Parts for Old MG B's 70's models

[blacksheep]

Hi Guys:Well this is not a bee subject but since I am on the forum I thought I would ask about availability of parts for the old MG's and if they are expensive?Ha
I don't own one yet but am searching for one to take some driving pressure off my Tundra Pick up which has 200,000 miles on it and still runs but need to save on gas to buy sugar for the bees.Well I did get the bees in!!! Thanks,Bill

 

[VEG]

have a look here

http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Category--MG-Car-Parts--m-607

 

[REDWOOD]

There are loads of parts on the net for MG's I finished putting a 1963 MGB back together last year for a friend and all parts required are available in the UK
Just out of interest how much is a gallon of petrol and a 2 pound bag of sugar in the US these days

 

[Tom Bick]

Probably more expensive from when I had a Midget but then less than some of the other British sports cars. The technology crossed other cars so in some way plenty of spares are available. I think MG A sold well in the US and that will be expensive in any continent and one of my dream cars.

One day I fully intent to get my Austin7 back on the roads with one advantage over an MG it had a luggage rack that could just about hold a hive. There will be a number of MG owner clubs with details to new and old parts and probably a few US owner clubs.

 

[BeeJayBee]

Hi Guys:Well this is not a bee subject but since I am on the forum I thought I would ask about availability of parts for the old MG's and if they are expensive?

You might get a bit of help from the MG Owners Club, but I don't think they have a forum http://www.mgownersclub.co.uk/ There is an MGOC spares site, where you can browse to check prices. If that's no use to you, there may be an equivalent on your side of the pond.

Good luck, they're fantastic cars that are great fun to drive.

 

[alanf]

I thought I would ask about availability of parts for the old MG's and if they are expensive?

On the contrary, they are as cheap as parts get. The cars were made in sufficient numbers and enough people used them only at weekends that that there are still over half the total ever made still registered. Of course some have been at the back of a barn for years, but that means there is enough trade to keep specialist dealers going and practically all parts are available off the shelf, even up to complete new bodyshells. The parts used were mostly standard pattern parts for their day, and relatively simple. As I recall a rebuilt dynamo was about 50 pounds, contrast that with a rebuilt alternator for my recent car at 180.

If you're hoping to keep it as original as possible that may not be so easy, all the alternatives used over the years may be harder to get hold of. For instance early pattern indicator stalks are not available off the shelf, only the post '67 versions with the headlight dip switch, looks the same on the outside and does the job but obsessives will know there is extra wiring under the cowling.

The only US dealer I know of offhand is Moss (there is a Moss in the UK, but not sure of the ownership links). They have online ordering to browse, but I'm sure there are many other smaller suppliers. http://www.mossmotors.com/

 

[Michael Palmer]

Just out of interest how much is a gallon of petrol and a 2 pound bag of sugar in the US these days

Gasoline in my area is at $3.45/US gallon...that's about $.20/gallon above the national average.

I bought 18,000 pounds of sugar this autumn for making bee feed. It was $.36/pound

Today, a British Pound equals $1.62 US dollars

 

[Cazza]

I've gone all nostalgic.
I used to have a Midget when I was young and foolish. Happy days.
Cazza

 

[REDWOOD]

Gasoline in my area is at $3.45/US gallon...that's about $.20/gallon above the national average.

I bought 18,000 pounds of sugar this autumn for making bee feed. It was $.36/pound

Today, a British Pound equals $1.62 US dollars

The UK's petrol prices are about £6.00 a gallon that's about $9.72 a gallon !!!!!

 

[o.stjohn]

I was always the other side of the fence from the MGs - first the Triumph Vitesse (I had 8 or 9) and then Triumph GT6s. Main difference was the fact that they're built around a chassis - easy to work on, I even managed to swap the body with one from a Spitfire (car not plane!) to build a British Racing Green 2 litre convertible. A bit like this:

Again parts are easy to get and they're simple to work on...

