There are still some nice people out there!

I think some people have the dyno sheets to back up the claim, but they're usually modified to quite a high level.

Yup, I've seen a few of those. One we looked at looked very reasonable, but you basically had to chip the oil off the dipstick.

I've had a Eunos Roadster and I've had an X1/9. I'd buy another Eunos/MX-5 without thinking much about it but I've had my fill of X1/9s. The Mazda *is* a considerably better car and handles rather well.

... and I'd still say the MX-5 is a better car. Especially if you tweak the engine a little. The Fiat is a nice car but you do notice that time has moved on a little.

I'm pretty sure it was - nobody in their right mind works on the heater hoses on those cars.

Ah yes, everybody now: "They all do that sir".

Mind you, if I buy some s**te old Brit car that's about to grenade itself, I may well do it in style and buy an Interceptor.

Hmm? Not quite sure what you mean with this? If you're referring to the Pan, it was the rear wheel that the muppet mechanic screwed up, not the swingarm.

Steve's unfortunately very right about this.

Yes, well to bring you back to reality Colin Chapman believed that every vehicle should finish its journey broken, having done exactly as much was expected of it and no more.

And Lotus did achieve the unbelieveable by making a vehicle that handled better than anything Italian for a fraction of the price, but that looked as if it were designed by Fisher Price and was less reliable than even the very worst of Italian cars.

Considerable achievements all round.

Oh and you really do have to be a jockey to drive one.

I'm selling an Interceptor III Convertible.... 440 ci V8, uprated cooling system, geared starter, 17500 miles from restoration (early '90s, not proven but very believable), red, nearly white leather, BF Goodrichs, new Edelbrock

That was it...

I agree about the MX5 being better than the 124 spyder as well. I seriously rate Mk1 MX5s drove one of those nutty multicoloured ones years ago with the BBR Turbo conversion - one of the finest days driving I've ever had and I've driven some seriously weird and exotic stuff over the years.

I'm itching to build a V8 MX5. I've met the lunatic from Northwich who built one a few years ago and that thing is pretty legendary.

Hrrmmmmm. I actually do prefer the looks of the coupe, plus I couldn't find a spare 20k behind the sofa at the moment.

Yup, they're really nice cars. Turbo conversions (and the Supercharger conversion) are pretty easy to get and not *that* expensive, either.

Hmm, I'd be worried that it'll upset the weight balance.

I thought the rover V8 was pretty lightweight, being a compact ally lump

- ISTR that it was 15kg or so heavier than the original lump, or something.