Should I buy and make the drive of just walk on....

MGC roadster barned for 25 years. Windsheild broken, side windwow smashed, body panals abused by kids, one inch square hole punched in bonnet with an ice pick...($50 tig repair), motor is not frozen but can bet the hydraulics (OEM Girling Servos) are all shot. 800 miles round trip on non Interstate roads. No title no "wants" as a stolen vehicle in the state where it resides.





$1000, time and labor...I think its a wash myself but I need opinions from others...gotta close by days end and no time to have a pal nearby to take a peek. Pale Primrose fwiw.

http://kansascity.craigslist.org/cto/2975816355.html

I saw that posted in the "buy sell trade"...She looks pretty rough Robert but a complete car for spares I'm sure you could harvest! I especially like the square holes from the kids with the pick (ax)...watch your back when looking at that one!

Robert

As a reference point back in 2002 I bought a CGT for $350 that had been sitting for probably 25 years. engine turned over but body was beyond recovery due to rust. No telling how many of the switches, instruments, and other "small stuff" that is unique to the C is recoverable. On the GT it was most of it.

Well Robert ........After my project arrived (18years in a barn) it didn't look too bad - now that it has been gemblasted its ugly - I half expected it and as is a donor car for the GTS project I'm not worried and I'll be mssing with the lot!
It all depends if it is save-able - ignoring the sills/castle sections. floorpans as they will defo be toast - if there is enough structural integrity left and you have a place to strip it/do the body work then I could be a project ....otherwise as Larry says Part it out - offer him 500 to take it away - It would be noice to see another one saved and especially a roadster! I guess it boils down to time and money .....as always!
:)-D
Stan

Have to figure your time and expenses to get it home, hopefully you have a good winch. LOL

Ron

Ron,
Both a good winch and wench...:devil:
Stan,
Good points...I think my time "restoring" would be better spent on the XK140 or Healey BN2
Larry,
You SoCal boys have all the luck, best picking and best to pick from8-)
Hans,
As per Stan...why spend ones time parting out what another may save.

This is really on the border of where salt is overused on hiways. The problem is "sitting" 25 years, no title, and the devils work by some yahoo kids to the single most valuable item to be had. Seller has ample back ups, so he says, thus would not negotiate nor even allow a priority check. Next day (tomorrow) or not and I don't often buy "good" cars without some independent inspection let alone a Pandoras box.

Just emailed the seller I am walking on by.

Thanks for the input. More often these days I need a reality check. ::o

It looks like it has an original leather covered steering wheel, albeit tattered. I'll go $50 to use it as a pattern for my local leather guy. That is %10 of the purchase price.

Seats look original w/ headrest too. I am sure someone will give you a few shekels for them too.

Ed.

ED
Let me know how "all that" goes whenever. You'll have to ask someone else for this one's wheel I am afraid. Shut the door moments ago.

The C is being flipped now on ebay

FYI
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MG-MGB-1969-MGC-roadster-needing-restoration-/150805849722?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item231cbaa67a

Good walk away. [url=http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys.php][/url]

He should take the bid currently being offered.

And take it quickly before the bidder sobers up......

Drew

The seller is an old hand at shucking parts on efee and more so Craigs list. Pulling his enclosed trailer to fetch the car the current bid is probably what seller has in it. There were by accounts 3 of us very interested but a decision seemed to be needed immediately as at least one of the three, I can assume the new owner, was willing to buy sight unseen. The interest generated by the price and story were enough to keep any of us from kicking tires and bargaining.

Living in IL and IA, I personally know what a task it is to try and get a title and the ice pick damage to the bonnet reinforces my ideas about some people needing to have a license before procreating. X(

:)-D

Robert

I also think you probably did the right thing. By the way I am not so generous, some people should be unable to procreate. Darwin was not completely correct. :devil:

Ron

That car is not without significant rust. Almost "swiss cheese" in the boot floor, top of the tank. The right side rockers are all in trouble and the left is not too good either. The bonnet will not be easy to get behind for the TIG work, etc.

And sorry, Ed, the leather is gone from the steering wheel. (I do have one from the parts car I got recently if you want a pattern.)

It hurts when you see a car that has been stored away with the idea that it will be worth more later. Especially without any effort to preserve and prevent it from becoming a pile of rust. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

And I, too, keep wondering why we continue to try and prove Darwin was wrong...

C Ya,
Mark

Now Mark that is prolific!!! - I totally agree ... there seems to be a profound impression that just because a car has been stored for 20+ years (barn find) it’s in "reasonable' condition ..............proof is mine! ……once media blasted …..its ugly!! - The lesson learned is not what you see is what you get!! .... there are holes everywhere ... the trick is to be able to 'visualises' what it is that you are undertaking. If you think that an easy rebuilt is in the offering?? ... useless you know the car.... it's far worse that you expect!!!
Still as a C…. there is some push to nostalgia – And I’m a sucker!!!! Er-in-doors?? she thinks ... well we won't go there!.... Kyie Eleison - Electric Prunes!!
:)-D
Stan

Here's more to the back up story. Car was purchased brand new and driven only a few years. Put in the barn. The guy who offered it on Craigs list said he remembers the lady owner and the car when he was "a kid". Eventually it went into an estate and someone's evil sibling's kids did the deeds with the ice pick. I imagine most of the "owners" subsequent to the departure of the original simply had no idea what it was nor cared....just an old car out in the barn.....

That is the sad part.

What I personally can not understand are those unwilling to do anything with their potential treasure but remain steadfast they will not sell it. Long story short involves an MGA twin cam spotted by the prospective buyer for ten years, being hauled to the crusher. Old man died, "the Estate" ordered everything to be crushed. The four wheels were worth a couple of thousand to say nothing of the head....

Hey Robert
Quote "What I personally can not understand are those unwilling to do anything with their potential treasure but remain steadfast they will not sell it"

So true - I know of quite a few myself:
A Medical Doctor acquaintance has a 1972 Porsche 911T that has been on jack stands in his garage for the last 30 years - he refuses to sell it, as he is "going to restore it".
I have no idea how David got his medical degree, as he never finishes ANYTHING!

Another old bullet that used to live close to me had a number of projects parked outside his house, including a MGA roadster and a Lotus Cortina, all rusting away, slowly but surely. Every couple of years he slaps a coat of red oxide over the rust, and that is it!
Any offers to buy his project wrecks are met with a growl that would frighten off a junk yard dog.

My last anecdote involves a MGB GT body shell that I saw at a panelshop some 20 years ago, stripped down to bare metal.
I saw the same body shell - now painted at least - on offer last week as a project - the guy is asking the price of a concours running pristine complete vehicle for the painted shell!