The RoadSpeed Garage for Vintage Sportscars

TR3A

2012-02-10T12:10:00.002-05:00

Here is a 1960 Triumph TR3A with a recent comprhensive mechanical and body refurbishment. Same owner since 1963. Needs only minor interior detailing. Asking $30,000. Call Lyle at 770-888-1867

1967 MGB

2011-12-19T14:08:00.003-05:00

Great running and looking car.
New leather seats and interior.
New H.D. wire wheels and tires.
Front suspension rebuilt, new rear springs.
All hydrolics new or rebuilt.

$6500
Call John Fite @ 770-535-1056

HERE COMES THE SUN...BEAMS

2010-10-23T14:02:00.009-04:00

Once upon a time, there were three Sunbeams - Old Paint, New Paint and Tiger.

Old Paint and New Paint had their interiors done over. Like most over 40 sportscars, their seats were well worn and needed attention from the frame out. All foam and covers were replaced.

All three Sunbeams were outfitted with Koolmat - a high temperature composite insulation made with silicone and fiberglass. We have installed this product in several other cars, and it does cut down on heat and noise. On top of the Koolmat, new carpeting was installed.

Old and New Paint had their engines rebuilt and overdrive transmissions were installed.

Tiger got a new set of headers and aluminum radiator along with a new wooden dash. New 15" wheels and tires were also installed.

Now the three Sunbeams can run and play together on their favorite mountain roads.

MIATA

2010-09-28T14:00:00.006-04:00

Yes Virginia, you can have 400 horse power in your Miata.

Simply remove your Miata engine and ....

...prepare to install an LS1 with a 6 speed transmission. The boys at Flying Miata have engineered a kit to intall LS series aluminum V8s into a Miata with very minimal modification to the car. The picture below shows a fairly easy install from the bottom.

Tim "More Power!" Allen would approve!

CHEVY LUV

2010-09-28T12:35:00.004-04:00

A Triumph customer also had the best Chevy LUV survivor we'd ever seen. He requested more power and better highway manners. The Isuzu 4 cylinder and 4 speed was pulled in favor of a 4.3 Chevy V6 with a 5 speed transmission. The V6 has Vortec heads, and Isky roller cam and a Holley 4 BBL. Also included in the conversion was power steering, air conditioning and a tilt steering wheel column with a vintage Corvette wheel. We also did a coil over front spring conversion.

MK II

2010-09-28T11:51:00.007-04:00

After a decade and a half in storage, a 1963 MK II Jaguar gives up some secrets - an E Type tricarb head with very poor air filters made from snuff cans.

All the rubber mountings and all the hydraulic systems had to be replaced.

The front cross member was removed and the front suspension rebuilt. The entire brake system was changed to stainless components.

The broken rear leaf spring

was addressed along with the rest of the rear suspension.
Then the choice was made to convert to power rack and pinion steering with a clever electro-hydraulic kit from England.

Now that the car is safely back on the road, the cosmetics can be addressed. Check back to see the completed project.

ERMINI

2010-09-28T11:39:00.002-04:00

Every so often we get to work on something completely different - a 50's Italian one-off sports racer. This Ermini is Alfa powered and is now a vintage race car. And as with most early race cars, it is completely streetable as well.

Updated TR6

2008-08-26T14:26:00.000-04:00

This project is to install a fully programmable, multi point fuel injection system with a distributorless ignition in a 1972 Triumph TR6.

These two views show the installation of the new high pressure fuel pump and fuel filter. The fuel line to the engine is 3/8" aluminum. The fuel return line is 5/16" nylon.

This shot shows the fuel injector holders which were T.I.G. welded to the TR6 intake manifold. Also visible are the two (could have been three or six) throttle housings sourced from Extrudabody at http:/extrudabody.com.

This shows the location of the M.A.P. sensor on firewall, the fuel pressure regulator, fuel distribution log and fuel hoses. Also visible is the auxiliary fuse box mounted below the front throttle housing.

Here is the crank trigger. Four magnets were inserted in the back of the crank pulley at prescribed angles to operate the three ignition coils which fire the spark plugs. The original distributor is retained just to operate the tach which, on a TR6 is driven by a cable. An electric tach would eliminate the need for the old distributor.

Behind the glove box, mounted to the firewall, is the computer and wiring (not tidied up yet) sourced from Racetech Inc. in Alberta, Canada (www.sdsefi.com)and marketed as S.D.S.

These are the programmers used to dial in the fuel and ignition maps while on chassis dyno. Once that's done, they are removed until further modifications warrant fuel/ignition changes.

At a dyno run, the TR6 displayed a max horse power of 105.97 and a max torque of 129.39 at the rear wheels. Pretty impressive!

1975 TR6 BMW

2008-08-26T13:00:00.003-04:00

This car was towed to the shop and was found to have spun a rod. The owner decided that while it was apart, he wanted to make it go faster, a lot faster. Bart recommended that an alternate power plant would help as the Triumph motor is severly power challanged no matter how much money you throw at it. Bart then suggested that he could install a 1989 BMW 325i motor and 5 speed tranny. The BMW motor makes 190 HP bone stock and weighs considerably less than the TR motor. Plus it has simple fuel injection.

This job required modifying the fire wall, the BMW gearshift assembly (which had to have a short shift installed), and the driveshaft. Next Bart fabricated the gas pedal assembly, clutch hydraulic line, the computer mounting, steel braided oil lines, radiator hoses, alternator mounting and brackets, the fire wall and tranny tunnel.

