An Interesting - if Scary - Proposition

The Eastern Shore Cruisers organize a "Second Saturday" cruise-in the Eastern Shore Center in Spanish Fort and it is just a hop away from my house. Being that close and with me interested in nearly anything automotive, I usually attend. This weekend's event was rather well attended with about 70-80 cars on display along with a lot of folks walking through the roped off area. I met up with Richard Cunningham who drove his Jaguar XJS and Michael King who brought his MG Midget. Since my MGB is ailing a bit, I brought the Mini.

Our corner of the lot was dominated mostly by imports with a large contingent of Porsches in attendance. A couple of 944s and an aircooled 911 shared our space. Later in the evening another 911 drove in but this one had a distinct rumble and a rat rod look. I didn't think too much about it and spent my time conversing with Michael and Richard and checking out a Jaguar V-12 powered T-Bucket rat rod that was running straight pipes. Yowser.

Later, a friendly gentleman engaged me in a deep conversation about the Mini. He asked all sorts of questions - the usual run of the mill type - and then asked if I would be interested in swapping it for a Porsche 911. He pointed to the rumbly black one and said it had an engine swap. A Ford 351 V8 swap. Although I had no intention of a trade I had to go check it out. Sure enough, one of Windsor, Ontario's cast iron V8s was hanging off the rear end of the 911

It didn't take too much imagination to see me hurtling into the roadside greenery stern first. I could almost hear Obi Wan Kenobi whispering in my ear, "The oversteer is strong with this one."

Needless to say, I drove the Mini home.

A Mini Guy in a Mini Shirt by a Mini

Let's go, Papa!

My sharp-eyed wife took me into a local kids clothing store so she could see what sort of bargains she could find for our brood of grandchildren. I normally go along for the ride since she is a good sport about my automotive addictions. Inside the shop she said "there's the Mini!"  THE Mini usually means the one in our garage and I knew it was safely at home. Following her, I saw that it was a boy's tee shirt with an appliqued car in the shape of a classic Mini.

What stopped me in my tracks was that it was the same seventies-tastic color scheme that our car carried - Bracken (not "poo brown", you in the back) with a white roof. It was settled  - we had to get it for our youngest grandson Grady. 

Here he is modeling his latest wardrobe addition.

PBCA's Brits on the Bay Event

One of the most eagerly anticipated events on the South Alabama British Car Club's activity calendar is the annual British car show sponsored by the Panhandle British Car Association in Pensacola, Florida. Being just a short jaunt across the state line, SABCC'ers usually turn out in force and this year was no exception.

Courtesy Robb Ogletree

While the majority of the gang chose to meet at the Daphne Starbucks location to begin a group caravan to the show site, I offered my services as a driver to Mike Darby to help him bring both of his stunning showstoppers to Pensacola. Mike drove his lovely MGA roadster and he entrusted me with his gorgeous Jaguar 240. I met Mike at his shop for an 8:00AM departure which would allow him to grab a quick breakfast on the way and pick up shop supplies from his favorite auto parts store in Robertsdale. 

 

MGBs Aplenty

I loaded my gear in the Jag and slid behind the wheel. A quick cold start refresher (half choke, twist the key and press the starter button) and I had the 2.4 liter straight six idling quietly. Mike got saddled up in the MG and we were off. The big Jaguar did not like to have its gearchanges rushed while the gearbox oil was cold so it was easy does it until everything was up to operating temperature.

Jaguar Saloons

We got into a comfortable pace on the Baldwin County back roads as we drove into the rising sun and the Florida state line. I relaxed enough to take in my surroundings at the helm of the light gray Jaguar. With fine wood on any surface that wasn't covered in blue vinyl, I felt like I was ensconced in Grandma's china cabinet. Flicking in and out of overdrive is accomplished with a lever on the right side of the steering column. Lift off the throttle slightly when engaging OD and give it a little more throttle on coming out of overdrive. Nice, smooth action that prevents excess stress on the driveline  - and neck snapping jerks. That just doesn't do in a Jaguar, you know.  

Jaguar XJ-S Class

Mike and I arrived at the show site near the Pensacola Civic Center and we were put in line to get our car's portraits made. The famous Maguire's Restaurant double decker bus was the perfect backdrop for the souvenir photos. We were then directed to our respective spots on the expansive show field. 

