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MG MGA - V8 MGA on ebay
| Hi All, I have just seen this MGA on ebay UK - looks like a very interesting car with a Daimler SP250 engine in it (ebay listing number 230073854009)- probably annoy the concours purists but a good talking point at MGA meets! Cheers Cam |
| Cam Cunningham |
| I don't care for the way they did the engine compartment vents. Other then that it's OK with me. Lyle |
| Lyle Jacobson |
| Cam The front spoiler and extended wheelarches make the car look like a Cobra replica.If you want a Cobra replica buy one instead of ruining a classic MGA. I would be surprised if anyone would give more than a couple of thousand pounds for the car. Robert Also on ebay Tony Hancocks MGA http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1962-MGA-COUPE-OWNED-BY-COMEDIAN-TONY-HANCOCK_W0QQitemZ140069796020QQihZ004QQcategoryZ29757QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem |
| R J Collier |
| An interesting car. I did a Cobra conversion to my old MGA in the early 1980s simply because I could not afford a Cobra and had a worthless modified ex-racer MGA sitting at home. I actually designed and made a f/glass front and flares almost exactly as per the 427. Rear was flared ala Cobra but kept the rear tail design. Why did I do it? Because Cobra kits did not exist in Australia, would have been illegal in Austalia if they had existed (Cobra kit cars were a big no no then) and I was a creative yet poor uni student. Yes a number of prist enthusiasts hated it but hey the car shows and crowd response clearly showed what joe public wanted to see. Would I do it again today? Depending on the original material and final whim maybe maybe not. However before the flames come out, I did give (yes give) away most of the original bits worth saving to other poor restorers who were able to use them in their cars (how many of the flamers do that?). End result I got a car I wanted and they got free parts that otherwise would have cost good dollars from some of the more exploitive dealers and "enthusiasts" around. I dont feel bad about it. I have since restored a couple of MGAs to near original and sold them after losing interest but kept the old girl. In fact by October this year I aim to have her emerging from a whole new rebuild with hopefully a most spectacular combnation. Will she be an MG? Well in spirit I believe so, at least the MG chassis, engine and rear end will be as might some suspension and steering bits although not necessarly from the MGA parts bin. Yes she will be a special, as have so many other racers of various pedegrees before her. She already has a Rover/MG V8 and 5 speed, twincam disc rear (actually Mk II Jag but they are the same part numbers anyway). Her new skin is going to be a one off of my own design, basically the front of a ferrari pontoon 250 testa rossa (but with full tilt front ala E-Type) with the rear end similar to the convertable corvette grand sport complete with wrap around windows and a slew of other dreams of mine. And plastered on her flanks and rear will be the MG logo. Was she worth restoring to original rather than this 'creation'? Not really besides I have held this vision of her for about all of the 33 years I have owned her and my 13 year old daughter loves what she is about to become so I feel she is safe for another generation of Mathiesens at least. To those that restore to perfection, I admire your diligence and work, it is a worthy task, and I know that an MG in any form that is loved and cherished for its spirit and not its value is in safe hands, Drive Safely Mark |
| Mark Mathiesen |
| Mark Whilst personally I would prefer an original spec 40+ year old car than a special, since your car is already a special I dont think that you will be ruining it by altering it. I and no doubt others would be very interested in seeing any photos you may have of your car before offering any flaming opinions! Robert |
| R J Collier |
| Is it just my eyesight, or is the spoiler on the car deeper on the right hand side than the left? Robert http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MGA-V8-DAIMLER-ENGINED-ROAD-RACE-SPECIAL-UNIQUE-CAR_W0QQitemZ230073854009QQihZ013QQcategoryZ29757QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem |
| R J Collier |
| Whats wrong with a modified car? Sometimes these purists really get my goat.Some of us have had modified As since we imported em years ago. What is your MGA like then Rob, no doubt a trailer queen! |
| Dan |
| Dan I only a prefer originality as far as my own car is concerned. I appreciate the work that goes into others well restored cars and would prefer to see a well presented modified/special than a badly presented original car. Robert 1964MGB |
| R J Collier |
| I suggest sir that you do what you will with your MGA and repect what others like to do with theirs! I hope others from Lancashire are a little more open minded. |
| Dan |
