The Stovebolt Site Forums The Back Office The Greasy Spoon 4 cylinder air cooled

QUOTE JOHN MILLIMAN:

"Carb King -- We were posting *our* versions of the greatest in-line sixes ... if that helps any. Too much overwrought Euro trash in the Hagerty list (in my opinion... REAL sports cars have 4 cylinders, not 6 ... or 8 ... or 12, and they're cooled by air -- if you want to waste hp lugging around a radiator and a bunch of water ya can't drink ... well, its a free country wink ))

Just sayin' ... for a friend ..."

END QUOTE

John - transferred this one to the 'Spoon.

I read your comment, and thought "what is he talking about" !

Before being bitten by the "Buy American" bug, I owned more than 100 various sports cars (all British, except for a couple of 956's, and a couple of Fairladys). I cannot think of any 4 cylinder air cooled sports cars other than Porsche, and Google was no help either. I suppose there are some that would argue about the VW Ghia, but not going there.

My 356 was the car used as a prototype for the Flintstone "propel with your feet" car, after 3 Missouri salt and cinder winters.

Jon

Jon ... Of course I was talking Porsches. Including the one that launched VW as a brand. I wasn't aware that there were any other "sports" car marques worth discussing among gentlemen ... ??

I think maybe older sports car enthusiasts are even more rabid concerning marque preference than truck enthusiasts !

The reader may decide if the comment above referred to older sports cars, or older enthusiasts (or both)

John - before I was bitten by the "Buy American" bug, I owned at least one of all of the following, recognized by SCCA.

Austin Healey Sprite
Austin Healey 3000
Chevrolet Corvette
Datsun Fairlady 1600
Datsun Fairlady 2000
Honda S-600
Jaguar XK-120
Jaguar XK-140
Jaguar MK II
MGA
MGB
MG Midgit
Porsche 356
Triumph TR-2
Triumph TR-3
Triumph TR-4

I guess my favorite of the group would be the Fairlady 2000.

Tied for second would be the XK-120, the S-600, and the TR-3.

Does this opinion mean I lose my "gentleman" status ?

Now all water under the bridge, and distant memories.

If I win the lottery (difficult, I don't play), I would be looking for an XK-SS or an early XKE fixed head coupe.

As one ages, dreams and memories tend to merge.

Hope you still have yours and enjoy it.

Jon

Since there are very few rules in the Spoon, I feel empowered to go slightly off-topic.

YouTuber Superfast Matt has an S-600 that is motorcycle engine powered. Worth checking out, it’s pretty nuts. In a good way.

I don’t know that I’ve ever seen an S600 in the flesh.

I don't see any Italian cars in the group, just saying

JW - the S-600 was the most interesting of the lot, and the reason I became good at adjusting multiple carbs. As I remember it, the S-600 came with a motorcycle engine, and four carburetors.

Fast55 - because of local "reputation", both my boss (Fiat 500) and a friend of his (Fiat 124) "allowed" me to tune their vehicles. Enough experience for two lifetimes ! With what I now know, I should have quoted Johnny Paycheck in answering the request !

Jon

Jon, now that's an impressive resume! My list (short though it is) parallels yours in places. I miss em all and am semi on the hunt for a driver TR3.

'61 TR3

'62 XKE

'67 TR4A

'75 Fiat 124 Spider

Don't know if the '90 Miata MX-5 with 302 V8 power qualifies but it sure is fun!

RR

I raced a Honda S-600 on Okinawa. Its big brother, the S-800 was even more fun. There's something about a 10,500 RPM redline that sounds sort of like a bumblebee on steroids!
Jerry

Fast55 -- There's a reason for that ...

Jon -- I have no real sportscar experience, actually. I was almost born in a 356 Cabriolet (and would have been if Dad was any less of a driver ...) and I've owned about 12 VWs (Type 1 and 2). A friend went overseas and let me drive his Alfa Romeo Spider for 6 months ... I gladly gave it back.

I tried to sit in another friend's Bug Eye Sprite (he was going to let me drive it) but it was too cramped and uncomfortable for me. One of my Academy classmates let me drive his TR-4 ... I was less than impressed.

I stayed with my '70 Chevelle convertible for 7 years (sold it in '93) and it was fun but I don't really miss it.

I do love air cooled VWs and would love to own a '63 cabriolet someday but all in all, the most fun 2-seater sporty vehicle to drive, for me, is my former work truck -- '84 359 Pete road tractor with the big cam 400, 13-speed RoadRanger, "Corvette" dash, National air seat, wet kit and a short wheel base. I'd rather drive it around than any sportscar you could offer me. Maybe not the quickest or most nimble vehicle on the road, but it will drag 50-tons of excavator down the road nicely -- Try THAT with a Lambo

@John: What is a "wet kit" in this context?

Hydraulics. On ole 25, I used the hydraulic line for a 48-ft end dump trailer and a 53-ft/50-ton Removable Gooseneck (drop deck) trailer.

John - I tried, but I simply cannot visualize a birth in a 356 !!! Glad your Dad was a skilled driver.

As a young man, I had a LOT of fun out of the various sports cars I owned. ALL were purchased used, many in a state of "ya gotta be a mechanic to keep this thing on the road".

Most had attributes that made them enjoyable, simply because of the differences.

Examples:

Even though the TR-3 would start easily with the electric starter; it was so much fun when leaving the mall to open the boot, withdraw the crank, insert the crank through the special hole in the radiator, and start the engine. I now wish I had video evidence of watchers.

The S-600, in addition to the 4 carburetors, had chain drive. The torque in the chain case caused the rear end of the car to rise rather than squat under heavy acceleration.

The TR-3 had an electric overdrive on 4th gear. A little "engineering" and the overdrive could be used on all gears. Shifting 7 times, although quite unnecessary, was quite impressive.

The Austin Atlantic had a third headlight ala Tucker.

A friend had an MG-TD that needed an engine rebuild. There was really no good place to hook a hoist on the rear of the engine, so we left the transmission in place, and two of us carried the engine / transmission down the stairs into his basement for rebuilding.

Sold a Midgit to the son of my boss while he was in highschool. Every weekend, he came to the house with a new "rattle" (this in December). For Christmas, I gave him a pair of earmuffs. He drove that Midgit his junior and senior years of high school, and at least 2 years of college with no problems (after he got the earmuffs).

Another friend had a Sunbeam Alpine. We used to cruise the streets until we ran into a hater in a big V-8 who wanted to race. My friend always would answer sure, but I have traction problems; will you allow me to go home and put on some better tires? (he also owned a Tiger with the exact paint color).

Lots of fond memories.

Jon

LOL, that reminds me of the time in college when I helped a guy R&R the engine in a Sunbeam Alpine (at least I think that's what it was - that was many moons ago.) I still have the evidence of that effort in the form of an L shaped scar on the end of my left pinkie that resulted when I didn't get it out of the way when reinstalling the engine using the 4-armed engine lift.