Yesterday I wrote:
> > Last night I had the opportunity to examine an MGA 1500 that had been
> > fitted with a Ford 302. Needless to say, it was a pretty sad little
> > machine. The installation isn't complete; that is, the car is a rough
> > project and utterly non-functional. I am wondering if it is a viable
> > restoration candidate, and would love more opinions on the
> > subject.
to which Arthur Pfenninger responded:
> If you want to spend $9000 on the restoration sounds like a good
> choice. If not walk away better yet run away. There are enough good cars
> out there that are complete and running.
after which I must clarify:
hee hee OK, sorry for the total 'newbie' question. Of course if I were
looking at this as a restoration candidate I'd be crazy to go for it. I
wasn't very clear about this in my original post, but what I would like to
get out of this (or another) car is a more-or-less-MGA beater, something
that would work well enough to kick around in. I'd rather not get a nice
A, as that sort of car really ought to be restored to original, and my
interest lies in some amusing daily transportation. That means rain,
dirt, parking lot dings, and probably the occasional fender-bender. Not
the kind of stuff to which a nice restored LBC should be subjected! Then
there's also the "sticky fingers" factor of city living, in light of which
a clunker with incorrect this and imperfect that becomes more desirable
than a high-dollar restoration.
Anyway, I just wanted to say that I agree that this car would be a poor
basis for a restoration, but that I don't think that would *necessarily*
make it the wrong car for me. I've received a lot of helpful advice
(thanks Larry!) about getting this needy little car back on the road
cheaply, and I'm fool enough to believe that it could be made into
inexpensive, practical transportation. (Well, my daily driver is a 1964
BSA, so I guess that tells you what my standards are for "practical
transportation"!) Thanks to all the listers who have (quite wisely) tried
to warn me off from restoring a heap like this, and apologies that my
purpose wasn't more intelligible in my previous post!
Ain
PS- If I should happen to buy this particular car, would anyone out there
by chance be looking for a Ford 302? :)
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