Bart also fabricated and installed a rear coil-over shock conversion and exhaust system. The front got new Koni shocks. The battery had to be relocated in the trunk. Bart constructed new power, ground and engine ground cables.

Trial fit ....

in and done!

Bart fabricated an aluminum radiator shroud.

When the car was finished, the owner spent several months driving it at auto cross events (taking 1st in his division at Jekyll Island), on mountain tours, and to several races at Road Atlanta. It always drew quite a crowd and lots of questions. Soon he decided that with that much power, it would be wise to have Bart fabricate and install a roll bar. He also wanted a new paint job on the exterior. Off it went to the body and paint shop - this time TC's Place. After the primer was complete, the owner decided to have the entire car painted. It was trailered back to the shop to remove the engine, exhaust system, etc. Then back to TC's Place to have the job completed.

Shots of the car after being painted.

Now that the car has a great new paint job, it's time to have the bumpers rechromed, all new lights installed, new custom seats, Wilton wool carpeting, and new panels. And don't forget the new Sunfast convertible top, dash pads, and a custom made aluminum dash board.

Before starting the interior, the owner felt he wanted some extra sound deadening material added. We had just the thing. Koolmat is a composite of high temperature fiberglass with a top coat of silicone. It prevents the flow of air or liquids and is excellent for sound deadening. It is used a great deal by NASCAR as it keeps the driver of the race car cooler and will withstand high temperatures in case of fire.
Below are a few pictures before the Koolmat installation. Notice the custom made firewall built to accomodate the BMW engine.

And after the Koolmat...

The panel kit and Wilton wool carpet kit were ordered from John Skinner in England. As usual, the materials were of very good quality. The carpet had to be custom fitted to accomodate the enlarged fire wall and smaller floor carpet area. The seat tracks had to be altered to allow the installation of the custom seats. The owner also requested a chrome grab bar be installed on the dash (note the aluminum dash was remade at the request of the customer).

Bart fabricated the center console to accomodate the enlarged fire wall and designed a custom mount for the radio and XM receiver.

Here the engine is in place with a new aluminum crossflow radiator and the reconfigured wiring incorporating relays and a pair of 5 ATC fuse panels.

TC did a great job fabricating the custom front and side grills. These gave the car just the right amount of detail.

1964 Jaguar E Type Series 1

2008-08-24T16:15:00.001-04:00

This 1964 XKE was purchased by a customer who also owns a 1959 XK 150 and a 1959 twin cam MGA. We had serviced both of his other cars, so when he bought this one, he brought it in for a quick go over and some work on the brakes. One thing led to another, and now we are in the process of restoring this car to its "almost" original condition when it was sold by Jaguar Cars, New York to the first owner who lived in California. How do we know that? With a good deal of searching the internet, Carolyn found a source for retrieving information from the original Car Record Book. The customer followed through on the suggestion and was able to find that his E Type had originally been painted Opalescent Silver Blue with a blue top and blue interior. We were already aware that one owner had upgraded the seats to the 4.2 model and these are to be reused. The owner has also decided to upgrade the transmission to a 4.2. Other than those two changes, the rest of the car will be back to it's original condition when the project is completed.

Before we start any restoration, we take pictures of the car as it came to us. As we go through the process of stripping down the car to prepare it for body and paint work, we take more pictures as we go along to keep records of what needs to be replaced or repaired. Following are pictures of a few items that must be corrected and the car's interior.

Notice the lack of the upper chrome strip on the door panel and the original armrest which is no longer there.

The door sill of an original E Type is covered with a material called Moquette which is not as dense as the proper Wilton carpet. The carpet through out this car was unbound, pieced together, and glued down. This sill is also missing the original chrome strip on the outer edge.

The rear bulkhead was also covered in carpet instead of the correct moquette and hardura, a textured material which is used under the seats, etc. Our customer did not want the radio speaker in the rear bulkhead.

All of the rubber seals will be replaced.

Pictures of the engine and under the hood after engine was removed. The frame will need to be stripped and painted body color.

After removing the convertible top, windshield, seats, carpeting, panels and all hardware, the dash was removed.

When the car was totally stripped, Bart trailered it to a body shop for repairs and paint. The first repair was to fill the hole in the rear bulkhead where the radio speaker had been.

Body work is completed and the base coat has been applied.

One door in final paint color. It's going to be a beaut!

The car returns to the shop with a new paint job.

While the car was out for paint and body work, Carolyn started work on the seats and the center console.

The complete interior kit for this car was produced by B.A.S. Ltd. Jaguar Trim Specialist of Canada. They pride themselves in using original materials as were found in Jaguars over the years. These seat covers are Connolly leather with moquette on the back. The center console is covered with vinyl and leather.

The carpet is 100% Wilton wool with storvic heel pads. Half inch English natural jute underfelt is installed under all carpeting to reduce heat and road noise. The outer foot wells are covered with half inch thick insulating hardura while the rest of the footwell and transmission tunnel are covered with Wilton wool and underfelt. The door sills are done with closed cell foam and vinyl and will have a chrome strip on the outer edge.

The rear bulhead is covered with the half inch hardura while the wheel arches and lower bulkhead are in moquette with foam underneath.

Carolyn used the wooden rear tack strips for the convertible top which were on the car to make jigs to reproduce the three sections of the strip. She used thin strips of red oak to laminate and bend the parts to the correct shape.

