The very last vehicle I'd want to put to sea in.... or a river for that matter, would be a Morgan designed one............ Mine doesn't keep out rain so being surrounded by water would be.........challenging.........😂
Many moons ago in the 1970s the sole family car was a VW beetle that was reputed to be airtight and floatable. Not that it was ever put to that test, but judging from the rather more leaky features of the Morgan even a deep puddle or a drop of rain is a challenge.
It may have been floatable but with a low slung flat four boxer it would have died instantly - a Landie it is not..
My late father called them "Clankboxes" but he was Polish and knew the Hitler Heritage, he was right they do make a dreadful noise unlike the Scoobies with a similar arrangement albeit watercooled, quieter and considerably quicker, World Class winners in fact.
As a yoof, I liked the VW exhaust note, as it was aircooled and sounded like a four cylinder m/cycle.. Given quite how popular the Beetle became in the UK and world wide, I suspect rather a lot of folk rather liked them in time...I even owned one an old 6 volt Beetle in the seventies and was very impressed with the build quality, less so with the progress of corrosion on it`s less than well repaired bodywork.
As you suggest Richard, I suspect the engine would cease to run in short order once the water reached dizzy or carb intake level..
As an aside my father in law, was a WWII vet and after years of him running both Ford and BL, and that his second new metro leaked water in exactly the same place as the first... I was reluctant to suggest he try a Micra, which he did, after which he stuck with Nissan till he could no longer drive.... I guess one could say much the same about the switch from Brit to Japanese m/cycles for much the same reasons.. Now it seems to be a similar story emerging re the Chinese in the EV market in the UK and elsewhere.... Do we still make anything here...Hmm..?
Many moons ago in the 1970s the sole family car was a VW beetle that was reputed to be airtight and floatable. Not that it was ever put to that test, but judging from the rather more leaky features of the Morgan even a deep puddle or a drop of rain is a challenge.
It may have been floatable but with a low slung flat four boxer it would have died instantly - a Landie it is not..
My late father called them "Clankboxes" but he was Polish and knew the Hitler Heritage, he was right they do make a dreadful noise unlike the Scoobies with a similar arrangement albeit watercooled, quieter and considerably quicker, World Class winners in fact.
As a yoof, I liked the VW exhaust note, as it was aircooled and sounded like a four cylinder m/cycle.. Given quite how popular the Beetle became in the UK and world wide, I suspect rather a lot of folk rather liked them in time...I even owned one an old 6 volt Beetle in the seventies and was very impressed with the build quality, less so with the progress of corrosion on it`s less than well repaired bodywork.
As you suggest Richard, I suspect the engine would cease to run in short order once the water reached dizzy or carb intake level..
As an aside my father in law, was a WWII vet and after years of him running both Ford and BL, and that his second new metro leaked water in exactly the same place as the first... I was reluctant to suggest he try a Micra, which he did, after which he stuck with Nissan till he could no longer drive.... I guess one could say much the same about the switch from Brit to Japanese m/cycles for much the same reasons.. Now it seems to be a similar story emerging re the Chinese in the EV market in the UK and elsewhere.... Do we still make anything here...Hmm..?
Yes interesting George, the Turbulents that the Tiger Club owned were often hired out for aircraft rallies back in the 60' s and I remember father flying at an airshow in one, slow and boring and VW aircooled powered, so like a slug and you had to choose a day with very little headwind to take off.
The Lycomings were a different kettle of fish and designed for the job in many aircraft. A lot to be said for a good boxer.
2009 4/4 Sport Henrietta 1999 Indigo Blue +8 2009 4/4 Sport Green prev 1993 Con Green +8 prev
+8 Rich typed :- "Yes interesting George, the Turbulents that the Tiger Club owned were often hired out for aircraft rallies back in the 60' s and I remember father flying at an airshow in one, slow and boring and VW aircooled powered, so like a slug and you had to choose a day with very little headwind to take off.
The Lycomings were a different kettle of fish and designed for the job in many aircraft. A lot to be said for a good boxer."
Fully agree with that, the last m/cycle I owned was a BMW R850R.... which I really enjoyed riding in all weathers.... I was younger back then...(-:.
+8 Rich typed :- "Yes interesting George, the Turbulents that the Tiger Club owned were often hired out for aircraft rallies back in the 60' s and I remember father flying at an airshow in one, slow and boring and VW aircooled powered, so like a slug and you had to choose a day with very little headwind to take off.
The Lycomings were a different kettle of fish and designed for the job in many aircraft. A lot to be said for a good boxer."
Fully agree with that, the last m/cycle I owned was a BMW R850R.... which I really enjoyed riding in all weathers.... I was younger back then...(-:.
Those twins always sound sweet and unhurried.
2009 4/4 Sport Henrietta 1999 Indigo Blue +8 2009 4/4 Sport Green prev 1993 Con Green +8 prev
I thought a thread had been revived from the 1940s when I saw the title!
Growing up in West Sussex, we were spoiled for choice for local kit cars. Geoff Jago and Barry Stimpson were both operating at Chichester, Geoff with his street rods and the Geep (an example of which balanced atop his fence beside the Chichester bypass) and Barry with the Mini-based Mini Bug and the bonkers 3-wheeled Stimpson Scorcher. Tim Dutton had a place a few miles away on the old Tangmere airfield. He was a bit of a local hero when he took on Ford over the Sierra name and won.
Barry sadly died a couple of years ago. I'm not sure if Jago is still active, but it's nice to see that Duttons are still about. I'd never seen or heard of the amphibious vehicles before, but they look great!
