I bought a "rust free" MGB GT shell (stripped down and looking solid) which
the seller admitted had some rust in the sills and the dog leg needed
replacing which he would do for a reasonable price - so I got him to do it
using new panels. My current garage man said I should dip strip it as I
intended this car to last me. After the dip?? A mere $4,500 worth of
work. Holes is scuttle, rear and front panels, tunnel, boot, and needed
new door skins. The "work: he did was abominable - just tack welded and
bondo-ed. The upside is that when it is finished it will be better than
new (these chaps do cars for museums!). Oh yes, and the shell will be
lighter!!
The morale is that there are no rust free's out there - not unless you are
very lucky and you examine them in minute detail with a magnet
By the bye - Anyone got a rust free MGB GT shell - Heritage shell anyone????
At 08:40 AM 3/14/00 -0500, Bruce Burrows wrote:
>Yesterday I wrote regarding the need to mention location in "MG for
>sale" ads. I appreciate all the responses, both from those who agreed
>and those who disagreed. I did get one nasty unsigned response (just
>one), probably from somebody who had never thought before of the entire
>issue. Funny.
>
>But one responder here touched upon an important matter which is related
>to the foregoing. It probably has happened to many of us:
>misrepresentation at a distance.
>
>You call, the car is further away than you wish it were, but the
>description is glowing. You make the trip and the car is Gawdawful.
>Here is just one of my stories:
>
>An MGA for $1500 (this was early in 1999). Engine was out and car
>needed everything, but the seller promised a body with NO RUST. I
>challenged him several times on the phone. Each time he assured me -
>"absolutely no rust".
>The car was in state for me, but about a seven hour trip. Normally I
>would not travel that far, just too tough. But a complete 100% rust
>free MGA for $1500! Wow! I made the trip.
>
>Well, the first thing I noticed was the front top of the driver's side
>rear wing had a large hole rusted clear through. The car went down hill
>from there. This is "absolutely no rust" I inquired of the owner, after
>again reminding him of the length of travel. He became angry and
>indignant and all but kicked me out.
>
>Yeah, I know I was an idiot to have fallen for this. I am not the
>sharpest knife in the drawer to begin with, and you can wave an MGA
>under my nose and lead me anywhere (well, almost).
>
>But I do wonder how often this sort of thing happens today. To me, if I
>were a seller, I might tend to be a little too positive when speaking
>(on the phone) to a potential buyer nearby. I admit I would try to
>induce the caller to drop over and look at the car. But I would never
>misrepresent a car and/or lead on somebody who lived far away to finagle
>them into a long and expensive trip. It is sobering to realize there
>are sellers out there who will do this.
>
>Anyway, that's MHO. It would be interesting to know the experiences of
>others when doing MG shopping at a distance.
>
>
Regards
Barrie Robinson
barrier@bconnex.net
|