MGB GT - Mission finally complete! Phew.

[SiC]

http://www.mg-cars.org.uk/peterburgess/page12.html

 

Doesn't look too bad to have the head rebuilt if needed. My biggest fear was killing it with the wrong fuel during the drive back. Pretty sure that its only seen leaded fuel this one.

 

Before you wonder too much, I'm not making any guarantee on getting one just yet... Need to look at it again as it was peeing it down last time I saw it and then agree a price.

[somewhatfoolish]

Even if valve recession was likely it takes thousands of miles to manifest itself; a single journey will make no odds, if you're fretting about it buy a bottle of lead replacement additive.

[SiC]

So it's nearly a month (will be this Friday) since I started this thread. Probably feels like an age, especially considering how long it's got. I've looked at a couple since but I've kept quiet as I didn't want them disappearing before I got a chance!

 

I've found one I like. Not my ideal colour, but I don't mind it too much. When I saw it on Sunday it looked in excellent condition. Possibly original paint too. Unfortunately it was absolutely chucking it down but I tried to get a very good look underneath. Underneath seemed all original and not waxoyl up either. No real rust apart from light surface. Door panels line up too! Pretty sure it's never been welded.

 

Low number of owners, current has only owned it for 2 months. He acquired it off a friend who had it in his garage for nearly 14 years but never did anything with it. His friend was moving and so offered it to him to buy. The seller bought it.

 

It wasn't running right and he knew he couldn't sell on with a dicky sounding engine. Hence it's had new points, leads, plugs, coil, bits on the brakes and kingpins. Good few hundred spent.

 

As the seller has a immaculate TR3 (iirc, not good with my classics), having both takes up all his garage space. Plus he prefers the triumph too and not much sense having two classics.

 

That's the story he told me. Seemed a nice guy and pretty genuine.

 

Disadvantages? No history as all lost. Owner before his friends was apparently a garage owner and so did most of the work himself. Only documents are ones from recent work done to tune it up. Also its hardly done any miles since bringing back on the road. It has had work done though, so hopefully will get me back ok. Tyres are old and probably original too.

 

It's about 30miles away if I take A-roads, so not terribly far.

 

Need to look at it again which I'm doing later. I have learnt never to buy a car in the rain! Also need to do a deal, but to be fair if after another look it's good underneath then it's possibly not too bad a price.

 

Right at the top of my budget I wanted to spend though. A bit nervous! Also had worries last night as I've still not test driven one! But my thinking is that all I've seen are on really old tyres and so will be not representative either.

 

Plus I kinda want it for something to have an excuse to tinker with. I'll probably use it for mostly buzzing around town and up on 30 to 50mph speed limited roads to my best mates house when he moves near me in a couple of weeks.

 

If I look after this over winter, I'm pretty sure I could get my money back easily too.

 

Fingers crossed that this is the one! For everyone's sake...

[SiC]

Going on my memory (which isn't too good) from what I saw, the last and only MOT recorded online and dependant on the accuracy of Smith's gauges, it's done about 50miles since being bought back out. Hopefully enough to find any major issues and not cause me trouble doing 30 miles. Some of which will be rush hour!

 

No tools with me (forgot) but I have my breakdown card.

[Cavcraft]

Good luck, and I'd imagine history won't matter too much as the actual condition of the car will be most important and probably tells it's own story.

[They_all_do_that_sir]

What cavcraft says. History is nice and all but I tend to buy based on what sort of feeling I get from the car.

If you've good vibes from this one having already viewed a few then get it bought

 

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[SiC]

If it had history I guess it'd be worth a whole lot more. Kinda trusting that the guy is genuine. Always difficult to really with someone you don't know.

 

I'm nervous because I might miss something major especially structual wise, it's quite a lot of money and it may break down on the way back. Plus I still need to get this modern Audi working which is an unknown to exactly how much money it needs.

 

Why do I do this to myself?!

[Mally]

I'm sure this will run and run.

Hope the car does too.

[tooSavvy]

Happy 21st m8

 

TS

[egg]

Why do I do this to myself?!

 

Because when a man reaches a certain age, if he doesn't have a hobby, he'll go a bit daft.

[Dave_Q]

Dateline: 2025. 

 

 

Euro 9 emissions regulations have killed off most older cars, with only genuine registered classics like the original BINI allowed to continue, if they tow around a trailer full of filters and cat's wee.

 

GodPresident Donald Trump is well into his 3rd term, having got Russian hackers to amend the constitution for him.

 

A few dedicated mentalists have kept their older classics hidden away, against Prime Minister Corbyn's bicycle and couscous friendly new laws.

