I suppose since I started the linked thread I should reply here.
For me there are a few reasons.
I like the styling on a lot of the old English vehicles. I mean there are a lot of good looking vehicles now also but they usually don’t fall into the same classic styling of the old ones. Yes there are a lot good looking old American vehicles I like also but I don’t think I need to tie myself here just because I’m an American. This to me is one of the biggest draws because I think old English bikes are just right when it comes to styling.
b. I also like the idea of being able to fix something myself. Vehicles from back in the day are less reliable than ones now but I can pull out the old toolbox and, with the appropriate manuals, actually have a chance at being able find/fix the problem.
III. The last one is one of that I’m a cheap bastard. I can get an old English bike for like 25% the cost of an old American one in the same condition.
As far as reliability what I have been hearing is that once you get the electronics sorted out the reliability is a factor of how well the rest of the bike is maintained. A poorly maintained vehicle is going to have poor reliability. I have also been told that the particular one I got is actually a really good, well handling example of an old motorcycle and I can’t wait to see if it’s true.
I suppose the last reason is that while I won’t say I’m an attention whore I like being noticed and if it’s not going to be for my rugged good looks, which will be hidden under a full face helmet, it may as well be for the really cool English bike.
My daily driver is a 1967 Plymouth Valiant Signet. This is one of the most reliable cars ever made. Mine still gets 15 city/20 highway. I have heard that this is the car that made Detroit go the planned obsolescence route (needs cite).
So your ideas about at least some American cars from the 50s/60s/70s could use reworking.
I saw a beautiful mid 60’s Jaguar at a car show a few months ago. The owner had a sign in the windshield that had some info about the car. Chevy 350 engine, 700R transmission, Corvette independent rear end, Dodge Dakota digital dash, Dodge Viper bucket seats 70’s Camaro subframe plus a host of aftermarket stuff like the wiring harness, steering column and rear suspension. The only thing British about the car was it’s body.
It has a 225 slant six engine. 15/20 was very good when it was built, and many of today’s American cars don’t do that much better; some trucks, SUVs and other V-8 engine types do much worse.
Question: I know you are on the Isle of Man, but in the UK in general are there many classic cars that aren’t necessarily upscale and/or collectors’ items around? Here in the SF Bay Area, I regularly see Pintos, Mavericks, and some AMC abominations as well as the standard Mustang/Cougar/Riviera/Monte Carlo types.
There are tons of British companies making cars: Lotus, TVR, Morgan, Caterham, Westfield, Vauxhall, Jaguar, Aston Martin, Bentley, Rolls, Land Rover, Bristol, Ascari, Caparo…
It’s just that hardly any of them are British owned these days (and the ones that are, generally, are tiny specialist manufacturers).
