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MG MG Y Type - I'm Lost For Words

After reading the last spate of postings i am almost speechless i thought the idea of owning a and renovating a classic car was to keep as near to original build as possible,to drive a car with very basic engineering is a joy and very pleasurable and reliable.ign,Umg624 has been with us since 1961 done around 300,000 miles and still has the same distributer and coil it came with even the condenser is the same only points roterarm and the cap have been changed it starts instanly and even if left a couple of weeks its only a second or two so why do i need solidstate devices.SU pumps absolutly reliable provided you keep the points cleaned or replaced and no airleaks in the system, i have aquired lots of su pumps including brass bodied ones that have been laying around for years, i've had them running within a few minutes never had a diaphram problem so why do i need a solid state pump. i could go on and on about this craze to modernise Ys you don't find people with cars built before 1940/30/20/10etc etc constantly modernising their cars they are happy enough to drive them as built.If enough Ys are fitted with solid state electrics alts/5 speedboxs high ratio axles and radial tyres etc etc the DVLA will be kicking us out of the classic car category
of taxation into the mordern section, there is already whispering about modernised classics.
John UMG624 UNMODIFyd
PS After this not sure title is quite right!!
JC Jebb

I accept your point of view John, but bear in mind that Marc is looking to get ready for an event in a very short time frame, so I suspect he is trying to make it as trouble free as quickly as possible & draw on the collective knowledge here. Don't knock enthusiasm.

It's sounds like an epic event - JohnO'Groats to Monaco - I'd want to be sure I got to the finish too.

I personally prefer points in distributors and pumps - but I always carry spares too !.

Cheers

Tony
A L SLATTERY

All,

I can see both of your points of view here. I see the benefits of modifications when it comes to safety (Lights) but personally would opt against improvements such as 5 speed gearboxes that turn a Y into more modern car.

My Y is for the back slower roads, through scenic country side, get there when I get there point of view.

Originality is key for me, if I want a modern drive, I take the every day car, less fun but quicker.

I also think Marc's racing with his two cars have also publicised the Y's having seen several of his cars featured in articles and this is a good thing, so if modification is required to achieve the goal, I think the two uses racing and pleasure driving on public roads are being used in two slightly different ways so perhaps can understand the reasons for making the changes.

One thing for Marc to ensure is he has good breakdown cover and knows the small print of his contract. When I broke down in Germany they promised to get my car repaired first, if not possible they would repatriate me seperate to my car, first going into storage and then back to UK within 3 weeks, this wasn't acceptible so I arranged my own recovery via my Uncle coming across to collect me & my car (we do not part company). Equally most insurances will pay out on modern cars if the repatriation costs outweigh the value of car so make sure it is classic car recovery that negates this. Some continental recovery also limits cars to less than 10 year of age.

R E Knight

John - not quite speechless!

Anyway, UMG 662 never finished the rally in 54 (got there but was disqualified) - I would like to ensure she does this time round. In the ideal world I would leave the points etc and may still do - at least I know how to fix them - unlike electronic ignition. The alternator is all about being seen and seeing better. The roads are just so much busier than in the 50s. Other road users do not keep an eye out for old cars. Maybe LEDs are the answer and I will look into that. The car already has a 5 speed box courtesy of a couple of owners ago. In fact that's what put me off buying the car a few years ago and it was on my list to change it back (it came with the old gearbox). However for this event I can use the 5 speed box and I think it will be a great benefit to the engine!

