Richard, you are too kind, in truth most of my machines were cast off`s a bit like ladies of the night having been used and abused in every way possible. leaking fluids of all types..!! A lack of funding was ever the issue for me. One aspect of not having the wherewithal to buy new machine or indeed new parts to effect a repair, one had to learn to repair everything one possibly could, and to repair anything it seems best to try to understand how it should work in the first place, thus there was a great deal to learn,all in the days long before the internet...(-:

The up side of trying to keep old tarts running long enough to be reliable transport to get to work and back home, with the occasional run out into the countryside, was that by the time you had them up and running you had hands on experience of just about every area of the machine, and if it broke down, your Barbour jacket`s pockets, would have a spark plug or two, a HT cap perhaps a length of HT lead, screwdriver, pliers a couple of chain links perhaps even some clutch corks and a spare bulb or two, a couple of tyre irons and a puncture repair outfit... I suspect I was not the only m/cyclist who was so equipped for it seemed I grew up near the end of the make do and mend modus operandi, where a degree of self sufficiency was the only way one could afford to run any kind of machine. The Magazine m/cycle mechanics was my teacher...

For sure I have had a plethora of tired old machines through my hands over the years and learned the basics of welding, fabrication, bodywork preparation, spray painting, and in the process turned some wrecks into runners. I have not ever bought a new machine. Though my good lady has...(-:

It seems early Morganeers were perhaps the same breed and could carry out all sorts of repairs on their Morgans to keep them going, of course there were ever those who would go one stage further to make them go that bit faster, but I suspect there would be quite a few operating on a shoe string.. in the fifties and sixties and beyond..?

I know new my limitations and while I could get by, I am no real craftsman like some I have met over the years, and also on Morgan forums such as eMog and TM, some of their work could only be described as artistry in engineering, while at the same time I have known folk who`s ideas on "improvement" may have cost a great deal in time effort and money to end up creating such a degree of mechanical imbalance that totally spoiled their ability to enjoy the machine they set out to improve..Just as did I when I thought high cost high performance related equipment was bound to be an improvement...

Some folk came late in life to Morganeering professionals of many types who had been too busy with building a life to be messing around with things mechanical, but as time went by, they thought to get into some hands on involvement with old cars, and a simply constructed car seemed ideal...? The GoMoG webmaster could perhaps be described as one such, and in his lengthy search for knowledge and understanding to keep his Morgan in fine fettle, eventually ended up being to the benefit of everyone who like Lorne had the same objectives, though fortunately for them Lorne had been there and done that, and to his great credit was driven to create a free to everyone database in order to share all that he could, relative to his hard won acquisition of knowledge...and given the number of miles covered on more than one country or continent in his Morgans, I imagine he had covered more miles than most..?

GoMoG would seem to be the go to database, though there are others, but is seems such has been the evolution in automotive engineering that machines have become overly complex to the degree that issues can arise that even stump professionals to some degree..which is a long way from roadside repairs taken on with confidence by the "average" Morganeer in times past, where a fag packet could provide the correct gap for spark plugs and the wrapping within could help set up both the timing and the points gap..... It is a very different world today where the thought of putting any tool in the pocket of an immaculate Barbour jacket would be considered as some kind of sacrilege to the gods of high fashion, whereas I thought my old Barbour wore its oil stained patination rather well and helped with the waterproofing to some degree..I suspect today the only tool that some Morganeers might use to resolve an issue might be their cell phone, yup, all very different..?

Got to admit that I would not even lift the bonnet on a modern car so out of date is my hard won skill-set, I like my fun car to be a bit like myself, somewhat simple...(-:

As for the old Mog, I like your thinking Richard, and if things do not fall into place as I might hope, it will just remain part of the family perhaps to become even more of a garage queen than it has been over too long a period of time.. Though if Nicola drops the chequered flag any time soon, I suspect the old Mog and I will give it our best shot for a few miles at least... oldgit drive