Originally Posted By: Silk
Originally Posted By: bunnspecial
I'm not familiar with the Morris Oxford, the Ambassador sure looks an awful lot like a Morris Minor(a car on my "want" list, even though I know they're small and slow).
Later BMC's would have a BW35 option (what the MGB would've got), but the Series II Oxford (maybe it was the later III or IV) had a version of the Standrive, called Manumatic. This was the 4 speed manual gearbox with a centrifical clutch, and a push button electric control. i've driven both the ones in the Standard 10 and the Morris Oxford. Two pedals, so you pushed the button on the end of the gearlever (floor shift for the Standard 10, column for the Oxford) and put it into 1st, released the button and accelerated away, gearshifting was as per normal, just using the button instead of a clutch.
It seems like I've heard a similar manumatic being described as an option on the MG Magnette.
I've looked at MMs and even been close to buying one, but either they end up having problems that are too much to take on or they are(IMO) too expensive. There are a fair number of them in the US, and given the fact they really aren't all that popular I'd think they would be inexpensive to buy. My MGB was less expensive than the decent MMs I've looked at. Even so, the trafficators always get me
I'm seriously considering taking on an MGA project. It will be long and expensive, but I think ultimately will pay off-both financially(should I ever sell it) and in sheer fun and smile factor. One of my hold-ups initially was finding an engine for it, but I've found someone in driving distance who has both a 1500 from an A and an 18G(3 main) engine from an MGB that he wants to part with. The 18G is basically drop-in, and would make a nice upgrade.
Of course, there's always combining both worlds and getting a saloon on an MGA chassis-i.e. a Magnette