Well, I pondered and pondered what sort of car to get for the three
months out of the year that I am in the US, And I just couldn't justify
anything other than an MGB. Who wants to watch a modern car depreciate in
storage? What other kind of car would be as reliable for under $3000?
So I found my MGB on a trip to Rochester a few weeks ago; a 72 B-GT that
has had a body 'restoration' many years ago by the Previous Owner (Looks
great but it's still the original colour in the engine bay.) Mechanicals
were professionally maintained, but not restored. There are 112,000 miles
on it with the original engine, but it is running extremely well with a
Weber in place of the twin SU's. The upholstery is extremely worn-out,
but this isn't something that affects reliability, is it? It was
obviously a well loved and well used car.
I e-mailed around and came up with a friend-of-a-friend who was
travelling anyway and would drive it from Rochester to await me at my
parent's home in Cleveland Ohio. This trip happened last Friday. They
needed a jump start when they picked up the car on Thursday night, and
another at the hotel when they started on Friday Morning. (this in spite
of the word of the PO's mechanic that the condition of the batteries was
fine. Lack of use?) They had trouble with the lights, and managed to lose
a windscreen wiper on the interstate (I hope not the arm as well...)
On Monday I fly in to Ohio and I have the rest of the week to get the
title transferred and the car registered, then I set off for work in the
Berkshire hills of Western Massachussetts for the rest of the summer. The
fifth character of the car's serial number was somehow transposed from a
'U' to a '4' on the New York registration when the PO moved from PA, so I
hope that this doesn't cause undue problems.
(GHD5UC288529G)
I'm looking forward to dealing with these problems firsthand rather than
long-distance, and to getting the car sorted for the trip back east. I
wouldn't mind suggestions of LBC mechanics in northern Ohio, since my
time is short. I was given several manuals, which will have the clearest
list of maintenance items which I should check right away? I want to
protect my investment!
My parents have had the beauty in their driveway for a few days now, and
they think that I've gone absolutely crazy.
Doug McKinnie (Guildford England, with a 72 MGB-GT in Ohio)
mup1dm@surrey.ac.uk
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