I saw this and thought of the younsters and the excesive insurancethey have to pay.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Mk-1-Escort-Crossflow-1100-engine-gearbox-propshaft_W0QQitemZ4604514610QQcategoryZ21654QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Blimey, not seen one of those for a while!!

Another option for the young is the MG Midget setup with the 998cc A series. A mini weighs in at well over 700kg and you can get reasonable power from the little engine due to a multitude of upgardes and add-ons. The 1098 has more torque so theres another option.

Many years ago I drove a morris Minor van (Colour - Bright Yellow painted over Dark Green).
The 1098 engine was good and went very well, albeit it a fairly long stroke engine when compared with the 998 engine.
The 1098 had a bigger clutch, (no problems there).

The gearbox was another matter, I managed to trash two, both got stuck in 2nd gear (common fault) and managed to break 3 half-shafts (another weak point).

Mind you I thrashed the pants off it for three years, and apart from the transmission issues, it was a good motor that took it all in its stride.
The garage foreman at work was not so forgiving
But that was all 30 years ago.


[Edited on 15/1/2006 by wilkingj]

"The gearbox was another matter, I managed to trash two, both got stuck in 2nd gear (common fault) and managed to break 3 half-shafts (another weak point). "

Must have been a weird looking axle

Why not go for a 600 bike motor till the insurance calms down then plop in a bigger one.....fib a bit and say it's a Fiat lump