Not long after our arrival the main SABCC caravan pulled in with no reports of trouble during the trip. For a while, the line to get registered and photographed was nothing but SABCC members. I was proud of our club's turnout and thought that we had a chance to do well in the balloting later in the day.

An Ailing Morgan

I spent the next hour getting the road grime off the Jaguar and generally giving it more of a spruce up than it really needed. It is a treat to run a detailing rag over the curves of this beautiful car. Mike tended to his MGA and to the emergency mechanical needs of other cars on the field. His reputation as a top-drawer auto fettler keeps him in demand at events and Mike's generosity at times like this is legendary.

As always the PBCA ran the show like the well oiled machine that it has become. Extra classes were created when enough vehicles arrived to make them. Unusually, there were enough Morgans on the field to have their own class this year. Several PBCA members remarked that last year there were nine Triumph Spitfires in the show while this year there were only two. It is a challenge to anticipate the field layout, so pre-registration at any show is helpful for the organizers.

The day was sunny and breezy and many of us found shelter in the SABCC pop up tent where we enjoyed each others company. When the ballots were handed out, everyone made their choices and when the awards were presented, SABCC did very well. Our club secretary, Becky Kramer was kind enough to provide me with the list of awards won by SABCC'ers:

Mr. Goodspanner Award - MIKE DARBY

(Presented by British motoring Club New Orleans for his beyond-the-call-of-duty efforts to help a fellow motorist)

Moulton Properties Trophy - MIKE DARBY

MGA
1st - MIKE DARBY

SABCC Hdq.

2nd ROBB OGLETREE

MGB 62-68

1st TOM & JEANNIE SCHMITZ
3rd DICK BISHOP

MGB 69-74
1st - KEN MCELHANEY

MGB- C GT
3rd - TOM & JEANNIE SCHMITZ

MGB 74-1/2 - 76
2nd BRUCE DONALDSON

Big Healeys

3rd NOEL EAGLESON

MGB - 77 - 80
1st - STUART WADDINGTON

TRIUMPH TR8
1st BILL MOSELEY

JAGUAR XJS - XK8 UP TO 1999
1st - MICHAEL KING

2nd- RICHARD CUNNINGHAM

JAGUAR XK8 - OPEN
3rd (TIE) JON GOSNELL

JAGUAR - E TYPE
3rd - JACK ROSS

JAGUAR SALOON
1st - MIKE DARBY

MORGAN
1st - MELISSA SILHAN

Showing the SABCC Colors

After the awards ceremony, the main SABCC caravan formed up and made its way back to Lower Alabama. Once again, Mike Darby was called on to help a TR-6 driver who was having a bit of trouble with a new set of SU carburetors that had been installed the night before. Mike got out his tool bag and set the carbs up so that the TR ran well enough to make it back home. 

Richard and Donna Cunningham and Michael King waited for Mike and I so we could grab a bite of dinner on the way home. We formed up and set out for a barbeque dinner at Sonny's near our exit to US Highway 90. It was a fine end to the day to share a few laughs and a delicious supper with good friends. 

We drove back at a leisurely pace on the two lane highway with the setting sun in our eyes. Yes, it was tough to stay awake, but we returned safely having had one of the best days out ever. 

Thanks, PBCA for a great show.

When Marketers and Lawyers Clash

I love Harbor Freight Tools - I really do. I look forward to my infrequent visits because I find dozens of items that I didn't know I needed but somehow wind up in my shopping cart. Since I'm a hobbyist, the tools and other gizmos sold there meet my needs without breaking the bank.

Recently, my '76 MGB exhibited some running issues most likely caused by the fuel in the tank that dates back to October of last year. Since most motor fuel contains up to 10% ethanol, it can go stale pretty quickly. In fact according to a study or two, the fuel will become waterlogged. Now the last time I checked water is not really flammable (unless it was the Cuyahoga River of the 1960's) so it will play havoc with an internal combustion engine.

Anyway, the 'B started up just fine, but ran poorly when I drove it, especially under cornering. It was down on power for a short time and required full choke until it cleared itself of the problem. I decided that I needed to siphon the old fuel out and give it a splash of fresh.

