I have had a rethink.... (-: While I picked out the Ford crossflow 4/4 as a good basic candidate for introducing one`s offspring to matters electro/mechanical, I suspect that choice was from an era wherein I was most comfortable learning to be self reliant in order to maintain my personal transportation, as I was unlikely to be able to pay others to do so for me...Thus my thinking was of that period of time groveling around scrap yards finding bits to keep my machines running, and in the process learned so much about many aspects so related...
Today the world has moved on considerably thus it seems logical that whoever wishes to "teach his children well"...... oops slipped back a few years again... OK, so much depends on the parent`s current level of understanding and thus capabilities, so a bit of honest self assessment required. When sharing my knowledge with apprentices, I was amazed at just how much I learned from them, thus with one`s kids I guess the same applies..
In an attempt to prepare the young to be somewhat self reliant in as many areas as possible for the future and seeking a simply constructed yet interesting vehicle on which to expand knowledge and build confidence in terms of learning from mistakes and successful repairs, I guess 70`s/80`s tec may not be an ideal starting point...?
Chances are that the kids will be well into digital tec, thus the basic electromechanical tools of the past although necessary, require to be added to with basic digital tools..?
This is where I back out... my working life was so full of digital frustrations, that I backdated my automotive ideals, and ended up with a Morgan, as the result of prioritising the KISS principal given self reliance in as many areas as possible was ever my ideal...
I suspect perhaps a younger Morganeers perspective is required relative to the original question and one who is regularly involved in hitting Mog bits with hammers as well as dealing with digital dilemmas, and in that regard I would be interested to read whatever Montegue might care to share on the subject initially raised
Which was :-
By Talk Morgan..... I was asked this question recently, by someone looking to purchase a Morgan; the end goal was to find one he could maintain with his teenage children and ultimately was as much about that experience as it was driving it.
Would be interesting to hear how the far more mechanically inclined would answer that question.