| Dan With respect, we seem to be loosing something in the translation. I don't have an MGA and to put it simpler, I appreciate well restored cars either original OR modified. Robert 1964MGB |
| R J Collier |
| It looks like the ebay car has had three bids within 2 minutes of each other for £4000 by the same ID witheld bidder . It looks suspicious to me, or is there another explanation? Robert http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MGA-V8-DAIMLER-ENGINED-ROAD-RACE-SPECIAL-UNIQUE-CAR_W0QQitemZ230073854009QQihZ013QQcategoryZ29757QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem |
| R J Collier |
| R J nothing suspisious, i think like many people your not a die hard ebayer so dont quite under stand the finer intricacies of ebay rules. there are 3 bids, i, by my own opinion think it is proberly the same bidder which explains the two bids with in close sucsession. as there is a reserve, and the bidder is the same id, and so far all his bids are below the reserve it will not show any higher than the started listing price, if some one else was to bid with another id or account this would increase the bidding incremant shown. |
| J Buchanan |
| JB Thanks for the explanation. It will be interesting to see if anyone else bids, perhaps the numberplate is valuable. Robert |
| R J Collier |
| I think the whole thing looks like a poorly executed kit car! (and I am definitely in favour of modifications is the aesthetics are right!) |
| dominic clancy |
| Dominic I totally agree with you about the kit car look and finish, but maybe Im being too harsh about the bodywork if the car is race car and the spoiler has been pranged. Robert |
| R J Collier |
| robert is it possible that it's the bumper that's squint? space above between bumper and side lights, seems unequal. ross |
| R W McIntosh |
| this is the second time he has had it on ebay, did not hit reserve last time which i think was near 8000gbp. i personally think the car is okay but a 2.5 v8? i have a larger v6 with more hp in my A. but this one would be a good value at 4000gbp imho. jim |
| james madson |
| Ross Yes I think it is partly the bumper, but the spoiler seems uneven as well as deeper on one side. The car was built as a pace car and it may be fine for that or for racing, however personally I would value the car as a restoration project. The car would be worth more if it were roadworthy with a MOT. Robert |
| R J Collier |
| Jim - haven't seen it before on ebay - he should have taken the £8k because I can't see it fetching more - would take quite a bit to get it roadworthy - wide tyres obviously rubbing inside wheel arches so probably got a few other problems. The 2.5 V8 is a classic engine in its own right so bigger isn't always better as in the US. A Rob says - probably good for the track but not the road. cheers Cam |
| Cam Cunningham |
| Having lived with MGs all my life, now 54 I really do have a laugh. Years ago when someone got their MG the very first thing we did was MODIFY it. Sometimes that was simply adding spotlights but it would then grow. This is something along those lines although it is not my cup of tea it obviously was someones pride and joy and I respect that! Unfortunately nowadays if you go to a car show you are confronted with rows and rows of BORING cars all the SAME, that the owners claim are original, many have chrome wire wheels!*! thus I am sure you take the point! I dont go to their owners and complain! it is what they want to do! a little misguided perhaps but hey why not.. Equally what is wrong with those amongst us who want to do what we all did years ago and make our cars personal to ourselves. Why does anyone worry about the flaired arches? it has a V8 in it !! |
| Bob (robert) yes I own an MG Dwarf! |
| Looks like a poorly executed car with a odd engine. Just try to get parts for this one. Way over bid last time IMHO. Ugly to. I think if you want to do a conversion you need to think it through and do it right. Looks like the cross bar in front of the heater was chopped out on this one and the heater left out. This one was done to a much higher standard. http://www.themgdoc.com/mgav8.htm |
| R J Brown |
| Bob(robert) Point taken about originality very few cars are, however in my experience at car shows,the viewing public are very critical and usually feel entitled to point out cars faults to owners! Even the most critical would admit that the MGA V8 posted by RJB is a fantastic car. Robert |
| R J Collier |
| RJ - lovely conversion - and the colour choice is brilliant ( it is black isn't it?) - I agree with Bob, shows do have too many identical cars and any individuality shown makes an interesting conversation piece - which I think is what I said in my original posting - cheers Cam |
| Cam Cunningham |
| Just in case anyone missed the video the last time it was on the Board:- http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8874339191133888020 Turn up the sound! Unless you're at work, of course! |