I noticed in my Hagerty's Magazine (a nice perk for Hagerty Insurance customers) a large Harbor Freight Tools ad and one of the promoted items was a siphon pump kit with hoses and accessories. Perfect for my task of removing the old fuel from the tank.

I dropped into my local Harbor Freight Tools store in Mobile (c'mon open one on the Eastern Shore, already!) and bought the kit for the princely sum of $4.00. When I got it home, I read the fine print - the front of the package says its ideal for siphoning gas. The back side says it should not be used with flammable fluids.

Hmm. I suppose that the fuel in the tank is only semi-flammable. I wonder if Harbor Freight considered this possibility?

Experts in the Care and Feeding of Your British Car

The South Alabama British Car Club is very fortunate to have two experts to help us look after our British cars. I am very pleased  to consider both of these gentlemen my friends.

Jean-Pierre Fontana

Jean-Pierre Fontana is a long time resident of Mobile where he is considered one of the most knowledgeable people in local automotive circles. Pierre works with classic cars of all types, European or American, classic, vintage or veteran Pierre has the ability to bring them back to rude health.

I've known Pierre since the mid 1970's when he got my brother out of a couple of mechanical jams with his '71 MGB (like the time he ran the diff dry and it locked up- but I didn't tell you that). In that time Pierre has been an indispensable source of information and advice for my MGB as well. Pierre writes a monthly column for the South Alabama British Car Club's NEWSLETTER. You can check out some his wit and wisdom here.

Mike Darby

The other expert is Mike Darby, the proprietor of Darby Classic Restoration in Silverhill, Alabama. Mike is known nationwide for his meticulous restorations of classic British cars. I am a frequent visitor to Mike's shop and I am constantly amazed at the variety of vehicles there in various stages of renovation.  Mike provides comprehensive services for British cars primarily, but he is also expert in other imported marques as well.

Since Mike's shop is close to my home, I almost always bring my cars there for help when I run out of mechanical talent (and it doesn't take me long to do that). He is incredibly patient and takes his time to actually explain the details of the malady as well as how an owner can prevent a re-occurrence of the of the problem. Mike is also a columnist for the SABCC NEWSLETTER and you can read his columns here.

Owning and driving a classic British car would be much more difficult without the help of these two great resources.

Alabama Astons

Aston Martins aren't exactly thick on the ground here in South Alabama, so it was with some surprise that I saw two examples of the storied marque in one day. I'm sure Aston sightings are not all that unusual in the larger metropolitan areas of Atlanta or Houston but here on the central Gulf Coast it really is out of the ordinary.

I could do orange...

I was with Mike Darby in his MGA  returning from the February Mugs & Motors event when we noticed the first one of the day. It was a rather tasty dark green Vantage that we spotted on Hillcrest Road pulling into a local eatery. It was driven by a lady (obviously of means) and she was none too gentle with it. She certainly knew where the loud pedal was as she was crossing four lanes of traffic in a hurry to get to the restaurant. 

Later that same day, my long-suffering spouse and I were heading into a grocery store in Daphne to buy our rations for the week. A lovely black DB9 convertible was idling while parked in a handicap spot (with the proper credentials, of course). The older gentleman behind the wheel seemed to be enjoying the stereo while he waited on his companion to return.The car had a dealer card from Aston Martin Palm Beach in place of the license plate. Apparently it was still on break-in mileage as the car looked fresh off the boat new. I just had to pause to listen to the intoxicating exhaust burble of the six liter V12 while it turned dead dinosaurs into greenhouse gasses. 

Yes, it is better to be rich.

The Missus Broke the Mini

Well, not really broken- broken but she did snap the interior passenger door handle in two when she was trying to get out of the car. I had to laugh out loud when the handle broke cleanly in two and her eyes got as big as saucers. She then held the broken piece up against the stub on the door as if it would magically mend itself. Alas, it did not. New inside door handles are on the way from Great British Car Parts at a cost of under $7.00 each.

If you see her be sure to ask if she's broken any antiques lately.

One More Reason to Belong to a Car Club

Beer.

