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MG MGA - One Year Anniversary


This coming Thursday (Thanksgiving) will mark the one year anniversary of my MGA ownership!

What a year it has been. I'm a guy with very little mechanical ability but a huge love of cars. I had my eye on this particular car for 20 years. The last 15 it sat in a garage untouched with a fried front wire harness.

I was finally able to pry it out of the owners hands by appealing to his wife. I told her I thought it was about time she had an opportunity to use the garage during the cold New York winters. A dirty trick but it worked!

My plan for the car was to just let it sit my garage until I could afford to pay someone to get it going for me. Maybe try and tinker a little. Worst case scenario was that I had a cool car to stare while drinking beer in the garage.

I had it home for about two days when the thought of driving it was keeping me up at night. Two neighborhood friends shared my enthusiasm (and lack of mechanical ability) and offered to help with a winter project.

Armed with the Moss catalog, the MGA Guru, a trip to John Twists MG clinic at University Motors and this BBS we set a target date of May 1st, 2008 to get her on the road.

The engine, gearbox and body were all in good shape. Everything else was not. After sitting for 15 years with fuel we had lots of smelly work on our hands. Replaced the tank, lines, fuel pump. Lots of cleaning. Braking system done from master cylinder all the way down to the shoes. Rebuilt the rear axle. New bearings. Belt, hoses, water pump. Electronic ignition. Replaced all five wiring harnesses which was very scary at the start but turned out to be a piece of cake. (Thanks Barney)

We missed May 1st because bleeding the brakes was an unbelievable frustrating experience. Should have bought the gunsons EZ Bleed to start with! But on May 8th the car was driven through the neighborhood with much pride. It was great for about 5 miles until we ran out of gas! (I knew I was forgetting something!)

My certificate from the British Heritage Trust arrived a few days later when we found out the car came off the line at Abington on May 8th, 1959 - exactly 49 years earlier! How sweet is that?

I have put close to 3000 miles on the car since then with absolutely no trouble. A testament more to this great car than our mechanical abilities.

Please see the attached picture of all my girls!

Thanks to everyone for their advice and encouragement.

Jeff








Jeff Bennett

Great story, and beautiful car & family.
You are very blessed.
mike parker

Jeff
Car looks Great (and the Girls) I bought my MGA Coupe last March and have done nearly 4000 miles this last year lovely car and much more useful than the TC I sold last Feb.
Paul
Cold UK


P D Camp

Jeff

Great story and lovely looking motor. The learning never stops.

Steve

Steve Gyles


PD

Tell me why the A is more useful than the TC? I'm starting to get a burn in the belly for a T car. Any reason not to have both? It looks easier to work on than the A.
Jeff Bennett

Jeff

I also did what Paul did. I loved my TC but found I did not have the time to look after 2 classic cars whilst still working full time. For every day urban use, the MGA is more practical but I still miss the old girl.

I had always wanted a WW2 period fighter pilot car. I had both a PA-4 Seater and then the TC. Dream satisfied, they went to make way for the MGA.

A few minus points for the TC: no heater although you can fit one; used to scrape and cut my knuckles a lot when cleaning down between the wings and bonnet and in other nooks and crannies; cost of spares often a bit more than the MGA. It also feels like an old car to drive, even compared to the MGA. The Bishop Cam steering (worm and peg) can make steering interesting.

Plus points: lots of looks; you feel in a different era when driving; the nostalgic garage smell of leather and oil is unforgetable.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Excellent Jeff. Why does your dog look so disinterested? But I bet the girls love riding in it. My dog is terrified of my A - it's the noise of the exhaust I think - enjoy many more years with it - cheers Cam
Cam Cunningham

your car looks superb, i hope you enjoy driving it as much as i do mine.
is there any reason that i couldnt see the mga vents on the photograph? i love those things, i even keep one on the mantlepiece as an ornament. i know, im a sad case!
c firth


Must have just been the angle. They are there...trust me.
Jeff Bennett

Hi Jeff
Just like Steve I had two old MGs a Supercharged TC which I owned for 10 years and a mgb roadster owned for 20 years loved both of them but found hadn't the time to look after two cars, also it sometimes was a difficult!! decision which one to drive;The TC was a nostalgic trip back to pre war motoring always attracted a lot of attention but was not suitable for driving any long distance (many T types will disagree with that comment)and in my book was a worry in case any major part broke as repairs were expensive. The MGB was a delight to drive totally reliable;trips to France a joy; and cheap to maintain but here in the UK rather bland and not unusual. I had found that I was not using the cars enough -250 miles last year in the TC and around 800 in the MGB
So last year took the decision to sell both cars and thought about what classic would suit my purpose, Must be reliable and fairly cheap to maintain,need to be part of the classic car brigade ( I enjoy club outings and meeting like minded enthusiasts) I had always thought the style of the MGA coupe and the Jaguar XK140 coupe were a beautiful shape, also possibly a MGC; the Jag was too expensive so I decided to look for an MGA (Had always been an MG Nut)I wanted the MK 2 mainly because of the performance of the 1622 motor and the coupe because of the additional comfort and such a beautiful shape I also thought the 5 speed conversion with an uprated perhaps MGB engine would give it the performance needed for modern motoring.In March this year I found my car in Wales it was completely restored in 1995 at a cost of around £23000 was still in super condition and had only done 4000 miles since restoration and the colour was Iris Blue which is my favourite colour! The engine had been rebuilt with higher lift cam and a higher compression. I immediately changed all hoses etc checked the ignition and carbs, brakes etc I had the 5 speed put in in July,and so far have done nearly 4000 troublefree miles this last 9 months she uses very little oil one pint per 8oo miles petrol consumption averages around 30 mpg. I have installed a spin on oil filter conversion,headlamp flasher, electric washers and additional insulation etc to minimise noise and heat in the cabin. This site especially Barneys are a marvelous resource.
In conclusion I am delighted and use the car whenever possible have been to France for the Le Mans Classic and we have used it for weekends away - Parts are almost as cheap as the MGB and she feels completely reliable also I have the confidence to take it anywhere something I did not feel with the TC Sorry to Ramble on
Paul



P D Camp

Hi Paul is your coupe reg 414 DAB if so you justbeat me to it, it looked very good in the photos


Gordon
g c pugh

"Worst case scenario was that I had a cool car to stare while drinking beer in the garage."
I thought I was the only one that did that! LOL
I'm sure you and your family will have many years of great memories with it.
Best of luck,
Ralph
Ralph

This thread was discussed between 25/11/2008 and 30/11/2008

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