Ok, let try and answer all the questions.
Any idea what you'll use for an engine? Yes - hopefully a Toyota 20R.
Is there such a thing as happy fixing when it comes to British cars? Only if it stays fixed
I feel like an MGB motor or similar just wouldn't be exciting enough; maybe Miata or Toyota power? Or a little GM 2.8L, those seem to wedge into narrow british engine bays pretty well? Buying a rusty donor MG B would have been the smart/easy thing to do. I was planning the 2.8L V6. There is a Devon in town with one. Seems to *just* fit. A Toyota motor came up first for about what just the Weber cost so we're going that way. I like good deals I guess.
So did you get it for Great Beater Challenge money? Car itself was $500. We have since gone past that as the engine cost me $600. The suspension bits could be considered "safety" I guess.
I would love to hear all the details on how long this project takes and how much it ends up costing. Car 500, engine 600, suspension 300, welding wire, filler, grinding disks 100, kijiji brand new hot rod wiring harness 120. I still need to buy lots like seats, seat belts, heater, wipers, new brake pads, bushings, get the driveshaft made. And the MG B steering column. Big cost will be paint and how nice the interior gets. We are about six months in but I did nothing to it all summer long as I enjoyed the good weather instead. I'm not tracking hours as its a hobby and probably depressing.
Is there a minimum amount of power, modification, handling, etc? Probably a hot rod snob would say this is not American enough, not V8 enough. Screw them.
We'll can call it a special or custom. I'm not fussed on labels.
Are you going to be keeping the same axles, what about brakes? I have a MG B rear and MG B front clip. They will get freshened up with new parts once mounted. Stock is similar design but parts are expensive and performance is poor. The rear will get gas shocks instead of the lever ones. MG bits will make it handle like a 70s car maybe rather than a 40s car (I know it was built in the 50s but it was dated then).
Time to start up a YouTube channel for all the world to follow along with? I did but never really had a camera person. Plus I don't really know what I am doing. Just doing it and making it up as I go so it takes a while. I do have some videos though and apparently 20 subscribers. I'll post the A40s below but
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyJ8x5qUMiPW-lh7OP-xRYQI say go 2 dr coupe...but that would(?) involve stretching the doors a few inches to keep it proportionally looking right, right? And then why not a small small block? A hot cammed little 267 ci Chevy (I know I know - why not a bored and stroked 383? Well, because, you want the V8 sound, but not necessarily 450 hp in something that small). I think the proportions look ok as a 2dr. Its is a little big bummed I guess. Stretching the doors would be very involved with the front fender swooshing into the doors then moving the door posts. A V8 fits if you hack away the whole firewall.
I'd love to see a shot of this car next to a modern day compact, just to see the size comparison. Was this vehicle offered as a coupe from the factory? How about a Miata instead of a compact? There is one sitting next to it now. They are about exactly the same length long. The Austin is less wide and taller. It is on jack stands which makes it look a little taller than it is. Photo from 10 seconds ago (somehow ended up on posts above and below but not this one. Weird.). The factory offered a model called a coupe but in British logic it was a convertible. They are quite rare and slightly odd looking. The early A40 Devon offered a 2dr but low production. They also had pickups and vans in the earlier ones.
Honda S2000. I don't think it would fit. Its a four cylinder but a physically large one.
Thanks all for the comments.
