Just bought my first MG - 1969 roadster - all chrome and BRG! I love it!
It has a cream coloured soft-top, which I've never seen before, but
looks quite good against the BRG and the chrome spokes :)
Engine rebuilt 14 months ago (I'm getting it after only 1100 miles
since then) Brakes done at the same time. Body is good - sills etc all
check out, small rust in both front fender bottoms will be looked at
in short order.
Of course its pouring with rain here in Sydney today!! No "1st day
drive to work with the top down" for me I'm afraid!
First impressions after a 1 1/2 hr drive to get it home:
- gotta get a new (smaller) steering wheel! Leather moto lita wire
spoke wheel in about 13-14 inches would be the go, I'm just over 6'
and keep hitting the huge original wheel with my thigh when I use the
clutch.
- these little cars sure get warm inside with the top up! I have yet
to work out the fresh-air vent position (forward or back??) and the
fan controls are a mystery! Until then, its windows down or top off.
- 20 minutes to put the top up first attempt! mind you it was dark,
and I had the frame on backwards! LOL! Once I sorted that out, I did
it 2nd time in about 5. Hope I don't get stuck in a downpour until I
build proficiency.
- love the seating position - low, straight legs, wow! aren't speed
bumps high!! Even crawling over them, I feel them through my bum now!
Not convinced about the seats yet - they seem real squashy with little
or no side support etc. Might need to investigate options here. The
P.O. also had the head restraints on backwards - another hmmmmmmmmmmmm
:)
- Its a US spec car - GHN4U/185844G - and the
18GF-WE-H-12288 engine number seems to indicate its escaped the most
strangulating emission controls. Curious though about how this came
to be - is there a way of determining the pedigree etc of this car?
Like when it was brought to Australia and the conversion to RHD done?
The interior has a mixture of later 70's switchgear (T-bar choke e.g.
and the heater knob looks like a kitchen cupboard door handle!) and
the original gauges (some metric, some imperial.... hmmmmmm) The
Overdrive is wiper-stalk mounted rather than dash mounted and works a
treat. The dash itself seems to be a total mystery - doesn't look like
any of the photos I've seen of the various models. (Centered twin
oil/temp gauge, indicator lights below this, just above the steering
cowling, but standard speedo/tacho positions - weird huh?)
Well, enough from me. I'm smiling a lot and can't wait to get stuck
into this car and have some fun. Its basically destined to be a
day-to-day commuting car, but the commute is only a few miles each way
- which just sounds to me like a great excuse for some longer
"cobweb-clearing" runs on the weekend. More to follow..............
Geoff.
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