and spitballing about another one getting ready to be restored.

In reply to Apexcarver:

No problem. My last post wasn't directed at you, as you are the only one that has replied! Thanks!

bravenrace wrote: I really didn't think I'd have such a hard time getting opinions on two cool vintage race cars. I'm seriously looking to buy one, and would like some opinions from those with experience. Thanks!

Probably b/c no one on here races vintage.

The Alfa probably sings nicer, but I really like the look of the MGA.

The Alfa will be at least $40k. In that condition, it's easily restorable back to $100k original value, plus the history and constant racing put much value into it.

A lot of Alfisiti I know prefer driving the 750/101 cars over the later 105/115 cars, but I never got close to finishing my pair before selling them.

As for some specifics- the 1500 engine and trans are obviously not original, and for that matter, you could not get a 5 speed in a 101, although the conversion to a 5 speed is like falling off a log. On the other hand, the 1495 engine upgrade is period- and well documented in the Competition Handbook. But it does say the engine and the trans come from a 105 chassis. No notes about the brakes- are they the original drums, proper Girling (but not original) disks, or later ATE disk conversion.

Cool car.

(but will sell for twice what I'm asking for my car)

That Alfa is an enormously attractive car. I was going to predict $30k, but I will defer to Alfadriver's expertise on this one.

Just thumbing through a CM competitor mag- have you considered a formula car? Seems like some of the FV's and more obscure FF's may fit your budget.

In reply to alfadriver:

Early Formula Fords tend to be very expensive.

In reply to Woody: Right, I'm not suggesting getting a $90k Lotus.

Remember, at the $2000 challenge, someone had a FF. And Formula cars are much more widely accepted than door slammers.

Ahem, I race vintage, so somebody does.

Hard to have an opinion on the MGA with so little information. Particularly with a race car, much of the quality of the car and what it needs has to do with the details-- what's in the engine, what's been done with the suspension, what transmission, etc., etc.

Also, with a vintage race car it is important to know what organization has accepted it. I understand from this is a VSCCA car, which means it would probably be accepted anywhere. The car is listed at $25k on the dealer's website, which is ridiculous, especially since it sounds like the motor is barely beyond street prepared and it just doesn't look very tidy. Though, again, there is very little to go by. I'd guess the reserve is at least $20k. Previously it got bid up to around $9k. Not sure I'd believe the supposed one bid at $12k now.

The fuel cell, for example, is a cheap POS type that I'd immediately want to replace with a real one. Shows that the builder was cutting corners, so who knows what other compromises were made. I'm surprised the car has been raced without a bulkhead between the trunk, where the fuel cell is, and the seats. That's a big no-no in most organizations, but maybe VSCCA isn't as concerned about that. Maybe they consider the trunk floor the bulkhead, but that cheap fuel cell has the fuel lines connected to the plastic liner. If you got rear-ended in that car the lines could break off and you'd probably get doused with fuel.

Compare that car (and ad) with this one:

http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/cars-for-sale/mg/a/1714852.html

Now, that looks like a well-prepped car with all the best in the motor and transmission. And probably a bargain at the price. The problem with that one, though, is venue-- many vintage racing organizations won't accept the tube shock conversion and the T9 gearbox and I don't know what else. Neither of which are in the '72 GCR, BTW, contrary to what is represented.

Bottom line, the red MGA is probably a $10k car as it sits, and you'd probably put another $10k into it to make it a really good race car. Though you could probably race it pretty much as is (PLEASE fix the fuel cell) and toodle around at the back of any given pack.

Vintage FF is a great way to go, but the entry fee for a decent car would probably start around $18k. FV is the cheapest entry point at a few thousand for a car, though I understand parts are getting tough and more expensive.

Well, you were craving opinions, so that's mine.

There are several of us on here who vintage race, while I love the Alfa I to believe Alfadriver is correct that it will go up a bit more but who knows you could score a deal. One thing I would add some sort of diagonal door bar at a minimum. I also know very little of MGA but on the red one I noticed the belts were not properly mounted. I prefer the silver and blue one even though the red one is pretty.

Formula Vees are indeed fun as long as you can deal with the lack of straight away speed (my Datsun leaves them down the straights). I owned one a number of years ago and had fun with it.

Formula Ford can be had for decent prices but it will need more care and feeding. If you are going to do a single seater there are some sports racers that are a good deal. An older D-sports with a stock bike engine can be user friendly although the level of performance can be a huge step up.

I'd say bid on the Alfa till it goes past your threshold, old race cars come up for sale often. Of the 6 other race cars I've had beside the Datsun I usually looked for several months before making the leap.

Tom

In reply to Basil Exposition:

Your's is exactly the kind of opinion I was looking for. I don't know enough about vintage racing or the cars, so I need someone knowledgeable enough to help me not make a mistake. So thank you! And all the others that have replied. It's all good information. Like I've said in the past, I am serious about doing this but I am also in no hurry. I want to buy a well built, well sorted, complete car that will be legal in most organizations. Yes, I have a budget, but it can vary depending on the car, the location, etc...