MGA MGA Coupe in Washington State

[tony barnhill]

Adam (Adam58) recently sent me a copy of an ad he found on Craig's List about an MGA coupe for sale out in Ellensburg, WA - Thanks, Adam!

They want $3900 for it....here are a couple of photos they sent me...can you see anything wrong (other than the front & rear glass is gone - supposedly its in storage)? Look closely at that rear wheel opening - has it been cut or just hit & bowed out?

Oh, anybody near Ellensburg who could run over to look it over?

 

[Steve_S]

It would take a helluva lot of force to bend an axle that far. I'd bet either...

A. the axle has been removed and it's just sitting there, or...

B. the leaf mounts have torn away from rust.

I also see signs of rust along the rear of the bubble. That's a huge issue if it's bad. Honestly I don't get a good feeling about this one.

 

[tony barnhill]

I'm also concerned - & its a California black tag car! Guy just emailed me & said it was hit i the rear moving cars around in their yard...somehow I find that hard to believe also - too much damage. Look where the rear fender joins the rocker....

 

[vping]

what year midget is that?

 

[Steve_S]

Black plates don't mean anything. They only mean that at some point in the 60's, the car was registered in California. It probably came from somewhere else, and it could have spent the past 20 years sitting in a field in Washington.

 

[tony barnhill]

Only one he lists for sale is a '76...but the one in the photo is a chrome bumper.

 

[Adam58]

Tony,

Boy that is sad! I didn't expect it to be quite so rough. Craig's List is a funny place. Ebay w/o pictures? Not always bad though - Today I bought a new aluminum dual-pane 3 1/2 x 6 foot window for the shed we are building (to make room in the garage for the 2 MGs)for $65!

As far as the rear wheel/axle/fender discussion goes, I think it's an illusion. In the 2nd picture, the fender appears to have been snagged and pulled back. I say this because, to me, it looks like the wheel runs true to the car but the fender is crimped where it is bent back into the bumper.


Adam

 

[Rob_P]

As far as the rear wheel/axle/fender discussion goes, I think it's an illusion.
Adam

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The tire does look like it's true. Also the first picture looks strange because of the extra large shadow caused by the back of the rear fender being pulled out.

That being said, I would have to bet that this car will not find it's way to Gurley, Al with a $3,900 price tag!

 

[tony barnhill]

...Aaaaaaaand, the winner is!?!

But, you've gotta follow up on all of them.

 

[howzat]

Tony,

I'm in Washington and saw the Ellensburgh car advertised here and emailed the seller at the time. Spoke to the owner first & he asked me to call his grandson who was selling the car as he could not remember all the details (he is getting on a bit). The grandson told me the car was last registered in California in about 1979 & his grandfather later brought it to WA with other cars. Its been sitting behind other projects. I can't remember what his grandfather's pet projects are, but he has realised that he'll never get to this. I asked for him to send me the photos and I'd get back to him. Got the photos & determined this was not a proposition for me (was tracking an Ebay coupe in Portland at the time & that looked to be a better proposition). I emailed him back and let him know. The Portland car was $8499 yesterday & I don't know what it sold for because I found another car which I am negotiating on. The grandson emailed me again and offered to sell the Ellensburgh car for $3200. Not sure if it is still there or someone made him a counter offer.
Cheers,
Ted

 

[tony barnhill]

Ted - thanks for your input...he's also sent me some more photos...that rear quarter I was concerned about is pushed in about 3" to 6"...for the price - even $3200, its too far away for me to get serious...were it local, I might leave my card with my max price just to see what happens, but not halfway across th country.