Depends on how much the asking price is. Check it out for Bondo with a
magnet, especially around the rust spots. Check out the inner sills where
they connect in front and back. If you are really interested and if the
owner will let you try to take off the the cover inside the front wheel
wells to get a good look at the condition of the sills. If the sills are
bad forget it, unless the asking price is under $1000. Even then I'd thing
about it.
...Art
On Sat, 7 Feb 1998 Jellyby@aol.com wrote:
> Hey, listers, for those of you who've been keeping up with me, I've been
> looking at a 77 B for sale near me... weighing the plusses and minuses,
> trying to learn as much as I can, and doing a lot of drooling over the car
> (find myself driving by just to gat another look...). I took a fair amount of
> time today going over the car, and here's the condition as I see it. I know
> this is lengthy, but please bear with me... your opinion is greatly valued and
> appreciated.
> Body: A few scratches and dings, but nothing major there. One area about the
> size of a quarter in front of the driver's side door appears to have been
> filled or patched badly, then painted over. Two places the metal has bubbled,
> one above the left rear wheel well, and the second right side just ahead of
> the wheel well, where the sills end. The first is about the size of a
> quarter, the second the size of a half dollar. Passenger's side door has
> split just below the rear view mirror, for
> about one inch. Lastly, someone tried to close the trunk without relasing the
> catch and split the frame to which the support arm is attached; this split has
> rusted and caused a bulged in the trunk door, about the size of a half dollar.
> Other than those problems, the body seems to be in good condition. Here and
> there I find little patches where the paint has worn off and rust has
> accumulated, but none bigger than 1/16th inch (nost are in the trunk, where
> metal things get thrown around and scratch the paint). No rust/splitting
> along doors, hood, and other edges. All original paint. Did notice inside
> the trunk a gummy sealant has been used to close the gap between the trunk
> bottom and the fender panels (it appears to have been painted over the
> original color... was this standard practice on originals?)
> Interior: Original interior, though in poor condition. Dash (padded) is
> cracked and peeling on top of passenger's side, and falling down underneath.
> Original black carpet is mostly gone, replaced by a few scraps of home
> carpeting laid down. Seats doors are brown leather; both seats have split
> areas, and the padding on the passenger's side (just below the window) has
> peeled.instruments all seem okay.
> Overall: Bumpers in excellent condition, need simple cleaning. All running
> lights good. Car does not lean, suspension excellent (probably new). Has
> passed state inspection and emissions test a mere three moths ago.
> Engine: Appears good (no frayed wiring, split tubing, etc.) but have not
> taken it for a test drive (wanted to today, but nobody was there...). When I
> take it for the test drive, will also swing by my mechanic's place and let him
> take a look... Get this... I found no evidence of fluid leaks, tho will
> recheck after the test drive.
>
> Now, while I was looking at the car, there was another MG parked there, I
> think a Midget (already owned, tho, darn it). Same color, same interior color
> scheme. The interior was in very good shape; I could even read the voltage
> warning on the panel behind the passenger's seat quite clearly. Didn't look
> at the engine, of course, because it's someone else's baby... Body was rusted
> to hell, tho. Comparing the two, I think the one for sale is the better
> car... the interior can be fixed relatively easily (heckuva lot easier to do
> than all the body work on the other...), and as long as it runs well, it may
> be a good purchase. I'm relatively new to the idea of restoring a car, and
> pretty inexperienced, but I feel like I can handle these problems.
>
> So, what do you think? Let me know...
>
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