Fellow fiends:
I read the following in the 12/18/95 issue of AutoWeek
(therefore, it *must* be true, right?) in their small section on vintage
cars and related topics:
"THE MARKET
'B' good for Santa
If you are looking for the best sub-$10,000 collectible vintage sports car
to ask Santa to put under the tree, it has to be a '63 to '74 MGB roadster.
While prices of new two seaters continue to climb, with Miatas crossing the
$20,000 threshold and the new BMW surpassing $30,000, near-prefect MGBs can
still be found in the VISA gold-card price range.
Introduced as a replacement for the curvacious but archaic MGA, the 'B'
boasted such refinements as a usable trunk, a good heater, and much to the
dismay of MG fanatics, roll-up windows.
The 1800 cc four-cylander is capable of propelling the MGB with 0-60 mph
times of 12 seconds. The optional Laycock de Normanville electric overdrive
is highly desireable, since it makes freeway cruising a breeze rather than
an engine-buzzing, mind-numbing nightmare.
The best MGBs are late '64 through '67 models, with uprated five-main
bearing engines. Wire wheels are a plus, as are the correct leather facings
on the seats rather than aftermarket vinyl covers. Don't buy a rusty car,
or one that needs restoration. Get Santa to plunk down the $7,500 to $9,000
necessary to buy a first rate example, and you'll be going to vintage events
in style in 1996."
Don't say Denise didn't tell you so! You remember what happened to E-type
prices... well, you ain't seen nothing yet. Just don't buy a rusty one,
and don't mess with the restoration process.
cheers,
Will "freeway cruising?" Zehring
p.s. AutoWeek is what's mind-numbing, I should think.
p.p.s. Attn race fans: my local Detroit NPR station reports that CART has
voted for to approve a race at the Michigan Intl. Speedway on Memorial Day
Weekend.
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