The tack strips were then screwed into the bulkhead and covered with vinyl.

The trim pieces for the door jams were installed.

The door windows were installed with new channel strips. The door panels and chrome strips were installed along with handles. The arm rests will be next.

The interior light and upper bulkhead panels are in place.

The windshield with new rubber gaskets was reinstalled.

After having a valve job done, Bart installed new rings, rod bearings, upper and lower timing chains with tensioner, head studs and a 4.2 flywheel for the upgraded 4.2 transmission. He also started installing the wiring harnesses while Carolyn began work on the wiring for the head lamps, blinker lights and tail lamps.

With the engine work completed, the engine and transmission assembly were reinstalled. Next comes the installation of brake lines and rebuilt front suspension.

Just a few more minor details and the engine will be complete.

Bart and our friend P. J. install the bonnet.

The bonnet is in place and the convertible top installation is nearing completion.

The headlamps with covers and chrome are installed along with the front bumpers and motif bar.

With the convertible top complete and all details addressed, this Jag looks great inside and out!

A wish that the owner enjoys his Jag in good health and he waves goodby.

1977 MGB BMW

2008-08-24T14:38:00.001-04:00

The owner of this car contacted us as he had blown the engine in his car. He opted for a change to more horsepower and a 5 speed transmission. Bart recommended installing an engine from a BMW.

This 1995 M42 318Ti BMW engine and E30 5 speed transmission was to be used in the conversion for this MGB.

The rubber bumper MG engine bay has sufficient room without modification. This example had been Ziebart rust proofed and was a mess to work with.

Say AHHH!

The motor is in position.

The owner had requested that the hood close without scoops or bubbles. Why the bird? Giddiness at the end of a very long day!

The view from below.

A minor transmission mount modification was required.

The MG driveshaft was lengthened and then this adapter was fabricated to connect the driveshaft to the BMW transmission.

The gearshift remained in its original position.

The left hand motor mount required some fabrication.

A simple custom exhaust was installed.

The fabrication of the header and collector was the most difficult part of the conversion.

Bart was able to utilize all of the MG cooling system and the working heater. Air conditioning was not an option.
On a chassis dyno the MGBMW made 101 horsepower at the rear wheels, this coupled with better weight distribution makes this one of the best handling MGs yet. That's before any handling upgrades (lowering) have been done.

1957 Triumph TR3

2008-08-23T15:12:00.000-04:00

This 1957 Triumph TR3 came to us in November of 2006 right after it had finished a road rally called Damn the Torpedoes which starts in Athens, GA and ends in Saint Marys, GA. This is an annual fall event with three rules. You may not use interstates, if you get a ticket you are disqualified, and your car must be at least 25 years old. This makes for an interesting event!

The owner of this TR3 wanted a frame off restoration on this cherished car.

We were ready to oblige him.

We always make it a point to take pictures of each step of a restoration so that the owner will have an album at the end of the job. We also email pics to customers so they can see what progress is being made. In this situation pics came in handy as the owner lives in Michigan!

As you can see, the car also lived in snowy Michigan and was going to need a fair amount of body work.

We stripped off every nut, bolt, screw, and interior part first. Then came the body parts. Everything was labeled and stored even if it was going to be replaced. The shell of the car was lifted off the frame. All body parts were moved to a paint and body shop.

Next, the frame was trailered to another shop to be sand blasted and painted with epoxy. When that was completed, Bart rebuilt the front suspension, installed a steering rack conversion, replaced the brake & fuel lines with stainless steel, and replaced the front wheel bearings and rear wheel cylinders.

In the mean time, the guys at the body shop were at work doing their thing.

When the paint and body work were completed, the body parts came back to be safely stored in our office until we were ready to reinstall them.

The shell was slowly lowered onto the frame and reattached.

It's one piece again!

All reusable parts were sand blasted and cleaned then painted with Por 15 to prevent rust. This is usually done by Carolyn who has a thing for cleanliness! Bart installed the new wiring harness.

Next the original dash was reinstalled. The owner plans to do the interior himself.

We started with the rear fenders with new beading.

The drivers side door was temporarily installed to assure the fit. It will come off again when we install the weather strips.

This engine rebuild included new 87 mm piston and cylinder assemblies, rod and main bearing thrust washers, modified cam, lifters and timing chain, rubber rear seal conversion, lightened fly wheel, clutch assembly, clutch fork, shaft and bushings to accomodate the TR6 overdrive transmission which was installed.

The alternator conversion and steering rack can be clearly seen in the photo below.

Next job was to reinstall the gas tank.

As the owner wanted to redo the interior himself, we cleaned and reinstalled it along with a set of Simpson racing seat belts.

The TR3 is ready to roll!

At the end of the ultimate test drive - through town traffic and some sweet, twisty mountain roads. It's a joy to drive!

1975 Triumph TR6

2008-08-23T14:51:00.000-04:00

This 1975 Triumph TR6 was sold in Gainesville, GA to a gentleman from North Carolina. As the previous owner is a customer of ours, he recommended that the new owner contact us for a few things he wanted to modify.

The first modification was to replace the original transmission with a five speed o.d. one from a 1994 Toyota pick up truck. Next came rebuilding and stiffening the front suspension with new poly control arm bushings and springs and steering rack mounts. On to the rear - new poly control arm bushings and adjustable control arm brackets. Bart fabricated the conversion to coilover Carrera rear shocks and replaced the brake hoses.

