Bob,
Owned a 1953 Drophead in 1971. It was OK then-but the other cars on the road
were American cars of the sixties. They were quite a a bit quicker but probably
had smaller brakes then the ST and their handling was terrible. Back in the
fifties the ST's were running against other fifties cars plus had drivers like
Stirling Moss (who could probably win an international rally driving a
skateboard!). No argument, the ST's were GREAT cars for their time-but times
have changed. It also depends on where you live..... the New Jersey drivers
were rated about the worst in the country by a Trucker's magazine survey (and I
believe them having driven here for 27 years).
For example, I was nearly side swiped by a mini-van on the way to a show in my
Minx this fall-the driver was talking to his passenger and wandered into my
lane-hard stomp on the brakes to avoid him and HE gave me a dirty look!!! I've
had people wave at me and then cut in front of me and stomp on their brakes!!!
I am sorry to say that disk brakes beat drum brakes every time-Consumer Reports
reported at least a 10% improvement in braking distances.
So, yes a ST 90 is a great car but I would not consider one for touring in the
New York/New Jersey area, maybe in more civilized parts of teh country.
Jan
Bob Hamilton <hamilton@accesswave.ca> wrote:
> Well, I have survived on the roads for the past 38 years with the
drophead coupe and can't remember when I have come close to having to
perform a performance manoeuvre, but I'm sure the 12" finned brake drums
(do the Series cars have drums this large?) will bring me to a pretty
secure stop in time if required. I also drive defensively, not
aggressively. BTW, the steering is 2.5 turns lock to lock which allows for
some precise handling if required. Of course it doesn't handle like a
sports car (they weigh 3,000 lbs, even the MK Alpines) but must they have
had some redeeming engineering features to be able to win or place in, I
believe 5 Alpine Rallies in the early to mid fifties and in the 4 door
sedans, sorry, saloons.
Try one out sometime, if you can find one. You might just like it.
Later,
Bob
At 10:26 PM 10/25/2000 -0400, jeyerman@ix.netcom.com wrote:
>Bob,
>
>You do not mention handling or having to stop hard when some idiot cuts in
>front of you or does some other stupid maneuver. The problem is handling
>and braking.
>
>Jan
>
>
>Bob Hamilton wrote:
> > Geltlemen,
>
> Ah, but there is no comparison between the 2.3 litre Sunbeam
>Talbot OHV engine and an early Hillman Minx. I cruise comfortably at 60-65
>mph all day (~3,000 rpm) if required in any of my Sunbeam Talbots and MKI
>Alpine. I have logged over 3,500 miles this year alone on the 1953 Alpine.
>They are a comfortable touring car, not a bumpy little sports car....(I can
>hear the keyboards pounding now! ........smile...)
>
>Later,
>Bob
>
>
>At 09:54 PM 10/25/2000 -0400, jeyerman@ix.netcom.com wrote:
> >I too have had the itch for a somewhat exotic car-being a Hillmanite, the
> >car was a 1951 Hillman Minx. A mistake.... why? I loved the car, it was
> >neat but it had an absolute top speed of about 60 MPH and that sounded and
> >felt like it was about to take off or blow it's poor little engine all
> >over the macadam. That really wasn't the main problem though- at 40 MPH
> >it felt like a modern car doing 120 .... on ice. Handling was terrible
> >(even with a rebuilt suspension). So, a 10 mile trip to a local car show
> >was an experience you would not want to repeat. I could have trailered it
> >but what is the fun in that?
> >
> >A Series I Alpine is a very driveable car-it goes, turns and stops with
> >modern cars-thus road trips can be fun. A Sunbeam Talbot 90 might not be
> >as much fun an Interstate. It will probably go OK, but the handling and
> >braking will be pure early 1950's.... pretty poor. You will develop a
> >great admiration of the skill and courage of the drivers who rallied it
> >accross the Alps in Winter....
> >
> >Jan Eyerman
> >1959 Hillman Minx
> >1973 Plymouth Cricket
> >ex-owner of 2 1951 Hillmans plus about 100 other Rootes sedans, wagons and
> >convertibles.
> >
> >bmounce@impop.bellatlantic.net wrote:
> > > You're crazy; God bless you!
> >
> >I have noted over the years that people who like offbeat/unusual/not
> >run-of-the-mill/etc cars strive for increasingly rare and unusual cars to
> >increase the challenge and draw admiring glances from the average person
> >and even from the people who drive 'exotic' cars, like Ferraris. This is
> >healthy!
> >
> >If you've asked the question, you know the answer- scratch your itch!
> >
> >Bill
> >
> >Alex & Peggy McGregor wrote:
> >
> > > I'm thinking of selling my S1 and buying a 54 Talbot Drophead Coupe.
> > > Anybody want to tell me I'm crazy and/or offer encouragement, and why?
>
>=========================================================
>Robert (Bob) A.C. Hamilton, Waverley, Nova Scotia, Canada
>The Man of Many Sunbeams - Alpine, Drophead and Saloon 1953-1954
>[Stable mates - 1973 Midget and 1968 M-B 280SE]
>Home Page: www.navnet.net/~hamilton
>BATANS Home Page: www.batans.ns.ca
>E-Mail: hamilton@accesswave.ca
>=========================================================
=========================================================
Robert (Bob) A.C. Hamilton, Waverley, Nova Scotia, Canada
The Man of Many Sunbeams - Alpine, Drophead and Saloon 1953-1954
[Stable mates - 1973 Midget and 1968 M-B 280SE]
Home Page: www.navnet.net/~hamilton
BATANS Home Page: www.batans.ns.ca
E-Mail: hamilton@accesswave.ca
=========================================================
|