This will be done before MarkB's Fury........

'Done' being defined as in receipt of a fresh MOT

I'll do some more pics idc, but here is the project



The car on the right is a 1967 MGB GT

I've owned it for the best part of two decades

It was taken off the road in the early 90s when it was rotten and mechanically poor

Since then it has been stripped and undergone extensive body repairs - new inner and outer wings, friont and rear, new sills, new doors, new floors, new tailgate, new bonnet, various bits of welding and a full respray in Old English White

The engine was completely rebuilt and I have boxes of new parts for the rest of the car, ranging from wheels to leather seats, door locks, carpets, etc

Trouble was, I forgot how it all went back together and even with a manual it can take ages to do something simple

Hence the idea to buy a template car, which is the blue car now sat alongside the white one in my garage

This is a 1972 model, which someone started to restore before giving up, but importantly is almost complete and original

So I can now take apart say, the lights on the blue car, compare to my boxes of new bits, fit the new bits to the white car, then replace the bits on the blue one

etc.....

I've already started and it's working

The blue one fired up after five years of inactivity, so that will help when it comes to selling it at the end of the project

Updates will follow periodically

In the short term, I have to fix small areas of localised paint damage that have occurred during storage, then I will fit lights and exterior trim

I need a plan after that, which is where, as Mark puts it, 'the thinking about it' starts

Watch this space - I'm determined to have it all done by the end of 2008

 

Good luck and keep us posted.

My mate took about 15 years to get his sprite on the road... and then moved to France and left it on his Mum's driveway!

 

I'm determined this time

The two MGBs will be sold at the end of the project, assuming no unforeseen, life changing developments

I anticipate some blood, sweat and tears, but I will enlist help if needed, rather than struggle on my own

 

Surely that number plate NYM 8L has to be worth a bit on its own?

 

F**k me your not as stupid as some think

Russ.

 

Oh yes I am

 

Was spaced like so on the front



Doesn't appeal to me, but it seems lots of people do like 'implied' spellings

Worth advertising it to see I suppose, rather than leaving it on a restoration project

 

Are you able to get brand new panels for these cars or is it breakers only?

Looks cool am really interested to see how you get on. I love MGB GTs but if I'm being honest I prefer the MGA, looks lovely

I'm planning on a mk1 or mk2 MX-5 to get me started nothing taxing with easily available parts and documentation.

 

MGBs and Triumphs are possibly the best served makes in terms of spares

I suspect any original panels are gone now, but they turn up from time to time

In any case, there is such a market that very good replacements are available as a rule - often from the original presses

Unlike years back, when there were only cheap and poorly fitting 'pattern' parts

My car had original panels back in the early 90s, so the panel fit is excellent

I like the MGA too

I have first refusal on a red 1500 dhc if the owner ever sells, so you might see me in one here sometime

MX-5 should be straightforward with loads of bits still at breakers

 

Good luck with the restoration.

I've no mechanical knowledge whatsoever but if you need a hand, give me a shout.

May be limited to getting the in though.