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Is it worth restoring properly

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jonnm

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I have a 1959 MGA 1500. While all the pieces at there, its in pretty bad shape having been left in a barn for at least 15 years and having been mistreated before that. The frame itself is pretty badly rusted out. I still plan on getting it back in operation but should I worry about getting a real restoration or just the look. I've read of one case were a blueprinted MGB motor was put in one with excellent results. While it may sound like heresy I have considered putting a modern 4 cylinder drive train in it retaining the looks of the MG since it would be very difficult if not impossible and expensive to try to bring it back to original. I could retain the original drive train. Incidently I have an extra set of wire wheels although they are not in great shape.
Regards
 
Welcome to the forum John...without seeing the car it's hard to tell what would be best to do with it. Personally I always prefer an original car but putting a MGB motor in an MGA is very common and easy as the motors are almost the same. DO NOT put a modern non-mg drivetrain in it this will greatly de-value the car.
Where in Ontario are you??? I am in Mississauga

Zack
 
I agree with Zack, for the cost of an engine swap you could easily rebuild the MGA motor or put in a B motor probably for less. MG motors are pretty hardy.
 
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DO NOT put a modern non-mg drivetrain in it this will greatly de-value the car.

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That may or may not be true, depending on how you modify the car, but does it really matter? If you're restoring a car as an investment, you're barking up the wrong tree. If you're building it for your own personal enjoyment, then do what ever you like.

Whatever you do with it - restore it or modify it - after you've driven it for several years, the value will be down either way, just like any new car you might buy. The only way to maintain the value of a collector car is to not drive it. That's not an option for me.

Stick a V8 in it! See https://www.britishv8.org
 
I agree, the MGB 1800 motor is a natural swap, and it really dosen't take away from the originality much. That would be infinatly cheaper and easier than modifying in a modern drivetrain, and it won't devalue the car and make it hard to sell if you ever wanted to.
As long as you have to do frame work you might as well do it up right. but I woulden't strive for a concourse job unless you plan on keeping it "matching numbers" and only showing it. Keep it real. A good clean driver. try not to cut corners, You'll regret it later.
Best of luck on whatever you decide.
Welcome to the forum.
 
An early 3-main MGB unit is a bolt-in conversion and is difficult to tell from stock. You will need to retain the MGA carbs, exhaust manifold, and other small items. Additionally the early 1800 used a mechanical tach so you can retain your original gauges. I have one of these engines in my '58 A and can honestly say that I would pay more for an MGA with this setup than I would for a stock one. And being such a light car, it absolutely flies! Well, for an MG anyway. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
If your going to drive it, a modern 5 speed is not a bad way to go. I put one in my TD and love it.
Good luck and get it on the road!
 
Sell it and start over. You might get a few bucks out of it and be money ahead. If you start to restore it you will soon find out that the investment will be three to four time the actual worth of the finished product. Buy a "good" one and save all the agravation. Bob
 
I also agree with Bob ,althouth good MGA's are hard to find at a resonable price buying one already done usually ends up being much cheaper than restoring your own.

Zack
 
Wellll, if it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. You have to determine what you want to use the car for and then work backwards. You also have come up with a definition of "restoration" as there can be a lot of latitude in what people think a restoration is. I have a '57 that I'm "restoring", but the car is going to be raced so I can't do a "concours" restoration - MGAs did not come a fuel cell and kill switches after all, but I'm trying to make it as original as I can without going overboard. After all, the car WILL be driven. Remember, someday you might want to get rid of it and the closer it is to stock, the more attractive it will be to potential buyers. Starting off with a car with a rusty frame sounds like the beginning of a long bad dream - it the frame is rusted out the sheet metal must be in really sad shape. Be careful, because it can get real expensive, real fast. I look at Classic Motorsports every month and see a lot of vintage race cars I can buy for less than what I'll have into my project.
 
Bob is right in that a finished car is cheaper than doing it yourself, but I'm the type that enjoys the process of the restoration. His 'agravation' is my enjoyment. To me, doing it myself only enhances my ownership experience.

But yeah, develop a plan that is up to your skill and finances and whatever you do, enjoy yourself.
 
Very good advice above. Also, it's prudent to develop a restoration budget before you begin work, or actually, before you purchase the car.

Do your homework, know values, develop a budget, and try your best to stick to it.

It's not a great feeling to get "over your head" financially in a restoration.

At least have a good idea of the maximum amount you intend to invest in the car, buy the best possible example you can afford (i.e., let someone else over-invest), and enjoy. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
 
A word about budgets....
The old adadge about coming up with a budget and doubling isn't that far from the truth. Everything will cost more and take longer than you think. I inventoried all my parts, decided what I could refurbish, and then purchased a ton of new stuff back when the exchange rate was better. I still overlooked things I needed. And then some of the stuff I thought was good, wasn't. Time is probably the most precious commodity. It will take a lot longer than you think. If you have a significant other, I hope she is very understanding about you spending all your free time in the garage. I did a lot of the dirty work over the winter when it was too cold out to do anything else and am now to the point where I can do smaller, more manageable tasks in the evening. (I really want to spend some quality weekend time on my Triumph Speed Triple.) The other thing you'll need is space. More than you think. You'll need a place to put all the stuff you pull off the car ans the SO's half of the garage probably isn't the answer, at least in my case. Considering the time, space, and financial considerations, it makes more sense to buy a car already done unless you just absolutely want to do it yourself. That's why I'm doing myself. When it's all over, I'll have spent (not invested) about what the car is worth. Zero percent return - not a very good investment, huh? On the upside, MGAs are going up in value, so wait and see.
 
Get a digital camera and take pictures of EVERYTHING. Take way more pictures than you would ever think you would need. Buy a notebook, a lot of tags an assortment of ziplock baggies, cardboard boxes and some good markers - the kind that don't wash off. Document, document, document.

This will save you tonnes of time when it comes to putting things back together.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Get a digital camera and take pictures of EVERYTHING. Take way more pictures than you would ever think you would need. Buy a notebook, a lot of tags an assortment of ziplock baggies, cardboard boxes and some good markers - the kind that don't wash off. Document, document, document.

This will save you tonnes of time when it comes to putting things back together.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/iagree.gif
 
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