Jedi Master
Freshman Member
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Hi folks! I just purchased my first MGB (1973) in excellent condition and I am excited about enjoying it. Previously, I owned numerous Austin Healey 3000's. My long-term baby was a 1964 MK II. I purchased it at Plattsburgh, N.Y. in 1970 and completed the revival (half-baked "restoration") in 1973 while a graduate student at the University of Michigan. Since then it lived in Tennessee, Iowa, Florida, and finally Arizona. In 2000, I garaged the Healey in favor of a 1982 Mercedes 280 SL (5 speed, hard top and AC for AZ) and then a rare 1997 Mercedes SL500 La Costa edition (very nice but an automatic). The '82 was wrecked (very sad); the 97 fell apart (very mad) and was happily sold. Meanwhile, a health issue forced the sale of the Healey, which had deteriorated, including a badly rusted-out frame. At first I thought, "I can buy a complete new frame and swap....." Then I got real. I was without a beloved "stick shift" roadster for many years. I finally decided that at my age, it is now or never. I started looking, finding few manual trans cars, and the 1973 MGB suddenly surfaced amid a small field of BMW Z3/4's, Miata's, and lesser makes I could afford. Wow! Yea! Really? It was more than I was looking to spend, but you know the feeling. Now it's mine! A rust-free Arizona specimen in excellent condition, 82K, 4 speed, additional thermostatically controlled cooling fan, and more. I have already been researching overdrive transmissions, but it will probably be a couple years before I go there. In the meanwhile, I'm just gonna' drive, and smile, and enjoy!