Topic: Another MGB for me?

[Wingmonk]

Going down the highway at night with the green Smith gauges illuminating your smiling face. The short throw shifter at the almost perfect angle...and an ever so slight rattle of the complete tool box on the floorboards.
Still the MGB was one of the funnest on the planet. And any color other than British racing green should be banned.

[seaweb11]

Have not taken the big City trip yet.
I'm still keen.

[Sam Green Racing]

Stop messing about and go get it....you know you want to

Sam.

[seaweb11]

I know I do.................

[TwoTired]

I would argue that for one of these beasts to have lasted this long must be a testament to something......

Sheer force of will by the owner?

[seaweb11]

This is the second owner of the car selling it.

 It has been kept it garage and had love

[mrbreeze]

I had an early 70"s Fiat 124 Spyder roll up to the shop today. As the guy got out of the car,I commented on how long it had been since I seen one. He said he was looking for parts as he walked to our parts dept......I just laughed and told him "Good Luck!!!" I do like the old sports cars even though I never owned one. I had plenty of friends back in the days with them.....various Fiats, Triumphs,Austin Healys (I really dug the 3000's),MG's,etc. I can imagine trying to keep them running nowadays.

[mark]

........... I can imagine trying to keep them running nowadays.

.... dunno about the Fiats, but parts for the Brit cars are actually easier to get now than they were in the late 70s-early 80s. Dealer support at the time was a joke - a bad joke. The aftermarket has stepped up and you can get just about any part for an MGB with the exception of engine blocks and axle housings. A few years back, one supplier was even offering repro body tubs!

That Midget at the yard is looking better all the time.........

 

[troppo]

........... I can imagine trying to keep them running nowadays.

.... dunno about the Fiats, but parts for the Brit cars are actually easier to get now than they were in the late 70s-early 80s. Dealer support at the time was a joke - a bad joke. The aftermarket has stepped up and you can get just about any part for an MGB with the exception of engine blocks and axle housings. A few years back, one supplier was even offering repro body tubs!

That Midget at the yard is looking better all the time.........

 

+1
You can get every part for an mg aftermarket, you could build a new one from scratch if you had thee wish (and the money lol) theres more replacement parts available for those old girls than the 70`s escorts...

As for the hassles everyone is screaming about the lucas wiring, make sure you get a couple of sets of this, works on any car with a lucas loom in it

http://www3.telus.net/bc_triumph_registry/smoke.htm

[Uncle Ernie]

The first car I ever owned was a slightly used MGA Coupe.  Red, of course.  Had roll-up windows.  The poor man's XK120. 
Felt like I was stealing when I sold it for $500- more than I paid.

(Had more than that in each front wheel of my last Moggy)

[nickjtc]

They never run? Hence never wear out?

Ouch!!

[slabbedask]

I remember that eBay auction for the Lucas Harness Smoke! Had me laughing so hard I nearly choked.....
MGB's are beautiful cars. Built this 1/24 scale model a couple of years back, from an Aoshima kit. (Model building is another of my hobbies...)


For more pics of this and some of my other model cars, feel free to check out my Fotki album here: http://public.fotki.com/slabbedask/   

 

[bill440cars]

      Yeah, I kinda like those MGBs, MG Midgets, Austin Healy Sprites, Austin Healy 1000s the the Triumph TR6s and the Spitfires too. My Dad had a car in the mid 60's, that I wanted to get from him but he sold it before I got home from the Air Force.It was a Morris Minor (Woodie?) Wagon. That was one cool car. Battery was nearly as big as the engine. I used to have a blast in that little car. Sure was disappointed to find that he'd sold it, bet my Mom was behind that.   Was like this one, except it was black with red interior.  Originally, he had a little 2dr Morris Minor and got the chance to get the wagon from a friend who had a garage. It didn't have a motor and a few other things. The deal was that we would take the wagon home, remove from the 2dr whatever the wagon needed and bring back what was left of the 2dr. Pretty cool operation. Now, while we were there, I saw an MG that had dual carbs and tried to talk Dad into getting those, but he wouldn't budge. Anway, we put the parts into the wagon and mad a mighty cool little ride out of that one. Wish I had it now.

