Back in my early 20s, I had a '60 Sprite and later a '64 MGB. And both, as others have mentioned, were encarcerated by the Prince of Darkness - Lucas. I think I had less electrical trouble w/the MGB than the Sprite. The SU carbs were easy to adjust after I had been told how to do it. I agree, the MGB was a fun car. I would recommend the earlier cars w/the real bumpers and the knock-off hubs. The US DOT really started brutalizing these later cars. A TR4 is also a great option. In March, I spotted a 65 Austin Healy 3000 in San Francisco that I would have given anything for. This is another consideration, for the plump can fit in them a little easier.

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Don't Chrome them; polish them

The Old Miatas fit the bill for me. They have that same raw, jiggly-ride, light weight feel to them (without the British car BS) and you really feel like you are going fast even if you're only going 55 mph. Feel every pebble you run over through the steering. They have that girl car rep but they are so much fun to drive.

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1985 CA 300D Turbo , 213K mi

This is a good point. Don't buy a British car, especially an old one, unless you're willing to do daily tinkering. And only buy Jags in pairs.

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Don't Chrome them; polish them

MGB's are fun and easy to maintain.All this guff about the electrical system can be reduced to voltage regulators,light switches and engine/chassis ground strap integrity,mind you,this only holds true when these cars are used occasionally and stored most of the year as all cars suffer from static desuetude,in other words,they suffer from lack of use.Something that seems endemic to British sportscars.Bear in mind the MGB's were production cars and suffered on that account


I've had several.They were,once certain aforementioned problems were addressed,very reliable,fun,primitive and bone-shaking.

My personal favorites are the M.G.TC,TF and MGA of which there are always a very representative sampling offered for sale.

If your wallet permits,a nice vintage Riley 9 or Morgan will offer you a helluva lot more fun,value and reliability,even an HRG.

The Morgan had a wood frame, right?

I once had to remove the fuel pump from my MGB, on a trip through the middle of the desert, and clean the contacts in order to get fuel flowing once again. Anything having contacts, not just switches, was prone to the curse of the Prince of Darkness.

But in the end, you're right. These cars are FUN - both Morris Garage & Coventry Motors.

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Don't Chrome them; polish them

I think the frame is wood but the body has wood framing.

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

yes!

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Along with the nostalgia of top down motoring, exhaust notes and the impression of speed being so close to the road, there is amnesia about tuning SU carbs, puddles of Castrol on the garage floor; leaky lever shocks and rust.

I suggested the Miata because it is universally noted to be the British roadster reborn with modern engineering for safety and performance. Add the abundance of tuning parts for the MX-5 and you can easily configure it to stand out from those "chick cars."

So any mg tc experts out there?

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Only a TF-1500. All that wood framing . . .

Whaddya wanna know??

I've owned them all and I have one word.
MIATA!
(If you think it's a chickmobile, paint it black or british racing green)

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"Our Lady of Blessed Acceleration...
don't Fail Us Now"

Is a 49 TC with cycle fenders rare?

Whats a barn find with good wood needing total restoration worth?

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Total restoration is a variable phrase,I've had good originals and "older restorations".

Granted,We have not seen this barn find,but if you can pick it up for less than 10 grand you're doing OK,provided it's all there.

That is what I suspected. I am going to go look at this evening if its not sold.

ARe the cycle fenders rare on a '49? I thought they were an earlier feature.

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.