QUAD-CITIES BRITISH AUTO CLUB 2016 Edition / Issue 4 15 May 2016

THE QCBAC CONTENTS The QCBAC was also formed to promote interest and usage of any, and all The QCBAC 1 British . The QCBAC website is at: qcbac.com

Queen’s English 1 In a 25 April email, QCBAC president Jerry Nesbitt wrote about a benefit for the family of Buster Miller. Jerry stated, “I am told that Buster used to be a Quotation 1 member of our club. His son Matt recently passed away leaving his wife and young children behind. There will be other clubs at this benefit so let’s see Future QCBAC Events 2 if we can get a big participation to show our support.” [See QCBAC events] Other Car Club Events 2 QUEEN’S ENGLISH Question & Answer 2 Botch or bodge: Careless repair or fixing. Assistance Please 2 Caravan: Vehicle equipped for living in, typically towed by a car Car of the Month 3 Carriageway: Highway MGB Article 4 Central Reservation: Median British Auto News 6 Chips: Fries

Crisps: Chips

Coffin Dodger: Old Person

QUOTATION

“When you step on the brakes, your life is in your foot’s hands. QCBAC Heartland Autofest 2015 – LeClaire, IA - George Carlin -

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ANSWER FUTURE QCBAC EVENTS May Dinner 15 May 2016 4:00 pm The quote, “Durability was Hollar’s Bar & Grill 4050 27th Street, Moline, IL based on drivers’ discomfort – we damaged more drivers Buster Miller Fund Raiser 21 May 2016 9:00 am to 3:00 pm than vehicles during testing” Credit Island Lodge and Park 2200 W River Drive, Davenport, IA Meet at Majors Service Station, 901 W 2nd St., Davenport. is attributed to an engineer Depart at 9:15 am in a caravan to the show. with the upstart Land in the 1940s. The name of June Dinner TBD 4:00 pm the first prototype was the Our Premiere Event: Centre Steer and was built Heartland Autofest 6 Aug 2016 9:00 am – 3:00 pm on a Jeep chassis and axles. Riverfront Park, Le Claire, IA (Don’t forget to register!)

OTHER CAR CLUB EVENTS

British Boots & Bonnets 21 May 2016 Drive & Museum Cantigny Park, Wheaton, IL

16th Annual Mt Carroll 22 May 2016 900 am – 4:00 pm Mayfest Car Show Campbell Center

Lyndon Car Show 5 June 2016 Richmond Park Lyndon, IL Series I QC Cruisers Car Show 11 June 2016 Open Run XXXIV South Park Mall, Moline, IA QUESTION Dwyer & Michaels Car Show 18 June 2016 8:00 am – 4:00 pm BMC was the largest British car Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds Davenport, IA company of its day, with (in 1952) 39% 2016 Hemmings Great Race 18 – 26 June 2016 of British output. BMC produced a From San Rafael, CA to Moline, IL (John Deere Pavilion) wide range of cars under brand names Time-Speed-Endurance Rally for Vintage cars 1972 or older. including Austin, Morris, MG, Austin- Healey, Riley, and Wolseley, as well as Walcott Car Show 16 July 2016 9:00 am – 3:00 pm commercial vehicles and agricultural Meet at Courtesy Ford, 3921 West River Drive, Davenport, IA tractors. From 1955 to 1961, BMC was Depart by 8:00am to caravan to Walcott. run by Austin's Leonard Lord. In 1955, the Morris engine designs were Route 6 Retro Road Trip 2016 16-18 Sep 2016. dropped and all new car designs were Drive across Iowa Special Event in Davenport, 15 Sep 2016: coded ADO. What did the ADO stand "Cruise the Ones" event ends with a visit to Dahl Ford's Old Car Home for?

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CAR OF THE MONTH

Frank Becker’s 1975 MGB – 2015 QCBAC Auto Fest, LeClaire, IA

In the fall of 1976 Frank Becker was looking to buy a Fiat Spyder in Dubuque, IA from the Oldsmobile Dealer who also sold Fiats. Gloria, Frank’s wife, had been with him to look at the Fiat Spyder which was on the showroom floor, top down and ready to go. (See photo below.)

While Frank was out of town on a business trip, someone who had bought a little car (1975 MGB) needed a bigger car and traded the little car in on an Oldsmobile. The dealer thought the car was hardly used and put it on the showroom floor. Gloria knew Frank was looking and bought the car for his birthday. Little did she know the car (same “style” and color) was not a Fiat, but an MGB! Happy Fiat that Frank had shown his wife Gloria. Birthday she said when Frank got home.