On to the engine rebuild - everything to be brand-spanking new, shiny, and clean!

Out with the old ..........

As long as the engine was out, the owner requested that we send the car to a paint and body shop for some cosmetic work. They cleaned and painted the engine compartment and both sides of the bonnet.

After the machine shop bored the cylinders, milled the head, installed new valve guides, milled the block, reconditioned the rods, and balanced the reciprocating parts. Bart assembled the engine. He lathe cut the pistons to acheive 0" deck height, measured for custom pushrods, modified three carburetors, the throttle linkage and topped it off with a set of roller rockers.

Bart prefit all the components before installing the motor.

.....and in with the new!

This shot shows the Richard Good triple carb manifold, jet coated header and aluminum valve cover.

The new oil cooler was connected to the spin on oil filter conversion.

This shot shows the custom made aluminum radiator with silicone hoses.

The carbs had been installed when the customer discovered another TR6 with carbs that had been mircropolished. They came back out and were shipped off for this special polishing.

After micropolishing, the carbs were returned to be reassembled and reinstalled.

So the carbs were reinstalled, the AC was installed along with silicone hoses and radiator shroud and new alternator. Looks shiny and new just like the customer wanted!

While Bart worked on the motor, Carolyn stripped out the old interior, cleaned off the old glue, and prepared for installing the new interior. Seat frames and convertible top frame were sandblasted and powder coated so they will live for many more years.

The owner requested that the interior be finished entirely in New Tan so that everything would match. Jonathon Skinner of England did a wonderful job of producing all of the parts needed to make this car look the way the customer wanted.

We were asked to install new speakers and a CD player. As this is a small car, the solution was to fabricate a large box to install in the rear bulkhead.

After the interior was completed, a new convertible top was installed.

Next came a new boot cover.

The owner located a used hardtop and brought it to the shop. We had it painted to match the car and then installed a new headliner and seals. It gives the car a whole new look.

A special wooden dash suppied by Prestige Autowood of San Jose, CA and a wooden steering wheel completed the interior.

Last minute adjustments to the carbs, timing, etc. and it was off for a Dyno run. A peak power of 141.0 horse power at 5142 RPM and peak torque of 155 LB FT from 2200 RPM to 4500 RPM was attained on the chassis dyno. This Triumph is ready for the road!

1974 Triumph TR6

2008-08-22T13:59:00.000-04:00

This car arrived at our shop with a note. "I belong to Wayne and Amy who have owned me for 18 years. Amy gave me to Wayne as a wedding gift. We had fun in the past driving the Blue Ridge Parkway and parking on the lawn of Chateau Elan for British Car Day. Darn them, they got a Z3 and there I sat in a car port for around eleven years. I've lost count. This is Amy's gift to Wayne for their anniversary. They want to make me pretty and road worthy again so we can go out and play! Thank you for looking me over. I feel you have very capable hands and will work wonders on me."

After checking the car out, we got together with the owners to learn what type of restoration they were interested in. The first step was to get it to a good body shop for some cosmetics and a good coat of paint. The car was stripped and trailered to a super shop - T.C.'s Place in Cleremont, GA.

This TR had been exposed to the elements for quite some time so a complete interior would be necessary. Good, work for Carolyn!

Oh yes, some great new updates and special additions to this tired motor were in order.

At T.C.'s Place, the car was brought down to bare metal. It was obvious that new floor panels were necessary.

The driver's door had to have previous body repairs corrected.....

...and new rocker panels were ordered.

Some shots of the body work....

..and the first coat of primer.

The color coat - what a great shade of blue!

When the body and paint job was done, the car was brought back to our shop

to live next to the TR-BMW. We hoped they would get along, but not too well.

Bart got started on the mechanical work while the car was off being painted. The block was bored to .030, decked, and new pistons were installed. The block was painted with POR 15.

Bart prepped and painted the block with Glyptal enamel and installed the balanced crankshaft.

The front suspension was rebuilt with shorter springs and Nylatron bushings. All components were powder coated.

While the car was at the body shop, Carolyn started working on the seats. They didn't look too bad....

until she stripped them down. The frames and headrest were sand blasted and then powder coated.

Carolyn installed KoolMat for noise and heat control.

She was able to install the vinyl on the rear wheel arches before the wiring was completed, and then she test fitted the wool carpet and bulk head panel. Looks good!

The front and rear bumpers were shipped off to be rechromed. All the lights were replaced and reinstalled. New door handles and locks were installed.

The windshield frame was sand blasted and powder coated and then installed with new seals. The new front grill was installed. The engine was lowered into position ready to be finished.

Before mounting the owners new wheels and tires, all of the brakes were attended to.

The front brakes were rebuilt with stainless steel pistons, drilled and slotted rotors and heavy duty spindles.

Adjustable control arms and Nylatron bushings were installed. All new stainless steel brake lines were used throughout.

An electric fuel pump was installed for fuel injection.

Wayne and Amy had enjoyed driving the Triumph before it had been parked, but they decided that it was time to do some updating. A 1994 Toyota five speed transmission was the first change. Along with that came fuel injection (Patten Machine TBI), electric cooling fan, a GP2 cam, and higher compression. On a dyno run, the car made 104 HP at the rear wheels and 126.8 lb. ft. of torque.

Another vintage car brought back to life outside....

...and in!