During one of our many club events the subject of good beer came up. It turns out that one of our multi-talented members is an accomplished home brewer. I didn't realize just how accomplished a brewer he is until he gave me a generously-sized bottle of his art.

Since home brewing is still a bit of gray area in Alabama law, I'll leave his identity under wraps. It wouldn't do to have an Alabama Elliot Ness kicking in his door. 

I enjoyed a truly superior stout that is as dark as any Guinness I've ever seen. "Chewy" is how I'd describe it and I can't wait for seconds! 

Thank you, my hop-scented friend!

Why I Belong to a Car Club

The old car hobby, like most other hobbies, is one best enjoyed with friends. Any activity or interest that can be shared with other like-minded people tends be one that is enjoyed more fully.


When my MGB came into my life in 1996, my younger brother (also an MGB owner) made sure that I had an application for membership for the South Alabama British Car Club. My first general membership meeting with the group verified for me that I was in with the kind of people that I wanted to know. I met machinists, lawyers, teachers, students and retired people that shared my interests and found pleasure in most of the same things I did.

At my first club event - a family picnic - I drove my tatty new (to me) MGB and I was immediately struck by how much the club members wanted to help me with it. Most of the gauges were non-functioning as were the turn signals. In a matter of minutes the three heads under the bonnet found a couple of loose wires and solved my problem. Even though the car was a bit down at its heels, it was never judged as inferior to anyone's car and it was always  welcomed as warmly as the most perfectly restored museum quality car was. 

I became active with the club, first as a member at large then progressing to activities chairman and finally a stint as president. The entire time I was surrounded by people that simply enjoyed the hobby and each others company. In fact, I've made several trips with fellow club members to non-club events just because we became fast friends. 

During my time as a club member, I've been able to help others with their projects, swap a few parts and find a bargain or two by networking with the members. I've also been the recipient of much generosity in the way of parts and advice. 


If you've got a special interest automobile, there's bound to be a local club that promotes your interests. Seek them out and become an active member.
 

Anatoly Arutunoff Injured in Hit and Run

Vintage car collector and racer Anatoly Arutunoff has been seriously injured in a traffic mishap while on his way to an SCCA meet in Las Vegas. He stopped on Interstate 40 to assist a driver that had run into a snow drift during a severe storm. Anatoly was pushing the car when he was hit by another car. According to an article in Autoweek, Anatoly lost a leg and severely injured the other.   

I had the pleasure of meeting him last spring at the Legends of Motorsports meet at Barber Motor Sports Park in Birmingham. Both he and his wife Karen are delightful people. 

Here's hoping he has a speedy recovery.

Two Homecomings and a Trip Back to High School

Saturday marked a major development in SABCC'er Richard Cunningham's Jaguar E-Type restoration: he brought the painted bodyshell back to the Garagemahal in Daphne. 

Getting the body back from the paint shop in Fairhope was going to take a couple of trips with a trailer since the main body was on a dolly and the expansive bonnet was on a rotisserie fixture that took up a lot of real estate. There wasn't going to be any loading help from the bodyshop so, Mike Darby and I volunteered to help with the effort. Mike would also help give the final paint finish a quick inspection and I would, well, try to stay out of the way.

Mike Darby at the Wheel

I arrived at Richard's just before Mike drove up in his near-as-dammit-finished MGA roadster. Mike offered me a lift to Fairhope in the MG and I couldn't resist. The lovely red car was just striking in the bright sunshine and it would be first time I've ridden in an MGA since 1973. Sign me up!

My best buddy in high school - Tony Barone - had a '62 MGA roadster and we spent a lot of time in that old car. The yellow paint was faded and chalked, it didn't have side curtains and first gear sounded like rocks in a coffee can (a common malady, says Mike). In short, it was perfect! I can remember the view from the shotgun seat very clearly - the center mounted and horn button and the starter knob were just cool. The top was never up unless it was pouring rain and even then, the use of liberated gym towels for side curtains didn't do much to keep us dry.

Riding with Mike brought back a lot of those old memories, but his MGA is light years nicer than the beater I knew. Mike is also a top-down guy and temps in the low 40s (Fahrenheit) didn't mean that the soft top needed erecting. He cranked the heater up to high and set out. I was in heaven.

