CLASSIC and important CARS - open thread:

And here one I see almost everyday when going to work, it is used on daily basis, I think it is nice but I would be afraid of exposing a classic to normal city traffic like that.

1967-69 MGC





 
Always fancied an MGA (1600 Twin Cam). Had an MGB GT, a GT V8, and a 1275 Midget (modified to 1330 etc) in my time, 30 years ago now.
 
justpix said:
Hi, @ariel7515, the Mulhouse museum looks promising ... --- (y)
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I've been to the Schlumpf collection in Mulhouse a couple of times. It's a great visit, and also the area around the Alsace has some great driving roads too. It's an area we like to return to, and I'm hoping to organise a trip with the Mini owners club there next year.
 
Jelster said:
Always fancied an MGA (1600 Twin Cam). Had an MGB GT, a GT V8, and a 1275 Midget (modified to 1330 etc) in my time, 30 years ago now.
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Hi, Photos for Pleasure in this thread can also mean bringing back fond memories ... --- This is wonderful!

An MG Saloon:


DSC01622-a7r2-s35c-tp.jpg
 
If you do not mind asking here... for some time now I wanted to ask you, as British people... How do you see MG?, I mean, when you think about MG... What is the first thing that comes to your mind?

Do you see it as a luxury brand?... as a cheap brand?... as a crappy brand?... as a reliable brand?

How do you level it compared with other brands?... is it on the same level as Jaguar, as Rolls or Bentley, as Ford, etc?
 
Depends which era of MG you're talking about.
Up until British Leyland started rebadging Metros and Maestros as MGs, they weren't too bad (well, not too bad for Leyland brands, although the late '74 switch from steel to rubber bumpers was a bad move [although possibly good for US sales]) but since then, other than a 1/2 reasonable attempt with the MGF, you can keep 'em!
Never really a luxury brand so more Ford/Vauxhall than Jaguar/Daimler. Now, more like '70s Skodas or Yugos
 
MGB GT was one of my favourite looking cars but couldn't afford one when they were in production, weren't practical when I could afford one, but still have a massive soft spot for one, MGA's look really nice above, TF was also pretty. Anything after mid 70's you can keep. Luxury brand? Not really, slightly upmarket against a Ford (of the day) but not as upmarket as a Jag, possibly a tad under a Rover (before Leyland swallowed them too).
 
Yup, MG a great British marque.

Even produced a land speed record holder the EX181 that had MGA parts in its design https://mgaguru.com/mgtech/variants/vt104_ex181.htm

Me, I had two MG's a long time ago ~ a ZB Varitone of 1959 (if I recall correctly) a lovely bit of classic car. According to records they built 36,000 of them and they sadly were a favourite of the banger racers.....very strong chassis structure that, for their purposes, could take a lot of punishment and still keep running :(. I bought it for £100 and sold it a few years later for the same figure having spent something like £200 trying to stop the body rot.

Then later a Midget of 1966......great sporty car, cornered like it was on rails with Semperit tyres but leaked like a sieve because a previous owner had not refitted the bulkhead grommets ~ the joy of wet feet in heavy rain :LOL:

Those were the days :)
 
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ariel7515 said:
If you do not mind asking here... for some time now I wanted to ask you, as British people... How do you see MG?, I mean, when you think about MG... What is the first thing that comes to your mind?

Do you see it as a luxury brand?... as a cheap brand?... as a crappy brand?... as a reliable brand?

How do you level it compared with other brands?... is it on the same level as Jaguar, as Rolls or Bentley, as Ford, etc?
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Luxury? Er no... ;)

They were a manufacturer of typical English sports cars. Rear wheel drive, rusty body, poor suspension steering layout, but great fun to drive. I loved my MGB GT V8, but my wife struggled to reach the pedals without the steering wheel being in her chest, so we bought a chrome bumper 1275 Midget which needed some work.

I dropped the engine out, had it bored out to 1330cc with PowerMax pistons and a high lift cam. Replaced the carbs with a pair of DCOE 40 Webbers. When the bodywork was being done we slightly flared the arches so we could put on slightly wider wheels. Like mentioned above, it used to corner like it was on rails, and you get an immense sense of speed when your bum is just 6 inches from the road :D

However, Wifey fell pregnant and wanted something more practical (I had a company car at the time), so it went and was replaced my a Mk 2 Escort (Yes, blasphemy, I know....)
 
Maybe it was not a luxury brand but I can see now that there are a lot of feelings about it (and almost all good), now I have a better idea and understanding about the relation of MG and the people in its home market, thanks!!. (y)
 
ariel7515 said:
Maybe it was not a luxury brand but I can see now that there are a lot of feelings about it (and almost all good), now I have a better idea and understanding about the relation of MG and the people in its home market, thanks!!. (y)
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I can even remember all 3 cars reg numbers. Not that I'm anal or anything!! :oops: :$:eek::D
 
As a couple of people have said, the Midget used to corner like it was on rails. BUT, what they didn't point out was that when it became derailed, it went so suddenly it was hard to catch it with "a dab of oppo"! Stay within its limits and it was a fun (if not desperately fast) little car.

This prompted me to look my old Frogeye up to see if it still existed - it does, although it's now red rather than baby blue and has a 1275 motor in it rather than the 948 it should have.
 
Nod said:
As a couple of people have said, the Midget used to corner like it was on rails. BUT, what they didn't point out was that when it became derailed, it went so suddenly it was hard to catch it with "a dab of oppo"! Stay within its limits and it was a fun (if not desperately fast) little car.

