A point of personal privilege. I own a 1960 MGA that I restored with my
own two hands, and it is a fantastic British sports car, with lovely
lines penned by Syd Enever, a stiff chassis, and a floggable character.
The car was introduced in 1955 as a replacement to the venerable TD and
was itself replaced by the MGB in 1962. Along the way, somebody decided
my little car was anemic — hey! I resent that! — so MG offered an
optional high-performance engine with dual overhead cams, thus the "twin
cam." It was a leaking, piston-burning, plug-fouling nightmare of a
motor that required absolute devotion to things like ignition timing,
fuel octane and rpm limits, less the whole shebang vomit connecting rods
and oil all over the road. Many years after the engine was taken out of
service, it was discovered that the problem lay in the carburetors. At
certain rpm, resonant frequencies would cause the fuel mixture to froth,
leaning out the fuel and burning the pistons. I've never had any such
trouble with my iron-block, pushrod, lawn tractor engine. I'm just
saying.
