One lesson that has proven quite useful with buying older vehicles is that you’re buying the owner/seller as much as the car itself. This is why I’ve struggled lately with seeing some listings on auction websites where the seller is not a broker/dealer, nor is it the owner himself but simply an influencer who is effectively vouching for the owner (this has started happening repeatedly on the website Cars & Bids, and it’s not a good trend.) That’s why I’m a fan of this MG Midget race car listed here on eBay by none other than Steve Miller of MG Auto in Ohio, one of the highest-regarded British repair shops in the country.
You don’t have to look very far to see how much love there is for Steve among MG and Austin Healey enthusiasts. Obviously, the first clue is that he certainly seems to be a trusted expert, operating a shop that works on all manners of British vehicles. Second, there’s plenty of forum chatter when someone has a question pertaining to maintenance or operating procedures to simply take it to Steve if you’re in Ohio and stumped by a mechanical fault. Either way, it inspires a great deal of confidence that the facts shared in the listing are from someone who knows their vintage track car inside and out.
As I mentioned above, some websites seem to be trying to replace the seller with an influencer who doesn’t possess any sort of mechanical ability or have a history that includes operating a successful restoration/repair shop for many decades. I don’t want to buy a car from someone who only exists because of social media; I want to buy a car from the man who has been turning wrenches himself on this sweet piece of competition-grade goodness. This Austin Healey sports a 1275cc F/P engine with a 14/1 compression ratio capable of reaching 8,000-9,000 RPM by the seller’s estimates. He notes other desirable upgrades including a Comptune cylinder head, Crankfire ignition, Carrilo rods, and roller rockers, but here’s the most important anecdote: “Also willing to verbally pass on knowledge to new owner as I built and raced this car for a number of years.” Straight from the horse’s mouth – nothing better.
Of course, the SCCA log books are included, and the seller notes that he ran this car competitively for a number of years, even using it to reach the National Run Offs held at Mid-Ohio three times. That’s like the Olympics of the amateur racing world, so there’s some legitimate track time under the tires of this sleeping racer. The seller mentions that he just started it up and it still sounds mean as ever, but that it has been sitting for a few years at this point. Obviously, it comes with all the other goodies you’d want for racing, including a roll cage, coilovers suspension, a fire suppression system, and lightweight Revolution wheels (including a set mounted on rain tires as well.) If you want to get into vintage racing, this is the person you want to buy your future track car from.
Yep, I imagine AI will start showing up, answering ads, doing write ups like you do. It’s a cheap, lazy way to be. The hobby and I say this with sarcasm, has become a way to invest income.so called experts driving up prices and people getting caught up and paying way more than they should for these cars. It is a treat to find a car, truck, etc that someone has put their heart and soul into over many years and get to talk to them about it, learn about it so you can be a good caretaker.
I have rebuilt many street Spridgets in my years…. this one I would like to drive for about a half an hour around a track alone….. that would be enough….. I don’t want to own one but this would be fun…. for a while…………
Always fun on the track. Someday when you are in an open car and the temperature is about 100. You are happy to end the session. But, by the time your next session is up, so are you! Ready to “have at it again”! Can you tell I’m going through track withdrawals?