kallend 2,154 #1 April 12, 2009 For 41 years I drove my antique (1946) MG with Lucas ignition without ever having a breakdown. In 2007 I installed a "made in California" electronic ignition system (which did give better starting and smoother running). Yesterday it suffered complete failure, stranding me about 5 miles from home. I put the 63 year old Lucas "Prince of Darkness" system back. Car runs fine now.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
futuredivot 0 #2 April 12, 2009 Blind squirrel....... nut....you know the saying You are only as strong as the prey you devour Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnMitchell 16 #3 April 12, 2009 Quote For 41 years I drove my antique (1946) MG with Lucas ignition without ever having a breakdown. It's all statistical. I had more than enough electrical failures and fires with my Spitfire to make up for your years of reliability. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,154 #4 April 12, 2009 Quote Quote For 41 years I drove my antique (1946) MG with Lucas ignition without ever having a breakdown. It's all statistical. I had more than enough electrical failures and fires with my Spitfire to make up for your years of reliability. I believe the Lucas stuff went downhill in the mid to late '50s. The 1940s stuff (like mine) seems to last and last. It's still on its original starter, wiper motor and voltage regulator, and one rebuild on the generator. Not bad for 63 years old.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnMitchell 16 #5 April 12, 2009 Quote I believe the Lucas stuff went downhill in the mid to late '50s. That's a real possibility. Post war profit margins, labor-management relations, emphasis on mass production over quality; all these things could have contributed to the decline in reliability. Really a shame about the British auto industry overall. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SansSuit 1 #6 April 13, 2009 Quote It's all statistical. I had more than enough electrical failures and fires with my Spitfire to make up for your years of reliability. Q: Why do the British drink warm beer ? A: Because they have Lucas refrigerators !Peace, -Dawson. http://www.SansSuit.com The Society for the Advancement of Naked Skydiving Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
happythoughts 0 #7 April 13, 2009 Quote Quote For 41 years I drove my antique (1946) MG with Lucas ignition without ever having a breakdown. It's all statistical. I had more than enough electrical failures and fires with my Spitfire to make up for your years of reliability. My favorite week was decyphering the Triumph Stag wiring diagram. "...a blue wire and a possibly green wire go in... and a brownish wire with an ochre stripe will exit with a longish formerly-white wire and another unrelated blue one." Of course, you came to believe that they were describing a different part of the car than where you were. Maybe it was a practical joke (like not putting electric start on their motorcycles for 12 years after the civilized world). Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
