The rebuild of an MGB GT Reg.No: ERO 2T

In 1983 after coming down to earth with a bump, literally, I realised that I was never going to be the horsewoman I once thought I would be and decided to swap from one horsepower to several, and bought myself a 1979, pageant blue, MGB GT.

The BGT fitted well into my busy lifestyle, it’s a familiar story, two children sitting in the back, used as an every day car, school runs, shopping etc. The BGT was always reliable and it never let me down, come rain, hail or snow. However, in 1994 for various reasons I had to put the car into storage for a well-deserved rest.

My life carried on and three years later I had decided to move house. I removed the car from storage, had all the mechanical parts fixed, but instead of the usual unpacking after the move I decided to leave it all and take off to Cornwall for three weeks. It was now my turn for a well-deserved rest and an opportunity for the MG to blow the cobwebs away. I took my, then 10-year-old, daughter with me and set course for Lands’ End. Six and half hours and one stop later we arrived, the noise of the engine still ringing in our ears. What a delight it was to once again sit behind the wheel of my beloved MG.

Three weeks later I returned to my new house and started to make it into a home. Lots of sorting out and unpacking to do. Local trips, moving prized possessions etc. It’s amazing what you can get into an MGB GT when the rear seat is laid flat! Alas the same could not be said for the house, no room left in the garage for the MG.

Once again my MG was being used as the every day car. After a couple of years, not surprisingly, she started to show signs of inevitable ageing. Rust was starting to creep through along the sills and by the window pillars. But overall considering her age and the everyday use she still looked pretty good. I had a sports exhaust fitted in 1986, stainless steel with a lifetime guarantee and guaranteed to annoy the neighbours when the engine roared into life on dark and cold frosty mornings.

Horrors beneath the sills

New sill in place and work carried out on inner A post

Typical BGT corrosion around screen frame

Neat repairs to inner front wing area

The next M.O.T. test was looming and I knew in my heart it was never going to pass without some serious repair work to the sills, wheel arches, window pillars etc. She was slowly rusting away. Without the funds to restore her, I reluctantly decided to take her off the road once more. By now I had unpacked completely, apart from that one box (if you’ve moved house you’ll understand) and managed to re-arrange the garage space just enough to squeeze her in out of the rain.

There she remained, each day I stood and looked at her as I visited the freezer. The days passed then the months and sadly even the years. However, each week I would open the garage doors, reconnect the battery and turn the ignition key. Each time the engine fired into life; very occasionally the fuel pump needed just a little persuasion with a small block of wood I kept handy. I’m sure I’m not the first nor only person to resort to this form of technical adjustment. Still mustn’t disappoint the neighbours I just knew they would be pleased to hear the low throaty roar of that exhaust again.

Nearly three years passed, I knew I would never sell her. In that time I had built up my business and was doing fairly well, although far from being loaded, I now had the funds I needed and decided it was time to restore my BGT to her former glory. But where to start? At first I considered doing the project myself with the help of some friends. However the condition of the car ruled this out for me. She needed some serious work carried out just to get her in a roadworthy condition, never mind restoring the MGB GT to her former glory. Also, my garage is barely large enough to squeeze the car in let alone accommodate such a large restoration project. So, I started to think through all the available options, some more sensible and practical than others. At one stage I even considered hiring a crane and lifting the car over my house and into the back garden using a large tent to do the work in. However, running my own curtain making and soft furnishing business means I have very little free time. Common sense eventually prevailed, there was far too much work to do even with the help of friends, so I decided to seek expert help.

One of my customers had recently used G&B Autos of Royston in Hertfordshire to have some minor bodywork repaired and was delighted with the results. The very same week one of my neighbour’s friends reversed into my partner’s car. Maybe an act of revenge for waking them up on those cold winter mornings; who can say? So where better to take it to have it repaired and judge for myself just how good they were. The car was subsequently booked in, repaired and returned as good as new. I was very satisfied and gaining confidence that this was the company I would trust to restore my MGB GT.

Lower repair panels were fitted to both rear wings

New front wing

Linda took an active part in the re-build whenever she could

Brothers, Bill and Dennis have been in business for over 26 years. Bill specialises in repairing the metal work, while Dennis does the spraying. Bill came round one Saturday afternoon last summer to take a look at what needed to be done. He talked me through everything that would have to be repaired that he could see from the outside, and also explained that there would also, without doubt, be other work required that would only become apparent when the outer panels were removed. He explained the pros and cons of a complete new bodyshell versus repairing or replacing sills, wings and floor panels etc.

