first classic-Herald 1200 ..weak valve springs??

[redratbike]

moved from here forum.retro-rides.org/thread/223837/first-classic-wanted

thanks for any replies on that thread i have edited my post slightly to fit in here

Hey guys

I’ll be in a position to buy a classic in the next few months i’m cashing in a very small pension that isn’t doing anything so thought i’d treat myself

I have been riding motorbike for some years but sitting astride/bent over motorbikes is making me ache these days the bigger belly doesn’t help either!

not had an older car as such since i had a beetle,mk1/2 escort,fiat 127, viva in the 80’s but of course they were not of an age to be classed as classics more old bangers ha ha

Just putting feelers out there to see what may be coming up for sale in the next few months

Quite open to what it is but herald/A40 farina/ mgb gt/ moggy minor have been on my radar and is more or less my final wish list

No full on projects i just do not have time for one of those seriously can’t get into welding etc…

don’t mind non-standard at all

i.e. engine swap etc

i’ll probably lightly mod what ever i buy anyway hopefully in the style of the cafe racer thread.

forum.retro-rides.org/thread/168437/cafe-racers-british-style-cars


so if anyone has any experience of the above cars pros/cons etc it would be good to hear.

thanks Mark

[pedalcarjoe]

That is not a bad "wishlist" and good luck with your search.

from memory
Triumph Herald front suspension / wishbones can be a real pain to replace if it is your first go

Moggy Minors kingpins can be fun to replace, so check them for wear

I like the idea of an A40 probably because you don't see too many about


if I can think of anything else I'll add it

[brachunky]

I know you have had one but a nice Viva with wider rostyles and a better motor is one of my tickles . It's the simplicity thats important to me nowadays. I don't want to be into remapping etc etc!

[zeberdee]

Some good info on Herald’s in here , from when i was looking .

forum.retro-rides.org/thread/221051/buying-triumph-herald

[redratbike]

thanks guys

some good info there yeah the front suspensions on i think all my wish list are pretty curse word i’ve been looking at all the conversions possible etc

random photo dump of cars
m the little fiat is up for sale right now but only running the standard motor

the viva has a lotus twin cam and is also for sale

[grumpybadger]

I'd pick the fiat given the choice.

Though it's probably the most awkward of engine swaps.

[redratbike]

Feb 1, 2023 18:55:39 GMT grumpybadger said:

I'd pick the fiat given the choice.

Though it's probably the most awkward of engine swaps.

yeah i love the abarth replica’s maybe an 850 swap or you need an early fiat 127 motor as that spins the right way then treat it to head cam carb exhaust for 100bhp

i do really like it and was looking at Seat cars in spain (which this actually is i have found out) and zastava’ s in Serbia as half my company are serbian based.

here’s the ad
£4500
Fiat 770
Spanish built so technically a Seat. Stripped interior, cage and single bucket seat, momo prototipo wheel, original interior included.
AVO coilovers and beam set up on the front, Sierra springs and adjustable AVO dampers on the rear.
Cromadora wheels.
Pretty solid all in all.
Also comes with a 900cc Cinquecento engine if the original 23bhp isn’t enough for you.
Drives exactly as you would imagine.
Going through the MOT/registration process at the moment.
Bruce. See less

[grumpybadger]

There are engine swaps a plenty for the rear engined fiats, everything from bike engines to turbo subarus.

They're just really awkward and expensive.

That said, if it's a solid car the rest is just nuts and bolts

[redratbike]

Feb 2, 2023 9:52:02 GMT grumpybadger said:

There are engine swaps a plenty for the rear engined fiats, everything from bike engines to turbo subarus.

They're just really awkward and expensive.

That said, if it's a solid car the rest is just nuts and bolts

oh yeah all sorts get show horned in them check out the hill climbers with the bike engines but too much work for me although i do have a few aprilia rsv1000 motors hanging about

[truckdoctor]

I have been lucky enough over the years to have owned all of these except the Fiat, and for my money the Beetle would do it for me once more but would fit these monster tyres and twin rear windows etc.I guess the good thing with your list is many parts are available to fix them up.

[redratbike]

trouble with beetles is the scene tax even rusty heaps are fetching £3k or more !!!

