And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Friday, September 6, 2019
Almost certainly due to the Lucas electrical system
Ahh! Having owned a MkII and E-type, that there is the inestimable confluence of a leaking SU Carburettor or three, and Lucas High Tension spark plug wires (you can see the pretty blue sparks jumping to ground along same if you open the hood at night).
Road & Track back in the day had a picture of a Vickers something fighter instrument panel with the caption, "Smiths instruments that actually work." I had a MkII with a lot of cosmetic problems. It appeared to have been parked outside under an oak tree with the windows down. It needed seats, door panels and carpet. I refinished the wood and put in a new headliner. Rebuilt the brakes, power brake unit and SU's. Someone had put probably a 4.2 in it, relocated the battery to the trunk and cut holes in the inner fender panel to clear the carbs. It had an automatic which matched that of a '54 Hudson in my old Motor's Manual. It needed more work than I either had money or skills to accomplish. The instruments worked, though. Even the "Chronometric Tachometer". I never should have bought the thing but I had wanted a Jag for years. I could have bought an E-type for not much more than I spent on my '69 alfa but I had a thing for Italian cars at the time. I was about to buy a used one in '78 but we needed a new family car and I missed my chance. I stayed pissed for 18 months.
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ReplyDelete"Lucas, Prince of Darkness"
ReplyDelete" Why do the British drink warm beer? Because they have Lucas refrigerators"
Yes, I've owned several 60-70-80 british cars.
One of my college buddies had “Lucas - Prince of darkness” t-shirt. It featured a fist holding black lightning bolts.
DeleteWhy yes, he and I BOTH have owned cars as as described, how did you know? ;-)
He had an MG Midget, I still have a pair of Jensen Healeys - a 73 convertible and a 76 GT. Some of us never learn...
The three positions of a Lucas lightswitch? Dim, flicker, off.
ReplyDeleteLucas makes Airbus parts...happy flying!
ReplyDeleteAhh! Having owned a MkII and E-type, that there is the inestimable confluence of a leaking SU Carburettor or three, and Lucas High Tension spark plug wires (you can see the pretty blue sparks jumping to ground along same if you open the hood at night).
ReplyDeleteRoad & Track back in the day had a picture of a Vickers something fighter instrument panel with the caption, "Smiths instruments that actually work."
ReplyDeleteI had a MkII with a lot of cosmetic problems. It appeared to have been parked outside under an oak tree with the windows down. It needed seats, door panels and carpet. I refinished the wood and put in a new headliner. Rebuilt the brakes, power brake unit and SU's. Someone had put probably a 4.2 in it, relocated the battery to the trunk and cut holes in the inner fender panel to clear the carbs. It had an automatic which matched that of a '54 Hudson in my old Motor's Manual. It needed more work than I either had money or skills to accomplish. The instruments worked, though. Even the "Chronometric Tachometer". I never should have bought the thing but I had wanted a Jag for years. I could have bought an E-type for not much more than I spent on my '69 alfa but I had a thing for Italian cars at the time. I was about to buy a used one in '78 but we needed a new family car and I missed my chance. I stayed pissed for 18 months.
When I had LBCs, my shop owner had a poster for Lucas Vacumn Cleaners.
ReplyDelete"If it's Lucas, you know it sucks"