This prompted me to look my old Frogeye up to see if it still existed - it does, although it's now red rather than baby blue and has a 1275 motor in it rather than the 948 it should have.
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Ah yes, I had it do a 180 on me once in the wet, but to be fair, than GT V8 was bloody awful unless it was bone dry, and the king pin based steering was so "notchy" if you didn't keep the nipples greased....
 
Nod said:
As a couple of people have said, the Midget used to corner like it was on rails. BUT, what they didn't point out was that when it became derailed, it went so suddenly it was hard to catch it with "a dab of oppo"! Stay within its limits and it was a fun (if not desperately fast) little car.

This prompted me to look my old Frogeye up to see if it still existed - it does, although it's now red rather than baby blue and has a 1275 motor in it rather than the 948 it should have.
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Hmmm! as I recall, come rain come shine my Midget was sure footed.......and I was of an age when I tended to not hang around :D

You just prompted me to look my old number plates up. It seems the Midget may no longer be around......but the ZB Magnette was last taxed in 2017 (was due in Jan 2018) but travesty it is no longer the original Varitone colour scheme but beige :(
 
Hi, having no personal MG experiences, I can only contribute two Midgets here:


DSC03776-a7-c-tp.jpg



In the rain:


DSC00832-a7-c-tp.jpg
 
Box Brownie said:
Interesting! They both have 3 windscreen wipers and for sure that makes sense .......wonder why they were not configured that way in the home UK market :(
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Hi, I also find this remarkable. But, I suppose the (few) Midgets we see in Germany remigrated from the U.S.

Next time I come accross a Midget, I shall ask the owner.
 
Box Brownie said:
Interesting! They both have 3 windscreen wipers and for sure that makes sense .......wonder why they were not configured that way in the home UK market :(
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As I recall, they were that poor that even 4 wouldn't of been much use :D

Just after I got mine, the bonnet catch came free while crossing the M2 bridge over the Medway, the bonnet flipped up and sat on the wiper studs, so along with the body work repairs the wiper motor was replaced with a non OEM one which seemed to be a bit better than standard....
 
A small correction, if I may.

The Sprite was an Austin Healey rather than just an Austin. The first model was the Frogeye/Bugeye which had a 948cc A35 engine. The very last batch of Sprites was badged as Austin rather than Austin Healey (to avoid paying Healey and royalties...) but their bonnet badges were different to that on the picture above.
 
Changing the subject for a minute... you will see a lot of broken links in some of the pictures I've posted in this thread, sorry for that, it was caused by the new restrictions for the free accounts by the new owners of Flickr. (n)
 
Nod said:
A small correction, if I may.

The Sprite was an Austin Healey rather than just an Austin. The first model was the Frogeye/Bugeye which had a 948cc A35 engine. The very last batch of Sprites was badged as Austin rather than Austin Healey (to avoid paying Healey and royalties...) but their bonnet badges were different to that on the picture above.
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Thanks for sharing your automotive industry knowledge! (y) I always enjoy learning something new! :)

From me a clear case, a frogeye (British Racing Green) in the vinyards near Stadecken-Elsheim/Germany during the MAC event:



D80_9088-n70c-tp.jpg
 
I miss mine!!!

Another (possibly!) interesting snippet from the depths of my mind. There's no such thing as a single "British Racing Green". The name(s) come from way back when cars from different countries raced under their nation's colours - green for Britain, red for Italy, blue for France, white for Germany etc.. Each company had their own version of their national colours - compare '20s Bentleys with '50s Jaguars, Aston Martins and others. Mercedes's nickname of "Silver Arrows" came from their discovery that an unpainted car could be seen as white and was considerably lighter than a painted one, especially white since it was Lead based back then.
 
TBH, I'm well over it - it was 35 years ago! It needed a fair bit of work again; the beading along the panel joins was starting to bubble up, the clutch was starting to slip and I'd just moved into town so didn't have a garage for it. Sold it to a previous owner for what I had paid for it 2 years before so was reasonably happy.
 
Too much temptation!

TBH, I prefer the outdoor shows - fewer trailer queens.
 
Nod said:
TBH, I prefer the outdoor shows ...
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Hi, my favourite event is the Schwetzingen Gala (in Germany). I have an arrangement with the organizers, granting me free entry 2 hours before for general public. So, I can take my pictures undisturbed.

Only a few professional photographers are around then. As a thank you, I give the organizers a card with my pictures ... :



DSC07684-a7r2-s55cc-tp.jpg



DSC07684-a7r2-s55c-tp.jpg



DSC07685-a7r2-s55-tp.jpg
 
justpix said:
Hi, my favourite event is the Schwetzingen Gala (in Germany). I have an arrangement with the organizers, granting me free entry 2 hours before for general public. So, I can take my pictures undisturbed.
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I will try to go next year, just in case someone else wants to go, it will be from 30. Aug. to 1. Sept. 2019 (30. Aug. is the Preview-Day, for the lucky guys like justpix ;)): https://concours-delegance.de/
 
Hi, another event I have heard positive comments about is at Schloß Dyck in Germany:

https://www.classic-days.de/

However, I have never been there myself, so I am passing on hearsay information ... To Schwetzingen I have been three times, and will go there again next year.

Over the years, I found out which events are best for photography in my area.
 
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