I'm nearly finished with the ridiculously long-term restoration of my MGB GT. Built in late 1969 as a '70, it's been in the family since new. Originally, it lived with my uncle out in California. Dad bought it from him when the army transferred him east in the early 1980s. The MG had very little ever done to it, and was usually used as a second, or summer car.

That lasted until 1992-93, when the clutch went. No sooner was that fixed...when the engine blew up. Then the car sat in a field, awaiting its fate until about 1995...when we started working on it.

Car was pushed into the garage, quite a bit of work done (disassembled, engine rebuilt, parts ordered, etc.) and then life got in the way. Eventually, my father lost interest, and the car was sent away for major work. Being in college and working at the time, I didn't have the time or expertise to work on it.

2004 rolled around, and I became the owner of the wreck. Actually, my mother asked me "what are you doing with that mess in the garage," and handed me the keys on my birthday.

That's when my interest *really* got going! That summer, I had the rusty sills cut out and replaced, some other work done, and the entire car resprayed. Trust me, I was glad it was Ziebarted (rustproofed) when it came to Pennsylvania all those years ago!

Up until November of 2008, I'd never actually *driven* the MG. Sure, I'd sat behind the wheel as a child, and imagined what it was like...but I never got to experience it for real. There's nothing like your first drive in your restored car. It's pretty awesome, and it's no wonder the car comes out most weekends.

Forever's such a silly word, but I don't ever see myself getting rid of the GT.