1993 MGR V8 3.9
I've occasionally seen these cars at shows and thought they looked somehow nicer than the standard MGB but had never really considered them before. Sometimes these things just happen without any pre planning, as was the eventual purchase of this car. It all started quite innocently and quickly took on a life of its own.
I had been to view some unwanted
equipment for possible donation to our
Orkney Men�s Shed and on returning with
the donor to his place of work the car
park was full, so he left his van down a
nearby alleyway. As we left the van I
spied the corner of a green sports car
and dismissed it as an MGF - no offence
to owners of these vehicles but they don�t come near the top of my list for
possible ownership. A second glance and a firm rebuke from my friend made me
take a closer look - this was a forlorn looking MGR V8, complete with MGR
number. Dumped amongst unwanted pallets and other dross, two tyres were flat,
there was green slimy mould on most of the roof and the
wheels looked as though they might have
been immersed in salt - how can anyone
leave a car to get like that?
Following a brief discussion with the
owner the following day, it was ours!
Only 2000 of these
cars were built and around 1500 of those were sold to Japan although some of
those have now been re-imported. Most of the Japanese cars were painted in
Woodcote green but only 311 of the total production were in British Racing Green
like ours.
Christine and I
decided it might be worthwhile
to bring it back from the dead and use
it next season for a show or two -
something we have done many times before
with cars and motorcycles. Unless
we are really stupid with the buying of parts, we can't possibly get our fingers
burned.
It was delivered the following Wednesday
and after finding the oil quite clean
and most things still worked, was
running and driving by the Friday. It
has like many cars, rather a convoluted
story and appears that after 3 owners in
the first 6 years, was brought to Orkney
and left virtually unused, first in a
showroom then much less well cared for,
for some years until we bought it. If it
had lain unloved for another winter it
could have ended up being worth nothing
more than expensive scrap.
The original tool roll was still there
(including torch!) but the spare and
jack have wandered off. Even the wheel
chocks are unused.
The interior was very dirty but
eminently salvageable and only the door
cappings have deteriorated badly.
A few weeks of drying out, deep
cleaning, claying and waxing have
brought the paintwork to a pleasing
standard and wheels are well on the way
to being acceptable. These cars were
probably painted properly by a dedicated
man in overalls rather than by a robot
controlled by an accountant.
A full brake overhaul will obviously be
done together with all bodily fluids
being changed and the usual expendable
ignition bits replaced.
Needless to say a set of new tyres will be
needed but not until the Spring when it will
once more take to the roads.
Our first sight of this once cherished car
We could see through the layer of grime that this would make a very acceptable car
The good thing about anything made from an aluminium alloy is that the oxidation actually protects the bulk of the metal underneath, providing that it's left undisturbed as it becomes an impervious layer - unlike the oxide on ferrous metals which is porous.
Part 2 Refurbishing the alloy wheels
Part 3 The final touches