[Mgs] Thought you might enjoy this cross-posted thread

Barrie Robinson barrie at look.ca
Thu Dec 1 07:34:55 MST 2011


As someone who has restored a few cars to original condition I will 
throw in my hat.

Why would anyone take an original car and tart it up?  Please leave 
them as historical pieces of art.  If you want a big block MGB or 
similar, go buy a wreck and do that up.  I bought an MGB shell with 
no engine, no interior, hardly anything left, and in need of metal 
work.  I did it up and put in what I wanted, a 3.5L Rover engine etc, 
and now I have a splendid MGB GT V8.   BUT I did not destroy a 
perfectly original MGB.  With all the bits like chassis, bodies, 
engines around there is absolutely no excuse to butcher an original, 
albeit maybe unloved, car. It is easy to build what you want from 
bits here and there.  People who adopt "I drive 'em, not polish them" 
attitudes are entitled to their opinion and I believe in using cars 
rather than making them chrome and polish idols............but 
destroying originals, when a myriad alternatives exist, is just not on


At 01:52 PM 11/30/2011, Rick Lindsay wrote:
>Hey Gang,
>
>Long time, no type!  Since I sold my MGB I have gone into 'lurker' 
>and digest mode, since I have little to contribute (as this post 
>will easily confirm).  Still, I try to keep up with the List traffic 
>as I still love these cars.
>
>I thought you might get a chuckle from the knowledge that there is a 
>raging discussion over on the E-Type List, concerning engine swaps, 
>'originality', 'preservation', 'restoration', judging rules and what 
>the word 'correct' actually means.  :-P  I immediately thought of 
>this list (in the kindest and most entertaining ways).
>
>As you might imagine, there are purists (like me) who think all of 
>these cars are a part of history and should be preserved, or if 
>already 'tweaked', they should be restored.  There are others who 
>loudly proclaim, "I don't polish 'em, I drive 'em!", and they seem 
>to believe that swapping out any parts imaginable is acceptable, if 
>not preferred.  Some are championing the value of changing the lump 
>to an American V8.  And while anyone can do anything they want to 
>their own car, I do find the act distasteful, if not relegating a 
>classic to 'kit car' status.  But that's just my opinion, and worth 
>only what anyone has paid for it.
>
>Despite having sold (traded really) my MGB, I still have three 
>British cars - so I also still happily suffer failed fuel pumps, 
>broken electrical grounds (earths) and leaking SU carbs, just as the 
>Almighty Maker intended.  Here's my present scuderia;
>
>'09 Toyota Highlander - wife's daily driver (boring parts hauler)
>
>'08 Porsche Cayman - my daily driver (stunning performer)
>
>'79 Ferrari 308GTB - my quick toy (running perfectly)
>
>'73 Jaguar E-Type - wife's toy (running perfectly)
>
>'69 R-R Silver Shadow - my big, long, heavy toy (hell, I don't know why)
>
>'62 Triumph TR3b - my little toy (with a broken fuel pump :-)
>
>Best of the season to you all, my similarly afflicted friends!
>
>-rick
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Regards

Barrie
barrie at look.ca
705-721-9060  


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