[Closed] Break my MGB.... or not?

...erm, I guess it depends on how much you like MGBs then, doesn't it?

I think they're a bit rubbishy TBH, especially the rubber bumper version.

I vote: [u]Sell The Bits On The Devil's Marketplace![/u]

Now if someone could just let me know what I should have for dinner, I'd be most obliged.

I'm not particularly bothered by them either way, but for a cheap classic motoring laugh, I'll give it a go and don't mind bashing it on the odd hillclimb or rally.

Fleabay will get me the most cash, but would have to clean the bits, hassle etc.

Dinner? Go for Thai green curry with a cold bottle of beer.

Look at the prices the owners club charges for spare, one of the reason people buy MGs is that there is a raft of button cheap refurbished and remanufactured spares. With that in mind who will really be looking to buy used spares when the new ones are so cheap.

but needs minimal work to get roadworthy. (Two floor pans, new suspension bushes, fuel gauge sender and plenty of elbow grease).

You missed the can of worms off of you list 🙂

If you're not that interested in them why put the work in, you'll get no return financially, but MGs un-restore themselves at an alarming speed too, so you might also get limited return for your efforts in terms of fun.

dangriff - Member

I'm not particularly bothered by them either way, but for a cheap classic motoring laugh, I'll give it a go and don't mind bashing it on the odd hillclimb or rally.

Sounds like thats your answer.

Myself however, Id try to buy something competitive for hill rallying.

Where are you based dangriff?

Would be a shame to break it up, if that's all that needs doing.

My personal view is that it would be a shame to break what I think is such a wonderful car. You obviously know they take a fair bit of looking after (lack of time to do so is why I don't have one), but they're great fun when going. Far more fun than an identikit modern box.

Clearly your time / money / choice. Just thouight I'd throw in my tuppence worth.

Can't you convert them to chrome bumpers? I seem to remember that you can, but you would then need to lower the suspension to make it look 'right'

Do the work, get it road worthy, MOT and sell it. Surely you'll get more as a rolling resto project for someone, who thinks they would like to have a go, and never do it!!

I have had 3 of em, 1 chrome bumper and 2 rubber bumper ones (and a Midget), at £250 its got to worth spending a little effort on it and running it for a year.

There is a chome conversion but for a nail its just not worth it, if you got the odd hill climb and stuff in mind just ditch the bumpers altogehter they are really, really heavy.

Lowering them is really easy but the dampers though cheap are also pretty useless, though maybe new uprated ones are better than the recon tat I used to be able to afford, telescopic damper conversions are pretty cheap now, had that on my 74 and it handled really well.

If you have it on the road for not too much effort then it will be worth more to sell on anyhow without the agro of stripping it.

they never just need one bit of welding!

My mint (I cry whenever it gets rained on levels of mint) condition Midget has cost me £300 so far in the last month!

If you'r sure the chasis is weldable (wings and sils in one pice still?) then strip it and get it shot blasted first,

A good rust free chasis is worth £2500 alone, so even if you don't want to do any more work after that you'll be in profit!

They are never rust free!! My mum has had her 78 Midget from new its been completely re built 3 times now.

Though I have to agree with thisisnotaspoon if the floors gone chances are so are the sill's and thats a big job to sort out... However they do remain quite structurally rigid even when theyre holed quite badly if you can patch it enough for the MOT then just run it and enjoy it for a bit.

Can you still get heritage shells?

I used to have a Austin Sprite (cheaper version of the MG Midget) I spent more time under it sorting out rust than driving it 😉

I managed to sell it in better condition than I bought it, which I guess is something, still see it on the road, some 15 years on.

Must admit, I always preferred the look/shape of the MGB GT/Triumph GT6 coupe shape.

It just needs the floorpans doing as I have already done the sills, boot, front and rear valance. Previous owners have replaced all 4 wings and various other areas, all of which appear to be fairly good repairs.

I'm tempted to do it after all, as it won't take much and ditching bumpers will save 100 lbs. I can probably get it on the road without spending more than 150 quid, it's just the time involved.

By the sounds of it, most of the work is aleady done and you should have a very solid car. It would be a crying shame to stop now for the sake of a bit of time and a little extra investment.

Probably a good idea to ditch the bumpers - I'm thinking of doing the same to mine (also a '78) as I think they look better without them and 100lbs + is a lot of weight on a car that was never quick anyway.

Mine has had the suspension lowered/stiffened, stage 1 flowed head, K&N's and a bigbore exhaust with extractor manifold fitted. It will never win any races against a modern box but it brings a smile to my face every time I take it out of the garage........................and that's all that matters 😀

Out of curiosity- are bumpers not an mot requirement then,or just after a particular year?

The rubber bumber models were made for the American market to meet their construction and use regs. MG added them to the whole range, they look horrid and some owners convert the car back to the older chrome bumber spec.

I'm tempted just to remove the bumpers - **** all use and just add weight

Vinnyeh

No legal or MOT requirement to have the bumpers regardless of year. Only slight complication is re-housing the indicators/lights/numberplate and sorting out the grill.

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Woody - nice!!