When the car was ready to roll, it was parked in a scenic area for pictures to be taken and then sent to the coordinator of the 6th annual Keeneland Concours d'Elegance of Kentucky. The owners of this beautiful TR6 had been personally invited to show the car at the event which raises money each year for the Kentucky Children's Hospital.

Amy and Wayne had a wonderful weekend and received many compliments on the car. As they expected, there was no trophy as the car had been modified to meet their personal prefrences but they love it just the same!

"Sweet Pea" an MGB GT

2008-08-21T17:06:00.000-04:00

Bart transported this daily driver to the shop after it was involved in a minor accident. The owner loved her "Sweet Pea" and wanted to keep as much of the original car as possible. We did manage to salvage most of her mechanical parts and glass, but the body was in pretty poor shape. Bart found a replacement for the body and off it went to be painted at a local body shop.

When the paint and body work was completed, Bart reinstalled the original parts that were salvageable and replaced what was not.

Carolyn stripped down the old dash and replaced the cover, cleaned up the instruments, etc.

Next came the seats. She took them down to bare metal, replaced the webbing and foam, and then she installed the new covers.

The carpet and panel installations followed.

After a lot of elbow grease, the car looked like new and drove the way an MG should!

Triumph Herald

2008-08-21T16:09:00.000-04:00

This 1965 prize winning Triumph Herald was a ground up restoration which included a modified Spitfire 1500 engine, transmission and rear end. Body work and paint were subcontracted. Carolyn used the original dashboard as a template to cut a new plywood dash. She then installed new veneer followed by multiple coats of marine varnish. For the trunk, Carolyn replaced the wooden runners on the luggage rack with red oak which also received marine varnish. The job was completed in 2000, and the car still looks great! Runs better than ever, too!

In September 2008 the Herald was an important part of daughter Jennifer's wedding!

FOR SALE

2008-08-20T11:52:00.008-04:00

1953 MG TD

A RARE FIND! A VERY FINE EXAMPLE OF A TD - NONE NICER!
68,000 miles
1250 cc
4.1 rear end
5 speed, excellent original - stays with car
First place trophy at the Silver Anniversary of British Car Day in Rome, GA.
All repairs and service completed by The Roadspeed Garage.
Must see to believe!

$38,000
Please contact JV Vlass at 770-752-0609 or 770-598-6120 c

BMW 1600 GT LITE

* 25 YEARS OF SCCA RACING HISTORY

* FULL TUBE CHASSIS BUILT BY HENESSY

* ENGINE (1.6L 14, 190HP) BUILT BY MWE

* 5-SPEED MANUAL SAENZ RACING TRANSMISSION
* TILTON BRAKES WITH BIAS ADJUSTMENT

* INCLUDES 3:64, 4:11 & 4:22 LOCKING LONG-NECK DIFFERENTIALS
* ALL FIBERGLASS BODY MOLDS
* LEXAN ALL-AROUND

* EIGHT EXTRA WHEELS & TIRES + RAINS
* DUAL-AXLE ENCLOSED BRITTON TRAILER W/ELECTRIC BRAKES,WORK BENCH & TIRE RACK
* TONS OF SPARE PARTS!

PRICE: $19,995.00
CONTACT: PAUL MAHTABAN at PAULMAHTABAN@OPTONLINE.NET (201) 966-4216
or
The Roadspeed Garage at roadspeed@windstream.net (706) 348-6364

Another car for sale -
1971 MGB
Good driver. Asking $3000. Contact Roger Smith in Cleveland, GA
706-865-2979 evenings.

A few of our favorite customers

2008-05-07T15:49:00.001-04:00

What we have to offer

2008-05-06T17:14:00.002-04:00

Service and repair for street driven Vintage Sportscars and Sedans.

Performance upgrades for street or track on engine and suspension.

Turnkey Vintage race conversions.

Custom roll bar and cage fabrication for any car.

Open or enclosed transport available.

We do not do paint nor body work but have reliable sources if
needed.

Our specialized services

2008-05-05T16:26:00.002-04:00

At the Roadspeed Garage you can expect to receive personalized services for your vintage sports cars. Bart Miller is the technician who has had over 35 years of experience in the field of repairing and restoring vintage sports cars of all makes and models. He approaches each repair as if he was working on his own cars. Bart is frequently able to diagnose problems just by listening to or driving the vehicle. He is always willing to show his customers areas of concern, parts which need replacing and advice on what would work best for their car. If you are in need of a part which is no longer available, Bart is usually able to fabricate it for you. If you want to make your vintage sports car handle better, accelerate faster, run smoother, or last a little longer, then Bart is the man to see.

If you would like your car to look better, Bart's wife, Carolyn, is able to strip down your old seats, refurbish the frame, install new diaphragms and straps, new foam, and seat cover kits. Carolyn also strips out old carpeting, cleans off the underlying metal and installs new carpet kits with glue and/or snaps. She also disassembles convertible tops, refurbishes the frame (painting when requested), and installs new convertible tops. She also installs tonneaus. If you need a new dash cover, Carolyn will remove the old one, clean off the existing metal surface and then install a new dash cover kit. Before replacing the dash, she will clean the glass and frames of your gauges. With Carolyn's woodworking skills, she is able to use your original wooden dash to fabricate a new blank to cover in veneer, vinyl or leather.

Bart and Carolyn really enjoy seeing these beautiful vintage sports cars looking like new and running better than ever.

