My Sports Cars

Brian Sanborn, Groton, MA


1962 Triumph TR4

 


1963 MGB 


1972 Triumph TR4


1985 MR2 


1962 Triumph TR4 Restoration

 
2002 Miata LS


2007 Miata Roadster Coupe (PRHT)

 
 1997 Miata STO Edition


2004 Mazdaspeed Miata (Factory Turbo)

 
1946 Ercoupe 415-C
 


1994 Miata (Classic Red)

This website talks about the sports cars and other serious toys I have owned in the past 50+ years.

The car that started the sports car fever was a 1962 Triumph TR4 in British Racing Green.  I owned it for about two years and sold it in 1965 when I got married.  Later, after two kids, about 1968, I bought a well used cheap BRG 1963 MGB. It ended up needing a bottom end engine rebuild which I did myself.  But I had fun with it as a daily driver for 3-4 years after the rebuild. In 1973, I bought a 1972 Triumph TR6 in dark chocolate brown with British Tan interior.  It was an upgraded TR4, but the 6-cylinder engine was a disappointment with all the US emission equipment strapped on.

From about 1978 to 1985 I went without a sports car.  In 1985 my wife bought a 1985 Toyota MR2.  The MR2 was a poor man's Ferrari.  What a fantastic driving experience! We keep that car for 18 years.  The next adventure, in 1998, was to restore a 1962 TR4.   There is a very detailed section here about the on-frame restoration of my red 1962 Triumph TR4 from 1998 until 2005. The next four sections are about a string Mazda Miata's I have owned... plus an adventure with learning to fly and buying a two-seater airplane. 
 

I bought the plane in 2012 and sold it in 2015.  It was a must-do lifetime bucket list thing.  But after a couple years, I lost interest.

The latest sports car is my fifth Miata.  This is a pristine 1994 Miata in Classic Red with a black cloth interior and that wonderful 5-speed manual gearbox.   I found it by happen stance.  I thought I was out of airplanes and sports cars.  It was a 23 yearsold 1994 but looked 2-3 years old.  It was for sale for only $5500... so I bought on the spot.  The first generation Miata is the closest driving experience to the great British sport cars of the 60s and 70s.