PS UHK 111 is exactly as it raced in 53 save for seatbelts and radials as opposed to crossplys..) and has full FIA papers to reflect that. After the Monte UMG 662 will be turned back to its 53 state too so it can get its FIA papers as well.
Marc Hanson

John, your thread title and subsequent post are absolutely wonderful, I could almost hear Victor Meldrew saying: "I don't bloody believe it!"
The tyres on my Y, although a full depth tread, had to be changed because the car had only covered a few hundred miles in twelve years, it had been ferried everywhere on a trailer. The tyre fitter, a friend of mine, who had looked after my fleet of vans, told me of a radial tyre that appeared to be crossply. They still needed inner tubes, but had the grip and safety of modern radials. I went for them. Some time later, at a show, this character passed by the car, then strolled back and looked again, and then did the same for a third time. He then looked all around suspiciously, before telling me: "I think you'll find that they had crossplies when new."
"So what make of crossplies are on your car?" I asked, a little crossly. "Oh, I haven't got one," he replied. "Well when you buy mine, you can change the tyres back," I said, peppering my answer with a couple of profanities. He might need to lay down in a dark room if he knew, that for safety, my rear lights and stop lights are LED, as are my discretely attached indicators.
R Taylor

I enjoy living in a Victorian house and appreciate its character with it's high ceilings and large garden. I certainly wouldn't like it's original outside loo, the well water and coal fire. Same with my Y type I love the character but like to be seen with bright rear lights and flashing indicators. How Spartan or safe you want to be is entirely up to the user.
Peter Vielvoye

I have also owned my Y since the 1960s but in my view this is not that period now, and life has moved on. Sure if your pleasure is only short trips to the local natter then an original specification car is fine, but get on a motorway and things get very serious. To realise that vehicles are coming up behind are closing at 40 or more mph faster than your 1960s pace then you must consider your own and your passengers safety. As others have mentioned original rear lights and indicators are just not good enough, be seen and understood by other road users is required. As for original pumps and ignition are fine if in as new condition but breaking down on modern roads is dangerous even on country roads cars often are traveling at more than 70mph. I have fitted a 5 speed box and uprated the engine to TF spec and fitted belts, although the brakes are adequate they could be better. I make no excuses for making these changes, but now I can get out of trouble and stay out truckers way. 80mph is possible if needs be although 65 is my usual pace. Austin 7s and Morris 8s only safe place now is on a flat truck but our Y types have the potential to be safe on the modern roads. Bryan
B Mellem

I couldn't agree more with the sensible comments raised here. Frankly if you are going to drive a Y on any public road, even if it’s a quiet country lane then common sense needs to prevail. 'See and be seen' and also if you can fit modern tyres then most certainly do.

If you want to keep your car as original as possible (save for the tyres which will need to be changed at the latest after 10 years use) then trailer it to a show or event. But the difference between the 1960's and now is rather like looking back 50+ years to pre 1st World War. There have been staggering changes since then and we now live in a completely different world. So whilst I sympathise with your concerns it would be horrible if a Y Type (or any classic for that matter) was involved in a fatal accident and a reason cited was inadequately clear brake lights or the sole use of a trafficator as a means of changing direction.

Reality is essential!

All the best

Jerry
Jerry Birkbeck

Full circle springs to mind, in 60s traffic was slower as cars were slower. Today cars are technically faster but most often held up in jam due to congestion.

Concur safety measures are key, my choice is orginality and back roads, but will be going down the LED route soon, being seen is being safe, no questions there.

Avoid motorways no fun in modern car let alone classic car, unless in hurry, when I would not be driving my Y.
R E Knight

I agree with Richard that motorways are to be avoided.
I am a firm believer in keeping my Y-type driving experience as 'period' as possible and will keep crossply tyres and conventional points in pump and distributor that won't fail if properly cared for.

I'm also a firm believer in the 'see and be seen' and for that I fitted a LED 3rd brake light behind the rearscreen and a Lucas alternator to power the all day headlights and all day wipers in the rain.
Very useful on the 10 day, 2100km trip to France that my son and I did last year and it gave my wife some peace of mind.

That said, one of my favourite dreamcars is the Australian blue metallic V8 Y-type that is featured on the Y-website....
Willem van der Veer

Oops, I meant to type 1200km, not 2100km.
Willem van der Veer

This thread was discussed between 10/01/2016 and 26/01/2016

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