Contact Us

2008-05-04T04:00:00.001-04:00

The Roadspeed Garage
127 Warehouse Drive
Cleveland, Georgia 30528-4458
roadspeed@windstream.net

Bart & Carolyn Miller

706-348-6364 *** Fax 706-219-4327

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About Bart Miller

2008-05-03T15:00:00.002-04:00

Bart Miller has loved sports cars since he was a little boy growing up in Virginia Beach, VA. He was thrilled to see so many service men from Norfolk driving in the area in Jaguars, MGs and Triumphs. After High School, Bart worked at a garage in Norfolk that catered to those British sports cars, and his experience and love of cars expanded even more. His younger sister, Anne, bought a 1951 Jag 120 which Bart kept running. He has transported it through many states since 1966. Today it sits at his shop waiting for Bart to turn it into yet another vintage race car which he will drive to shows and events along with his 1959 Bugeye and his 1971 MGB GT. These cars are not just for show. They are driven on the streets a good deal.

Bart graduated from High School and moved on to college. His folks always wanted him to be a Doctor, but that didn't work out. He transferred to a small college in Nebraska where he earned a BA in English. While at college, Bart met two "car crazy" guys, one from New York, the other from North Carolina. When they graduated, they all went home to decide what to do next. A few months later, the buddy from NY called Bart to tell him about a fabulous place to work - Herrington Motors in Montgomery, NY. The place was packed full of sports cars! This sounded great to Bart, so it was off to NY. That was in 1972. Unfortunately, that didn't last. Then came the idea to start their own car repair shop. The guy from North Carolina had earned a degree in accounting - perfect! A technician, an accountant, and a PR man! Let's go! That's how Elf Motor Works was born. Pretty soon, they were working on VWs, Jags, MGs, and anything old and foreign that came their way.

This is Bart with his sister Anne and partner John at one of Elf Motor Works' locations in Orange County, NY.

After a year or so, Bart was the only one left at Elf Motor Works. After having several locations around the county, he decided in 1984 he'd had enough. The hours were long, the pay was never going to make him a millionaire, and he needed more time for himself. Bart decided to take a job at a BMW dealership and became a certified technician. By the time he retired in 1997, he was a certified, master technician of BMW, Alfa Romeo, and Volvo.

Of course while he worked for others, his previous customers kept insisting that no one else could take care of their sports cars so he took work in at home. He just couldn't keep his hands off of those vintage sports cars. Bart did take every opportunity to go auto crossing, drive in time trials, and plan and run road rallies.

Bart enhanced a 2002 with Weber side drafts, 5 speed tranny, Bilestein suspension, 14" wheels, etc. He and Carolyn both ran it at time trials and auto crosses.

The little time he had left, he got involved in helping friends build race cars to run in SCCA events.

A spectator at one of the races requisitioned Bart to convert his BMW 2002 into a race car. When the car was completed, Bart of course was the crew chief at the races.

This brought to the foreground another dream! Bart wanted to vintage race his 1959 Austin Healey Bugeye! He finally decided that it was time to work on his dream, so he dropped most of his other "patients" and started working on the Bugeye. By 1996, it was ready to race - thus the # 96.

With all of this, did he have time for himself? Very little, but every spare minute he had was spent reading everything he could get his hands on about his first love - vintage sports cars!

Bart and his wife, Carolyn, retired to Northeast Georgia in 1997. Bart had no intentions of going back into business, he just wanted to go vintage racing and read. After about two months, boredom settled in and he needed to get back to his cars. He took a job at a local shop where they worked on older cars - not all vintage, but that was OK. In 1998 a friend and former employee, Len Norris, moved down looking for work. He convinced Bart that the two of them should open a shop strictly for vintage sports cars. As Bart was already renting a large building for storage and part time work on his cars, they had a perfect spot. That's where it all started again.

Bart had met a "car nut" who needed work done on a Bugeye. As this customer was a member of an Atlanta sports car club, the word soon spread that Bart was the guy to see if you owned any kind of sports car. Today, Bart is considered an expert in his field and draws customers from all over Northeast Georgia, North and South Carolina, Tennessee, and folks from places like Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan who have ties in Georgia.

Bart's shop is a mom and pop business, and he likes it that way. It allows him to offer personalized, precision care for your car. If you are in the market for a car, Bart is always willing to make suggestions as to what to avoid. If it's possible to get the car to the shop, he will inspect it and truthfully tell you if you're getting a good deal. He's also willing to tell you if it is a car he would not be willing to work on. Bart and Carolyn both treat their customers like family and plan to continue to do just that.

About Carolyn Miller

2008-05-02T18:00:00.001-04:00

Carolyn Miller was born and raised in Southeast New York State. By the time she met Bart in 1972, she had married, earned a BS in Early Childhood Education, started her teaching career, had two daughters, and gotten divorced.
Carolyn's only contact with vintage sports cars was through a High School friend that owned a Triumph. After she met Bart, her life changed completely. At the time, she was driving a big station wagon (won't mention which domestic brand) which Bart convinced her to sell so she could have a Fiat 124. Not having driven a stick shift before, Bart took her to a nice flat parking lot where she became quite proficient at shifting. Her first attempt at starting in 1st on an uphill was quite a memorable occasion. Noticing that she was holding up traffic, she put the car in neutral, pulled on the emergency brake, got out of the car, approached the guy in the car behind her and informed him that if he ever wanted to go anywhere, he'd have to drive her car to level ground! He agreed and she followed in his car. Needless to stay, the driving lessons took place on hills after that. Since then, Bart has had Carolyn driving XKEs, VWs, Volvos, Mazdas, BMWs, Saabs, and even a Lotus Elan!
Carolyn and Bart spent over 20 years camping and watching races at Lime Rock Park in Connecticut. Bart always dreamed that he would one day race, and Carolyn was there ready to help him do just that.

