snip:
Hi there, I was just thinking about the state of new car design and
construction (and the excesses of such) and was pondering this
questions.
1) What would be the technical challenges of building brand new MG's (my
preference would be for MGA's).
2) What could you sell them for ($)
3) Would they sell in sufficient quantity to justify it.
Just curious as to your opinions.
Matt
snip:
I dont know about MGA but a bunch of years ago you could buy a brand new
(Body shell, with all new components) MGB, and you could pick the color and
interior. I think they started at $20-25K. I have no idea if this is still
done or what. They were registered under the Replica clause (examples
include Kit cars) that many states have, and therefore have only to meet the
engines original emissions, minimal to no crash standards, responsibiity is
solely that of the purchaser etc...and the car has a VIN number assigned by
the state of original registration.
Brings up an interesting question as what is more valuable: An original
condition car, a completely restored original car, a complete body shell
transplant car, or a completely new car?
What is original when you can replace the body or the engine of a car so
easily and so readily?
There is an MGA Body shell available made in Kevlar, and I bet it could be
"remade" also. There is a company in Florida that made a type of Mini
cooper as well.
As far as demand goes, it depends alot on price. I wouldnt pay $25K for an
MGB when there are good original examples for half the price. And you can
rebuild it yourself and still be under the price. Also I had heard the
remanufactured MGB's are in fact replicas and have special ID numbers and no
history.
And if you meant not a new old MGB but a new car in general it would be the
MGF and it is very pricey ($35K) and not legal for sale in the USA.
Emissions and crach impact tests alone would crush most dreams of creating a
new car.
The MGB (the MGA included) could not physically handle all of the
strengthening that would be required to pass modern standards (unless they
had a full cage) And the engines would be completely wrong as they just
cant give the power necessary at the emissions necessary to even beat a Yugo
under these conditions.
I myself have trouble with too heavily modified MGBs that get away from what
I think an MGB is, but everybody has different tastes.
Drew
68 MGB with original rust
|