Cultivating a Dream – Clive Mollart’s MGs

I am now approaching 44 years old but when I was a child I had a vivid dream of driving a 2-seater open top sports car. So vivid that when I woke up I looked outside into the drive of my parents’ house, fully expecting to see the car in the drive. My disappointment and surprise when there was nothing to be seen lasted all day!

Fast forward to my adulthood in the late 1980s. Wife (Helen, married 1984) had a succession of company cars whilst my only mode of transport was a motorbike (Suzuki GSX 400 4, still owned and fast becoming a classic in its own right; only two other examples seen in the last 15 years of ownership). The motorbike was fine in the summer but a bit cold in the winter. I coveted a weekend car, and in November 1989 purchased a lurid yellow MG Midget (GOM 857W) locally in Stoke-on-Trent.

An introduction to MG ownership, a bright yellow MG Midget

Well used for both business and pleasure, after 12 months and an MOT failure she was taken off the road to allow friends to complete panel work and re-spraying. I myself carried out repairs on the running gear/mechanics/suspension and the magic certificate was re-gained.

Another twelve months passed, during which the oil pressure got progressively worse and I realised a new engine was needed. We had no off-road parking at the time, and the idea of taking an engine out whilst standing in the main service road to an industrial estate did not appeal; even when washing your car on Saturday morning you were taking your life in your hands!

Having therefore commandeered room in a friend’s double garage and purchasing a Mark 2 VW Sirocco for daily use, the Midget engine was removed, stripped down, reconditioned and replaced by my own fair hands. The Midget went back on the road, however I failed to retrieve my tools and engine parts from the garage for some months. This eventually resulted in a call from our friends asking when ‘Still Life by Clive Mollart’ would be removed! (PS. It was removed and the couple are still friends!)

Despite enjoying the Midget, which was a useful introduction to MGs, the day came in early 1992 when I spotted a Carmine Red Rubber bumper MG Roadster with chrome wire wheels in local garage, I just HAD to buy the car. The garage owner and I concocted a deal, which included his taking the Midget and the Sirocco in part-exchange for the Roadster. The numberplate (AED 140T) read as ‘RED HOT’ from the rear and as her original colour had been Pageant Blue I felt that the new colour scheme really complemented her nomenclature.

In this vehicle Helen and I began to attend car shows and organised runs (Bronte Run, Kimber Run, Shugborough and Capesthorne Classic Car shows) and were often approached by members of our local owners club (the Potteries and South Cheshire MGOC) and invited to join. Regarding the whole club scene as fuddy-duddy and boring (and still being in our 30s, too hip to be square) we always refused.

‘Red hot’ complete with appropriate plate

One or two memorable (if not enjoyable) events occurred during my ownership of RED HOT. Attending at the finish of the Kimber Run, we parked pointing downhill and went off to look around. Upon returning to the car I noticed a strong smell of petrol and discovered that the petrol tank had sprung a leak at the seam; petrol was merrily running off down the grassy bank. As there were smokers around, we beat a hasty retreat before the MGB became a handy bonfire by which one could toast sausages. Secondly, on a trip to see friends in Anglesey I stopped to put the hood down and accidentally set off the fire extinguisher (on the back shelf) which covered everything in the cockpit, including Helen, with white powdery foam. She was not amused!

We also went to Llangollen for the weekend, staying in a hotel cum pub where I was not convinced that the car park was secure. To be super-safe, therefore, I put both the gear-lever security lock and the steering wheel security lock firmly in place. The following morning I realised that I had only brought keys for the steering wheel lock! For the next hour I proceeded (loudly) to hammer off the gear-lever security lock and no-one approached me to see what I was doing or if the car was mine! Incredible!