 

Meanwhile, SiC has tracked down the last remaining MGB, it's owner wants £200,000 for it.

 

SiC posts pics of it on the 3000th page of this thread, wondering if the sills have too much wob, despite the fact it's now illegal to drive it on the road at all......

[tooSavvy]

Because when a man reaches a certain age, if he doesn't have a hobby, he'll go a bit daft.

SWMBO is good, in that regard...

 

Trotting back to our table, at the pub, she always points and announces 'ya hobbies out!'

 

TS

[busmansholiday]

My rubber bumper roadster runs OK on Tesco's higher octane petrol but runs like a bag of bolts on the normal unleaded.

[They_all_do_that_sir]

If it had history I guess it'd be worth a whole lot more. Kinda trusting that the guy is genuine. Always difficult to really with someone you don't know.

 

I'm nervous because I might miss something major especially structual wise, it's quite a lot of money and it may break down on the way back. Plus I still need to get this modern Audi working which is an unknown to exactly how much money it needs.

 

Why do I do this to myself?!

For me I don't care about history on a vehicle so old. So what if it had its timing belt changed in 1986?

It's nice to have things like the original bill of sale etc and the history as part of the cars story but it wouldn't sway me.

 

The condition right now, at the point I'm handing over the readies is what I'm concerned about, if I get a good feeling from the owner and a good feeling about the car you can have my money

 

 

 

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[danthecapriman]

For me I don't care about history on a vehicle so old. So what if it had its timing belt changed in 1986?

It's nice to have things like the original bill of sale etc and the history as part of the cars story but it wouldn't sway me.

The condition right now, at the point I'm handing over the readies is what I'm concerned about, if I get a good feeling from the owner and a good feeling about the car you can have my money

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Same here.

If it happens to have history and original bill of sale then that's lovely but tbh if the cars lasted this long it must have been looked after pretty well. It's all about the condition when your stood in front of it with a pocket full of cash.

[Mally]

Same here.

 if the cars lasted this long it must have been looked after pretty well. 

 

It's been putting a flat on the tyres for the last 14 years.

[andy18s]

Are we nearly there yet?

[stripped fred]

Please don't talk yourself out of this one. Get it bought!

[Rod/b]

Here SiC, MGs are rubbish. Have you ever thought about getting a Spitfire or a TR7

[somewhatfoolish]

To misquote Henry Ford; all history is bunk. With shite old cars condition is all, use your eyes, borrow other people's eyes, prod suspect things and non-suspect things, waggle things, tug things, test drive, let it idle for an extended period, scratch your chin, suck your teeth and lowball the vendor in the nads.

[BorniteIdentity]

Good luck, and I'd imagine history won't matter too much as the actual condition of the car will be most important and probably tells it's own story.

Give it a good test drive. 30 minutes plus. This is a better guage than an easily forged piece of paper/stamp indicating new Duckhams was added by Ken Lowens on 04.12.1986.

 

The only thing service history will do is make it easier to sell the other side to a good buyer at a good price. Make sure that the purchase price reflects this.

 

Good luck

[Dick Cheeseburger]

Here SiC, MGs are rubbish. Have you ever thought about getting a Spitfire or a TR7

Lolz

[richardthestag]

TR7, now you are talking

[somewhatfoolish]

FFS, buy something! It didn't take this long to catch Dillinger!

[richardthestag]

Pretty sure it's never been welded.

 

will be a one off then I reckon!

 

More likely that it could have been done properly 

 

 

 

 

or badly

 

 

or stuffed with newspaper and wobbed over

 

 

 

 

#Geditbort

[stripped fred]

Don't put him off. We need some closure on this!

[mercrocker]

Its old school car buyage......Nobody ever trusted odometers back in the day (most only went to 5 figures anyway), history was something you only worried about up until O Levels and if you got a receipt for a new battery with a secondhand motor it was considered a bonus.    Most people fretted about whether the back seat had ever been sat on or if the spare remained unused.  

 

MGBs are slap bang from that time.   Buy it!  

 

They are all rusting somewhere - fortunately the B series doesn't really care what it drags around as long as it has some good oil and Shell Optimax.     

 

Somebody else will buy it if you don't - and somebody somebody else will have it if you do but decide you don't like it.   We all take the piss out of these but there are very good reasons why they are common enough to take the piss out of.    HTH.

[SiC]

Here SiC, MGs are rubbish. Have you ever thought about getting a Spitfire or a TR7

A bit late! Also they're a fair bit more expensive.

[SiC]

Forgot the pez pic. Soz!

 

Paid 3 and half Wonga.

 

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[Kiltox]

Wow!

 

That is cool.