MG 1100 Lust - My Rant

[RickAnderson]

I am new here so I will introduce myself by saying that I know that MG 1100s are kind of the red-headed stepchild of MGs - kind of like a big Mini (oxymoron?) with an MG badge - but I absolutely love them. It is actually a very nostalgic thing for me - I learned to drive stick in one back in ‘86. My friend - who goes through cars like they’re revolving doors - somehow ended up with a very nice MG 1100 that he paid a few hundred dollars for. It was absolutely perfect mechanically and cosmetically, with the exception of slightly faded silver-gray paint. I had a 1964 Lambretta LI150 scooter that I bought off Jesse James (yes, the West Coast Chopper guy - pre fame) and my friend wanted it badly. So we struck a deal - he gave me the car plus $200 for the scooter. As part of the deal, he would teach me to drive it. Well, needless to say, it was a blast! Unfortunately, I also had a 1964 Austin Mini so I soon swapped the running MG engine into the Mini and put the Mini’s 850 engine into the MG, at which point I sold it to help finance the Mini’s paint job. I’ve owned three more Minis since then - a 1959 Austin Seven, a 1966 Cooper S, and a 1968 MK2 Cooper with a 1380. I’ve also had an MGB, an MG Midget (that my mom bought new), a Land Rover, and a few other British cars. But I’ve always regretted getting rid of that MG 1100. Anyway, I recently sold my last Mini and I now drive a new MINI S as a work car (real estate appraisal), but I am saving for another MG 1100. The hard part is that I need a runner because I can’t work on stuff where I live. Anyway, that’s my rant. If you have an MG 1100 for sale, please email me!

 

[John Moore]

I believe Tony Barnhill has a few. He's at his daughter's wedding this weekend. But here is his site.

www.theautoist.com

 

[dklawson]

Rick!!! Hi dude. You know you'll get the most info on those MG-1100s from Todd! I think I saw a couple of MG-1100s on the for-sale board at the Mini City web site over the past few months. You may want to add that to your bookmarks. Welcome, Good to see you here.

 

[Steve]

Welcome indeed.....isn't it strange how you get the yearning for a particular car and it never goes away?

 

[RickAnderson]

Re: MG 1100 Lust - My Rant ~ Update

UPDATE - 6 Years Later - I FINALLY FOUND THE PERFECT ONE!

I can't believe I posted this nearly six years ago!

Anyway, here she is. I took this postcardish shot while on a country drive through Napa Valley last weekend. Incidentally, yesterday was her 46th birthday according to the Heritage Certificate! I also have a website with more photos and rants (link below)

 

[drooartz]

Re: MG 1100 Lust - My Rant ~ Update

You're a patient man. Nice car!

 

[DNK]

Re: MG 1100 Lust - My Rant ~ Update

Isn't there an Austin just like that?

 

[elvacar]

Re: MG 1100 Lust - My Rant ~ Update

pretty car pretty setting

 

[billspit]

Re: MG 1100 Lust - My Rant ~ Update

There was an Austin America which was very similar

 

[DNK]

Re: MG 1100 Lust - My Rant ~ Update

That's it. The Pizza place I worked at when I was young had 5 MGB owners and 1 Austin America.
Always thought that was funny.
He loved his car

 

[JPSmit]

Re: MG 1100 Lust - My Rant ~ Update

There was an Austin America which was very similar

same car wasn't it? just badge engineered? there was a VandenPlas too.

 

[billspit]

Re: MG 1100 Lust - My Rant ~ Update

There was an Austin America which was very similar

same car wasn't it? just badge engineered? there was a VandenPlas too.

I'm not positive, but I didn't think they were made at the same time.

EDIT: Mr. Google says the MG 1100 became the Austin America in 1968.

 

[RickAnderson]

Re: MG 1100 Lust - My Rant ~ Update

Yes, it is part of the ADO 16 family, which was a badge engineered "big Mini" that included several levels of trim and was sold as the Austin 1100, Morris 1100, the MG 1100, the "luxury" Vanden Plas Princes (badged the "MG Princess" in the USA because Vanden Plas was not well known here.) These were superseded by the 1300 (1275cc) range for all of the models and were primarily four door. I believe we only got the MG 1100 and the later Austin America 1300 (in either manual or auto transmission) here in the USA. Most of the 2 door MG models were made for the US market and were marketed to compete with VW while Austin America was marketed as the perfect second car. Innocenti also manufactured them in Italy and had a station wagon version and they were also made in Australia.

 

[glemon]

Re: MG 1100 Lust - My Rant ~ Update

Ha, six years was the penance you had to pay for stuffing an 850 in your last one and foisting it off on some poor sap, "darn why is this thing so slow, why are VW beetles, Cushman scooters and guys on bikes passing me!"

Just kidding, looks like you found a nice car, I vaguely remember these from my youth, most all gone to the tinworm here in the midwest, but there were a few about. Ahead of there time in some ways with their front wheel drive and compact packaging.