MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGB Technical - rust? how much is to much?

I've spent some time this week checking out a 73 B
and a 73 BGT, for restoration I eventually want both models in my garage. The GT looks better than the B,
But the guy with B wants $800.00 more. Niether car has new paint. Both cars have some rust but not on the really on the body sheet metal. More undreneath the car. And the member under the door. no holes or really thin aeras.
How much is to much? When do I walk away. The B has
a 3/4 inch split on both doors near the wind wing.
should I keep looking.
Peter

Peter,

As far as the rust goes, on the underneath of the car if it is just "surface corrosion" (ie rub at it with a wire brush and you see clean metal), then this is easy to deal with (rub it down and paint with some brand of thick, black gunk).

"the member under the door" Do you mean the sill? If so, then I think that this could be serious.

However, the most off-putting comment is that the doors have the "Crack of Doom". I'm sure someone will suggest how to repair these, but I only know that the cracking is a major pain in the .....

As to "how much is too much", depends on what the owner is asking for. You said he wants $800 more. I'm assuming that this is $800 more than you offered, if so, then you have to ask yourself why you offered $800 less than he wants (and if you were to spend $800 more, could you find a better car elsewhere).

The advice which everyone keeps passing is "buy the best car you can't afford"!! But it also depends upon how much work you want to do yourself, and how much you have to spend on the car or on the restoration.

Chris
Chris Byham

Chris
WHat I mean to say, is the the owner of the
B wants $800.00 doallars more than the owner of
the GT and the GT is in better shape. Is this
typical. Do you generally pay more for the B?
Peter

As far as how much rust is too much ... In my car I replaced all 4 rocker panels (outer, inner, castle, & the part that in the interior) the crossmember outriggers, floors, doglegs, front fenders, and patched the kickpanels. Now I know exactly what the condition of the car is and I'm not relying on what someone else did to rustproof the repairs, especially in the hidden areas.
You can buy any panel you would possibly need. So if you are aware of the extent of the rust, pay accordingly (I paid $400 for mine), and are prepared to do/have done the work, there has to be a tremendous amount of rust to say its too much. I also have a '71 midget that I'm taking the mechanical guts out of for my wife's Bugeye; if I jump on that car in the right spot, it will break. Not just my feet will go through to the floor, the car will break. That car is either a parts car or a resto project for someone truly demented (in a good way). They aren't making any more of these and sometimes I wonder how far gone some cars really are before some guys on start hacking them up to make a few bucks. Oh, some will say that if you have to do too much work to the car, it doesn't make economic sense. Unless your planning on restoring the car in order to sell it at a profit, I'm not sure how that argument makes sense.
Good Luck in your quest, Wade, embracer of rusty cars
Wade Keene

Peter - Since the markwt values or cars more as toys and entertainment than as everyday conveyances, the price for convertibles is generally higher than a comparable GT.

My quite nice GT is probably worth $4500-5000 (if that), my wife's slightly rough convertible would go for more like $5000-5500.

Overall, I drive the GT quite a bit more, and is more valuable personally to me, but that not what most people think.

As far as rust, and repair, it depends on your tolerance for paying for or doing body work, and how much fun you may think it is. The rocker panels (members under the door) are incredibly strong (I believe 6 material thicknesses) on the B, AND they are prone to rust. They can and are repaired or replaced by well documented processes, but there's a good deal of work involved (see Archives & just about any MG repair/restoration book).

You may be asking to see if the extra money or time you may invest in the convertible will be worth it in value at the end. Get the car you want and accept that you will never get out of it what you put into it. If you enjoy body work, you'll get the benefit of a hobby as well. If you don't enjoy body work, then wait for a car which won't need that much, at least at first.

Good Luck!
John Z

Peter,

Sorry, miss-read the bit about "$800 more" in your original post.

If it a straight fight between that GT and that Roadster, then I'd say that it sounds like the GT needs less work. If you are new to both MGBs and car restoration, I'd got with the car that needs the least amount of work (you'll get fun out of driving it sooner).

Chris
Chris Byham

This thread was discussed between 11/04/2002 and 12/04/2002

MG MGB Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGB Technical BBS is active now.