The Dark Wob

My 1800 Focus ain't modern but is 4cyl n/a and sits just above 3K at 70mph in 5th so the MGB is indeed comparing well. My mate's TR3A used to sit just below 3K at 70 in overdrive top as well. Not a lot to show for intervening half-century of "progress" although I suppose we shouldn't compare fuel consumption figures.....

SiC wrote: ↑Thu Jul 07, 2022 5:23 pm From the Midget and Sprite club:
1275 pre Dec 68 (4.2) - 15.2mph/1k rpm
1275 post Dec 68 (3.9) - 16.5mph/1k rpm
1500 (3.7) - 17.2mph/1k rpm

So 3950rpm Vs 3650rpm Vs 3500rpm.

The 1500 has a different box to the 1275. I'm unsure of ratio differences. Iirc engine has more torque (and power) and probably better off using that rather than killing the engine...

Iirc my MGB is running a quite respectable 3200rpm at 70mph with overdrive engaged. Many n/a 4cyl petrol moderns seem to run 3k at 70mph, so quite respectable given its age.

I think both gearboxes are a straight 1:1 in top so that won't matter.

My mates '08 1.2 clio is 3000rpm at 60mph in fifth.
It sounded rediculous and I asked twice if he was sure he was in top. It wasn't exactly refined.

Same with my Clio II 1.2 16v. It might have been revving it's tits off when I was bombing down the M4 to Theale at VMax (iirc 110mph but dropped off a lot on any hill) because I was late for work again...
That had an alarm amount of front end lift above 90mph. My 172 was stable to above that (on a track ofc)

I imagine 3k is a natural trade off for most commonly designed N/A engines of that size and torque to have enough power for accelerating without dropping a gear and for fuel economy. Turbos will allow that to drop as more torque low down. Likewise bigger lumps. Iirc my Laguna V6 had a lazy 2.2k or something like that at 70mph

Our 107 is 3k at 70mph except you can't hear or feel it.

SiC wrote: ↑Thu Jul 07, 2022 5:23 pm From the Midget and Sprite club:
1275 pre Dec 68 (4.2) - 15.2mph/1k rpm
1275 post Dec 68 (3.9) - 16.5mph/1k rpm
1500 (3.7) - 17.2mph/1k rpm

So 3950rpm Vs 3650rpm Vs 3500rpm.

The 1500 has a different box to the 1275. I'm unsure of ratio differences. Iirc engine has more torque (and power) and probably better off using that rather than killing the engine...

Iirc my MGB is running a quite respectable 3200rpm at 70mph with overdrive engaged. Many n/a 4cyl petrol moderns seem to run 3k at 70mph, so quite respectable given its age.

My Nans clone of your MGB has overdrive too and I seem to remember it not revving too high. This puzzled me as my old man ended up with it as his brother didn't want it as it was too high revving on a long journey. He's a paper engineer rather that a practical one and I suspect he drove all the way to the south coast from Shropshire years back without flicking the switch on the dash.

I've found with mine that if it isn't used for a while you can flick the switch but it doesn't work as it seems to gum up.

Just seen these two go through an auction yesterday. Both looked lovely and the cheaper was a single owner car too.

£10500 + fees provisional sale

https://auctions.manorparkclassics.com/ ... e/?lot=793

£8000 + fees (12.5%+vat) - £9600 I make that

https://auctions.manorparkclassics.com/ ... e/?lot=792

Someone got a bargain! Would be good if these prices hold out and even lower.

Quite fond of those, my old maths teacher would very, very occasionally turn up in a scruffy white one, it stuck out in the school car park even then.

I'm a bit obsessed them after that rental. Even Mrs SiC is fully on board with buying one - unusual for her to have any interest in my old cars. So much so, I've even considered selling all my toys to get a nice one.

Hopefully I'll have a time period where I can drive one back to back with my Midget. The quarter elliptical springs make back end of them much livelier over bumps.

I imagine this chap only hit a small pot hole while off to his local Tescos.