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Wow. Never thought to find the original owner and bring him/her
along! In the restoration spirit, if I can't find the original
owner, can I find someone who looks like the original owner?
:-) As for those XZX's, when places like Coker offer tires that
have been out of production for a long time, they are catering to those
folks who want to see that name on the sidewall. They are not
necessarily the same as the ones you would have bought back in the
day. They may be fine tires, but the performance will likely be
different than it would have been with "real" Michelin
XZX's. <br><br>
-Steve T.<br><br>
At 06:46 AM 1/28/2014, Wayne & Isabel Hardy wrote:<br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite=""><font size=4>I have to add one
comment to “show” cars presentation...A few years back, shortly after
getting our present ZB on the road again and going to shows and MG
functions, we were headed to the Texas MG Register gathering out in Waco
TX, the home of Baylor U. AND home to the Dr. Pepper drink. Anyhow as a
part of this first big showing, we invited over from Nashville, the
car’s second ever owner, and daughter of the original purchaser and
owner, located through computer search of names listed on old
registrations. We sent this lady an airplane ticket, got her a room in
the convention hotel, and here she came. She was first off pleased that
the car was back in great working order and looking good, as she always
had an affection for this little car. Her father had given it to her
after 10 years of service as the family sedan, (and about 110,XXX miles)
and she had driven it as family car then later as fun car for another 9
or 10 years and a second motor rebuild..the Dad had done a Gold seal
replacement motor installation by the dealer for her when she became the
owner.<br>
She ran the driving events , went to the dinners, hung in the bar with us
and all the MGers and on show day she stayed with the car all morning in
the show field and told everyone about it’s earlier history with a
couple of neat pictures to back it up..one, the day the car was new, and
she and sisters were picked up at school in England in the ZB. <br>
Well no question about it, we won the favorite car of the show, as well
as best in our class, (there’s that MG Variant again), but all of this
was in my mind attributed to the presence of this lady who had been a
part of the little car’s first 20+ years. She stood with us when we got
our trophy too so as to be in club pics.<br>
So the moral is...I don’t know what!!! We just seemed to make a big
impression on the other folks at the gathering, when all we had in mind
was having some fun. Certainly no one else at this Gathering of the
Faithful, had a previous owner as an accessory for their car from
1958.<br>
On that basis I try only to add or change things that I might have done
in period, and not do much updating. Such as spending a lot od time and
too much $$$$ for a real 1958-59 period Blaupunkt 3 band radio of the
type that would have been installed as a sounds upgrade in 1958. Yep it
plays, but the old car speaker should have been changed...It’s getting
pretty “crispy” now. <br>
Boy I wish I could find some real Michelin XZX tires from other than
Coker’s Tire place, because these were always a popular add on option
at the dealers around Houston at the time. Change to the XZXs for about
$10.00 per tire when new was a bargain and a plus in the driving fun
dept. too.<br>
</font> <br>
<font size=4>Wombat (the windy one)</font></blockquote></body>
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