Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Ellis]

In 1996 when my Jaguar Mark 2 was restored and ready to use, I asked my friend, sadly now the late Roy McBurnie, who had rebuilt the 3.4 litre engine as to how to run it in properly.
His reply was to be careful for the first 100 miles "...and then, if it wants to go, let it go.."

After ditching the crossply tyres for some Michelin 185 HR 15 radials and about 150 miles later I decided to give it's head one afternoon in the December, a dry fine day without any ice or frost.

The XK 3.4 litre engine is a grunty old powerplant and I was impressed by the torque until the engine came "on cam" and growled it's way up the rev counter and speedo.
Changing up to 4th at around 70mph I pressed the loud pedal again, the bonnet came up slightly and the rear wheels seemed to dig in and ..............
I chickened out at 90! There was a bend coming up and I had to slow down to 60 or so, and even with 4 disc brakes, Dunlop calipers and servo assistance, braking was not a confidence inspiring experience. The body roll was disconcerting as well.

Performance and Series Land Rovers do not go together, so I don't bother trying to find limits.

The last classic car driven spiritedly I was a passenger in was a Sunbeam Alpine Series 3 owned by the same Roy McBurnie twelve months before he passed away. As a former amateur rally driver, he knew how to handle a car and I was surprised how good an Alpine was both in performance and roadholding.

Most classic cars are driven modestly in deference to their age and perhaps value.

Have any of you explored the performance limits of your classic?
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Starting Handle Expert

1964 Jaguar Mark 2 3.4 litre
1962 Land Rover Series 2a 88"
2002 BMW M3 E46 Cabriolet

[mikeC]

I don't know about driving to the limits, but I do drive my Austin Seven hard - it's the only way to make progress
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in the garage: 1938 Talbot Ten Airline
Recently departed: 1953 Lancia Appia, 1931 Austin Seven, 1967 Singer Chamois, 1914 Saxon, 1930 Morris Cowley, 1936 BSA Scout, 1958 Lancia Appia coupe, 1922 Star 11.9 ... the list goes on!

[roverdriver]

When I owned my 1928 Model A Ford, I would often 'open her up'. I was electronically timed during a replica 'Le Mans' race during the 1972 International at 72.6 mph. Frequently on freeway (motorway) driving, I was told that I had been travelling at over 70 mph. (at the time my speedo was not working). The car was completely standard apart from a re-bore to + 30 thou, and a skim off the head and block of just a few thou.


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Dane- roverdriver but not a Viking.

[peter scott]

Until I replaced my dural rods with steel and balanced the engine I always kept the revs below 3500 and was gentle not to overload but now I'm happy to extend the engine which is much smoother now at high revs.

I've never taken her to her maximum speed in top (20.16 mph/1000) but I'm quite happy to take her to 66 mph in third (14.7 mph/1000) The rev limit is 4500 rpm.

Peter
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http://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

[Phil - Nottingham]

I often drive our S2 & S3 SWB petrol Land Rovers with accelerator flat on the floor. This must be near 70 mph but few other cars pass me. The speedo needle on the S2 goes right round to the Zero stop.

I use the performance of the Rover P4, P5 and P5B acceleration and roadholding wise but not past the legal limits these days but they will motor

I am more gentle with the 1938 P2 but as a 2.1L 6 its will cruise all day at 60 mph indicated
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Rover P2
Rover P4
Rover P5 & P5B
Land Rover S2 & S3
Morris Mini Traveller Mk2

[MikeEdwards]

Wen I first bought the Firenza, it was my everyday car and it was driven quite quickly, more so in terms of acceleration than outright top speed. These days I'm a bit more sympathetic, and recently discovered how hard it is to get some engine bits, and how much poorer the economy is when it's pushed, so it is driven much more sedately most of the time. Sometimes I open it up a bit just to clear things out, and of course on motorways it will generally sit with normal traffic speeds.

[BigJohn]

Admit on an open forum? Nah!
But I have a Mk1 Escort and in the words of the great Walter Rohl
“Good drivers have dead flies on the sidewindows.”
But I now drive a lot more sedately.

[Rootes75]

I have pushed the Minx up to 50mph and that was scary! Not a very stable car at that speed especially over our awful potholed roads!
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Various Rootes Vehicles.

[peter scott]

[ukdave2002]

I once overtook a Vauxhall Corsa driven by a young lad in my Morris 8 Series E the E was pretty much on the limit!

Dave

[alanb]

I often drive my Morris 8 two seater at 50+ on straight roads but slow well before any bends, I don't have a great deal of faith in its cornering abilities.
I have become far to used to my modern Mercedes.
I frequently drove my 1955 Standard 8 at its limits drifting it round bend on its crossply tyres, jumping its front wheels over hump back bridges, reving the engine to its limits all to get it to 65mph and stay ahead of my mate in his Austin a30, but then we were only 19 years old and our cars less than 10.
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old tourer


Morris 8 two seater

[MikeEdwards]

[richytanimal]

A couple of years ago while doing some 'parade' laps around Castle Combe. Flat out I managed about 88mph. Not bad for a ton & a half of car with a 1703cc Consul engine with twin carbs & aquaplane manifolds with a 3 speed box.
Considering she has leaf springs all round I thought she handled quite well, didn't realise just how far she was leaning until I got this picture of me at full tilt with my foot flat to the floor.

[alanb]

What car is it ?
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old tourer


Morris 8 two seater

[richytanimal]

1956 Paramount Sports, approx 80 built from 1950 to 1959

A few more pics here https://www.flickr.com/photos/richytanimal/albums/72157631843603965