The estimate landed on the doormat with a loud thud! It was crunch time or crusher time.

Was my car worth doing all the work to and the money I would have to spend on her? The option of having a complete new body shell was tempting, but despite the ravages of rust there was still so much on the car that, as Bill had pointed out, was sound and worth saving. To value the car on purely financial terms was not possible for me. I have had the car for such a long time, had so much fun, and many fond memories, how does one put a value on that? Then I sought the opinion of my daughters, now 24 and 17 and both without hesitation said ‘do it’. So I made the decision.

After the respray

Fitting up the wiring

Linda’s lounge, what’s that strange smell?

One bleak Monday morning the car was driven away on trade-plates, a sad sight as she left the house, but I was also very excited. She would only be a mile away from where I live which meant I could take a keen and active role in the restoration of my MG by G&B Autos. I have always had a keen interest in cars and have driven many different types in my time including E-type Jaguars; Ferraris, Mercedes Benz, and a limited edition Marcos that belonged to a pop star from the band Faithless. However, I have always preferred my faithful MG. Both Bill and Dennis were delighted that I wanted to take an active part in the project.

Work had commenced and after a couple of weeks I decided to pay the workshop a visit. Not sure what I was going to see when I walked through the doors I nervously entered. There she was high on axle stands completely stripped of all parts and looking very sad. Bill had started to cut out the rust and pull apart panels to reveal all sorts of gremlins lurking in the nooks and crannies. His exploration of the panels showed up some rather interesting repair work that had been carried out previously. Each panel that he removed revealed more interesting finds. Welded patches and rotten metal that had not been properly repaired. A rust proofing type substance that had turned into a solid sticky yellow mass like a plastic coating that offered little or no protection to the metal work at all. Both Bill and Dennis were amazed at what they uncovered. I hadn’t realised it at the time but the previous repair work had been carried out by a garage that should have been trading under the name of ‘Bodgit and Scarper’. The car was in a far worse condition than I had imagined; it seemed that the only real strength left in the car was in the roof.

Now we knew the extent of the repairs required we could order the new panels and sills that needed to be replaced. In the meantime Bill set to work grinding back the metal to remove all the rust. When I looked at my tired wheels and rims and decided I couldn’t restore the bodywork and drive it round on shabby old rusted Rostyles. On one of my many visits to the MGOC showroom at Octagon house in Swavesey, I had seen a nice set of Clubsport alloy wheels and decided to buy them. Being slightly larger than the original MG wheels it meant the steering would be heavier especially when combined with a 15” steering wheel. Having discussed this with Nick in the showroom he suggested I test-drive an MGB Roadster that had been fitted with power steering. So that’s what I did… and very impressed I was too. Not having driven my BGT for nearly three years it was a delight to sit behind the wheel of an MG again. I had been spoilt now and was convinced that power steering was a must for my MG.

Linda and Phil working on the BGT together

Linda’s partner James re-builds the seats

Rear deck, speaker installation inside the rear wing

That got me thinking again; with the car in bits it was a perfect opportunity to add some modern technology so I ordered an electric window kit into the bargain. I thought about replacing the seats but having had covers on them for years all that really needed replacing was the foam inserts. A project for my partner James, who willingly volunteered. Having heard various stories of just how lethal removing and replacing the webbing straps could be he decided to carry out the work in the back garden rather than in the lounge.

On the subject of the lounge, as I mentioned previously my business is curtains and soft furnishings and my home has to be a reflection of my work, always tidy and looking its best. You just never know when a potential customer may pay you a visit. However, since starting this project the lounge became an extension of the garage. Filled with power steering parts, a lowering kit complete with leaf springs, a steering wheel, seats, brake discs, conversion kits, wheel spinners, new stainless steel exhaust etc. On one occasion I returned to the house and was convinced I could smell something burning, I checked the cooker nothing wrong there, I walked round the house convinced something was slowly smouldering away. I eventually realised it was the sun shining through the patio doors into the lounge and on to the five brand new tyres sitting next to the other parts littering the lounge floor. So not only did my lounge look like a garage it now smelt like one too.

Since my initial visit to the workshop I returned many times and each time the MG looked different. Slowly and surely the rust had been removed and damaged panels replaced. Each time I could hardly wait to visit again and see what’s changed. Eventually one side of the car was completed with the new sills and wings positioned. Bill slowly worked his way around the car from one side to the other. Welding the fixing points for the power steering was the next job before starting the repair work on the driver’s side.