| Derek Nicholson |
| """the viewing public are very critical and usually feel entitled to point out cars faults to owners!""" You must go to some very strange car shows Robert! I find the general public are very warming to our cars whatever the modification are. The vast majority of owners I come across who are the "thats not right" type have generally no idea which end of a spanner needs to be gripped so I tend to turn away and smile! I must admit though the modified car identified by R.J. is more pleasing than the one on e bay however this is just the same as top quality concours and a daily runabout! |
| Bob (robert) yes I own an MG Dwarf! |
| Cam, to answer your colour question:- "The color of paint that I was going to use was to be Black Tulip. This was a dark purple that was used on BMC cars in the mid to late 60s. When I painted a test panel, I found that I liked the color inside the shop; but when I looked at it outside, in direct sunlight, I didn’t like it at all. It was just too purple. Over the next few months, I must have looked at hundreds of color chips for the color I had in mind and I was not seeing it. I finally settled on a color and had it mixed. The mix was not even close to the chip so I worked with the person at the paint store, together, we came up with just the color I was looking for. This color is such a dark purple that, in some light it looks black or brown. In fact it looks like an eggplant. When people ask what color it is, I tell them “I call it Aborigine or Melanzane”. Aborigine is (MG) British for eggplant; Melanzane is Italian (hence I decided to call the car “Mel”)." |
| Derek Nicholson |
| Bob(robert) I was refering to comments on overall condition, not neccesarily on modifications. I find the general public "tell it like it is" and they will tell owners the bad AND good points of their cars!,eg if bodywork is particularly badly carried out OR conversly well carried out. I think most people including myself do this hence my differing comments regarding the ebay car and the MGA V8 posted by RJB! Robert |
| R J Collier |
| Derek I had a 1972 BL Mini in Black Tulip and as you say it is purple albeit a darkish shade. It was also a colour availiable on MGBs from 1972/74. I think the darker shade you have mixed looks much nicer. Robert |
| R J Collier |
| Well perhaps that is where we differ Robert. I know a number of people who have nothing more than a backyard, a tarpoline and a mig welder. Yet they do acceptable work. Others fortunately can afford to spend thousands at Bob Wests. Is there a difference? No they are all MG enthusiasts and proud of what they have. I do not differentiate but give support to both. |
| Bob (robert) yes I own an MG Dwarf! |
| Derek - Thanks for reminding us of that V8 MGA clip - fantastic sound from the engine - well worth another look. "aborigine" -native of Australia . I know what he means - I think the spelling is nearer to "aubergine" but yes the colour looks good - almost as good as my black one!! cheers Cam |
| Cam Cunningham |
| It is interesting how these types of threads always come back to the thorny issues surrounding originality/modification. Unlike Bob, I have only been with MGs for 16 years, but I had always had a hankering to build my own car. When the opportunity arose and I got my basket case MGA it was easier for me to rebuild the car to 'close to original' specifications than to implant wacky modifications. This was probably driven by my overall lack of MGA engineering knowledge to do otherwise and also because the spare parts market drove me in that direction. Once my rebuild was complete (ambition satisfied) I became one of those MG owners that Bob referred to. The thirst for tinkering with the car to make it perform better grew in me. I now have a car that is far from original specification - and I love it. Those that see my car in its working life also love it. They tell me so, frequently. Far better, I believe, to receive compliments in the supermarket carpark (wife putting shopping in the boot, golden cocker spaniel sitting on the passenger seat) than to sit in a row at a concours display, bonnet up and trophies lined up infront. Just my rambling thoughts. Steve |
| Steve Gyles |
| Bob Like you I know and support a number of enthusiast that have limited facilites however we are all different and have our own opinions...as you said, it would be boring if like cars we were all the same! Robert |
| R J Collier |
| Steve I think that we all like to improve our cars and that sensible and well executed modifications such as yours are generally accepted as "improvements" and add to the desireability of a car. The modifications to the ebay car look poorly done and would generally not be seen as improvements and I think have drastically affected the cars value. Robert |
| R J Collier |
This thread was discussed between 07/01/2007 and 11/01/2007
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