Joe, did you notice that he was talking about a car with only 7000 miles
on it? That usually rates a premium price on the market. Apparently a lot
of people bought the "end-of-the-marque" 1980 MGBs and stored them away
as future collectibles, since this is not the first one I've heard of.
So with that low mileage (if true), a lot of the issues you mentioned
regarding wear and repairs probably don't apply (though they should
always be checked out, of course). The potential trouble areas with these
seldom-driven, even-more-seldom-maintained "garage queens" are a little
different. If it is being purchased as a show car, that's one thing. But
if it is being bought as a driver, then you need to look out for:
dried-up, cracked, or shrunken rubber parts, including suspension bushes,
motor mounts, oil seals, rack boots, window seals, and most importantly,
hydraulic seals and hoses (brakes and clutch). There could also be water
in the brake and clutch systems via condensation, leading to rusted
lines, stuck calipers or wheel cylinders. The cooling system could also
have a lot of internal corrosion or deposits, since the fluid seldom
circulated, and was probably rarely changed. Even the engine and
transmission oil could be pretty sludgy at this point. And the electrical
connections have had plenty of time to accumulate corrosion, as well.
Even if everything works now, there is the possibility that hard driving
may cause multiple age-related failures in almost any component, since
all consumables are past their "shelf date", as it were. So just because
it is in great shape to look at, and it's all intact and shiny, is no
guarantee that it doesn't need a complete mechanical restoration.
But given all that, it isn't very often that you come across an example
that can be documented as non-wrecked, non-resprayed, non-rusted, and
non-abused, so the price could very well be justified. Body repair and
paint tend to be the real money pits, requiring specialists or special
equipment -- replacing rubber bits for the most part can be done by
anyone with time on their hands.
Garner, Joseph P. had this to say:
>As for price. I bought my 79 MGB from an 86 year old guy who used to show
>it. it was garage kept with 66,000 on the clock. It was in excellent
>condition with original interiors, tonneua, soft top etc. the soft-top is
>pushing 21 years old and is a little worn, (but i've seen far worse on 5
>year old mustangs so go figure). The paint job was good, but will need
>re-doing in a couple of years to keep the car immaculate. No rust. good
>compression. The mechanic who checked it out was very impressed (he said it
>was the best non-restored car he had ever seen) but found a couple of small
>things that would need fixing within the next year. the owner wanted $4600,
>i bought the car for $4000 (which a couple of mechanics i know agreed was a
>fair to cheap price). I have probably spent $800 in the last few months
>fixing the things which needed doing, so that squared up. for other
>estimates of price check out online trader.
--
Max Heim
'66 MGB GHN3L76149
If you're near Mountain View, CA,
it's the red one with the silver bootlid.
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