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MG MGA - Paint job

I am considering taking the plunge, having always lusted after an MGA. A friend of mine recently spotted a top quality complete ground up restoration of a 1960 1600. He is a professional body restorer and reckons it's one of the best quality restorations he has seen for a long time. However, the colour is non-standard, blackish metallic. There seems to be a unique motoring related history to the choice of colour which arguably compensates for the fact it is not an original MGA colour. The interior is consistent with the standard black paint finish (red seats and dash, black carpets). My intention is to keep and enjoy the car but I do wonder how easy it will be to sell if I ever need to. The asking price is fairly high, reflecting the quality of the restoration.
P Wright

Hi. If the restoration is indeed of that high calibre, then I would likely purchase the vehicle, IF you like it. I dont think the non stock paint colour would hurt resale value if it is an excellent quality paint job done with high quality paint. Many owners now modify their MGA's to suit their needs and wants better. Metallic Black sounds classy to me. Cheers! Glenn
Glenn

Is it just my impression, or is the "originality is everything" thing starting to fade.

Says me with 5 speed gearbox.
malcolm asquith

Malcolm

I think a lot of us do what the original buyers did. Over a period of time they added bits and pieces on and tuned the engines etc.

My total rebuild of a 1958 1500 in in 1996 started off with originality in mind until the wife spotted a BRG MGA! Since then I have put in a smaller steering wheel after test driving an Aussie friend's souped up car. Then, on went the wire wheels. A year later I decided I needed better cruising speeds on our motorways to get to events, so in went the 1800 engine with 5-speed box. Handling was now quite important to me so the following winter I upgraded the front end with an anti-roll bar and disc brakes.

Is my car original? No, but it is personalised just like they all were back in the 50s and 60s. Most important - It's mine and I love it.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Here in the states I have been watching the Barrett Jackson auctions. Can't really compare the MGs to the muscle cars that are going for outrageous prices. However, the clones, which are cars with non original upgraded drive trains, are very popular. I guess it's just a lust for more power and reliability. And as long you keep a ford a ford and a chevy a chevy etc. it is very desireable. I would think the trend would start to spread to the MG world. Probably not a T series car, but upgrading an MGA with an 1800 engine and a 5 speed, adding headers, and electronic ignition and good carburation maybe even a supercharger would certainly make the car a better driver. Reliability , more horsepower and a great paint job,
seems to be the curent trend.
Any more thoughts?

Dan H.
Dan Hanson

As these cars become older, and original examples become more scarce, originality will earn a premium. Maybe I'm in the minority, but a lot of owners' modifications strike me the same way my brother-in-law's home remodelling job did. A 1950s ranch house with a colonial revival front door and painted-over knotty pine paneling in the living room just isn't an improvement. :-) I wouldn't worry about an otherwise good-condition car that's painted a non-standard color, as that's (reasonably) easily rectified. But such a paint job won't *add* anything to its value.

David Breneman

Thanks all for your views and advice. The conclusion I draw from the thread is don't look to a non-standard paint colour to increase value. Interesting thoughts on mods wider than paint colour.
Will let you know how I get on as I am viewing the car next week. Also have a chance to view a dove grey top quality restoration tomorrow.

Cheers Peter
P Wright

Just an example, go to MGCC Siverstone and see the line up of hundreds of MGAs. As you walk along the line of perfect examples of "original" iris blue and red MGAs you begin to yawn. Suddenly you will see a crowd of enthusiasts huddled around a certain car. When you get to it you will find it will be extensively modified car with a very nice metalic, perhaps, paint job. I know, like those enthusiasts, the car I would choose.
Bob (robert)

This thread was discussed between 10/04/2005 and 16/04/2005

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