Boo Hoo Im sad - a eulogy to my MGB

My poor daily driver 1971 MGB has been prematurely and involuntary retired from service :'(

On the way home from work on the motor way the engine would rev freely but not transmitt any power to the wheels, the engine screamed and I coasted slower and slower but eventually limped home with out the need of a tow truck.

So its either clutch slipping or overdrive slipping me thinks.

To pay the local MG specialist would cost £700+ for the over drive or £500+ for the clutch ......I cant knock his prices as he's got to make a living

If I do it my self I can do both for £400 .......but it will take me weeks .....time I could spend getting the bus finished

On top of this my rear axle and diff are shot (another £400 minimum), theres duct tape holding the body work together....I could go on.

Sorry for the moan, I dont normally like to wallow in self pity, but the MG has a certain place in my heart,

It got me into classic vehicles (so I suppose I might not have got the bus if I didnt have the MG), it's been my trusty daily driver through wind, rain, fog and snow for near on 10years and in all that time has only had 3 trips on a tow truck

If it was missfiring or playing up, it would always get me home

its part of the family and the kids love it (and cried when they thought it might be going to the scrap yard-thats not going to happen!)....I've had some great times in that car

I'm sure most of you can relate to that

I cant have 2 restos on the go at the same time, money or time wont allow it, so its going to be resting in the garage for quite a while until the bus is done :'(


RIP Enchy B .........for now




(it looked quite a good a few years back ;D)

 

you want to get one of them big rubber bumpered ones mate they look proper gash,i reckon you'd get one cheap! or an mgbgt v8 with a rover v8 in lovely! joking i am, i like the old chrome bumper ones like yours, hope you can save it.

 

Thanks Ricky

 

did you see the wheeler dealers they did on it? also a car is born with mark evans? that was awesome

 

Nice roadster, they always sound so sweet , funny, bus restorer down the road from me started off restoring MG,s then one of his customers,asked him if he could do his camper , the work came flooding in after that he now just does buses, he has his own MG collection A,B,and C , makes me green . Hope you get it sorted before the warm sunny evenings arrive 8)

 

It shouldnt cost that much to do the clutch yourself. As for the diff get it off and send to be overhauled. Much cheaper than replacing it

 

iam sure she will be back one day soon

 

I'll give you £400 for the whole of that MG thing you've got there, better than scrap value ) and whilst you might have the skill to work on a vw bus not sure about a classic like this ) ) )

I reckon a classic mini would have been a better bet

Got to dash got some hazard lights to fix, going in for MOT on Saturday morning

 

Yes I love MGBs. Chrome bumpers are much nicer than rubbers. I drive an old XJS too nowadays. Kind of feels like a big MGBGT to me. Good luck with the repairs. She'll be back. You can't avoid old motors spending time of the road for a while now and then. You know that. It's part of what we all have to expect.

 

She's lovely ,always wanted one
Dont get rid of her
Love the wheels.

 

thanks baydreams & Lordcongi

dont worry, I wont be getting rid of her , the plan was always to restore her when the bus was finished.....just means she off the road earlier than I wanted .....and I'm left with out a car

.......cant belive I own 2 vehicles neither of which are on the road ;D

Just chatting to some one in the office who's got an 1972 MGB GT (automatic though ) sitting in his garage, tested and taxed that he wants rid of for £1500 - only milage it does each year is to get it MOT'd

£1000 more than I've got though

Wonder if he'll drop to £800

.....I refuse to buy anything built after 1985 ;D

 

nice diesel citron xantia at the end of my road, mot tax no rust heater even has a proper roof! 650

 

i have a complete hertiage sill owen nw

 

sorry to here about your mg mate ,got a midget meself and can feel your pains. just hang onto it you will never loose money on it. just dont go down the rubber bumper way

 

Cheers dude,

I like midgets and sprites ......but enough about my fetish ;D ;D

seriously though, I like em - but I found I couldnt fit in them as well as the B

 

Thanks Malc