WHY AN OLD BRITISH CAR?

Take a trip to any one of the many British car events that take place throughout the driving season in the United States or abroad, and ask any British car owner this question:  Why do you spend so much of your time with an old British car?  If you're short on time, you really must be prepared when asking this question, because you'll most likely get an ear-full of stories about all facets of the British car hobby that have become so popular.  Many times, you will have trouble pulling yourself away from the conversation!  However, among all of the interesting stories you will hear, there will be one common denominator.  Fun!

These quaint old iron crocks are no longer just a means of simple, affordable, fun-filled transportation for people to use and abuse as they once were during the old days when they were still rolling off the assembly lines.  today most of the older British cars you will see on the roads have been carefully restored and maintained to high quality standards, and are more superior than ever.  All of their infamous weaknesses have been seriously dealt with, and those minor nuisances are now a thing of the past... in most cases.  Twenty-five or more years ago, a person would have purchased a British car such as an Austin-Healey as a means of enjoyable everyday transportation for driving to and from work, school, errands, or simply for pleasure.  It was very common to see them driving the car in the fog, rain, sleet, snow, ice, and anything else that Mother Nature could conjure up.

If the bucket seats became too drenched during a rainstorm, it wasn't necessarily because the hood was left in the down position.  In more cases than many would like to admit, it was because the hood had more rips and holes in it than an old cotton battery rag.  In any case, the owner would simply pull a dry towel from the boot and wipe off the seats the best they could. However, this was not a cause for worry, because the heat generated from the warm sun and breeze generated while driving the car would eventually dry the rest of the interior before the next rainstorm.  The car would be enjoyed but not totally appreciated for several  years, and then once the wear and tear deemed it unreliable to its owner, he or she would simply roll the car under a tree or behind a bush next to the house for Mother Nature to deal with.  Many times the owner had good intentions to rescue it at a later date, but in most cases that did not happen.  If it did happen, it wasn't always soon enough!

During recent times, the British cars that have survived their "well used" early days are becoming highly sought after treasured pieces of motoring history.  Especially by those who recognize their unmatched simple but very create beauty, and the great seat of your pants driving fun they provide.  The more serious owners typically own more than one, and have built their lives around them as if they were house pets.  In some cases replacing their dogs and cats!.  Well, fortunately for my dog, I haven't reached that point yet.  Car clubs that support various British marques are doing quite well, and remanufactured parts are in abundance.  In fact, many care models can be built brand new from the ground up, simply by choosing the part numbers from a catalog.

I was once visiting a British car show in Indianapolis with my wife and sister, when we happened to come upon a really cool Lotus Seven proudly gleaming among all the other British cars of all makes.  Since my sister was totally unfamiliar with many of the models featured, especially the cars rarely seen on the streets in the United States, I chose this day to educate her about British cars the best I could.  I turned to her while standing next to the Lotus and said, "This car is a real rocket!" referring to the Lotus as being fast.  Well, a fairly large chap, who was obviously the owner of the car, and within an earshot, turned to me with a very disturbed look on his face and said, 'What did you say about my car!?!"  I looked at him sheepishly, and with an apologetic tone said, "I said your car is a rocket... meaning it's fast."  He then gave me a half smile with a nod, and went back to his business.  I have no idea what he thought I had said, but I'm sure glad he didn't mind that I called his car fast.  this really helped me realize how important these cars have become to their owners.  In fact, I believe I have now become of those owners.

So why do we spend so much of our spare time with our British cars?  Well, let me try to answer this.  As with many people, for me it is many things.  The British car hobby, as an entity, is very rewarding for me.  I enjoy the hunt when I am looking for a certain car or part.  While browsing through the newspaper or Internet classifieds, I never know what hidden treasures I might find.  I enjoy researching the vast selection of books and magazines available on the subject, in hopes of finding a better or different way of doing things.  I feel that while spending a little bit of my hard-earned money on a hobby, this hobby has a monetary return down the road should I decide to trade or sell for another British car in mind.  I appreciate the ease of working on these cars.  Most everything can be easily rebuilt with simple hands, and common tools, or replaced fairly inexpensively.  I enjoy tearing apart a deprived car, then rebuilding it to even better standards than the beautiful car it once was.  Each time learning more, and then producing better results than the last experience.  I enjoy the wonderful camaraderie with good people, and helping others with the same interests.  I enjoy the very positive experience it provides for me in a world that is full of less desirable experiences.

However, most important of all is the fantastic driving experience.  working your way into the  little leather bucket drivers seat, and then turning the ignition key (in some cases pushing a starter button) to create an exciting chain of events that will provide hours upon hours of unforgettable entertainment.  Beginning with the centrifugal force created at the whirling starter motor, which causes the starter gear to connect to the flywheel, which turns the crankshaft, that tugs on the timing chain, which turns the camshaft, that rotates the distributor shaft, which opens and closes the points, that causes electricity to flow through the ignition wires, which creates an arc at the tips of the sparkplugs, that causes an explosion inside the gas filled cylinders, which forces the pistons to move, and in a very round about way, causes the wheels to turn.  If everything else in functioning, as they should, you will hear the wonderful unmistakable British car burbling chorus choir echoing out of the tailpipe.

After relishing the moment, you then take glance at the gauges to make sure all of the indicators are pointing in the right direction.  Everything appears normal, so you fasten yourself in, grab onto the steering wheel, and look beyond the bonnet to see that all is clear ahead before takeoff.  With the clutch pedal to the floor, gear selector knob in first, you rev the engine until your ears hear just the right sound.  with a grin of approval on your face, and a slight shiver of excitement throughout your body, you release the clutch pedal to begin your way on a splendid journey down some long forgotten trail that will take you to who-cares-where in an automobile that only wants to please its driver.  Gladly, your only concern is the anticipation of what pleasures the trip will provide just beyond that next twisty turn.  If you are one of the faithful, I promise there will be plenty of pleasant surprises in store for you further down that open road.  Life just doesn't get much better than this.