Choose your project car hell: classic roadster edition!

"Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available" (whoistheleader2)
03/06/2020 at 11:10 • Filed to: None

Ki nja finally fixed posting, so my workaround isn’t necessary. Hooray!

There are a surp rising amount of low priced classic roadsters out there. Here is an eccentric collection of a few of them, and then you decide which project car hell would be yours.

‘78 MG Midget - $7,500

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Now for the first of three rubber bumpered MGs. This one appears to be the best in overall condition, and is being sold by a reputable dealer for a reasonable price. Ooh, brown over tan with perfect paint and interior. Seatbelts as well! The engine bay is at least well sorted enough that the inevitable time under the hood will be as painless as possible.

‘77 MG MGB - $5,200

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This example is much cheaper than the previous MG, but appears to have been well taken care of and driven appropriately. A much less complete ad, however, leaves much to the imagination.

‘79 MG MGB - $5,450

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That paint looks like it has overstayed its welcome. It is so thin I almost see primer in some places. A little more overall wear has this one trailing in my rankings.

‘78 Triumph Spitfire 1500 - $6,000

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The ad does not mention any mechanical maladies, and claims is runs and drives great. What doesn’t look so great is that mess of wiring. The interior appears to be fresh however. Would it kill you to clean it for the ad?

‘74 Fiat 124 Spyder - $1800

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Now for the lone Italian, which happens to be located about 50 yards behind me as I’m writing this. I always wondered what was underneath those tarps. For the record, I recognized those yellow shutters and the derelict shed where they practice drumming some nights.

This rarity appears to be pretty solid base under the dirt. Seems like a complete restoration would be in order. $1800 seems about right for its rarity and condition.

Conclusion

I would absolutely pay more up front for the brown Midget if I wanted a rubber bumper. Why there are so many of these I cannot fathom, though their lower desirability is easier on the wallet. What is your pick in this lot?

DISCUSSION (30)

Nom De Plume > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
03/06/2020 at 11:16

The German one.

Ok, seriously then. I’d drive myself to FIATs with the last one.

facw > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
03/06/2020 at 11:16

Give me the ‘77 MGB. Looks decent, though I’d be looking at how hard it is to do a chrome bumper conversion.

Cash Rewards > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
03/06/2020 at 11:19

Triumph. Slowly put a shine on that paint. Or not, who cares

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Cash Rewards
03/06/2020 at 11:22

The wiring is really the only thing scaring me away, but it’s close

Jim Spanfeller > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
03/06/2020 at 11:25

They don’t need to mention mechanical maladies because they’re British and Italian , so m echanical maladies are implied. I still like them, though. As someone who can barely afford to fix my Thunderbird, I of course cannot afford any of these, but the prices all look reasonable. I’d probably go for the brown MG, because even though it costs the most, I figure that it hasn’t deteriorated as much as the others, so it shouldn’t have as many age-related maladies to add to the usual British car problems. Therefore, it should be the easiest to keep running.

WilliamsSW > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
03/06/2020 at 11:28

The 77. Thought about the Spit but the rats nest under the hood scared me away.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
03/06/2020 at 11:29

Buy the Fiat, install a Nissan drive train. Best body/engine combo of all.

Cash Rewards > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
03/06/2020 at 11:31

It starts, and runs (supposedly). Close the hood, out of sight, out of mind

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
03/06/2020 at 11:34

As a cheap pickup to turn into a fronkensteen, the Alfa has appeal, but muh interior, and if I did anything too sacrelicious, Alfa fanboys would be coming around to break my kneecaps. Maybe the ‘77 B , just because it’s fresh enough to feel not entirely thrift store while driving.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Jim Spanfeller
03/06/2020 at 11:38

Same here, though the Spitfire doesn’t seem that bad under all the dust. I think simply the concours level cleanliness of the brown MG seals the deal

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
03/06/2020 at 11:39

As long as the Nissan CVT isn’t included in your proposition

Jim Spanfeller > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
03/06/2020 at 11:39

Personally, I actually like the Spitfire’s styling better, but in this case the prospect of owning the MG scares me the least.

JustAnotherG6 > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
03/06/2020 at 11:46

1) Fiat - a) cheapest b) most unique c) Italian

2) Triumph - A little bumper-ectomy, a lot of elbow grease on the exterior, and a bit of cleaning up under the hood and this thing is good to go.

3) any of the MGs - be ready to replace the exhaust every other year (though that may just apply to those of us in northern climates)

Nothing > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
03/06/2020 at 11:53

I choose this one.

Kinja'd!!!

https://denver.craigslist.org/cto/d/arvada-1975-triumph-tr6/7088078739.html

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
03/06/2020 at 12:10

Those pre-rubber bumper 124 Spiders are gorgeous...

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > JustAnotherG6
03/06/2020 at 12:14

I wish I had enough balls to take on the Fiat, but parts are not plentiful and expertise is even more scarce

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
03/06/2020 at 12:15

What Alfa? There was a Fiat, if that’s what you mean.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Nothing
03/06/2020 at 12:17

The rusty exhaust seems like the only issue. That might be better than anything here at only $ 4,000

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
03/06/2020 at 12:18

And to think that it was under a tarp in the driveway of the house behind me all along! There are at least 4 other tarps (one is an old Jaaaaag that they used to daily) so imagine what else might be lurking

Nothing > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
03/06/2020 at 12:24

I’m seriously considering going to check it out. It’s not terribly far from me.

MoCamino > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
03/06/2020 at 12:54

I know that objectively, the rubber- bumper MGs are less attractive than their chrome- bumpered ancestors. However, I had a brown 79 Midget with a tan top and tan interior in high school. The one pictured here really only differs in that mine didn’t have the wide “MG” stripe on the side - it had a thin tan stripe instead. Oh, the feels. I would so love to have that car.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
03/06/2020 at 13:30

I wanted to reply saying “yes, sorry - THAT” but Kinja was pulling up a super-magnified broken version of mobile view on desktop which plastered any attempt to reply with an error message POST CANNOT BE SAVED in orange.

So, in lack of mental function, Kinja has me edged out by a good bit.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
03/06/2020 at 14:43

Hmm if you had an MGB GT I would pick that, I like the hatchbacks. I guess the 79 MG.

Future ND Owner > JustAnotherG6
03/06/2020 at 15:06

They make full stainless exhausts for MGs . Source: me, I have one of these on my ‘73 MGB.

Future ND Owner > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
03/06/2020 at 15:30

MGB’s are fantastic to drive, inexpensive to maintain, and easy to work on yourself. Plus, they are immortal: you can buy any part you need for them brand new (including brand new bodies and modern parts to upgrade existing ones ).

Though I am a ‘73 MGB owner, so not at all objective. Is there a version of toxoplasmosis for English roadster owners that I should be getting tested for ?

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
03/06/2020 at 15:37

Too bad about that. Kinja is finally working flawlessly for me but their fixes always cause new problems elsewhere