Hi Tom,
It's me again
Sounds like you have found an interesting car!!
Going by your narrative it sounds like a keeper....HOWEVER the rust
situation is what would concern me a bit...it's expensive to repair well and
once you open things up you usually find more than you originally thought.
But as you say it is fixable.
I guess if I were in your shoes I would start at $4000 and go up to$4500.
If you buy it go ahead and enjoy driving the car for a season or two before
you have the body work done.
Good Luck and keep me posted
Steve
BRG TR6
>From: Tomsjetta@aol.com
>Reply-To: Tomsjetta@aol.com
>To: mgs@autox.team.net
>Subject: I'm going to buy this MGB!
>Date: Tue, 3 Aug 1999 23:22:13 EDT
>
>Unless you think I shouldn't...
>
>Several of you seemed to enjoy my last posting about certain MGB's I've
>contemplated buying, so I thought I'd tell you about the latest, and I'm
>going to put an offer in for this one boys...
>
>The stats: 1979 MGB. Carmine Red, Autumn Leaf interior. 79k miles, non O/D,
>new top, new alternator, water pump. Front suspension rebuilt @ 75k miles.
>Second owner car; woman has owned car since 1984. Selling b/c boyfriend
>bought her a new BMW 328i convertible. He can't fit in the B; his daily
>driver is a 911 Carrera.
>
>Body: Overall, very good. Original paint holding up well. No dents or dings
>except for a small dent in trunk (can't figure out how it got there). Car
>was
>backed into front passenger 1/4 panel; shop did a good job fixing it up and
>matching paint. Rubber bumpers in fine shape. I can tell this car has
>always
>been garaged. Still, car has lived for 20 years off the coast of Long
>Island
>Sound, so there is some rust. Bottom of front fender, rear of the wheel
>well,
>my magnet would not hold in some places, but I could not find any Bondo.
>Door
>sills were fine. Anothe rust spot at the very top of rear driver's side
>wheel
>well. In both cases, it's just bubbling. On passengers door, there is rust
>around the mirror that is visible, but it's small.
>
>I was told she had her mechanic put the car on a lift, and there is no
>frame
>rust. I did ask what it would cost to fix all the rust, and she said
>$1,800.
>Bear in mind I was in the most expensive part of the CT Gold coast except
>for
>Greenwich. All the same, I could drive the car for a while and not worry
>about this it seems.
>
>Interior: Original-seats and door skins faded. No cracks in dash. No
>tears/rips in seats. No carpet on floor; just covered up with heavy rubber
>mats ( a perfect fit too). Otherwise, carpet elsewhere was OK. No rust at
>all
>on floor boards. All original, even the radio. Everything works. Visors
>were
>missing. Seat cushions in remarkably good shape.
>
>Driving: A dumb word, but, it was awesome. Totally flawless. I was given
>TEN
>YEARS of receipts to pour over, car has been serviced by same guy since
>'84.
>Place is called Expert Auto Service in Stamford, CT-if you know about this
>place, please tell me. Car was started three times while I was there, and
>it
>fired first time, each time. I was lucky to have a near 30 minute test
>drive,
>and it did nothing wrong. Clutch/tranny were absolutely silent, as were the
>brakes. Engine sounded great; cat converter has been removed, and had Weber
>carbs. Never hesitated, smoked, surged, idle was dead steady, car shifted
>nearly as well as a Miata (except for reverse). Plenty of pep, and handled
>well. Very, very solid-this '79 MGB was more solid than my '86 Alfa Spider
>in
>terms of cowl shake and vibration. I had this car in some nice twisties,
>and
>she was more than willing to play. I can't say enough good things about how
>this car felt on the road.
>
>Obviously, rust is the main problem with this car, but like I said, it is
>fixable, and is not too too bad. Owner told me herself if she was hanging
>on
>to the car she'd take care of the rust eventually. The car felt quite safe
>on
>the road. Listers, this is where I really need your input.
>
>Mechanically, owner spared no expense, and I have the proof in writing. I
>am
>calling the mechanic to talk about the car tomarrow. She is asking $5,500,
>which is a little high. I want to offer $4,800. My gut says to go for
>it-this
>car was really well looked after, and well cared for.
>
>I'd welcome your opinions guys, so feel free to let loose. No oppositions,
>I'm buying her!
>
>Tom
>'79 MGB?
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