[igor]

Plenty of V8 Vivas here in New Zealand, or at least there were once upon a time. A fellow I knew in the early '90s used a four door HC with a 215 Buick engine to tow his race car transporter. Was quite deceptive in appearance looking just like a grandpa spec Viva with aftermarket wheels until you saw it doing 80mph towing the race car. Fairly sure the alloy block Buick/Rover V8 weighed near enough to the same as the 1256 Vauxhall four banger so he may not even have had to change the front springs.

[redratbike]

Feb 4, 2023 23:37:50 GMT igor said:

Plenty of V8 Vivas here in New Zealand, or at least there were once upon a time. A fellow I knew in the early '90s used a four door HC with a 215 Buick engine to tow his race car transporter. Was quite deceptive in appearance looking just like a grandpa spec Viva with aftermarket wheels until you saw it doing 80mph towing the race car. Fairly sure the alloy block Buick/Rover V8 weighed near enough to the same as the 1256 Vauxhall four banger so he may not even have had to change the front springs.

yeah i quite like the idea of a sleeper like that

[redratbike]

so no nice heralds for sale ,

the same with austin A40’s ,

nothing else is jumping out at me …so i started chasing mgb gt’s all week looks like i have been 1 step behind the dealers as they are snapping up all the decent cars i have literally missed out on 6 this week by about 30 mins to an hour.

one i saw last week sold and is already on a dealers website for £3k more without doing anything to it

so spring is round the corner and i thought i may miss the chance to grab one at a decent price but then ……

last night i saw an advert on gumtree about 11pm it had been listed for approx 35 hours at that time.

“Voted the best mg b in the the country and winning numerous concourse awards this is one of the cleanest mgb’s in existence. Historic restoration from spraytech in 1989 costing £7000 back then. Runs and drives really well starts on the button and is absolutely rust free. The paintwork has started to micro blister and to make perfect would need to be re done. Perfect project for show season or just use as is. Massive history file with all of its mots dating back from 1982 and dozens of first place certificates.”





there were just 2 photos of the car and a photo of loads of documents

the story is the guy that is selling it went to get an aston martin db2 for his company from a widow and he spotted this mg and a bmw 1602.

the bmw has been rebuilt in the last 6 months and this mg was going to be driven to see if he liked it enough to keep.

i called this morning to find out he had a load of interest and had already turned down offers more than the asking price from dealers as he promised it would go to a good home

i have left a small deposit on it , which he said if i don't like when viewed he will pass back to me !

the car is getting new discs ,calipers and front flexies i’d and new brake and clutch m/c’s including a clutch slave and line then MOT.

had a great chat with him and feel i was in the right place at the right time


the guy was a very honest guy has a collection of cars and needs space to add some more cars


so once the car is ready looks like a trip from Kent to Durham for a nice drive home.

as Grizz would say ..life is good

[redratbike]

not got the car yet goes for an MOT this week

it’s now had the front brakes mentioned previously all sorted

rear brake cylinders and pipes , oil and filters , plugs and leads , new water pump and flush through, fan belt , thermostat , new batteries , fuel pump and pipe.

[redratbike]

just been told MOT is monday

we’ll see if the seller has to spend more money on it

[pedalcarjoe]

Feb 24, 2023 13:42:32 GMT redratbike said:

just been told MOT is monday

we’ll see if the seller has to spend more money on it

I hope it all works out for you

[pauly22]

MGB is such a good choice, easy to work on, parts are easy to get, you can tinker with it, and they are quick and keep up with modern traffic.

Car looks good.

[redratbike]

still not mot’d but i did tell him there was no rush.

pauly22 that was reason .. every nut and bolt even body shells can be bought

i have always liked the shape of these and can’t wait to get my hands on it and make it mine with a few mods already got a shopping list of parts i’d like to lower and make it handle a little better.

[at200]

Good choice. If I was buying another classic I would choose something that has loads of cheap parts available,especially repair panels, and probably look for tax and mot exempt too. I'm too old now to wait months or years for a rare bit of trim to come up on ebay and be relieved it's not completely knackered and 'only' £30 when the price of brand new classic Beetle parts is crazy cheap.