Not realising what the word ‘concours’ really meant, and the dedication required to compete and win trophies, Helen booked the car into the concours event at one of the Bronte Runs we attended in the early years of ownership. To give him his due, the marshal carried out the inspection with only a wry smile on his face and no guffaws of laughter. Please see following list of repairs subsequently carried out to realise how far from concours condition she was:- new rear springs, back axle, hood, running gear, two new sills and two new front wings. Not much chance of a trophy, eh?

RED HOT had an argument with a delivery van (the van’s fault, not mine) just before one Bronte Run which resulted in our attending the event in a Renault Laguna company car (just not the same atmosphere at all!). The resulting repair bill included replacement of a rear wing and she looked sufficiently impressive afterwards to sell, quickly and unexpectedly, at the Capesthorne Classic Car Show in early 1997.

There followed an MG-less period of three months during which I searched doggedly for an early Chrome Bumper car, long coveted. Getting rather desperate, I even considered TR4s and TR6s but none were of sufficient quality. After a long and fruitless Bank Holiday search, and having ploughed through stacks of ‘Motors for Sale’ magazines with ‘hopeful and fantastical’ rather than ‘accurate’ descriptions of cars. I returned to an advert for an early chrome bumper car in Blackburn which I felt sure would have been already snapped up. Surprisingly the vehicle was still available and so I travelled up to see it from my home near Crewe. The owner stored it in a warehouse and when he rolled the door up my jaw fell open. Love at first sight!

‘IRIS BLUE’ an MGB Mk1 that made an instant impression

7089 KD is a Mark 1, Iris Blue MGB Roadster, built 22ns/23rd November 1962 and first registered in Liverpool 15.01.63, with a Downton Stage 2 head and alloy ‘Minilite’ style wheels, so much easier to clean than wire wheels. She has a gorgeous breathy engine with a rasping exhaust note and her unusual colour you either love or hate (our milkman hates it!). Having acquired such a beautiful car (and finally hitting our 40s) we finally gave in and decided to join the local owners club. We are now contemplating our fourth season with the Potteries and South Cheshire MG club attend approximately 15/17 events per year. We had such an uproarious time with a crowd of other members at the Snowden Run in 2002 (staying 3 days in Llandudno with them and experiencing a slight problem with ‘brakes-on-fire’ which had Helen out of the car and away with lightening speed, never seen before nor after) that we are repeating the exercise this year.

The camaraderie, jokes, assistance and expertise within the club is infectious. One of our members is Geoff Allen who runs the V8 register (of more anon) and is ex-works, a fountain of useful knowledge about the marque. We must also mention Harold Carrington (Chairman) and Pete and Sue Owen (Social Secretaries) who work tirelessly to ensure we have enjoyable and safe outings. In part, this is ensured by the use of CB radios which help to keep convoys of 20-30 cars together on runs, and provide the opportunity for those of a more garrulous (not to say scurrilous) disposition to ‘entertain the troops’ accordingly. The club has a chosen charity ‘Wish Upon a Star’ which arranges holidays for and grants the (sometimes last) wishes of terminally ill children and their families. Last season we raised a record sum of £2500 for this charity through raffles and, principally, our Charity Road Run. This year the run is scheduled for Sunday August 31st. Contact Harold on 01270 567733 or harold.carrington@virgin.net for further details.

Clive’s MGB GT V8

IRIS BLUE had been restored in the past by an enthusiast, so for the first few years of ownership I simply fitted a new hood, new back axle and carried out running gear repairs for MOT requirements. After much searching, I finally located a Downton supplier who could provide cam followers to the original specifications; this which allowed me to recondition the Stage 2 head. This year the car is undergoing a complete bare-metal restoration which (I have been promised) will be completed in time for us to attend the first event of the season at Weston Park, on Sunday April 20th. Wherever she goes, IRIS BLUE generates a lot of interest, with her unusual colour and certified age (Heritage Certificate Number 97/4969) she is one of the very first MGBs. We might therefore see some trophies coming our way this year!