The Glowing Body Tub

We got the project E-Type back to Richard's home in two trips with the trailer. We handled the beautifully painted body with the awe and caution that the expensive work demanded. Mike and I followed Richard as he towed the body home and there were more than a few double takes and pointed fingers from those in passing cars. The E-Type is a showstopper even in a disassembled state.

The new Opalescent Silver Grey paint is stunning. In the sunlight, the metallic paint simply glows, almost as if it was lit from within. I'm excited about the progress made on the Jaguar and I don't even have a dog in the fight! 

A Justifiably Proud Richard Cunningham

Richard offered to make a side trip over to Mike's shop in Silverhill, Alabama to retrieve my new-to-me hardtop that I purchased for my faithful MGB. It made the trip back from the seller's place in Meridian, Mississippi in Mike's pickup and I haven't had the time to fetch it home. We strapped it down on the trailer and brought it back to my humble garage in Spanish Fort.

As I mentioned, the gel coat has a ding or three and there are a number of scratches that might buff out. It needs new side windows and some of the rubber seals would do with a replacement. There is also a broken tab that engages the clip on the tonneau panel that I need to find or have made. But, for the price, I did very very well. I spent an hour or so this afternoon giving it a thorough clean up and I am starting the search for parts. If you've got factory hardtop parts that you would like to part with at a reasonable price, please get in touch.

A New Wife, A Sports Car and an Old Photo

Last evening, when my long-suffering spouse and I were sifting through some old photos we ran across this one that I shot of her and my brother on a day trip to Dauphin Island, Alabama. We drove down there - three up - in Alan's 1971 MGB roadster. His car was British Racing Green with a tan interior and had a luggage rack on the bootlid. You'll also note the CB antenna on it too, good buddy.

This picture is about the only one of Alan's first MG that exists. Sadly, he didn't get many photos of it and the ones that were taken have been lost over time. This one was shot in the late summer of 1976, just mere months after the lady in the passenger seat married me.

Alan no longer has the car - he sold it many years ago to buy something more 'practical'. I doubt that there is a day that passes that he doesn't regret it. 

There is also of photo of me taken that same day and my hair is just as big as my brother's. How did the Missus keep her 'do looking so good? 

Vintage Plates in Alabama

For years Alabama offered an "Antique Vehicle" license plate for use on cars 25 years old or older. A one-time fee would make your antique car licensed for the rest of its days. The problem was that everyone with an old beater lined up to buy the tags and cut The Man out of his tax. Like politicians are wont to do, this affront to civilization was fixed with a new law.

Now, to qualify for the "Vintage Vehicle" plate the car must be 

(i) a private passenger automobile, truck or truck tractor which weighs not more than 26,000 pounds gross weight, motorcycle, or fire truck, (ii) over 30 years old, (iii) operated as a collector's item, including participation in club activities, exhibitions, tours, parades, and not used for general transportation purposes, (iv) a vehicle having the original or substantially similar vehicle body, chassis, engine, and transmission as designated for that make, model, year, and age vehicle.


Surprisingly enough, the new "Vintage Vehicle" plate becomes part of the car and is transferred with the car if it is sold or otherwise changes hands. The normal tax-me-every-year plates stay with the owner in the event of vehicle transfer in Alabama. 


Recently, Alabama followed the lead of several other states in allowing the use of age-related plates. For example, if you can scarf up a 1953 Alabama license plate, you can mount it on your 1953 Pissaire Highwayman DeLuxe with a special gold "V" sticker available from your local probate court office. You'll need to show them the age related plate that you intend to use and they will inspect it for condition and begin a search to see if the same plate number has been claimed by another vintage vehicle. In other words, the year of the plate does not matter - if someone else has registered that number as a vintage plate from any year, you can't use it. It may take up to 30 days for them to do this search so don't attach that sticker just yet, pilgrim.

If my experience is any indicator, you'll probably have to educate your local probate office. I've got age related plates on my '76 MGB and '73 Mini. Both times, I had to get a supervisor involved and they had to call higher authorities. Be polite, be firm and print out this copy of the law in case they think you're a nut case.    


They may still think you're a nut case, but at least you've got the law in hand.

