From My Collection... A British Roadster

What a little charmer - photos well done John!

@perrone1 +1.

There were a fair number of these little "sports" cars  in my home town back in the day....gutless wonders though.  It's a shame they weren't better powered because they actually looked quite good.  Ultimately not a sales success here in Canada though, unlike other Austins of that era.

I have always liked this Austin. I am surprised that sales were low in Canada. Great model, John.

Posted by: @jack-dodds

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There were a fair number of these little "sports" cars  in my home town back in the day....gutless wonders though.  It's a shame they weren't better powered because they actually looked quite good.  Ultimately not a sales success here in Canada though, unlike other Austins of that era.

Little and sweet! Great pics!!

@jack-dodds, I can appreciate an underpowered car. You can have more fun driving an underpowered car at 9/10 of its capability than in having to drive a hypercar at only 1/10. I cut my teeth on European cars with small engines. They can be frustrating, but on a twisty road, they can get your blood racing.

@jkuvakas Absolutely true! I fell in love with British sports cars right out of the Army. Drove a new MGB home from San Francisco to Florida over the course of two weeks just sight-seeing America.

Currently, we live about 2-3 miles from Hwy 129. An 11 mile stretch of the road runs from our town of Maryville, TN., to Deals Gap, N.C. It boasts 318 curves in that 11 miles that run up and down, side to side and has become world famous. I've driven in over the course of 31 years since we moved here from Nashville in 1994. It is home to annual car and motorcycle group 'runs' and is known as, "The Dragon" or "The Tail of the Dragon."

I drove it with a new Z06 Corvette and two different Mazda Miata's. The Miata's were quicker!

I've tried to tame the "Tail of the Dragon." It's a challenging stretch, and I would do it again in a heartbeat. We have a similar stretch near us on US Route 211, which goes up the Blue Ridge Parkway and then down through Luray and the Shenandoah Valley. Both roads are incredible. My best time on 211 was made in a Miata as well. 

@perrone1 Totally agree! I had a Miata and took it on the Dragon once. A bigger car like the 'Vette could be shamed. The turns are very tight and have changes in elevation that make open cars have an advantage too - you can look up over the windshield to prepare for the next turn. Of course, the bikers put all 4-wheelers to shame, but then they are insane on this road. Do any sharp-eyed forum members spot the shirt I'm wearing?

The road is so popular with motorheads that, on a weekend, photographers will park on a curve and take pics, then post to a website where, for a small fee of course, you can get a copy of yourself with no watermark over the scene. Someone spotted me on such a site, more than six months after I had driven on 129, and sent this to me, asking "is this you?" 

Posted by: @jkuvakas

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@jack-dodds, I can appreciate an underpowered car. You can have more fun driving an underpowered car at 9/10 of its capability than in having to drive a hypercar at only 1/10. I cut my teeth on European cars with small engines. They can be frustrating, but on a twisty road, they can get your blood racing.

I could not agree more.  Learned to drive on a 37 BHP Morris Minor 65 years ago and still drive them.  Most people are in too much of a hurry now a days with their modern high powered vehicles.

@john-quilter I have always LOVED the Morris Minor; especially the tourer, traveler and 2dr.sdn. versions.  Here are the many versions....

Your first photo, almost a twin to my pearl grey convertible owned since  Wednesday June 29, 1960.

@john-quilter I recall you mentioning this car of yours.  Amazing that you have owned it for so long....must be some kind of a record!