The 1975 MGB (Rubber Bumper) is pretty much original (never been waxed) and still has the original Exhaust Emission Control system on it. Thanks to Chilton’s manual, mechanical repair, tune-up and replacement of failed parts have mostly been done by Frank. However, Frank doesn’t feel comfortable working underneath and has had mechanics replace the clutch disc and rear crankshaft oil seal. When Frank lived in Dubuque the MGB was stored in the winters. But it became a daily driver since he moved to the Quad Cities in 1979 and is driven throughout the year as long as the streets are dry and there is no salt on them. It is on it’s 3rd top (installed by Frank).

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MGB Article supplied by Larry Hipple:

Once upon a time – in a land far away – the MGB represented motoring fun and freedom in the purest sense.

By MALCOLM GUNN WHEELBASE MEDIA “Wheel” Daily Sun, Friday 29 January 2016

Today's cars do a wonderful job of insulating their occupants from the great outdoors. How boring.

An MGB with the top down is the exact opposite of this, for better or worse. Mostly better.

The heady mix of leather, gasoline and motor oil; combined with whatever natural or manmade odors waft by your nostrils is a seductive automotive opiate. In this age of synthetic-laden interiors, bank vault passenger compartments and well-dampened road/engine noises, cars such as the MGB are as out of step with the times as dancing the jitterbug at a Coldplay concert.

In its day, however, the MGB was considered so advanced that it created much consternation among the sports-car "purists.” When the first car rolled off its Abingdon, England, assembly line in 1962, the public was shocked to find a car with several new features. Real doors, for example. That is to say doors with inside and outside handles ... and glass that rolled up ... and down. There also was a padded dash and a roomy, comfortable cockpit. All of these "features" were firsts for the venerable MG series of roadsters that can trace their roots back to the late 1920s (the name MG stands Morris Garages, where the cars were first built).

The MGB's unitized construction (with the frame integrated into the body) also was a departure from the tradition of separate ladder-type frames. The Pininfarina-influenced (the Italian design studio that puts forth creations for Ferrari) styling was more nondescript than earlier MGs, but was nicely proportioned and honest in a conservative sort of way. Though non-traditional in content and structure, the MGB still carried over some key elements from its MGA predecessor. The standard- issue 98-horsepower 1:8-liter four cylinder engine was a bored-out carry-over from the power-plant first developed in 1955. The suspension - independent coil springs in front with leaf springs supporting a solid rear axle - also was derived from the earlier car.

Although improved over the MGA, not all was perfect for the MGB, in fact, far from it in some cases. The most cantankerous "feature" was the difficult-to-operate top. The process of securing the snug-fitting snaps while wrestling with the frame supports was an unpleasant experience at best. Many MGB owners opted for the available fiberglass hardtop for offseason protection, while die-hard drivers employed the standard tonneau cover, even during monsoon-strength downpours. And with the old MGA's suspension, there was little to brag about in the ride department. The first MGBs imported to North America sold for about $2,500. Aside from the

Page 4 of 8 removable hardtop, extra-cost options included wire wheels, "Laycock de Normanville" overdrive and an AM radio.

It didn't take long for the word to spread that the inexpensive MGB was not only a blast to drive, but out-handled and out-braked (front discs were standard) just about anything else around. True, the car was no rocket, but with zero 0-to-60 mph times of less than 12 seconds, it was no early-1960s slouch either. That would be a couple of seconds behind a modern .

The model was followed in 1965 by MGBGT, which was a gracefully styled 2+2 hatchback that added a measure of practicality to the car's sporting nature. Both models were eagerly snapped up by an increasing fan base, earning it the No. 1 position in the British Motor Corporation's - the MGB's maker - stable of sports cars that also included Triumph Spitfire and TR4. The Mark II version of the MGB arrived in 1967. Although there were few exterior changes, the engine was upgraded for smoother operation and greater durability and a seldom- seen automatic transmission was added to the options list.

Sadly, the fall of the MGB began in 1969 when mandatory emissions equipment began gutting performance. By 1974, further indignities were foisted on the MGB in the form of hideous- looking crash bumper. Instead of redesigning a new front end, , the newly amalgamated parent, tacked on a rubbery looking nose and rear bumper cover, then hiked the car a couple of inches to meet the mandated bumper height. What was once an elegant swan had been turned into an ugly duckling. Devotees of the marque became disillusioned that that the company would take such quick-fix shortcuts that basically ruined the car's good looks.

