Worth the Wait

Dave Carter bought his restoration project, a 1965 MGB, on the 1st May 1992 and it was MoT’d and finally put back on the road on 18th July 2006. A long rebuild certainly but as can be seen Dave undoubtedly made an excellent job. How did the restoration stretch into such a long project? Dave has lots of commitments both business and family and it was often necessary to put working on the MGB to one side and concentrate on other priorities. When he was able to work on the car Dave did a great deal himself but he took the long route with regard to restoring the original but extensively corroded bodyshell rather than simply replacing it in total. As a result Dave’s MGB is very correct and has all the sparkling charm of a showroom condition car from 1965. This is all the more remarkable because Dave is not an MG expert and having bought the car in such a bad state had little idea of how it should look after restoration. To achieve the authentic appearance he spent many hours analysing the photos from books and magazines to decipher exactly how the finished product should appear; the end result is a great credit to his tenacity for research, thoroughness and keen observation.

Dave and Viv with their newly acquired project MGB

Extensive bodywork needed

Every panel requiring attention

After the respray

Dave and Viv pictured with the MGB after total restoration

It was a friend, Ray Myring, who introduced Dave to MGs. Ray is a Huntingdon based auto engineer who specialises in classic cars and over the years he has restored several MGs for his own use. At the time Ray had an MGA and it was this that tempted Dave into classic car ownership. For a restoration project Ray’s advice had been to find as early and as complete a car as possible, a pull-handle model MGB being favourite. Ray said, ‘build the earliest one you can and keep it as original as possible,’ and this is what Dave did right down to the gloss black paintwork.

In the end they bought the MGB from a garage, Dave’s wife Viv found the car. It was a 1965 MGB which although in a bad way was still an early example of the marque, plus all the numbers matched. Even so, over the years of the rebuild Dave often reflected that he would not have bought the car if he’d known just how bad it was and how much would be involved in its restoration. His wife Viv who has supported him throughout the project observed that ultimately, the poor state of the car when purchased has ensured that the rebuild has been total and comprehensive and the final car is much better for that, which is very true.

Although adept at welding, Dave did about half of the welding work, adding a few extra touches of his own in particular marking the body for added security. Dave admits that because he hadn’t got the time, he has had lot of help along the way, for example Chris Grey, an expert with bodywork helped with the alignment also a friend called Steve Fothergill helped with the mechanical work. Dave also had lots of help as well from Ray, and would also like to mention Shane at the Beehive MGB Centre.

Rebuilt engine installed

The bodyshell needed just about every major panel replacing, all the usual items, new sills, floors, wings and doors. To work more effectively on the shell Dave turned it over to get access to the underside. After the bodywork had been completed Dave re-sprayed the shell with eight coats of gloss black cellulose flattening down with 1200 grade wet and dry paper between coats. A proficient sprayer and armed with a quality spray gun, work was progressing well until he noticed after one of the final coats that his black finish had flecks of red in the surface. At some point the paint had been contaminated and he was obliged to rub down and start again, however after all that work the final immaculate finish is a credit to him.

Gloss black will reveal any surface imperfections

Dave was surprised at how many of the jobs that you wouldn’t have thought would be difficult turned out to be quite tricky. For example he refurbished the windscreen wiper motor, got it going, tested it thoroughly on the bench and everything was working fine. He then fitted it into the car and put the dash back in place, and then when everything was wired up and connected, it kept blowing fuses. Trial and error pointed to the wiper motor as the cause, so Dave had to strip it all back out of the car.

Next came the heater, Dave explained, “I took it all out, refurbished it and fitted a new matrix etc, then I refitted it and I thought, I’ve still got the cable in my hand and how the hell am I going to attach it? This is because you can’t get in to attach the cable, so it all had to come out again. Nobody told me, it’s a learning curve but the only way I can see to do it successfully is to attach the cables and feed them through first as you fit the heater box.”

Dave reused as many parts as possible but the original bumpers were beyond saving

Similarly the regulator box was also a problem, Dave bought and fitted a new one but when he got the car running the red charge light wouldn’t go off. He tried refitting the old regulator box and the charge light went off. The only thing left now that doesn’t work properly is the electronic rev counter which he bought many years ago but he didn’t find out it was faulty until it was fitted.

New chrome wires enhance the overall appearance

The strangest part of Dave’s rebuild saga came almost at the end when pressure of work and family meant that he lost interest and barely went near the car and nothing was done for two years, so he decided to offer it for sale as an incomplete project. Everything was present to complete the car with the exception of a new soft top and a set of wheels. The MGB was advertised for sale in Enjoying MG for £2,500 as an unfinished restoration project. Quite quickly a chap came round to look at the car and said ‘that’s in lovely condition’. Bearing in mind that at the time the car was very nearly complete and most the parts necessary to finish it were included in the deal the interested chap said, “Look mate I’ve got £1,500 in cash in my pocket now”. To which Dave replied, “I’ll see you later”. However this derisory offer annoyed Dave so much that he became determined to finish off the project. Dave was not prepared to be insulted and was spurred on to complete the car and enjoy driving it himself. With Viv’s encouragement he applied himself to the project once more, bought a brand new set of wire wheels, a new soft top and then finished off all the outstanding electrical and trim work. The totally rebuilt MGB then passed its MoT on 18th July 2006.

Handsome lines of MGB in the attractive rural setting of The Three Horseshoes, Abbott’s Ripton, Huntingdon

Recovered seats

Dave had never even driven an MGB before and he was pleasantly surprised, as he says, “I used look at people and think what on earth do they want an old car like that for?” Now he knows and he is thoroughly enjoying the interest the car provokes from other road users, especially when they come over just to chat and admire the car.

In practical terms Dave misses the fifth gear of a modern car as his MGB retains its original non-overdrive four speed gearbox and he also regrets that he had the engine rebuilt so long ago that it wasn’t converted for unleaded fuel, although it will run fine on Optimax with a dose of Valve Master Plus additive.

Careful alignment of body panels

Great attention to detail in the engine bay

Original steering wheel was bought especially and adds to the authenticity of the interior

It is on the road where all the hard work has paid off and Dave is really enjoying driving his MG but at the same time as it has turned out so well he would also like to show it and get some recognition of all the work he’s done. Dave and Viv are looking forward to attending classic car shows and perhaps a touring holiday in the summer with the car. Viv is equally enthusiastic about the MGB and enjoys riding in it and all the attention it receives.

As Dave says it’s all worthwhile when you are filling up with petrol and some complete stranger comes over to you just to say that your car is absolutely fantastic.