I found a 1957 MG roadster today

[21willys]

I was on the search for a new project today and this caught my eye. It looked pertty solid but in PARTS! They are asking $2000, no way am I paying that. I did a quick eBay search and saw they bring a decent amount when put together.

What's your guys thoughts? Worth it?

And what they look like when all done.

They claim that all the parts are with it.

 

[sgtpontiac]

Looks a bit rough.......

don't think the 2000 mark is there....maybe up close it looks better....but these pics might not do it justice....I've always wanted an old MG or Triumph to piddle with.....good luck getting him down to a reasonable amount....

 

[21willys]

Two cars down is a triumph, it's suppose to have a bad spot in the frame but is complete. It also cought my eye but it don't have nearly the style of the mg IMO.

 

[sgtpontiac]

You're right....

they don't...but I guess I've always liked the smaller spitfire over the Tr3 or newer ones.... a buddy had one (spitfire)and we had a crap ton of fun in that thing....

 

[Tripper]

21,
That's an MGA. I had a B & loved it... except for mechanical issues! Bad wiring, very tight spaces to do work on them, parts can be hard to find & other krazy stuff. Same goes for TR's! Gimme a good ol car made in the USofA!

BoB

 

[EnglishBob]

Lucas electrics,King of Darkness was Mr Lucas.
Do I get a sympathy 'ahhhh' because I grew up driving stuff like this?
But !!!!! when they ran well driving round the country lanes in England was just freaking awesome.

 

[21willys]

I looked at it in the dark but it appeared to me that I could stuff a 355 in it. I don't know about the suspension holding the weight tho.

Thanks for the info guys.

 

[Got Rust?]

Just my opinion, and may not be worth what you didn't pay for it, by I would walk, or run from that deal. I am a former owner of a 57 MGA, great car, but they do have problems, and rust, and wiring, and mechanicel, stuff. Plus some other thing's that only someones who's owned one would discover, like being passed by your own rear tire, because the splines were to worn, or fixing, and fighting a slave cylinder while on a road rally, in the dark, and as mentioned earlier, you will be in the dark.

 

[Willowbilly3]

Hard to tell what's there. Price seems a little high for what I can see. But that is one sexy body style. Sell off all the drive train stuff and put a modern 4 banger in it like a quad 4, a Saturn twin cam or Mazda rotary and have one cool hotrod. IMHO, a cool and unique car deserves a cool and unique drive train, not just another you know what.

 

[billy]

Hard to tell what's there. Price seems a little high for what I can see. But that is one sexy body style. Sell off all the drive train stuff and put a modern 4 banger in it like a quad 4, a Saturn twin cam or Mazda rotary and have one cool hotrod. IMHO, a cool and unique car deserves a cool and unique drive train, not just another you know what.

that was my thought as well
me to myself-me man if i could only put that sexy body on a reliable everything else!

 

[BigIrish]

I saw an MGA like this stuffed with a SBC at a local car show. It had its hood up b/c it overheated on the way over. The guy was struggling to get enough radiator under the hood to cool the engine.

It was sweet, but I remember that engine was absolutely stuffed in there - looked like a nightmare to work on.

 

[21willys]

Anybody have any ideas of what suspension oils be made fit under her? I already have a narrow 9" that I could use in the rear. I wonder if a mustang 2 front end would be the right width for the front.

 

[bgbrktracer]

Little cars are fun to drive. Had one in the early 70's with a 327 Chevy, Muncie 4spd, & 12bolt rear. Very quick for the day.

 

[donsrods]

Willys, if you Google MGA V8 conversion there are a lot of articles, like this one:

http://www.britishv8.org/mg/thomasross.htm

There are forums devoted to them too. Most guys seem to change the suspension to something else, but I put a sbf in a Bugeye Sprite and used the stock suspension with 90 wt gear oil in the shocks to stiffen them up.

The MGA swap would be much easier I think.

Don

 

[21willys]

Well my next project was suppose to be one the family could fit in with a roof but this thing sure is making me think. The 355 I just bought sure would be fun in it also.

Just gotta get them to be more reasonable on the price.

 

[donsrods]

I'm thinking a grand would be about right. Does it have a good title ?

Don

 

[21willys]

Ya suppose to have title and keys. In IN it's not that hard IMO to get a title tho.

I'll do some research and see what I can get for the drivetrain and other items I won't use.

 

[Torch]

Where's that thing at? lol im broke...
I'm tryign to get the money together to get my 63 skylark back from my brother. i want to straight axle it and drop in a 430 buick and it has a good 200hp 4bbl aluminum v8 in it that will need a new home.

I really want to gasser that buick but people tell me to restore it.
It's not just the skylark it's the skylark special with the 200hp 4bble v8 and an automatic and it has the original CaLIFORNIA BLACK PLATES.

 

[21willys]

It's in a little yard by me. The guys got a building full of overpriced stuff.

The alluminum engine sounds cool but it don't have enough hp.

 

[jfg455]

I think you may be surprised at how much those do bring in any condition. Look it over carefully. See if it has a double over head cam engine. If it does grab it quick. or check and see if it has any Mark II badging. Not quite as rare but still worth more. A good restored MGA convertible will bring $20-$25K. Goes up from there as to rarity and mileage. A restored twin cam MGA convertible will be in the $100k - $150k range but again very rare. I worked many a year in my dads MG resto shop when I was younger. We did have an MGA with a 289 ford 4spd and an 8" rear. It was an animal at only 1800 lbs. Do not dip the hood, doors, or trunk lid as they are aluminum. They will not survive an acid bath.

they are a square tube frame with the body sitting over it. Kinda over built as far as strength. They had disc brakes all the way around as well.