> From: Andy Mace
> On Fri, 23 Dec 1994, Mike Causer wrote:
>
> > All praise to Caterham -- they are about the only ones left of
> > the British sports car tradition!
>
> Mike, no offense, but perhaps the Messrs. Morgan might take umbrage at
> such a statement? And, higher up the scale, perhaps Ford -- through its
> Jaguar and Aston Martin connections -- would similarly feel sloughed
> over? ;-)
I was thinking really about the outfits who were trying to build the
neatest, fastest car they could for minimum outlay. Morgan, I'm
afraid, have never appealed to me -- and the only two I've driven were
amazingly heavy. I know lots of folks like them, but they are '30s
cars.
Jaguar haven't made a sports car (by my definition) since the demise of
the 6-cylinder E-type, nor Aston since the DB4 perhaps. Everyone's
definition of sports car will be different. I might allow the Ford
RS200 in though ;-)
> Otherwise, I agree. Even ignoring the sports car side of the market, there
> did seem to be a much wider range of choice of distinctively different
> vehicles. Convertible bodies available in, say, the Triumph Herald and
> Vitesse range or the Morris Minor;
That side of the market is thriving in Europe though, you can get
almost any medium-sized car directly from the manufacturers as a
convertible, and aftermarket conversions for many others -- even Mini!
> providing the sort of vehicle so many of Scions are so fond of -- a
> relatively basic 2-seater roadster/convertible (or coupe/GT variant) with
> a bit of personality, responsiveness and that comfortable-pair-of-shoes feel.
Good definition.
> Sigh...ouch! (just tripped getting down off the soapbox!)
Guess I'm going to get flamed by Moggie-fanciers now, no offense meant
really.
Happy Saturnalia!
Mike
Mike Causer Setanta Technology mike@setanta.demon.co.uk
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