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MGA BUYING HELP

Posted by tbo5125

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MGA BUYING HELP #1
tbo5125 Tim B Winfield, USA	Posted: April 20, 2012 09:37AM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 2

I'm new to the site and finally registered after spending days looking through forums. Looking for input on a 1957 MGA. I'm in the process of buying, and would like to know what is a "fair" price. Engine & Tranny is complete, car is in rough shape. Has been sitting for many years and comes with a clear title. I've attached to photos. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

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Re: MGA BUYING HELP #2
mgaex189 Giovanni Delicio Obrigheim, Rheinpfalz, Germany 1955 MG MGA 1500 "C2" 1955 MG MGA 1500 "C1" 1955 MG MGA 1500 1960 MG MGA 1600 Coupe 1961 MG MGA MkII	Posted: April 20, 2012 10:13AM Registered: 2 years ago Posts: 327

The car seems to be a 1500. The grille is from a later MK II.

Do you have a VIN number and maybe the Body# ?

Could you make some pics of the engine bay?

Giovanni

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Re: MGA BUYING HELP #3
Bandersnatch Larry Wheeler Hillsboro, OR, USA 1957 MG MGA "Rosie 2"	Posted: April 20, 2012 10:25AM Registered: 4 years ago Posts: 1,146

Definitely looks like a good candidate for restoration. Mine was in approximately the same condition, a little less surface rust but the body was a lot more abused/dented.

If possible, get under the car and check the condition of the frame, if it's not too bad, I'd say go for it (depending on price).

I paid $1,000 for mine without an engine (it did come with one that wasn't installed, but it was from a Metropolitan so I didn't use it). I was also missing the grill, driveline and seats.

As the car is going to need the sills replaced and as near as I can tell, dogleg repairs on the fenders, you are looking at a full frame-off restoration. As much as it will cost to restore the car, I wouldn't want to pay more than $2,000 - $2,500.

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Re: MGA BUYING HELP #4
bmemg B Rowe MD, USA 1957 MG MGA 1500	Posted: April 20, 2012 10:47AM Registered: 3 years ago Posts: 34

Good advice from Larry. By way of comparison I just picked up a non-running '57 1500 for a little more than $3800 with the following already done: engine and transmission rebuilt; all frame welding/floor rails and battery boxes done; inner rockers and A&B pillars done; 5 refurbished and painted wire wheels along with 4 others on the car with older rubber; windshield done; good spare steering wheel and a pile of new parts (wiring harness, lights, suspension rubber, new bumpers, etc.). Usual lower fender rust needs repair, and of course paint and interior work that needs doing.

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Re: MGA BUYING HELP #5
Basil Adams About 12 miles from Sears Point, USA	Posted: April 20, 2012 11:29AM Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 5,991

In January I picked up a rust-free, running, driving 1957 for $4000. It doesn't need paint but I am re-doing the interior. It was a bargain. I would expect you'll have to pay a couple of grand for that car depending on how much rust there is. Best of luck. Basil 707.762.0974 basiladams@yahoo.com

Basil C. Adams
1956 MGA Coupe (Show Car)
1957 MGA Roadster (Driver)
1958 MGA Coupe (Racecar)
1959 MGA Coupe (unrestored)
1960 MGA Coupe (unrestored)
1960 MGA Roadster (Driver)
MKIII Elva Courier (E1056)
1967 427 Cobra
1972 Alfa Romeo Montreal
A coupla late MGBs
1960 Austin Healy BN7
More Cars than Brains

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Re: MGA BUYING HELP #6
mad.english.man Tony Leyva Mesa, Arizona, USA 1959 MG MGA 1968 MG MGB	Posted: April 20, 2012 12:12PM Registered: 3 years ago Posts: 160

There is a lot of "I wouldn't pay more than $xx for that" on this forum. I am of the belief that the initial purchase cost is relativly unimportant in relation to the cost of restoring the car. I am all in favor of paying as little as needed of course but the prime metric is that you are happy with the transaction. More important is to know what you're getting into, so if the Chassis is good but the sills are gone you are off to a good start, if the chassis is rotten then you have a big hill to climb even if the sills were good (very unlikely combination). Holes in panels are much worse than surface rust so watch out for bondo style repairs, I was stupid enough to underestimate the degree of accident damage to my MGA which meant I had to find a replacement chassis, a shame because the rest of the car is all but rust free (including the sills!) So I have some chassis repair work to do on the new chassis, but fairly minor compared to say Neil McGurks (see his thread of his restoration Super speed restoration )
Most of all enjoy it, it will take longer cost more and use more Band Aids than planned, but it is the journey not the destination, right?
Tony

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Re: MGA BUYING HELP #7
Tbird Eric Taylor CLT, NC, USA 1960 MG MGA 1600 1960 MG MGA 1600	Posted: April 20, 2012 02:19PM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 459

I've bought 2 lately - a 1960 in fairly the same shape and a 59ish in a little worse shape for under $1500 each. Lots of great support here and most parts are available. Hope it works out for you.

