# Well... I bought an MGB
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-i-bought-an-mgb/136244
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [November 11, 2002, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-i-bought-an-mgb/136244 "2002-11-11T05:41:45Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)
#### Post date: [November 11, 2002, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-i-bought-an-mgb/136244/1 "2002-11-11T05:41:45Z")
Okay, this is a little scary. I’ve bought a 1966 MGB roadster off of eBay.
> [@](#):
>
> Great little project car. You can pull it apart for the parts you need or build it up. I have the Title, says a 1966, but a friend told me he thought the body was a 1967??? You tell me. There is a sticker that says “meets 1968 usa standards” We started it with a battery and hot wire, runs fine, does not smoke, needs carb adjustment. has new hoses, clean carbs, clean radiator, NEW muffler and NEW tires and a handful of goodies. Nice top frame sitting on trunk in photo. REPAIRABLE floors, I pulled all out to NOT hide floors, has seat frames and foam. great glass.YES,it has hood and front bumper,I forgot to photo them. It needs to be trucked or pulled outta
> here.LOW RESERVE. Near PERFECT body, never been hit.
So: It runs. That’s a point in its favour. It has a good body. Okay. The floors need to be repaired. I can get new floor panels for $135 each. No top, but it has the frame. I’d planned on a new top for practically any MGB I would get. The top is a folding one. I would have preferred the removable top, as that’s what I had before. I like the simplicity. A removable frame, strangely, is a little expensive.
It’s on steel wheels. I want wires. Depending on which differential it has, it may be a simple matter to get new wires (which I’d planned to do anyway) or a difficult one. Since there is confusion about the date of manufacture, I may get lucky and it will have the later tube-type diff.
I’d like to get the overdrive transmission, so as long as the existing one is serviceable I should be okay for a while.
So where are we? Engine is okay. Body is okay. I need a top, paint, carpets, upholstery, 6-volt batteries, maybe a new ignition switch. Might be good to have a new wiring harness put in.
I need to go up to Yosemite to tow it down. I need to find a place to keep it while it’s awaiting repair. I’m moving a lot of my stuff up to Washington in December. I can get a storage unit up there that will accommodate my stuff plus my '46 Willys Jeep, and if that happens then my carport will be free.
I’d like to have it painted Old English White with a red interior – just like mom ordered the one she eventually gave me. Ah. Mom’s MGB. She ordered it in 1964 while we were in Japan. When we came to the U.S. in '66 it arrived from England soon after we did. She said that even with a new, factory-fresh MGB there was confusion about parts. Some of them were 1967 model pieces. That’s why I’m not overly concerned about the year-model confusion of this one.
So there it is. I’m supposed to me saving for a house. Good lord, what have I done?
Anyone want to buy a 1961 Rolex Submariner with a James Bond strap? :eek:
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### Author:  [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)
#### Post date: [November 11, 2002, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-i-bought-an-mgb/136244/2 "2002-11-11T14:04:02Z")
Johnny, I’m so happy for you!!! I know how badly you wanted one… And are you gonna give me a ride if you ever get out towards the midwest? I’m thinkin _road trip…_
😃
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### Author:  [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)
#### Post date: [November 11, 2002, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-i-bought-an-mgb/136244/3 "2002-11-11T14:37:00Z")
OooooOOOOOh, sounds wonderful! Roadsters rock!
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### Author:  [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)
#### Post date: [November 11, 2002, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-i-bought-an-mgb/136244/4 "2002-11-11T17:17:57Z")
> [@](#):
>
> And are you gonna give me a ride if you ever get out towards the midwest?
Sure. But when will I ever get to the midwest?
> [@](#):
>
> OooooOOOOOh, sounds wonderful! Roadsters rock!
They certainly do! In addition to the '66 I owned before, I had two '77s. They did rock. The '66 had the sweetest exhaust note.
Okay, I’ve been thinking on the way into the office…
_Should_ I go for Old English White (creamy white) with a red interior? Or should I re-paint it in its original Tartan Red (bright red)? If I decide on creamy white, should I get original-style painted spokes, or chromed ones? Keep the luggage rack, or not? I think if I go white, then I’ll go painted spokes and no luggage rack. If I go red, then I’m thinking chrome spokes, keep the luggage rack, and black interior.
If I go white, then it will be like the one I had before. If I go red, then I won’t _have_ to re-paint the engine bay and thus it would be less expensive.
So how about a poll? Creamy white with a red interior, or bright red with a black interior?
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### Author:  [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)
#### Post date: [November 11, 2002, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-i-bought-an-mgb/136244/5 "2002-11-11T18:45:34Z")
Red is always good on sporty cars, but I think the white with red interior would be better, a bit unusual.
I have a Rambler convertible, red with red & white interior, and the interior never fails to get compliments. Black is so…normal.
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### Author:  [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)
#### Post date: [November 11, 2002, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-i-bought-an-mgb/136244/6 "2002-11-11T18:47:52Z")
Here’s a little something for you.
[http://www.lyricsfreak.com/t/thompson-richard/3763.htm](http://www.lyricsfreak.com/t/thompson-richard/3763.htm)
It’s from the album ‘Mirror blue’
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### Author:  [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)
#### Post date: [November 11, 2002, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-i-bought-an-mgb/136244/7 "2002-11-11T21:17:42Z")
Dude. Three words.
[British. Racing. Green.](http://ww.alexclassics.com/bigpix/MG.jpg)
Black interior, ditch the luggage rack, chrome spokes. You’ll thank me later.
