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Barnfind in Burbs?

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R6MGS said:
Well said Tony....I agree with everythingi n your last post :smile: Unfortunately I don't have the ability to part out anything(I live in a residential neighborhood with close neighbors) but we've gone through over 60 LBC's in the last 30 years or so, most just for resale,and never lost money on a car
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et tu, Brute?

But this question was different than, <span style="font-style: italic">"I just found an old MGB that I'm gonna buy, clean up, and offer to someone who wants to restore it."</span> This question was, <span style="font-style: italic">"WHAT $ IS A GOOD # FOR MAKING A PROFIT AFTER REASONABLE INVESTMENT? OR SHOULD IT BE KEPT"</span>

I've always bought 'em, cleaned 'em up, made some minor repairs, gone into my used parts stash & replaced some bad parts or put some missing parts in the trunk & generally given them a good once over so the buyer would have a pretty good idea of what he was getting into....adding to the price my labor & the parts I added....I make a few bucks, another one gets on the road.

Luckily, I've got land and buildings/sheds where I can store used parts & a nearby scrap metal yard where I can haul the hulks to sell for scrap prices....so, if I get a car that's too far gone to restore (IMO), my labor disassembles it & my time advertises, packs and ships the parts from it...I make a few bucks, other cars stay on the road.
 
tony barnhill I've always bought 'em said:
:bow: :bow: Tony, you're living my dream..:bow: :bow:
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Barnfind in the Burbs: The sequel

After the input from you generous forum contributors, I have re-visited the 74 MGB (Aconite)with another friend. We both had flashlights this time and I had a camera. Basically, paint i s good. It was re-painted the "original" color "several" years ago, but I must say that even with grime and grit laying on the surface (yes, it was covered), the paint looks good. Was able to look under car. Can find no rust on rocker panels, wheel wells, etc. Chrome is all there. Chome has some dents on rear bumper and most of the Chrome may have to be rechromed. Top is in rags. Interior is complete with non=cracked door panels and dash and it has all of the gages. Seats are cover with velour (?)Burka-type things probably from Sears, so I figure vinyl seat covers need replacing. Engine bay is rust colored, but everyting is there. The daughter of the infirm owner produced a receipt from March 08 from local auto service shop: new battery, brake pads, brake hoses, coil, generator, plugs, wires, distributer and points......and other misc. things adding up to $2,670. All tires inflated with beginning pock marks of rust on the original wheels (alloy?).

SO, this monday, the local "MG Doc" mechanic is meeting me at barn to take a compression check and an oil pressure check. If this proves positive, I'm thinking of offering $5,000 take it or leave it. The car is not in what I call driveable condition, but I believe I can make that happen without major investment.

And, contrary to my first message, I intend to keep it and gradually shift responsibility for it to my youngest son (30 yrs. old) if he demonstrates a genuine interest in working on it.

WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK? What am I not considering? What else should be checked that I haven't thought of? What about the price I mentioned.

I sincerely need and am thankful for you informed opinions.

Dave in st. Louis

61 AH BE Sprite
05 Vespa ET-4
04 Mini Cooper S

...in the past 65 Midget, 62 TR4, 2 Saabs in the 80's, 2 Peugeots in the 70's and 80's...and numerous off road motorcycles.
 
Trust the judgement of John Mangles (if that's who is going with you!)
 
Personally I would check out what I could get in an MG for about that much in my area.
Your area seems to be St Louis, MO.

Here are a few for sale in your area:

https://stlouis.craigslist.org/ctd/889411432.html
1141411g1ZZZZZZZZZ8ama25624cbe1141e34.jpg


https://stlouis.craigslist.org/cto/907174391.html
1g414213c3n23mb3o18b541a4cad771fe159c.jpg


Kansas City:
https://kansascity.craigslist.org/cto/909232024.html
1241381483ne3m63oa8b73198a886cd2c17a6.jpg


If you are looking for a running project chrome bumper here's one asking price of $1300:
https://kansascity.craigslist.org/cto/907380569.html
1fc1g61413mf3o43l08b50a2304a201dc1093.jpg


Finally for $1000 here's a 1970 MGB split bumper project that's already had work done:
https://kansascity.craigslist.org/cto/877561205.html
1f3123138ZZZZZZZZZ8ada44619c22d691ee1.jpg
 
All of the ones you pictured, Rick, seem like a better buy than the one Dave is looking at.

&, Dave, I bought a running, solid - albeit ugly - '63 MGB yesterday for way less than what you're talking!

It sounds like its a good, solid beginning of a father/son project car...but, you need to start at, as a maximum, half of what you're thinking and then that's probably too high.
 
Agree with the consensus above. A couple of things jumped out at me:

The seat upholstery is not original to the car. MGB Tourers (roadsters) came with vinyl seats. Obviously this has been changed since it left Abingdon.

$2670 seems an awful lot for what you listed there. Maybe they are trying to recover that?

Just my opinion, but if I got $5,000 for my 1974 MGB Tourer I'd be very happy. And it's on the road, driving with a current state inspection sticker. It has fading paint, some rips in the upholstery, serviceable top, good tires, starts on the first try every time.

If it was me, I'd look around a bit. Good time of year to be a buyer.

Good luck, Dave.

Colin
 
I will do so, afterall, John is the "MG Doc" and he has done a fair bit of work on my AH BE which I have been very pleased with. I trust his judgement.

thanks
 
Mr. Autoist:

I like how you think. I'm confident that the "MG Doc" here in St. Louis will agree with you when he and I go over the car a week from Monday. Of course, I'll let the forum know what happens.

dave
 
Good luck, Dave.....Around here that car would bring around $1,000 - new parts included!! But, I don't know about the market in St. Louis.
 
All those new parts 8 months ago? If the labor was done and done right, that baby sounds like it could be about ready for the road now. Needs a new top and interior...that is not too hard. But I agree about half of what you are offering would be the going price around here...maybe a little more, but not this time of the year.
 
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