Are older British roadsters really so unreliable?

[jas2wa]

This past weekend, I drove a 60 Triumph TR3 and a 74 MGB all over the place with another car-loving friend. The MG was like a Rolls compared to the 4-inches-from-the-ground, ox-cart suspension- triumph. The Triumph was awesome, probably the most legal fun I have ever had. Certainly a vintage car experience, though, with very crazy steering and huge wheel. Power sliding that car through 2nd gear corners was about as good as it gets. (It was surprisingly torquey, attributable to its tractor engine origins probably).

My question is, can cars like this be expected to provide trouble-free service (or at least service as trouble-free as a similar- vintage Mercedes-Benz)? I have never considered actually buying something like this, assuming the continuous (electrical?) problems would drive me nuts. (Of course, there would always be a M-B providing daily service).

The TR3 was sooo much fun to drive. What kind of experience do you all have with British cars, either driving them or their reliability?

Cheers,

JAS