They joined a sports car club and spent summer weekends driving auto crosses, road rallies, and time trials.

In our young and foolish days!

They often planned these events and set up the coarses. Carolyn worked and drove right along with Bart. She even wrote a computer program (when only BASIC was used and everything was stored on cassettes) to score multiple legs of road rallies for an unlimited number of cars.
Carolyn retired in 1997 after 32 years of teaching. She knew Bart had been unhappy living in the cold "north" country for so long, so he was to decide where they would live next. They both wanted to go south, and after some exploration they discovered that Northeast Georgia was just as beautiful as the mountainous area they were leaving behind.Carolyn moved her aging mother to Georgia to live with them. She spent 5 years at home taking care of her mom. After her mom passed away, Carolyn was called upon to help at the shop with the book keeping. Len, the original partner, decided it would be a good time to move on and so he did. Pretty soon Carolyn discovered that she was well able to do the accounting, order parts, develop estimates for repair orders, and write computer programs (surprise, surprise, no more BASIC or cassettes - Easy Cal, etc. are all there now!) to suit the needs of their business.
Carolyn's hobbies of woodworking came in very handy when asked to fabricate a new wooden dash or speaker boxes.

Having learned to reupholster furniture, she found it quite natural to install new seat kits, dash board covers and carpet kits. Of course she's always there to answer the phone, help bleed brakes and clutches, and get her small hands in small spots. Bart often needs that extra set of hands to hold the other end of the bolt he's tightening or push cars around the shop. Bart says that with her background in elementary education, she is very good at communicating with all of these "big boys with their toys"! Carolyn, like Bart, loves to see these vintage cars drive away looking and running like new.

Then and Now

2008-05-01T14:26:00.002-04:00

We rented this pole barn in Cleveland, GA in 1997 when we moved from New York. We needed a place to store all of Bart's cars, tools, parts and our furniture while our house was being built.

Our first customer, Gary Thompson, brought us his Morris Minor pickup truck and his Austin Healey Bugeye. That started the ball rolling! Gary is a member of an Atlanta sports car club and soon the word had spread.

We started in this building which had several spot lights, one water spigot, and no heat. Thanks to Bart's 1st partner, Len Norris, we soon had insulation on the walls, a lowered ceiling, and a closed off 2nd floor area for storage.

There was very little to see at the front door then. The dirt road and driveway made for lots of dust.

Throughout the years, we have added on an office, heat, plumbing, new wall coverings, and lots more electric.

This office filled up in a hurry. It also houses a lathe which Bart uses to make parts which are no longer available.

Bart has a passion for posters of cars, motorcycles, races we've attended or participated in. They made a great display of his loves and interests.

We're running out of room for posters. Guess we'll have to add on again!

The 71 year "young" original owner of this 1962 Morgan still races it! It's never been on the street, only on the tracks!

Nightmares and Funnies

2007-10-06T13:50:00.003-04:00

Click pics to enlarge.

A cartoon of Bart in 1971 driving his Jaguar with his dog Jaguar. Jaguar could drive even better than Bart!

One customer found Bart to be an interesting subject for a painting.
Thanks P.J.

A customer spotted this work horse of a Mini in the Bahamas!

Hey Bart, will bigger tires make me go faster?

If this dog needs glasses, should he be driving?

May this BMW rear end rest in peace.

This was definitely a nightmare _ a beautiful 1974 Alfa Romeo GTV which had never had an engine rebuild. It absolutely refused to give up its head!

At our front door - Eanie, Meanie, Mini, Moe!

I'll work on your Porsche, Maserati, BMWs, MGB and even the Cord and the Auburn but this is where I draw the line!

Do you think that flat bed will be able to handle that Mini?

I think you're in my parking space!

Hey Bart, do you think you can make my headlights work? While you're at it, could you check out my wipers, turn signals, tach, odometer and the rest of the gauges?

Mark and Steve sure know how to enjoy a car show! Their buddy Joe helps himself to a draft (wonder if that kilt gets drafty?).

You ordered British parts?

Plastic cullenders - a creative way to protect those speakers installed through the rear bulkhead!

But Carolyn, the car was free! I thought you'd like the tree!

Sally drew a large crowd of fans at Road Atlanta for Petit Le Mans in Sept. of '08.

A two toned MGB-GT?

The future?

In the beginning ......

The Polar Bear Run

2007-10-06T13:01:00.000-04:00

For the last seven years a large group of enthusiastic drivers have refused to hang up their driving gloves just because it's winter in Georgia. They gather on the last Saturday of December for a driving event in the Southeast and dub it the Polar Bear Run. All classic marques are encouraged to join in, but all cars are welcomed. The group usually gathers near Atlanta, discusses the plans for the day, receives directions to the chosen museum so that all can drive at their own pace, and details of planned rest stops and lunch accommodations. There is no charge for these tours, you just pay for your own lunch and make a suggested donation to the museum if you choose to do so. For 2007 the crowd will head to The Museum of Aviation at Warner Robins, GA. on Sat., December 29th. If you're interested in joining the group, email GeorgiaPolarBear@hotmail.com .