And congrats, I’ll come and have a look at it the next time I’m in town. 🙂
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### Author:  [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)
#### Post date: [November 11, 2002, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-i-bought-an-mgb/136244/8 "2002-11-11T21:37:33Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Coldfire \*
>
> British. Racing. Green.
A man after my own heart, that’s the color of my GT.
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### Author:  [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)
#### Post date: [November 11, 2002, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-i-bought-an-mgb/136244/9 "2002-11-11T21:41:38Z")
Well, **Coldie** , BRG is a good colour. One of the best. But the choices are creamy white with a red interior (like mine was originally) or bright red with a black interior (like this one was originally).
I’m leaning toward the red/black because when I got mom’s MG I thought the creamy white looked a little dirty. Not creamy enough to make it look intentional, and not white enough to look white. The red interior had largely faded to pink. I had it repainted Vermillion Red (red-orange) and made the interior black. I think I’d like the red better than the white. Besides, I wouldn’t have to paint the engine bay then.
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### Author:  [@racekarl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racekarl)
#### Post date: [November 11, 2002, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-i-bought-an-mgb/136244/10 "2002-11-11T21:47:01Z")
Not that it probably matters that much with an MGB (since the numbers will never match anyway), but painting it a different color than it was originally would hurt resale value.
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### Author:  [@happyheathen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/happyheathen)
#### Post date: [November 11, 2002, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-i-bought-an-mgb/136244/11 "2002-11-11T21:54:14Z")
You don’t want a black interior. Not on a roadster. Not in bright sun. Ouch.
Can you say “frame-up”? Knew you could…
Good luck.
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### Author:  [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)
#### Post date: [November 11, 2002, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-i-bought-an-mgb/136244/12 "2002-11-11T22:25:01Z")
> [@](#):
>
> You don’t want a black interior. Not on a roadster. Not in bright sun. Ouch.
Well, I owned the last one when I lived in the Mojave Desert. I know all about black vinyl. The trick is to wear long pants.
“Frame up” would be nice, but I’m seeking a compromise between the car and a house. I think a non-frame-up resto would fit into the budget and still allow me to go house hunting.
Step One will be to just get it roadworthy.
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### Author:  [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2002, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-i-bought-an-mgb/136244/13 "2002-11-12T05:18:32Z")
The most striking MGB I ever saw was Tartan Red, red interior - and a red TOP! Sounds odd but was very striking.
A color change is HARD to do well.
My MGA is Red / Red & Beige top - gets many compliments.
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### Author:  [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2002, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-i-bought-an-mgb/136244/14 "2002-11-12T05:32:19Z")
Oops, forgot this. Not the best shot for the red interior, but here is my [MGA](http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/jasg/mycar.jpg).
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### Author:  [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2002, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-i-bought-an-mgb/136244/15 "2002-11-12T09:04:00Z")
_Damn_, that car looks good, jasg! I love those A’s.
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### Author:  [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2002, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-i-bought-an-mgb/136244/16 "2002-11-12T13:33:07Z")
The link didn’t work for me.
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### Author:  [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2002, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-i-bought-an-mgb/136244/17 "2002-11-12T18:05:31Z")
Works fine here, but it’s hosted on an AOL site, YMMV. 😉
It’s very red, very polished, and very, very beautiful. It’s photgraphed on a driveway, on a 3/4 right front angle, and it’s in front of a shed with a slanted roof.
Can’t you just _see_ it now? 🙂
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### Author:  [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2002, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-i-bought-an-mgb/136244/18 "2002-11-12T18:10:35Z")
Ah the memories. My brother got a brand spanking new MGB (red with black interior, wire wheels, rag top) in 1972 and literally drove the wheels off of it (it went to that great big automobile graveyard in 1980). LOTS OF FUN.
Also, a tremendous pain in the ass to repair in mid-1970s Virginia, but I digress.
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### Author:  [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)
#### Post date: [November 13, 2002, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-i-bought-an-mgb/136244/19 "2002-11-13T00:31:43Z")
**Coldfire** : I’m seein’ it.
**plnnr** : I don’t have a garage, so _every_ repair is a pain in the ass!
Update: I talked to a guy who belongs to a local MGB club (who knew there was one _right here?_). He said he knows a guy who can do restoration work from “just making it run” to “show winner”. He said the guy does excellent work, but he takes a long time. If I wanted a complete restoration it might be done by summer. But the important thing is that he’s said to be **inexpensive** , which appeals to the Scottish blood in me. 😉
The seller will bring the car down from Merced the first week of December. I’ll get the DMV paperwork done and tow it down to the mechanic.
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### Author:  [@Sigmundex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmundex)
#### Post date: [November 13, 2002, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-i-bought-an-mgb/136244/20 "2002-11-13T03:04:56Z")
Ahhh, you guys are killing me. Now that I’m “family man”, I don’t get to play with sports cars any more. At least not until my official midlife crisis (just a few years off). My first car was a '72 Midget, all black, interior, exterior, folding top. It was hot in Florida, let me tell you. Then I bought a '72 Alfa Spyder (like the one in the Graduate). It had a tomato red exterior, but black interior, and of course, the fold down, burn your ass in the Florida sun, top. I loved those cars. The Midget was a project from the get-go. I completely rebuilt the engine on it. I replaced the Alfa engine (it had a cracked block), but it was a typical European car (keep 2 cans of oil in the bonnet!).
Johnny, I am jealous! Oh, and as for my vote, I’m definitely with you on the red/black thing. The green is beautiful, for sure, but you see it a lot these days.
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