Talk Morgan Forums Community Vehicle Talk (non-Morgan) Modern Classic Cars Frontline Abingdon Edition

Chris, how many emotional things overlapping happen in such a short time! First of all, congratulations on the happy end of the long wait and for such a beautiful result. As for the wheels, I agree with the previous speakers. Especially your metalic green tone fits perfectly together with the dunlop style wheels, it gives the "B" a more "modern" and very sporty touch. If it is not too high expenses, you can buy the Dunlops "also"? I can understand it if you have seen for three years in front of your inner image always the MGB on spoked wheels that it does not fit now to this image if it suddenly looks different. But the look is gorgeous. I would give the Dunlops a shot.

Thanks so much for sharing your MGB`s restomod story, it has been very interesting. I wish you many years of enjoyment of it..

When I bought my restored to concours condition +8 in 2002, the first thing I did when I got it home was to rag it up an unmade road, as I wanted to use this car... I admit I winced with every stone that hit off the underside, though at the time thought best to get it over with than suffer the automotive equivalent of death by a thousand cuts over my years of ownership.... Truth be told my old +8 exists more as garage art these days, and has done so over many of the twenty or so years I have owned it..

Thanks for the nice comments.

Yes a lot of people have commented I should keep the Realm wheels, they are off another car just for rego but I am sure he would happily sell me a set. I am pretty sure the wire wheels he fitted were 15” x 5” Dayton’s with 72 spokes. He did say the Realms are much heavier than you expect and about the same weight as the 15inch wire wheels. I will try the wire wheels seeing I have paid for them and see how I find cleaning them. It will also be good for me to have driven the car with both wheels so I can see if it feels any different. Maybe buy the Realms later on.

Sunday I took my son for a ride and he liked it and thinks a lot of the backfire pop noise my wife heard is actually squeaks from the suspension that should disappear as it wears in.

Tuesday I went to the MG morning tea and while most of them prefer original cars they really liked how well my car has been done. I then took my dad out for lunch in a small nearby village and he loved it, I think it is something he would like to do fairly regularly. While driving long looking at the country style houses he said what a great view from a convertible and what lovely weather, on a day like this it is great to be alive.

I need to take mum for a ride and lunch sometime but I feel she is going to have a hard time getting in and out, plus I need to find a lunch place I can park right next to as she can’t walk very far these days.

The car will probably go back for its first service and final touch ups they plan to do in a couple of weeks. It has already done 350km but I have not seen the fuel gauge move yet, I expect it only measures the bottom half of the tank and looks full for a while.

Cheers
Chris

An update.

The Great news is the car was finally approved by the local Inspection station as a Modified car and now has a plate attached to show it is 100% legal. It took 4 inspections as they kept finding little things they thought was not right.

The bad news is that happened 18th of December and I left that day to drive to Hobart, so the workshop owner took the car back to Sydney and put it under a cover in the corner of his workshop awaiting my return on the 12th of January. I drove to Hobart with my wife in the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV with baby seats fitted, my son, partner and two children flew down and used the car while we were there and flew back. On the way back we had 9 nights in various locations to do some sight seeing. The outlander was doing surprisingly well on the petrol generating electricity down hill and then using it along with the petrol engine on flat road afterwards.

Then the very bad news. Monday the 1st my holiday went downhill. I tripped on the 3rd last step on my sister in law's place and felt the leg pulled behind me and a huge pain just before I hit the ground. I ruptured the Quadriceps tendon tearing it off the knee cap completely. After a very painful wait in the public system I managed to get fixed in a private hospital two days later, I had to then cancel accommodation in Tasmania and Victoria for which I got no refunds, my son flew down to drive the car back with my wife and I flew back business class. An expensive way to not get to do the part of the holiday I was looking forward to the most.

I am now back in Canberra but still in some pain and have a lot of recovery in front of me. 4 Weeks with my leg in a straight brace, 2 weeks allowed to move my leg 30 degrees, after another 2 weeks move up to 60 degrees, then 90 degrees. After 12 weeks I think I can take the brace off fully and then have a lot of physio to fully recover. So not sure when I will be able to drive the MGB, I was planning on going to the MG national meet over Easter but now I feel I will be lucky to drive the Mitsubishi Outlander by Easter so I cancelled my accommodation. Getting in the MGB might take me a long time.

Until last week I was basically in bed watching TV, Now I m going to sit in front of the computer for a while and catch up on the Talk Morgan chat I have missed out on.

My deep sympathies- I suffered the same injury 6 years ago when I slipped carrying a ladder on soft ground! Good news is that 6 months of rehab and I was able to do a 5 day charity cycle and have no lasting issues at all.
Best wishes for a full recovery and many miles in the MG

Regards from Ireland!!

Sorry to read of your accident and wishing you a full recovery. I tend to find being patience is one of the most challenging parts of this type of recovery but it does pay off in the end if you don't try and rush the recovery.

All the best and let us know if you need recommendations for podcasts, streaming media to binge and other more sedentary pursuits.

Bummer Chris, all the best for a good recovery.

Wishing a speedy recovery so you can enjoy that MG!

Well it is going to be all the more enjoyable when you get back in the seat, sorry to hear about the SNAFU and distress.

jeez..! So sorry to read of your fall... At least the B will be ready, waiting and raring to go as soon as you are..