       
 

[bill440cars]

I had a chance to pick one up several years ago and passed for another kind of car entirely; 1960 Dodge Dart- similar to below. Liked that MOPAR but the MGB (tin top) was the one that got away.

          Sounds like a nice find there Ecosse. Kinda partial to those myself. Have you still got it! If so, like to see some pictures of that one myself.

[Uncle Ernie]

Bill, oficially named "Traveller"
Nick-named "Moggy"

My last one had a 1275 and I put front disks in it (among other things).
Everytime I ran through a puddle it would stop.  I'd have to push it over and dry the points.  Quite fun when they're "in good nick".

I think someone should make a round headlight kit for the Miata.

[bill440cars]

Bill, oficially named "Traveller"
Nick-named "Moggy"

My last one had a 1275 and I put front disks in it (among other things).
Everytime I ran through a puddle it would stop.  I'd have to push it over and dry the points.  Quite fun when they're "in good nick".

I think someone should make a round headlight kit for the Miata.

          Thanks there Uncle. That was one cool little vehicle!
Biggest problem I remember having was, in the winter, when it was freezing. Dad would go out and start it to drive to work and he would let it warm up first. It would run for a bit and die. Found out that there was enough moisture in the gas to freeze and cause the engine to stall. Dad finally put something in the gas to take care of the moisture (like Heet or something) and solved that problem.

          Uncle, I'm really surprised that someone hasn't already come up with a round headlight kit for the Miatas. I'm kinda liking them myself All this talk about the British cars makes me remember when I was stationed out at Hamilton AFB from Dec 69'-Aug 70' and a buddy bought a new Austin  Healey Sprite and he asked me if I could take him down to the dealer to get it. That guy was so proud of his new car!      
 
                                       

[Uncle Ernie]

I got this >< close to getting a Sprite, but the only way it would work was if I had my left arm removed.  Tiniest car I ever tried to drive.  I truely have no idea how a normal-sized person does it.  I think it's even smaller than the Frogeye/ Bugeye (depending on which side of the pond you calle home).

The Japanese make great Brit imitations, and the Miata is a great MG.  A real sports car that's just about bullet proof.  And the heater-air condioner works well, too.  (Like all sports cars, the windows fog so bad in bad weather, you can't see.) Put a front end kit that tilts up like the Bugeyes have- with round lights.  I'd think it wouldn't be too hard.  There's your next million Bill ~

[seaweb11]

That's one of the cool things about the MGB's .

I'm 6'3 and it is still a great fit

[fuzzybutt]

which mg is it thats more like a 2 door wagon or hatchback?

[seaweb11]

which mg is it thats more like a 2 door wagon or hatchback?

MGB GT. Personally I don't like the look.....and no convert





Jensen Interceptor wantabe

[kghost]

That's one of the cool things about the MGB's .

I'm 6'3 and it is still a great fit

+1

[kirkn]

LOL, that's one of the concerns I have about a Spitfire/GT6 project.

I remember in college that I wasn't too tall for it, but rather, getting on for too w i d e...

And I damn sure haven't got any narrower since then... 

I'm not sure I could even squeeze into one anymore.

Hmm... how's that for a diet incentive?  I can't fit into my CAR anymore   

[pdxPope]

Jensen Interceptor wantabe

I thought that the BGT came out before the Jensen....



-JP

[seaweb11]

  I believe you are correct 

[pdxPope]

Not to take anything away from the Jensen, of course.

Whoever thought of putting a Chrysler 440 into that little 2300lb 2+2 coupe should either have his head examined or have a holiday named after him.

My guess is that, much like the MGC, Sunbeam Tiger and even the venerable AC Cobra. It probably went like a bat out of hell in a straight line, but the trade-off is handling only slightly worse than a 1966 Volvo 145. 

-JP