Again, ownership of the car has not been without one or two incidents, however the most memorable once again concerned the Bronte Run. During the journey up to Yorkshire on the day before the run, the inlet manifold studs sheared. We managed to coax the car to the Hotel, and contacted the emergency breakdown cover provided by the organisers of the event (much thanks to Warren of Classic Car Restorations, Bedfordshire). Replacement studs were sourced and a quick fix effected by Warren so we could complete the run on Saturday, which we did in monsoon conditions.

Entertaining the crowds, re-fitting the inlet manifold studs after the Bronte Run

Unsurprisingly, Sunday dawned warm and sunny, however I awoke with a tremendous headache (stress-induced no doubt) and was definitely feeling under the weather. The car was booked to be on the Show Ground for the gala, which was normally a very enjoyable event as it encompassed live music (you have not lived until you have heard a steel band play the hallelujah chorus!), variety entertainment, a fair, auto jumble in addition to classic car show. I, however, spent the entire day with my head stuck under the bonnet re-fitting the inlet manifold studs and nursing a king-size headache. This activity created an enormous amount of interest and helpful comment. Less useful were the smokers who insisted on peering into the engine cavity ‘with a fag on!’

In 1999 I decided to become self-employed and launched my own garden design business, August Garden Designs Ltd. IRIS BLUE has been a godsend, as she always breaks the ice with clients during initial visits on a glorious day, when the colour of her paintwork in only overshadowed by the colour of the sky. Many clients have stories of having owned an MG themselves and this provides a useful point of contact.

My day-to-day (and rainy day) workhorse for the business during this period had been a Mark 2 Golf GTi, but I felt a change was needed, to something that had the same cachet and ‘client appeal’ as IRIS BLUE. Not really considering another MG, a chance meeting with our bodywork expert (John Moody of MG Services, Sandbach) lead me to a car he was selling for another client.

‘Trusty work-horse’ the MGB GT V8 at the 2001 Royal Horticultural Show at Tatton Park, Cheshire

Hence a Glacier White, Rubber Bumper MGB GT V8 (KSS 66P) became my every-day and business car. He has the same power as the Golf, and the styling/cachet is right. Now fitted with a tow bar and trailer he can even cope with small business deliveries. Of course, he is registered on the V8 Register and has been much admired within our club; other club members asked where we would store the petrol tanker, but the V8 has proved surprisingly economical (if I behave). Our neighbour compares the ‘muscular’ sound of the car to a B52 Bomber; Helen always knows when I am approaching the house as you can hear the V8 coming down the road before you can see it.

Word came that the purchase of the V8 had been agreed whilst I was helping a business associate build a show garden at the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society Show at Tatton Park, Cheshire. In July 2002 the trusty V8 and trailer became a stylish and much admired work-horse during the building of my own, first ever show garden at Tatton. The garden was entitled ‘The Spirit of Motoring’ and was inspired by my love of MGs and motoring in general, reflecting on motorway gridlock versus the fast-disappearing open road, which one can only enjoy now in far-flung areas of Britain. The garden won a Silver Medal!

Clive and associates with the ‘Silver Medal’ winning show garden at Tatton Park

The Spirit of Motoring – show garden at Tatton Park

The V8 ‘work-horse’ has been a reliable addition to our ‘stable’ of MG/Rover cars. Helen has a much loved Rover 75 company car, affectionately know as ‘Desmond’ and when IRIS BLUE is back on the road, the V8 might be treated to a new interior so he does not feel ‘left out’. During a visit to our local B&Q warehouse last summer, I returned to the car to find a gentleman nearly in tears standing next to it; he explained that he had owned the V8 in the 1970’s, had reluctantly sold it and was almost overcome by seeing it again. I asked if he wanted to sit in the passenger seat but it would have been just too much for him.

This demonstrates in what high regard and affection MG cars are held, even long after the vehicle has left ownership. I feel privileged and proud to have known four such vehicles and to have experienced the ups and downs of ownership. The dreams of a little boy were borne out by reality!

Clive A. Mollart