I always thought of British cars this way:
1) They will retain oil. Everywhere but inside the crankcase.
2) Lucas, the prince of darkness. (On, Off and flicker)
3) The original masters of lightweight, gorgeous coachwork. (Rolls, Jags, Aston-Martins, Bentleys, Lotus)
4) Labor issues and buyouts = really sad cars in the 70's.
5) Anything British + American V8 = Fastest moving objects on the planet.

Italian cars:
1) Coachwork is nice, but just shy of the british examples.
2) When they run, it's pure joy. When they don't- Just kill yourself. It'll be easier in the long run.:lol:

David, Many years ago, 1968, I owned a right hand drive Jag Mark IX that spent most of it life in England. It had more rust on it than any other car I had ever owned. The front wings, fenders, were like lace. Where the skirts mounted on the rear fenders almost didn't exist. I learned a lot making the panel for that car with nothing but hand tools and Oxy/Acet welding. Didn't have a shop at the time and all work was done in the driveway.

American cars rusted but not like the British car from what I have seen. I think a lot of the rusting problems had to do with the climate condition and where you were located. Many of the British cars that I worked on that were bought new in the US didn't have the same degree of rust as the used ones that came from England. The worst one that I worked on was a 1957 Roll Royce, I gave up on it. The owner did too because he couldn't find a shop willing to continue the work at a cost he could afford.

Sounds about right Joe but thats why I keep busy!.

David