[Mgs] B GT brings big bucks

[Max Heim]

I don't understand your objection to the engine (well, I understand YOUR
objection, but I don't agree that it's a detriment in the marketplace). It's
a B engine -- that's all this market cares about. The 4-synchro tranny would
be considered an improvement, not a liability, along with negative ground
and the dual circuit MC. Though I do think they should have installed the
air cleaner connector pipe.

This is definitely not a finicky sort of restoration by an old-line MG
specialist, but it would seem to be representative of the sort of thing one
sees in those televised big-buck auctions -- nice paint (red, of course),
generally shiny and well-presented, albeit with lots of shortcuts or
not-quite-there details that are apparent to an expert examination, but not
necessarily deal-breakers to the general public.

I guess what I am suggesting is that the level of detail that you (or I)
would like to see is not a value proposition to the "spec" restorer. "Good
enough" so long as it is attractive in pictures is all they are shooting
for.

I seriously doubt that anyone intentionally invested $60K in this MG. More
likely it was a stalled restoration project that the shop seized on a
mechanic's lien, then quickly finished off at their own expense to make it
sellable (hence the inconsistent level of finish).

--

Max Heim
'66 MGB GHN3L76149
If you're near Mountain View, CA,
it's the primer red one with chrome wires


on 7/23/10 11:47 AM, don at don at napanet.net wrote:

> I guess where I am confused is why spend all that money without using
> an early B engine and gearbox to rebuild and install in the car, and
> detail it so it looks ok, more like it did when new.  If I spent
> $60,000 I would expect the details to be much better.  If the car was
> done on an economy budget, then I could understand the relaxed
> attitude toward originality.
> Don Scott
> 2 MGs
> 1 TR
> misc. Japanese cars
> 
> 
> At 10:22 AM 07/23/2010, Max Heim wrote:
>> I don't think originality has much to do with B pricing, at all. The cars
>> are common, and relatively low-priced (as far as collector cars go), so
>> 98-point concours condition isn't really in demand. People want these cars
>> to drive and enjoy, and they will pay for well-chosen modern conveniences,
>> perceived reliability, and attractive presentation more than for correct
>> Mowog hoses or screwheads. In particular they will pay for someone else
>> having done the rust repair and cosmetics, since they will undoubtedly still
>> be purchasing the labor at a discount.
>> 
>> It is the cars in poorer condition (restoration candidates) where
>> originality is more important -- it is much harder to restore a car that has
>> already been through the hands of clever and not-so-clever DPOs. For the
>> most part, people restore these cars for themselves, not for the
>> marketplace, because there isn't really enough upside to break even (as the
>> restorer of this GT may be finding out).
>> 
>> --
>> 
>> Max Heim
>> '66 MGB GHN3L76149
>> If you're near Mountain View, CA,
>> it's the primer red one with chrome wires
>> 
>> on 7/22/10 9:17 PM, don at don at napanet.net wrote:
>> 
>>> Watching eBay in my search for an early B roadster, I noticed that a
>>> '66 B GT just got sold for $15,100.  This has got to be a record,
>>> and/or an anomaly.  Are prices on the rise?
>>> 
>>> It would be one thing if the car had the original type engine and O/D
>>> gearbox, but this car was not redone to original spec at all.  Does
>>> this mean that buyers are not that knowledgeable?  Perhaps the red
>>> colour and wire wheels just do the trick, and curb appeal trumps the
>>> details.  And the $60,000 quoted as being spent on the car's
>>> restoration must have impressed some buyers.
>>> 
>>> They don't call it "resale red"  for nothing.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> $15,100
>>> 
>>> []
>>> 
>>> 
>>> eBay NE Florida
>>> 
>>> 2010-07-15 10:52:47
>>> 
>>> 
>> 
<http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320562113872>M>>
G
>>> : MGB MGB GT 1966 MGB GT Red BETTER THAN NEW Over $60k Invested