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MG MGB Technical - Yorkshire B Body Restoration: Where?

Now turning my thoughts to getting the body restored on my 1980 roadster. Don't worry; this isn't a how-long-is-a-piece-of-string-how-much-will-it-cost? type question, but rather, who should I look to to do it?

The car is 78k miles young but (just) going a bit bubbly around the arches. Father was losing the unequal battle with the wire brush, rustkill, red primer and brush topcoat. It needs doing properly and I want to bring the body work back to 'as new'. I know this may cost (but hey, I'm remortgaging to do it!).

I want to entrust the work to a specialist who would take as much care as I would over it (if I had the skill) and who REALLY knows what they are doing. For example, if the sills need replacing (they are still the originals) then will keep the little spot welded tab at the bottom of the A posts. Who knows how to treat the seam around the sill below the rear of the doors. Would keep the wing-seam beading crisp and intact and not rubbed down. Who knows how to get the side trim strips on without putting a ding over each fixing! You all know the kind of thing. I'm a bit retentive about it all. And here's a question: does anybody warranty their bodywork?!

Being in York I would prefer to go somewhere local so I can keep an eye on progress but frankly, the quality of output is more important (presumably a reputable restorer can be trusted!). I guess I am looking for personal recommendations; I am aware of the MGOC 5 spanner ratings and stuff - but what does that actually mean? If anyone has had a car recently restored by one of the specialists I mention below then could I come and view it - do a little informal customer satisfaction work (maybe over a pint?). I travel nationally so distance is not a problem.

I'm thinking of

MGB Hive in Peterborough
Brown and Gammons
MechSpec in Bawtry
Murray Scott Nelson (seem a bit more into Healeys these days)
MGOC workshop
MG Motorsport in Herts

Any other personal endorsements? Your thoughts, ladies and gentlemen, as always are much appreciated.

John
Johnners

John,

As a suggestion have you considered buying a superb example instead of having your restored to what sounds like concours condition. You could probably buy a show winner for far less than it would cost to get your car to that standard.

I am in Manchester and have used Entune in Bolton (http://www.entune2000.co.uk) for all my bodywork. This has mainly been a back end rebuild following an accident. They will get to have a go at the sills when I have saved up. However, my BGT is a daily runner that I just want to be good and solid and looking OK. I haven't investigated as to whether then use traditional welding etc. They might, I just don't know. Personally, I have been happy with their work.

Good luck in your search.

Iain

http://homepages.tesco.net/~rachel.cameron/
I D Cameron

John, there is a small mg specialist in Great Hammerton (on the main road between York and Harrogate).

I forget their name now - they advertise in the ads in the back page of the MGOC mag - they do restorations, in house paint etc, and their work looks good (I was down there a few times last year sorting out a replacement gearbox)

Tony
T Crossley

John, I've had a look round the workshops of Bromsgrove MG and must say that I was very, very impressed with the standard of thier work. I believe they may be worth you having a look at but they won't come cheap. I know that's not what you want and re-mortgaging may well be necessary !!
Iain MacKintosh

Johnners,
I think i've got the perfect guy for you.
His name is Brian and he is based at the 'Tockwith Industrial Park'(i think thats what its called).
Which is about 15 mins from wetherby on the York side of the A1.
His No. is:- 01423 358843
He has already done some body work on one of mine, and i will be dropping off another at the end of the month for some minor body work.

Mal.
malcolm watson

Dear All,

Thanks for your help so far;

Iain C: your observations are very fair but the car is a family heirloom so the 'financial sense' component of the equation is negated!

Tony: I think it is Pool Lane Classics in Green Hammerton to which you refer; unfortunately I have had a less than positive encounter with them...

Iain M: are Bromsgrove still going? I've heard dubious references on the MGC thread that they've gone bankrupt

Mal: Thanks: will give Brian a call. Tockwith is no distance from me

Any other thoughts?

Thanks,

John
Johnners

Malcolm
Is Tockwith where Robin Hallam was based on the old airfield? If so, I bought my 80 GT from him, and he had the o/s sill done prior to selling it to me. I am not sure who did it, but the workmanship was definitely down to a price rather than up to a quality. I am sure, if the welder he used had been paid the going rate, the work would have been good, but hindsight is a wonderful thing!

John
Check local non-MG bodyshops, they sometimes like a change of scenery from modern stuff. I had a top job done on rear 1/2 wings and n/s sill by a local outfit at £8/hr, and the MOT man reckoned it was some of the best welding he had seen. The welding came to <£600, plus the panels I supplied.
Is a heritage re-shell out of the question if it is a family heirloom (Triggs Broom)?

Martin.
Martin ZT

Martin,
From what i have been told (and seen) the less said about him the better.

Brian took over the lease of the unit you mention and does his own welding, and is affiliated with a far better paint man, who is also far more reasonable with regards to price.

I recently looked over a GT which Brian had replaced the o/side rear quarter on, and was that impressed with his work he will be doing the same on my 77 next spring(finances willing)

As you can imagine, working out of the same place, doing the same kind of work could and has put some people off going to Brian.(due to the "mud sticks" type of thing)

But i'm happy with the work done by Brian so far and will be using his services again.

Mal.
76BGT/77BGT/71midget/85MG Montego.
malcolm watson

BTW was "Pool Lane Classics" formally known as "Monk Bar MG"? based in York itself.

If so, i wouldnt go there to be put out if i was on fire! (my opinion only)

Mal.
malcolm watson

Mal
Thanks for the clarification.
Not sure why I ended up in Tockwith buying a GT when there were probably better closer to home and cheaper! One of life's mysteries that family never understand but make sense to you at the time! LOL

Good luck with the resto, John.

Martin

Martin ZT

Just so everyone knows for sure, Bromsgrove MG are no more. A sign on the door is all that remains.

Good luck finding someone good - if you do, let me know as they are rare!

Cheers,
--
Olly
Oliver Stephenson

That's interesting to know Olly but I'm not entirely surprised. When I visited about four years ago they were rebuilding an imported MGA. The worknasnship was superb but I got the impression that the final bill would be close to £40k !!!!

Monk Bar MG were real bodgers. The place was commonly surrounded by clouds of filler dust !!!
Iain MacKintosh

Now believed to be called "York MG Centre" (monk bar)
malcolm watson

What happened to Robin Hallam, did he go out of business, or has he moved.
Tim

It is beleived that he is now in france some where, trying to set up another workshop.

As far as i know, there is no proof of that though.
malcolm watson

Tim
I tried contacting Robin last year with no success, and when I spoke to a gentlemen at Harrogate Northern MG last year, he said he had heard Robin was divorced and the business had been closed.
Martin
Martin ZT

Divorced probably, I did hear something about an affair of the heart caused by too much effort going into MG "affairs" to the detriment of marital bliss.

Is that delicately put, or what !!
Tim

Any one here seen tv's "wife swop"?

If you have think of a more permanent version and thats what happened with Robin.(and several other Harogate club members).

Confirmed today that he is in France.
malcolm watson

This thread was discussed between 06/10/2004 and 09/10/2004

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