Most articles by MG Owners paint a picture of buying in haste and repenting at leisure, you know the sort of thing, wonderful looking car, just needing a little work that ends up a complete rebuild. My story is somewhat different.

 I started my motoring career in the late 50s, progressing through various pre-war cars, Morris 8 Tourer, Austin, Hillman etc. On to the Minis then the Sprite, various MG Midgets and a never to be forgotten Spitfire. An 1800 Gilbern with MG running gear (a bit like a BGT) was my first exposure to ‘big’ MGs. On then to various saloons but with the Midget often as a second car, until I bought a Honda Concerto. Wonderful car, went well, stopped well, but within its first three 3 years started to show a worrying tendency to have bits of electronics play up and above all it was BORING.

So in April 1994 I sold the beast and started to look through our local paper, drew my attention to an almost unique MGB. It was 1980, had done only 6000 miles and was in ‘as new’ condition. It was also a lot more than I anticipated paying for a ‘reasonable’ car. Nevertheless, we went and had a look at it, drove it, looked at it again and went away thinking it was really too expensive for a 14 year old car.

 That evening we talked it over, the car was not really run in and whilst it was not concours, it looked and handled like a car that had only done 6000 miles. History was a little difficult as it had had 5 owners, each I presume, taking a profit as the collectors car market rose during the early 90s.

The following day I rang and made an offer, which was accepted. I now had a car that was almost new and could be used as such without the problems normally associated with a car of its age.

The first thing I did was to get a volumetric alarm, the car re-waxoyled and under wing shields fitted – no water ingress for my car.

I then purchased a ‘Carcoon’ so that when not on the road it would live in the lap of luxury in my brick built garage. I transferred my cherished number BBB 3B (quite appropriate), arranged insurance that covered both business and pleasure and all was set to go.

 BUT first, before taking to the road, check the weather forecast – rain possible? Then use the Metro. Where shall we go now the weather is settled? A busy car park? Let’s take the Metro or my wife’s Ford convertible. Going to be a very hot day, dangers of overheating take the Ford or Metro.

All in all, in the 6 years that I have owned the car. I have added less than 4000 miles. The car gets a lot of servicing, new battery (it already had a stainless exhaust) new tyres because the originals started to go off, new water pump because they don’t like standing around.

We do use the car and it doesn’t overheat but we only go to places like Prescott, where people appreciate other people’s property, on circular excursions where we don’t have to leave the car or to friends who have secure off road parking. But it still doesn’t get properly used. I know that is stupid and that I can’t buy a similar car for its agreed value (£8000) but nevertheless it will still not get the use it should have. It has got to go for a car that I will use in all weathers (in the summer) and to all locations (within reason).

The moral of this tale is, don’t buy or restore a car to the point at which it is too good to use.