In 2002 the Polar Bear Run gathered for a trip to the Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum of Madison,GA. The drivers of many great cars assembled as usual for the directions and plans for the day.

After a pleasant drive and a few rest stops, the group arrived in Madison where they ate lunch, toured the lovely southern town, swapped stories and checked out each others cars.

After lunch, everyone drove a short distance out of town to their final destination - the Microcar Museum.

If you're interested in seeing more of the Microcar Museum, check out www.microcarmuseum.com for details, directions, etc. You'll love the visit!

2002s in 2002

2007-10-02T15:56:00.000-04:00

On 02/02/02 Bart participated in the one and only Festival to celebrate the BMW 2002 held at the BMW center in Spartenberg, SC. He drove his modified 2002 and really enjoyed seeing what other owners had done with their 2002s.

Our Friend The Car Collector

2007-09-28T14:19:00.001-04:00

We have a friend who collects vintage cars - all kinds. Carolyn was lucky enough to go to his buildings where he stores and works on these cars. (The collector felt that the phrase "works on these cars" was a bit of a stretch. In his words "This is where he dismantles them and Bart puts it all back together or gets them running at his shop!") These are just part of his collection.

This 1967 Pirsch fire truck is the only vehicle the collector owns that Bart will not work on!

1937 Cord

1973 MGB

1952 Morgan Plus 4

1947 Chevrolet Pick Up

The collector's wife did this paint job!

Even American vehicles mark their territory!

1958 Jaguar XK 150

The sheet metal work for this Cord 812 is almost complete.

His friend's BMW 600 joins the group (the body is being sanded, new floor is being welded and will soon be ready for paint)..........

....along with his Corvair Greenbrier pick up truck.

Model A Ford

This poor chap started this restoration 50 years ago, stopped for a break, and never got up again.

1991 Porsche 944S2

And his four Maseratis!

1971 Maserati Indy

1967 Maerati Mistral 4.0L

1984 Maserati Biturbo

Here is the latest - a 1980 Maserati Merak SS!

Bart gets to take it out for an "Italian tune up"!

GA Mountain Sportscars

2007-09-27T14:10:00.000-04:00

Every spring a large group of sportscar enthusiasts gather together for a picnic followed by a lively ride through the North Georgia mountains. There is always a good collection of MGs, Triumphs, Jaguars, Mini Coopers, Porches, Austin Healeys, and an occasional Datsun, Ginetta, Allard, and Morris Minor. We usually spend several hours driving on some fabulous roads (no pot holes in this part of the country) that all boast great scenery.

Three great friends - Steve Cripps, Bob Kassow and Chris Gore!

We make several gas stops to keep the group together, swap stories, and make any necessary repairs if needed. The ride ends back at the starting point so we can all chat and share more stories. It's a great way to welcome warmer weather!

In Memorium

2007-09-27T10:00:00.000-04:00

Bob Kassow, a friend and regular participant of the Spring Mountain tours, liked getting together a few friends who enjoyed driving their sports cars at a spirited pace. Bob called these "No Picnic Basket" runs as the folks would gather early in the morning and drive as many hours as they could. There was no time to mess with picnics! In the summer of 2006 several of us gathered with Bob near the Georgia/Tennessee border at sunrise, grabbed a quick cup of coffee and sped off for a ride which took us through the Appalachian Mountains, the Smokey Mountains, the Cherohala Skyway (Bob's favorite road) and eventually to Asheville, NC. Driving his Ginetta, Bob lead us down many curvy, hilly, tree lined roads and through many side roads he had previously explored. He seemed to know the area like the back of his hand.

After several stops for sight seeing and gas, we arrived at the garage of one of his friends where we were served lunch, enjoyed looking at all of the wonderful memorabilia, cars, etc. and gathered up a few more cars and drivers.

We thanked our host and hostess and headed out again. More beautiful roads and sights leading us to Asheville. The final destination was a car show which was the final stage of a week long classic car road rally. We arrived in time to see a lot of the cars before they drove away. After a beer, we turned around and headed home. It was a beautiful day and we greatly enjoyed the camaraderie.

Robert Kassow February 13, 1947 - December 2, 2006

Bart wrote the following eulogy for Bob: "Though I've known Bob only for a couple of years and only in the shared appreciation of sports car driving at levels of concentration that erase the intrusions of anything not related to the sensory inputs necessary to maintain control, I came to realise that he was one of the few. The few who could escape, for a while, time itself and its limits. Think about skiers, mountain climbers, bicycle racers and sports car drivers as all able to escape time for a bit. Bob did all of those things and the things the rest of us do in the other life we share with each other. He got his time."
Bob is sorely missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him.

Seen at the race tracks

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Sebring, Florida 1999

Old Sebring car show 1999.

Bart celebrating his win with sister Anne and partner Len.

Bart's first win!

Virginia International Raceway (VIR), Danville, VA 2000 - 2006

Bart met Gerry Coker, the designer of the big and little Austin Healeys.

Gerry signed Bart's Bugeye!
Our friend, Tom Whitfield's beautiful MGB GT.

Sooner or later, everything needs to be fixed!
US Vintage Grand Prix of Watkins Glen, NY 2004

Roebling Road, Savannah, GA 2002

The Rolex Vintage Festival Lime Rock Park Lakeville, CT 2003

A real Speedwell Sprite spending time with the Roadspeed Bugeye!

MGBGT Restoration

2007-09-24T13:50:00.000-04:00