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“A Few Have Titles” — Restoration Leftovers

Apparently yet another restoration shop has closed down, this time in New Jersey. The owner is selling off the parts and project cars from behind the shop, with pricing starting at $300. Some have titles, some have drive trains, but as the seller says, don’t come without a trailer or you are wasting both their time and yours! The listing is here on craigslist, and we appreciate Bill W. sending it in. It’s hard to believe these MGB-GTs were once waiting on delivery to new owners.

I have noticed many times that collectors of British cars tend to have more than one. In our local Triumph club, we often talk of “the path.” It starts with the purchase of a TR2/3/3A/3B/4/4A/250/6/7/8 project car, which inevitably needs more work than expected. That car is kept, and usually ends up on the road several years later, but “in the meantime,” the member will purchase a Spitfire in better shape because they want to enjoy a car right now. Parts cars tend to accumulate as well, and folks actually come out of the woodwork at times when I’m driving one of the Triumphs we own to offer up cars for little to nothing. Some of us feel it’s a conspiracy among the cars themselves–can you hear them saying to each other “hey, got a sucker over here, c’mon over, they’ll eventually get you back on the road!” In this picture we have an early GT6 and a TR7 convertible, with some more eclectic cars in the background.

An MGA coupe may have a title, but little else useful.

This looks like a Triumph TR4A, and may be solid enough to take on for an ambitious restorer, but is likely a parts car.

This MG 1100 does look solid enough to put back on the road, but they are worth very little and I suspect there are better examples around. If you aren’t familiar with these British Leyland oddities, both this and the Austin America were essentially larger Mini’s and were the only two variants of the ADO16 officially imported into the USA.

This Midget has certainly seen better days. Take a look at the ad for some more pictures, and let us know if you think any of these cars can be sensibly resurrected, and what you’d do with them if you did.

 

Comments

  1. Avatar Brian G.

    Wretched, horrible, little cars. And these examples are only a little worse than they were when they were new. Melt them down for razor blades. Ugh.

    Like 0
  2. Avatar Pfk1106

    My first car was a 62 midget, loved it, traded it in for a new beetle to take to college. Really sorry I didn’t keep it. Every time I see those side curtains, I think, it needs to be saved, but alas, the white one prpabably is beyond help.

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  3. Avatar Big Al

    Oh well, too bad, too sad, too late

    Like 0
  4. Avatar Steven

    I knew or these G’s back in 1989..

    Like 0
  5. Avatar JagManBill

    really glad these are too far away….

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  6. Avatar Richard

    While there isn’t a complete list of auto’s, I would like to ask if by chance there might be a Generation 1 (pre-1980) Subaru Brat which might have recoverable parts? I live in Montana (59028).

    Like 0
  7. Avatar Pa Tina

    I wonder why the “restoration” shop went out of business? Reincarnation would be the only hope for most of this hot mess.

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  8. Avatar Yellowjax Member

    Sorry Brian maybe you would like it better if it was a tri 5.

    Like 0
  9. Avatar Adam Wright

    If only these were Porsches, I would be right there loading. I love truckloads!

    Like 0
  10. Avatar scottymac

    That MGA’s not a twin cam, is it?

    Like 0
  11. Avatar Anthony

    Love these Beautiful British Cars

    They do not make these anymore and cherish them dearly.

    Like 0
  12. Avatar Brian M Member

    “The Path” is a result of not being properly inoculated when you purchase your first LBC. I got my TR in 1973 and lasted until about 2010 before getting hijacked. I now have the running TR, four projects (including Jamie’s Jamaican) and a parts car. A friend of mine has about 12 around or in his shop, 21 behind his son’s house and I’m not sure how many at his main residence. He had serious therapy (according to him) about 15 years ago and cleared out almost everything, but the LBC coven (or however they’re organized) heard and stuff started following him home again. Two of my stash are hiding in plain sight at his shop. A side effect of the LBC path is the desire to save every one of them. ARRRRGH!

    Like 1
  13. Avatar Eric Weber

    This looks like a restoration shop i used to go to in Northern Delaware outside of Dover. If its the same place the gentleman used to convert MG’s into V8 cars for a living. He also had some great stuff in the barn that I got to see once.

    Like 0

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