I originally meant to send this to the list but the list has no Reply-To set
so I accidentally sent it to Sandrine. My appologies.
Well, welcome to the list and (hopefully) to owning an MG.
Your boyfriend is right, it going to take a lot of work and a lot of money.
I think a good rule is that whatever you estimate, double or triple it. But
don't let that deter you, the satisfaction at the end of the day from
driving it is well worth it in the end. I think that MG's are great cars for
people that have little knowledge of cars in general. Mechanically, they're
pretty simple (compared to newer cars), parts are pretty easy to come by and
there are tons of great people out there willing to help.
Depending on the engine, #875 ($1274 USD) sounds expensive if its in bad
shape. I recently got mine back from the shop and just about every piece of
metal on the body and undercarriage had to be replaced. I've been told I
should have just gotten a better body to start with but I look at it as
saving another MG from the junkyard.
I love my MG, it puts a smile on my face and a smile on the faces of
passengers and other people on the road when I'm driving it. I can't count
the number of times I've had someone stop me in a parking lot and start
telling me about their experiences.
I wish to offer some advice: Do it right. I curse at the damned previous
owners all the time. The number of hacks, screw ups, and just plain cheap
solutions used on some cars is disturbing. It may take more money and more
time to do it right but in the end I think you get a better car that will
last longer, perform better and is *much* more reliable.
Good luck! Keep us updated on your progress.
Geoffeg
This one time, at band camp, Sandrine Boinet wrote:
> Hi there,
> I'm just saying hello to everyone on this mailling list.
> I'm new, I just subscribed it. I've got a feeling it will be very
> interesting.
>
> I don't own a MG myself but I've seen one, completely eaten by corosion but I
> fell in love with it.
> I've just seen it but I intend to have a chat with the guy who is trying to
> sell it for #875 which I think it's a lot of money for the condition of the
> car. I mean the whole body needs replacing and I don't know about the state of
> the motor yet.
>
> To be honest, I don't know anything about cars, I never had any interest in
> them before like most women. But since I've seen this one it actually made me
> realise that I had an hidden passion for it. I want to buy it and with the
> help of my boyfriend who knows much more about cars than me, I want to restore
> it and make it look like brand new. It will take years, patience and money but
> I feel ready for the challenge. Also I will learn a lot of new skills and I
> love that.
> So I imagine I will have loads of question to ask.
>
> My boyfriend has got an MX5 and he does all the work and modifications that
> need doing by himself. He knows lots about cars and he already warned me that
> this car will be a lot of work. I'm not sure of the exact model I've seen (I
> told you, I don't know anything about cars... yet). But according to my
> researches it seems to be an MGB GT model 1970-1976. The colour seems to be
> Brooklands Green. It is a very nice car but in a very poor condition. I would
> like to try to bring the price down because there is no way that I pay that
> amount of money for a car that will need a whole new body plus more. I would
> like to get it for between #200 and #300. Does it sound reasonable?
> I'm gonna need your advice.
>
> With my boyfriend we are going to have a very good look at it tomorrow and
> take notes of what model exactly it is and of what exactly will need to be
> done.
> I'm all excited about it.
>
> I should talk to you all about it tomorrow once I've looked at it in details.
>
> Speak to you soon.
>
> Sandrine
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