Miata Mailing List: April 1994, Message #467
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   From: "CRAIG BLAKELY" 
Subject: old sports cars and motorcycles
   Date: Mon, 25 Apr 1994 11:01:32 -0400

Have enjoyed folks summaries of histories to date.  Jack, one thing I 
might want to disagree with, you comment about Miata's top being the 
best of the lot.  Sure is easy, but you had a Fiat 124, so did I.  Some 
of this comparison, I must admit, could be clouded with momory and 
the passing years (had my 69 124 in 72 and 73).  But I seem to recall 
that top very favorably.  I dont recall having to unzip the rear window. 
 The big plus, though, was the glass side windows behind the door 
that dropped into the fender well with the top.  Certainly made for 
better visibility.  Course, the 71 B that followed the 124 was the worst 
top I ever had.  If you got caught with the top down and a dump of a 
storm hit, without a bridge, you get plenty wet trying to get it stapped 
down.  Then it leaked anyway.  But I loved the three wipers and little 
windshield.  Handled great, but no go.  The 124 was condiserably 
faster.  

Had a '72 Z car too.  Wish I still had that.  Biggest problem was top 
didnt retract.  Saw about a 76 Z with the top cut off at the autocrosses 
yesterday.  Must have been a back yard job.  Still had the window 
frames on???  

Had a '67 Karman Ghia convertible for a year.  Grad student car.  Was 
kinda rusty but was fun.  Was between 124 and mgb.  There is a 
showroom perfect one here in town.  Pretty car, quite dependable.  
Still a vw...  Course, even the old sedans were fun to drive if they 
came early enough in your life before you had experienced too many 
other alternatives and you werent in a climate where a heater with a 
blower was more necessity than plus (eg, Michigan or northern 
Illinois).  

My first car was a '64 ford galaxie 500 convertible.  I think the Miata 
would fit in the trunk!  

Cycles:  '67 Honda 305 scrambler (wish I still had it); '73 Honda 175 
enduro; several motocrossers (typically 125,175 yamahas until a 
dislocated shoulder--what a wuss huh?); '78 Kawasaki KZ650SR; '79 
Honda CBX.

Had a friend with an old 120 series Jag.  Neat car.  Jack, havent been 
in an E type in a long time.  Next time in dc...

cb