And Now, This Word from Our Sponsors

OK, maybe not a sponsor but I wanted to let the three of you who read this humble blog know that there is a very nice Jaguar E-Type bonnet for sale and it happens to belong to Richard Cunningham and me. 

Some of you may recall that Richard and I bought a 1969 coupe a couple of years ago with a plan to break it for spares. In the time that's passed we've shipped parts all over the world, keeping other E-Types on the road and modestly funding our car-related interests. We've got several large pieces left, most notably the body tub and bonnet. The tub has rust in the sills, floor and boot (no surprise there, right?) but is pretty straight everywhere else. The doors are gone, but we have the hatch. If you have a slightly bent SII E-Type, this tub will yield some very nice body panels.

The bonnet is in very nice condition, barring some surface corrosion and a couple of curb dings under the chin. This is an original bonnet that has had a couple of coats of paint in the past. It will need media blasting and fairing of the corrosion areas on the top, but it would be very easy for an accomplished restorer to do. We will sell the bonnet for a fraction of the cost of an inferior reproduction unit.

The photo does not really do the bonnet justice. The last paint was dark maroon and it has faded to flat brown. The coat under the maroon is light grey. Altogether, it looks more scruffy than it really is. The pieces are located in Daphne, Alabama and I would be happy to forward photos on request.


Now, back to our irregularly scheduled programming.
 

Road Trip Treasure

Ace auto restorer and all-round top bloke Mike Darby recently acquired a couple of project vehicles from a gentleman in eastern Mississippi. One car was fairly complete and the other was in (mostly) large pieces. There were more cars and bits than would fit on his trailer and in his truck so Richard Cunningham offered to tow a trailer as well. Robb Ogletree and I, seeing an opportunity to lend a hand, volunteered to ride shotgun with Richard and Mike.

We arrived at the appointed place in Mississippi and set to work getting the cars and parts loaded. The complete car took a little fettling to get it started but start it did and we got it on the trailer. The other car, a pre-war model, was in bits scattered over the warehouse where it was stored. We loaded boxes and bits into Mike's pickup and the overflow went in Richard's vehicle. The trailer that he was towing carried the chassis, body tub and other large pieces.

A similar top - I didn't bring a camera, either

As we were scanning the shop I noticed a couple of fairly nice works-style MGB hard tops. Since I never carry money of any amount (not by plan - it just sort of works out that way) I didn't bother to ask if they were for sale. Richard, however, did ask and they were - at a very fair price. Fair, but more than the lint I had in my pocket at the time.

A quick pocket check found that a couple of us pooling our resources had enough to buy the top. Money changed hands and we loaded the hardtop on Richard's trailer. And when we decided that it could possibly be damaged by the flexing of the body tub or other pieces rubbing against it, we tried to load it in Richard's GMC Envoy. It wouldn't fit. Mike then insisted that we remove some of the bits from his covered pickup and load it inside safe and snug. Robb and I transferred the offloaded items into Richard's car and we were ready to travel.

The top is in pretty nice shape -it needs a new rear bracket fabricated and the gel coat wants a bit up touchup, too. I am however, as pleased as I can be and I'm looking forward to driving the old girl through the winter months without hiring a team of circus roadies to erect the soft top. 

I need to dig around the sofa cushions for change to repay the loan...

Photo courtesy motorbase.com

Have I Arrived?

During the early years of my misspent youth I was an avid reader of Road & Track magazine. It was so educational that I learned that the "&" has a name - ampersand. 

I clearly recall the November 1970 issue wherein a Ferrari 365GTB/4 "Daytona" was given the full R&T road test treatment. Wow, overhead cam engine, alloy wheels, a slippery aerodynamic shape and four wheel disc brakes. Add all-independent suspension, aluminum engine block and five speed gearbox and it was the stuff of teenage dreams. And it was an expensive dream - $25,000 out the door.

Fast forward 40 years and I have achieved the dream of owning a $25,000 car with all this exotic stuff:

The missus' Honda Accord.