British Leyland experimented with the MGB's emissions-stifled power supply, installing an inline six-cylinder in place of the four-cylinder and rebadging it the MGC. The result, however, proved less than satisfying in the handling department and it was abandoned after two years. The emasculated and out-gunned MGB amazingly soldiered on until 1980 when it was finally retired from battle after an 18-year run. By that time more than 500,000 of them including 150,000 GTs had been produced, outselling the MGA by more than 400,000.

In its prime, the MGB proved to be an excellent introduction into the world of sports cars. Its wide stance and low center of gravity gave it excellent handling, and its sturdy engine earned numerous accolades. The car's lengthy production cycle not only ensures a good supply of spare parts, but has helped to keep it within affordable reach of the average hobbyist. For unabashed driving pleasure, the MGB was much more than a transportation device. It was the embodiment of a lifestyle that focused on spirited, wind-in-the-face driving that left the owners of more mundane sedans and station wagons green with envy.

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BRITISH AUTO NEWS

Aston Martin: (Apr 12, 2016) Next month, the auction house of Bonhams will auction a number of Aston Martins’ best-known cars including a 1954 DB3S, which is estimated to sell for as much as $10 million thanks in part to its racing history with Sir Stirling Moss behind the wheel. (Apr 15, 2016) Aston Martin’s new hardcore version of the V8 Vantage has been revealed, the Vantage GT8. It’s to be built in an extremely limited run of just 150 examples. Unfortunately, none are expected to end up in the United States. (Apr 20, 2016) The Aston Martin’s Vulcan has been designed strictly for the track but RML in the is working on a road car conversion package. The RML areas of modification will be safety and enabling the car to handle various road types.

Bentley (VW): (Apr 24, 2016) Motorsport has continued its strong start to the 2016 Blancpain GT Series race with a third-place finish in Monza, Italy. The #8 Continental GT3, of Andy Soucek (ES), Maxime Soulet (BE) and latest Bentley Boy to join the team, Wolfgang Reip (BE), took the car’s second podium of the year so far. (May 4, 2016) The Bentley Team Absolute will enter three Continental GTs into the GT Asia Series. The six round championship starts at Korea International Circuit in two weeks’ time.

Jaguar / Land Rover (TATA): (Apr 18, 2016) Jaguar is done with wagons because, according to Jaguar Design Director Ian Callum, "The [wagon] market is massively shrinking." Jaguar scrapped its last wagon, the stunning Sportbrake when the all-new XF was introduced last year. The U.S. has long been an SUV market. (Apr 19, 2016) A new report suggests Jaguar is looking at shoehorning a V-8 engine, presumably a supercharged one at that, into its new F-Pace SUV. A natural fit for the vehicle would be the brand's supercharged 5.0-liter V-8, which is available in a multitude of tunes, culminating in a 575-hp unit. (Apr 20, 2016) may be about to follow the lead of BMW and launch new 3- and 6-cylinder inline engines based on the design of its Ingenium- branded inline-4. According to CAR, the next Ingenium engine will be an inline-6 displacing 3.0 liters and delivering between 270 and 500 horsepower thanks to turbocharging. (Apr 27, 2016) Jaguar Design Director Ian Callum took to Twitter yesterday to explain he was misquoted in a recent Automotive News article that claimed he had ruled out Jaguar ever launching another wagon. In his Tweet, Callum said he had simply stated there would be no wagon based on the XE, suggesting there might be a new wagon in Jaguar’s future possibly a second-generation XF Sportbrake. (Apr 28, 2016) There are now more options than ever in the small SUV segment with the of Land Rover’s Discovery Sport replacing the aging LR2. The 2017 Sport goes on sale this August with pricing to start at $38,690. (May 3, 2016) Land Rover's iconic Defender is now out of production, and thieves, it turns out, have taken notice. Ward’s Auto reports that Defender thefts are up a staggering 75 percent since production ceased earlier this year.

Lotus: (April 11, 2016) In Sport Auto France's April issue, the Evora 400 received a 5 star review in the Supertest at the world famous Le Mans Bugatti Circuit. (April 28, 2016) Colin Chapman famously said, ‘Adding power makes you faster on the straights, subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere,’ and that thinking has become part of our DNA.” With a curb weight of just 1,325 kg, the Lotus Evora Sport 410 cuts 70 kg from the Evora 400 and draws heavily on Lotus’s experience with carbon fiber.

