• Hi Guest!
    You can help ensure that British Car Forum (BCF) continues to provide a great place to engage in the British car hobby! If you find BCF a beneficial community, please consider supporting our efforts with a subscription.
    There are some perks with a member upgrade!
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Subscribers don't see this gawd-aweful banner
Tips
Tips

Beeeoootiful '57 A on eBay

Share this page

ronzet

ronzet

Jedi Knight
Offline
There is a great looking white/red '57 on eBay that was done to a level that I rarely see...

Just thought that the A affectionados might like to see it..

Nice for reference for those who are restoring..

1957 mga on eBay
 
Let the "bashing of a beautiful car" begin. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/devilgrin.gif

"beautiful period correct nut and bolt restoration in both cosmetics and mechanics"

- Wrong map lamp knob
- Radiator not restored
- Dashpot covers probably hiding yucky stuff
- Damper nuts incorrect
- Valve cover nuts painted
- Manufacturer's plate installed backwards
- Didn't straighten the r/h fender mirror before taking photo!
- Top frame painted white
- Underside of car filthy, ground up restored?!?
- Rusty exhaust manifold
- Fluid spraying on lower engine bay
- Driver's door not aligned (hitting pillar)

Still a beautiful car, but the price is already too high.
 
Steve,

And I thought that I was an anal retentive.... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/devilgrin.gif

And with all of the hard work that I have put into my UNFINISHED A, what did you say when I posted the pictures... 'you got water spots'... sheesh... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/rolleyes.gif

/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cheers.gif
 
ROFL! Yeah, but that was after I complimented you on the hard work, and the water spots weren't your fault! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif
 
Steve,

If I can't bust someone's chops... ain't havin' fun /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/jester.gif

And, yes, thanks for the complement... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cheers.gif
 
Oooh, oooh! I got one, I got one......mismatched hose clamps!! Nice car but for 22 grand......?
 
Nice car - and the color combination we have picked for our 59. At moments like this though, I find the thoughts of turning the rusty pile of parts in my garage into something that even remotely looks like that somewhat intimidating.

Thanks for the link Ron.
 
Simon,

I PM'd you with apologies for the show....

Did you see that Black/Red A at the show... It was extremely well done and very, very intimidating...

Aspiring to and the reality of restorations are two different things.... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/rolleyes.gif

I would still like to see your project when time permits... Now that my cooling problem has been solved I will bring the 'road worthy' A with me when I come over. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/banana.gif
 
Steve,

Speaking of door pillars and subsequnt bashing....

I have having a time trying to align my doors after the frame off....

I have hinge spacers that I have been moving around with some success but the doors still do not line up nor do the latch mechanisms show proper operation or alignment.

Any thoughts on the process or the cause?

Thanks.
 
Peter,

Welcome to the world of the anal retentive/obsessive complusive ...... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/rolleyes.gif
 
Take a look at my door alignment and you'll see how much I enjoy doing it. I don't know any good tricks, but I do know a guy locally who claims he can make them perfect. I haven't taken him up on it yet but I'm thinking about it.

Also, I have a NOS set of MGA doors here that I plan to install eventually. If you want to test fit them to your car to see if your doors are tweaked, feel free.
 
Steve,

I hate you... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/devilgrin.gif what a stable!!!

after looking at your A ... The doors look pretty close to aligned... Mine are not as true.

Thanks for the offer to test fit the doors... I think I'll fuss with mine a bit longer but.....

Great looking Y ya' got there.... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/thumbsup.gif I think a Y or a YB will be my next project after my B is restored...
 
The doors aren't nearly as close as they look. They don't close right and sit proud in the rear. I had them working pretty well once but they returned to their old tricks. I'm not worrying about the alignment until I put the new doors on. I have NOS latch mechanisms and catches ready to go on as well.
 
Steve,

A senior moment... I apologize.. You and I had already PM'd over your Y a little while back... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/rolleyes.gif
 
Ron, did they line up before the paint

Steve S your slipping, ya missed a few things. This MGA is nice, its your typical dealer hyperbole that gets our dander up. I would bet the restorer would not have described it this way.

I have come to almost dislike this kind of car. They remind me of Elvis at Vegas. When you look at cars such as this you see MOSS and Vicky Brit Taiwan.

Better yet....Pat Boone singing Tutti Fruiti...
 
BOXoROCKS,

In all candor... I don't remember if they lined-up before I torn the WHOLE car apart...

Although I reinforced the body as it was moved from place to place, I do worry that it was tweaked a bit... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/rolleyes.gif
 
Ron, all you have to remember is there are no set rules to aligning the doors. Shims,elongating hinge holes,even planeing the back of a hinge. Or even adjusting the bottoms of fenders and dog legs, or the tops for that matter.
Get it square in its jamb,and level with the rocker(assuming the rocker is level),then do what it takes. If the doors are painted,tape the edges first.
Bolt it to the frame.Then shim pack the frame for squarness.

Steve, dont look now but some of those NOS body parts were factory rejects sent to dealers as NS replacement stuff.
 
I bought these from a reputable seller years ago. They appear to be the real deal. My doors are a bit wavy so these will be an improvement anyway. Besides, any MGA doors whether new or used will have to be hand fit to each car.
 
Heres one you guys dont want to hear. I did a 57 alfa spider,nut/bolt.When it came time to assemble and hang the door,(painted mind you)I was panicked a bit because no shims or no cadged nuts to move.Just welded bolt holes.The doors went in and on...first time and perfectly.Alfa gave me NO options.No adjustments. Man o Man, nice stuff.....And then there are TR3's.........These cars have no business going together and looking like cars.
 
Back
Top