This '76 MGB appeared on eBay where I surprised myself and bought it on a bid that I didn't think would be successful.
The pictures didn't look too bad but I later found that squirrels had been nesting in the seats, one of the seats had been painted and the driver's seat wasn't attached and was loosely positioned by a 2x4.
Looked pretty good from this profile but even though you see the right mirror is missing you don't see the "crack of doom" or the buckle in the boot lid over the prop rod. And, there was lots of bongo in the rear valance hiding a previous rear-ender.
The lines look nice and straight but there were drips and runs in the paint job that had been applied over an original Sand Glow colour.
Wait a minute! How did I not notice that the wiper arms were missing? And where's the windscreen washer jets?
Delivered at the US Customs post at Thousand Islands. Delayed a couple of weeks by two hurricanes and the hauler's blown turbocharger.
At home in the garage for an initial close look.
Stripped for body work. Replaced hood with one off an earlier model. Now you can see that the driver's sill doesn't fit against the dogleg.
Boot lid off a much earlier model - some fitting issues due in no small part to the pieced together and bongoed rear valance.
There's the original colour! Driver side floor pan had been replaced but no captive nuts for mounting the seat. Passenger floor pan had only had the front half replaced with sheet metal.
Tank looks good but there isn't anything left of that exhaust pipe and resonator.
The work is under way. Fall of 2008.
December '08 - starting to come together. Inside all blocked with a couple of coats of colour epoxy.
January '09
Later had to pull the rear valance and replace it entirely with a complete valance from British Heritage.
Bodywork done - now the wheel kicks in.
PECO exhaust header installed and two nice and shiney rebuilt AUD135's with K&N conical filters to clear the brake booster.
The new interior
The engine bay straightened away. New dizzy, new hoses, new thermostat, new wiring, new master cylinder - hasn't run on the road yet.
Ready for the first fire-up - August '09
Looking good and the wipers now have arms, blades and washers and it all works.
You can see the new exhaust, new brake cable, new rebound straps, new brake lines and a new power cable.
Finished and waiting for the appraiser to get insurance coverage.
Still have to get the right console but the rest of the interior is ready to go.
Retractable three-point belts installed to replace existing lap belts.
Looks pretty good but I'm going to have to paint that PECO exhaust.
With the local MG Club for her first outing - October '09.
She gets a once over from a critical eye at the Wakefield station on the Colour Run.
The only yellow B in the Club.
"Abejita" (Spanish for little bee) deems to go for a playdate with some Triumph colleagues. October '09
Spring of '10 and getting some weight to compress the springs to fit a sway bar, new front A arms in consequence and while we're at it, replacing the bushings.
And here she is in April '10 with her new rubber, refinished LE wheels, a windblocker and a hood cover.
Still have to get the proper radio console but don't that wooden shift look sharp! Now where is that wooden steering wheel?
May '10 at Hudson, Quebec for the British Car show in MGB Alley.
June '10 with the local Club at the Cumberland Museum.
At 2010 Drive your MG-eh Day - Burritt's Rapids
On the Picton Ferry enroute to MG2010
On the show field at MG2010 in the drizzle and rain.
3rd Place in MGB Mark III's at MG2010
On the '10 Fall Colour Run
Horns and whistles - meeting the Wakefield Train on the '10 Fall Colour Run
At Rockcliffe Field for the aerial photo for MG80 - October '10
Some of our Club cars at the British High Commisioner's official residence for afternoon tea on the occasion of MG80.
Get that leaf off my car!
On the grounds of the British High Commissioner's official residence - MG80 - October '10.
And in June 2011...........after installing a new brake booster, converting to DOT5, installing an electric cooling fan,a rebuilt Schlemmerized-25D distributor and cleaning and refreshing the overdrive we are going on a road trip.
We were off on the Rallye To Reno to attend MG2011 the once every 5-year gathering of all MG types.
This was going to be an MG trip of over 6,000 miles.
The bags were packed.
The outgoing crew was posed.
We backed out of the driveway on the start of the exodus.
Colin gets his first jerky at Galeton, PA.
Cars were assembled in St. Louis by the Arch for an aerial shot.
The Arch.
Rolling across Kansas.
Meandering through Colorado.
Cripple Creek, Colorado - it does exist.
Making our way up mountains and through passes.
At Melrose, Colorado the local club waves us in for a meet-and-greet.
We cut through Colorado Monument National Park.
Colorado and still looking good.
Utah to be conquered.
The Loneliest Highway challenges our 35-year old collection of British parts.
Colin on the Loneliest Highway.
We make it to Reno and wait to proceed through the Reno Arch.
And MG2011 starts.
On the showfield for MG2011.
Every type of MG made was there.
And Abejita pulls off a 3rd again!
We stopped at Bonneville Salt Flats.
We made it across the Rockies again where weeks before there was 10 feet of snow.
At 12,183 feet we were on the highest highway in America.
I look confident here but getting the car started at 12,000+ feet was no picnic.
We enjoyed a beer in Wray, Colorado while waiting to see if a tornado was going to come through.
In Kansas we passed the geographic centre of the 48 contiguous states.
In Hiawatha, Kansas, the tornado warning sirens in town were going off.
At Hannibal, Missouri, we paid Mark Twain a visit.
We had to stop in Lima, Ohio to see if we could find any Gleeks.
At Mansfield, Ohio, we quickly went past the Ohio State Reformatory the locale for The Shawshank Redemption.
And, 20 days after we left home, in the middle of the day of the heaviest rainfall in Ottawa record-keeping for this day in July, we came home.
And put Abejita, back in the garage, wet and tired and with 6,612 miles under her belt and no breakdowns.
Arty shot of my wheel.
There's the wood wheel - too bad I didn't think to centre it when I stopped.
At the Glengarry Games 2011
Kars & Planes at the Kars Airstrip
On the Ottawa Valley Jog - 2011
35 years between them but you can see where Mazda stole the lines from.
At the Corn Roast in Alfred - 2011
On the Chappell Jaguar Rallye - Sept 2011
Why am I smiling?
-Cause we beat out a number of Jags, Beemers and Mercs to take another 3rd. That's three 3's in a row for Abejita.
And here in October '11 before she goes away for the year - waiting for the Thurso Ferry.
The end of another season - 8,928 miles this year.
A running project - but never finished. More to come.