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MG (SAIC): (Apr 20, 2016) MG Motor UK has once again proven its place on the road after motorists ranked both the MG3 and MG6 within the top five in their respective vehicle segments in this year’s Driver Power customer satisfaction survey. (Apr 28, 2016) Matthew Cheyne, Head of Sales and Marketing for MG, announced the upcoming release of MG’s new SUV, the MG GS: “Next week will be a really exciting moment for us, as we’re getting closer to launching this fantastic car into the market.”

Mini (BMW): (Apr 14, 2016) Last year, the boss of Peter Schwarzenbauer started talking about a refocus of the brand around five core models or pillars. The pillars already include the new Hardtop, Convertible and Clubman. Later this year, the new Countryman will arrive as the fourth pillar. For the fifth pillar, Autocar reports that a sedan is more likely to win out given its greater potential for sales, especially here in the United States as well as in . The Riley name, previously used in the 1960s on a sedan version of the original Mini, has even been hinted as a possible name for a modern Mini notchback.

Rolls Royce (BMW): (Apr 23, 2016) The Rolls Royce Dawn convertible has the right to distinguish itself from the Wraith. Much like in the age of the coach builders, they share the chassis and the engine, but 80 per cent of the body is new. (Apr 24, 2016) Rolls-Royce Motor Cars presented three motor cars at the 14th Beijing International Automotive Exhibition, Black Badge Ghost, Wraith, and Dawn. (May 2, 2016) A newly designed set of aluminum, leather, and carbon fiber luggage is available for the Wraith. The cost of the six piece set in the US is $45,854. Pieces are also available separately. (I wonder if they have a shaving kit)

TVR: (May 3, 2016) Dormant British brand TVR is readying a new car for launch in 2017. The car will be a grand touring coupe with a -enhanced version of the 5.0-liter V-8 from the and will feature iStream construction. TVR says it has enough orders to keep it busy at least until the end of 2018. In the longer term, the company plans three other models and is hopeful of producing around 2,000 cars per year by 2022 at a new plant to be established in Wales.

British Luxury Cars By Lyndon Bell

Interesting fact; all British cars currently sold in North America, except Mini, are luxury models. And, in truth, no other country does luxury cars like England. With their long history of hand craftsmanship, the likes of which is readily discernable in the models from Aston Martin, Bentley, and Rolls-Royce, these cars are truly distinctive. Another interesting fact; while all are manufactured in England, only one (Aston Martin) is currently owned by a British company. Volkswagen of Germany owns Bentley, of India owns Jaguar and Land Rover, while BMW of Germany owns Rolls-Royce.

Published 2016 Autobytel Inc.

[Note from Glen: BMW also owns Mini, SAIC owns MG, VW owns Bentley; however, TVR is registered in England & Wales.]

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QCBAC Website: Note: QCBAC does have a Facebook page. qcbac.com Log onto to Facebook, locate the “Quad City British Auto Club” page and ask to be added to Newsletter Contact the group. QCBAC Newsletter QCBAC events, pictures, discussions, etc., are 2703 W 71st Street presented on the QCBAC Facebook page. Davenport, IA 52806 Come join the conversation! (563) 594 1993

[email protected]

Picture Archives qcbac.glenjust.com

2014 QCBAC Auto Fest, LeClaire, IA 2013 QCBAC Auto Fest, LeClaire, IA

Addendum to Land Rover answer. In the 1860s, J.K. Starley sets up business in Coventry manufacturing sewing machines. In 1884 Starley introduces early tricycles and bicycles, using the name 'Rover'. In 1888, Starley creates Coventry's first 'car' - an electric tricycle which is never developed beyond the prototype stage. In 1904, Rover stars to build its first car and by 1906 bicycle production stops. The company is renamed to Limited. By 1920, Rover was one of Britain's important car manufacturers but suffers badly from the Depression in the 1930s.

In 1933, Spencer Wilks becomes Managing Director and focuses on the production of prestige vehicles. From 1937 to 1945 the Rover factories become a part of the Government's Shadow Factories scheme and build a variety of war parts including engines for aircraft and tanks. In 1946, Spencer’s brother Maurice needs a utility vehicle for his farm. No British utility vehicle existed, and parts for the Willys Jeep were hard to get at that time. In 1947, the 'Land Rover' project was made official. In 1948, the Land Rover appears at Amsterdam Motor Show and the “new” vehicle is greeted with enthusiasm and was reveled by the motoring press.

Can Land Rovers be double parked? Yes. Engage first low, and park on top of the Buick in front.

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