 

[REDWOOD]

I've gone all nostalgic.
I used to have a Midget when I was young and foolish. Happy days.
Cazza

I had one too a 1970 midget I bought for £50, it had front end damage and still remember the paint colour arctic white twin SU carbs 1300 engine with spoked wheels, first car I managed to do over 100mph

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I've gone all nostalgic.
I used to have a Midget when I was young and foolish. Happy days.
Cazza

Do you still keep in touch with him?

 

[blacksheep]

HI: The gas is at 2.99 per gallon and the sugar is around 60 cents at Walmart that is per pound.
In reference to the MG's I got interested in them as my close friend has about 6 of them and only 1 running most are for parts,etc.Stuff he has bought over the years.
I am really looking forward to getting one!Old man dreaming!Ha Some times you can get a deal on 1 of them seems like by friend can find them easy so he is going to assist in locating me a MG B as I think I would like it better than the miget.I am short so getting in andout of it is not a problem.One time when being short comes in handy!
Glad to hear you arte a MG Man as I might be needing some advise soon.
Thanks so much for the reply and give Mabel a pat for me.I do hope she is doing well!!
Later,Bill

 

[blacksheep]

Gee! Thanks a lot guys and seems like the MG's is a great subject other than the bees! I n reference to the sugar I was at the Bee club and they were taking orders for sugar as some one has a source to get some from Ceareal manufactuers. I think it was fairly cheap but I didn't order any since my bees won't be here till spring.I believe a barrel was around 70.00 and it weighs about 400 lbs so that would be about 28 cents apound plus 10.00 for the barrell.

 

[Cazza]

Do you still keep in touch with him?

Good to see you haven't lost your touch JBM.

 

[Skyhook]

My son has a '76 midget, for which I am chief tinkerer. Parts for both models readily available and not too expensive here, and I'm pretty sure the mg market is at least as big over there going by forums BUT don't underestimate the amount of time it will want, unless you get lucky.

The important thing to remember is that although they are much simpler than modern cars they still have several thousand components, most of which (unless the whole car has been stripped and restored) are 40 years old- with, as the quote has it, hilarious results.

They are lovely cars, but as much hobby as transport.

 

[theeggman]

Blacksheep,

If you're thinking of an MGB from the 70's be very careful re rust in the box sections 'chassis'.
I was on the body assembly line during that period and whenever Cowley or Abingdon plants went on strike, which was VERY often, the management would keep us building bodies until they ran out of room. The bodies were given a light spray of oil on the top surface and then lined up around the factory roads in the rain, sometimes for weeks. They were just bare metal and a surface coat of oil but nothing inside the box sections. A lot had terminal rust before they got painted, assembled and sold.

The Midgets from the next line were even worse because it was all gas welding no CO2 on them and the assembly burnt off all of the oil from the steel manufacture.

Tim.

 

[blacksheep]

HI EggMan: Thanks for the advise! I wonder if rocker panels replacements are available for the?I have seen some northern NG's that had lots of rust as all our Northern ones do however there exceptions to that.Best to get a car in the south or west as the climate isn't that cold and no salt on the roads.Most people in the south can't drive on snow and ice anyway so they stay home!Ha
I am sorta looking for a MGB and being a future BeeKeep you know I am conservative!I will be looking for a bargin and will be will ing to do some work on it but not total restoration.I like to stay busy at something and am always working on some project.
I have learned on thing for sure ,"the saying a boat isa hole you pour money in is very true."I have spent a lot on them and the market is terrible now.

 

[user 6228]

you can still get new bodyshells - they are still being made!
http://www.bmh-ltd.com/mgbparts.htm

 

[coffin dodger]

My son has a '76 midget, for which I am chief tinkerer.

Hey Me too ! but in my case it's a nephew who doesn't know one end of a spanner from the other I've been getting parts from http://www.mgbhive.co.uk/ (seems appropriate for this forum) good service and very fast delivery.

Regards
CD