Ratty Classic

I have always wanted a British sports car...So when I was 17(1987) I found a 1972 MGB that was totally a POS. I bought it for 500 Bucks. I felt so good! That old B NEVER broke down. It smoked, leaked and all that other stuff used and abused sportscars do, but it simply never quite running. Of course like all fond memories leave only good memories, that car felt pretty powerful as well.

My point is this: I was one of those guys. So be nice to that kid driving the beater!

Leo

My first sports car (and my 2nd car) was a Fiat 124 Spider I paid $300 for. It was a POS that I spend multiple times the initial price on keeping running and legal, but the experiences were worth every penny. It eventually was the springboard to better examples and over 25 years of playing with sports cars.

What I learned from owning my GT6 can not be taught in schools or from books.

Life long lessons and friends earned.

Its provided pride and confidence in my workmanship and skills. Won't talk about the costs

And now I'm on the verge of launching my vintage racing phase.

Awesome.

My first car was my MGTD, I still have it. I bought it when I was 17, for $700. It had front and rear end damage, but it ran. After a lot of partial restorations over the years, I took it apart for a frame up restoration. I got sidetracked by a Jaguar project, but hope to get back to the TD next summer.

Even as a beater, the TD was cool on the road!

Dave

I like the rat rod concept. I don't like them to be contrived but cheap like their original intention. I would prefer a multi-carbbed in-line straight six to some 400HP crate motor sleeping under rough flat black bodywork. In my club the ratty cars are often driven by the best mechanics. Thumbs up from me.

Ron

Most of my Brit cars over the last 40 years have been street rats. The exception was my present race-Spridget. I wanted a nice, solid car to built for racing. And the '69 street MGB I have is very nice. But most have looked dreadful.

Right now, I have a semi-rat RWA Midget parts car that is donating it's 1275 to my A35 racer.

When the A35 is done, I still have tons of Spridget parts including two engines (not including the engine in my race-Spridget).

So it would be neat to save Midget and keep it as a semi-usable car rather than chop it up. We've looking at real estate right now and if the new place has more shop space, that will probably allow me to keep this car and (when I have time) build it as a street rat. All the safety stuff (ie-brakes, etc) would be good but the car will look ratty with no top and a speedster-type windscreen. So many ideas.....so little time.

My first car was a 71 MGB roadster with wires. A little rust was visible, but it was also about to fold in half over itself. I loved that car.

Got replaced with a 74 GT in far better shape, then a 71 GT in really good shape. I'm no longer really a roadster dude, but I still miss that first B sometimes.

I was new enough to driving to never have touched the limitations of the car, and nieve enough to imagine they extended farther than they really did.

But, driving down Michigan Avenue in the early autumn evening with the sound of the exhaust echoing off the inside wall and the sky juxtaposed with the lake and the city lights was the kind of experience that could make you overestimate your car and yourself.

Depends on what it is. If it's really unusual I'm glad for the chance to see it no matter what the condition. If it's another POS Camaro or Mustang I pay no attention either way. I've seen POS American cars before, one more gives me no emotion.

Steve