Interior, the deckchair seats are original but they were rebuilt with new foams and seat bases

Hubs were converted to take 15 inch knock on Minilite style wheels

Versatile BGT, Linda carries a fold-away blue picnic table on the rear deck

My long-term friend Phil, a mechanic, then also became involved in the project. He had a list of jobs to undertake including fitting the lowering kit, power-steering, a new exhaust, new brake discs etc however, his first task was to take photos of the underside of the car where Bill had welded the floor panels, such a neat job it’s amazing.

Bill explained each and every stage of the restoration to me for two reasons.

1. I was obviously keen to understand exactly what was happening to my MG

2. Bill genuinely enjoys the work he does and is keen to share it with others

During the course of the project I developed a friendship with all the guys in the workshop that I’m sure will remain long after the MG is back home.

Soon all the rusting metalwork was repaired or replaced and the new mechanical parts fitted ready for Dennis to get to work and reinstate the paintwork to its former pristine condition.

But first Phil had to get stuck into fitting the power steering. We didn’t know it then but this task turned out to be one of those jobs where nothing seems to go right. It’s a bit like driving down a road you don’t know how long it is or how long it will take you to reach the end. Phil encountered one or two problems on the way. The biggest one being the amount of space required for the universal joint connecting the shaft from the steering wheel to the power steering actuator. Following advice from the MGOC Phil had to grind the UJ down to fit, but by rather more than the few millimetres suggested. He must have fitted and removed it more than twenty times until the UJ was trimmed enough to turn in the gap without rubbing. Still, in the end it all fitted.

Next job was the lowering kit. Expecting the worst Phil started but this time it was plain sailing no problems at all. I couldn’t wait to get the car back on the road and see how she handled with the lowering kit and power steering fitted. Next a few changes to make to the engine. First a new rocker cover, a Christmas present from Phil. As those that know me understand, I do get excited about presents for my MG. Then a new radiator followed by a full service, which was really long overdue.

The re-build crew at G&B autos

Linda provides a hand-over party complete with champagne outside the workshop

You may recall I fitted a stainless steel exhaust, with a life time guarantee, back in 1986. Well sadly it didn’t last a lifetime, however, I’m pleased to say the lifetime guarantee was honoured by the MGOC and the exhaust replaced. Although I had to insist that the new exhaust was going to sound the same as the previous one, I really wouldn’t want to disappoint the neighbours when the car finally returns home. When all the little accessories and trims had been fitted the last job was the new wheels and spinners.

Phil and myself have been doing this work on the MG on Saturday mornings so that we were not in the way. These turned out to be fun mornings with lots of car enthusiasts coming and going to check out the work that has been done on their cars. Having been involved in this project from the start, it’s great to see the progress day by day as the car went through each different stage of restoration. Bill has now completed all the metalwork repairs and welding and with the aid of a disposable camera photographed every stage along the way.

I have found out a great deal about MGBs during this rebuild, even fitting the new front wings was no easy job. Whoever said ‘all you have to do is bolt them on’ had obviously never tried to fit a pair of new wings. Bill did a lot of work adjusting, aligning and packing out gaps in order to get them to line up neatly. The next stage was to prepare the car for spraying Michael and Steve had the job of rubbing down all the old paintwork and repairs ready for Dennis to work his magic. The car was moved into the spray booth and bake oven, the doors closed behind it and the ventilators roared into life. Finally the car emerged like a butterfly from its cocoon, with its metamorphosis complete. I was delighted to see her looking all new, bright and shiny again. After painting I arranged for Derek Taylor, recommended by the MGOC, to install my CD player and music system. The CD changer was housed in the boot mounted next to the spare wheel. After this was done we were able to fit the new carpets and trim panels.

The BGT was in G&B Auto’s workshop for over six months. I know that Bill, Dennis, Steve and Michael worked extremely hard to restore my MG to its former glory. The whole project has been incredibly interesting from my point of view and the guys have been brilliant taking time to ensure I knew what was involved at every stage. They have also made sure we had fun working during the cold dark winter days. It was a great day for me when I finally drove off in the completed car to have it photographed to show how proud I was to be the owner of a fully restored, MGB GT.

I cannot thank G&B Autos enough and I believe that their workmanship is second to none. I would recommend them without hesitation over and over again for their ability and support, which has made this restoration project such a success. I must also thank my old mate Phil who has maintained the MG over the last 22 years and carried out all the mechanical restoration and modifications to the car during this project. Thanks also to my partner James for putting up with MG talk for so long, I would also like to thank the team at the MG Owners’ Club especially Nick in the Spares Department for his patience and helpfulness.

Linda Turner

Linda happy to be behind the wheel once again