A New Cat in the Neighborhood

The gentleman from whom Richard Cunningham and I recently acquired this '72 Triumph Spitfire, contacted me about another car he has in his possession. It seems that he has a friend in Louisiana that has a 1968 Jaguar E-Type coupe that he would like to sell. It is reputed to be low mileage and in fine drivable condition. He invited Richard and I to drop by and have a look at it - maybe we would be interested?

Well, tatty Spitfires and shiny E-Types are horses of two very different colors. While I would like to bring a Jag home, the financial reality prohibits it. 

In any case, the gentleman looking after the car is more of a Detroit iron kind of guy, although he has made some interesting points about possibly keeping it himself. Richard and I will have a look and offer any advice or leads that we can. 

In the meantime, get in touch if you think you would like to adopt a kitten.

This just in- Richard and I had a look at the car and it appears to be a very solid vehicle. It has an older repaint on a very straight body. The car sat for about two years and needs a thorough clean up. The current caretaker is going to go through the fuel system and make sure that everything is clean and tight before he starts it up (we did not hear it run). It would be a nice driver for a future restoration. 


The odometer is showing 39K miles and there are receipts for work back to 1987 that show 37K miles then. 


He is looking for offers in the mid twenties.  

The MG Marks its Territory - Again

I enjoyed a drive in the MGB this afternoon after helping Richard Cunningham pack a couple of E-Type gearboxes for shipment. The cool afternoon suited the old car and I took great delight in the top down driving conditions. The car ran like the proverbial sewing machine, revving to near the redline and playing a nice tune through the hooligan exhaust. All the gauge needles sat where they should be and there was nary a hint of a problem.

When I got into the garage, my long-suffering spouse was tending to a couple of furniture items that needed a cleanup before we brought them in the house. "I smell gas," said the missus, "right here," pointing to the quietly ticking MGB. I raised the bonnet and sure enough, one (hopefully just one) of the two SU carburetors had spewed expensive unleaded premium through the overflow, on the air deflector and onto the garage floor. Damn. Got the spark issue sorted out and now I've got a fueling problem.

I'll see about removing the float lids to see what I can see.

See? 

This just in- A sharp tap on the float bowl lids seemed to do the trick. A stuck needle appears to be the culprit. Thanks to everyone for advice!

Soot - I Probably Should Have Called a Chimney Sweep

My ailing MGB has been given a fall tonic and seems to be in rude health once again.

The old girl refused to run when I planned to load grandson #2 into the passenger seat for his maiden trip in an MG. The car began to run on two cylinders and then died, never to to restart.

I've had spark plug issues and installed a PerTronix ignition system, but I can't seem to keep it running reliably. Pulling the spark plugs showed that the back two were sooted up. The front two looked fine. I cleaned and re-installed them and it wanted to run and it did- badly.

Richard Cunningham offered to give me a hand on Saturday and as an extra bonus, Don Pritchett came by on a secret mission for the upcoming British Car Festival. Both of them suggested that the back carb might be running rich and Richard made the adjustment. The car started and seemed to be happy. I then took it on a high speed blast on the Causeway to blow it out, as it were.

With thumbs up from the assembled experts, I met my brother Alan and his wife Debbie who were out in their '76 MGB and we went for a drive on some of the twisty roads of Baldwin County. The car ran flawlessly and I came back home feeling confident that the running problem has been solved.

If you see a yellow MGB on the road with a windshield full of smile - that's probably me.

Out of Sight - Out of Mind

I was checking tire pressures on the McDonald fleet this afternoon, and decided I'd better have a look at the spare in the MGB. The car came into my life in 1997 and I haven't put but a few thousand miles on it in that time and I've never had to use the spare tire. You can imagine my shock when I noticed that the Michelin XZX tire carried a "Made in W Germany" label on it.

If memory serves, the two Germanys were reunited in 1990. That means that the big black doughnut in the boot was made prior to that. Consulting the Internet I found out that the tire date code system changed in 2001. So, decoding the manufacture date on my antique spare, I see that the code FTJ3A4MX237 translates to the 23rd week of 1987.

My spare tire is 23 years old. Ain't no amount of Armorall gonna help that one bit.

I now recall that I pulled this tire off one of the parts cars that my brother Alan and I bought when we were renovating our MGBs. I had four good tires on the ground but I had a crappy spare in the boot.

I guess nothing changed much has it?