Eric

Although it was a ton of work - this might help.
When your finished you'll have something like this one that some friends and I restored.....

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Re: MGA BUYING HELP #8
JimNH Jim Mail Nashua, New Hampshire, USA 1957 MG MGA "Camilla (the Other Woman)"	Posted: April 20, 2012 08:14PM Registered: 3 years ago Posts: 2,660

It's worth whatever the buyer will pay and whatever the seller will take.

I paid about $3K for one in similar condition. EVERYTHING can be fixed - just be prepared for what you are in for.

I have $10K or $11K into the car now, and could probably sell it for more - not that I will - so I am OK I think.

You might want to consider spending a little more and getting a car that runs and drives well enough to use, so that you can have the fun of driving while you do some work on it as well. I think if I had it to do over, I'd either buy a driver that needed work, or make sure that I had one to work on and one to drive (like if I were to buy a coupe now, it wouldnt' matter that it needed a frame off as long as I have my roadster to play with).

I had to wait for about 8 years before my car even ran - and that was a bummer. Once the car ran, it really changed my perspective of the project and made it a lot more fun.

JIM in NH

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Re: MGA BUYING HELP #9
Gary E Gary Edwards Kernersville, ,N.C., USA 1962 MG MGA MkII 1974 MG MGB GT	Posted: April 20, 2012 09:47PM Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 5,222

I'd probably offer him a little less than the $1250 asking price. But at that price you should act fast.

Gary

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Re: MGA BUYING HELP #10
tbo5125 Tim B Winfield, USA	Posted: April 20, 2012 10:40PM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 2

Thank you for all the replies. I thought I was first in line as the seller contacted me and said he'd call me. Never heard from him besides in an email saying its sold. Don't know if I gave it away by posting it and somebody on here snagged it up, but I guess it wasn't meant to be. I'll be looking for one in the mean time. Thanks again for the replies!

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Re: MGA BUYING HELP #11
twinmoorview Ian B Barnstaple, United Kingdom	Posted: April 21, 2012 07:14AM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 10

that is really a shame & you could be right that someone bought it under dubious circumstances although these things in my experience are best kept close to your chest but i guess that's a lesson learned anyway you have the right attitude re it wasn't meant to be.
their are plenty more out there but my advice of many years of car buying take a trailer & if its what you want take it home with you & so long as its at a price that suits you you have done ok, remember its for fun not for profit. if you have the right Philosophy you cannot lose Tony Leyva put it well & its true.
a hunter does not add the cost of the gun bullets camo gear transport them work out the value of the meat obtained that would be to miss the point.
good luck with it & don't be put of.
Ian

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Re: MGA BUYING HELP #12
wyatt Wyatt W penguin point, drift ice, Antarctica 1958 Alfa Romeo Giulietta 1958 Alfa Romeo Giulietta 1960 MG MGA 1966 MG MGB	Posted: April 21, 2012 09:22AM Registered: 7 years ago Posts: 23,301

...sorry you lost it,but there will be more, lots more. I suggest you buy the best unrestored or minimally restored car you can possibly afford, it will pay dividends in the long run. If you just want a project to while away the time in the garage or get away from the wife, most anything will do. If you want the best base to start with, with the minimum of shocks and horrid suprises then look for the least cobbled most correct MGA you can find.The thrill of the hunt for correct parts wears off REAL fast. The old adage "the quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten" still holds true.

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Re: MGA BUYING HELP #13
Gary E Gary Edwards Kernersville, ,N.C., USA 1962 MG MGA MkII 1974 MG MGB GT	Posted: April 21, 2012 02:58PM Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 5,222

I doubt if someone here bought the car. It was a public listing on craiglist for a cheap price. Restoring the car might have been more misery than it was worth anyway as it appears to have been left out for a while.

Gary

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