MG Lives in Lebanon
Allaa Danf is an unusual member of the MGOC. Although he is currently working in London. He keeps his restored BGT back at his home in Lebanon where it is a very distinctive car indeed.
Allaa had planned to get the BGT fully restored in time for his birthday as a special gift to himself but working in the UK made carrying out the rebuild difficult. He is therefore particularly grateful to his brother Nizar who played a major role in the project and devoted a great deal of time to getting the car completely restored. Nizar was supervising all the work in local workshops and paint shops, ordering the necessary parts and then getting everything put back together again. From the photographs it is clear that Nizar did a brilliant job, especially as he knew that that Allaa would be returning to the Lebanon to get married and the car would have to look its very best and be completed in time.
Work under way on Allaa’s BGT
Allan and his bride Sarah on their wedding day 16th October 2005 at Baalishmay in the Lebanon
The MGB GT as a wedding car
Allaa’s brother Nizar at the wheel of the BGT among the cedars
Allaa chats with the editor on a visit to the MGOC at Swavesey
Many components had to be sourced from the UK with MGOC Spares and Fisher Services of Sydenham providing the majority of them. Allaa reckons that he has spent around £3,500 on replacement parts for the BGT and a further £800 on bodywork repairs plus another £800 on paintwork. On top of that he has spent £500 on mechanical and performance parts and £600 on the electrics and a sound system plus a further £300 on new chrome. Having all the work done in the Lebanon has meant that although the labour costs have been substantially lower than in the UK and the workmanship has proved to be of a very high standard indeed. All the work was based in the Baalishmay workshops of Lebanon.
The climate in the Lebanon should be much kinder to the MGB GT but Allaa is pleased that he is able to keep the car safely under cover in a garage.
The quality of the finish on Allaa’s BGT is exemplary
The plane is actually a local restaurant
The classic good looks of the GT are set off by immaculate Rosso Red paintwork
Allaa says that wherever he goes in the BGT the car always draws a crowd of admirers because an MG is a very rare sight and really stands out among the Mercedes and BMWs. Although still working in London Alla takes every opportunity to go back to his beautiful homeland, visit his loved ones and enjoy driving his MGB GT.
Allaa is keen to start an MG Owners’ Club in Lebanon and would like to hear from any MG owners and enthusiasts in his country the contact address will be: THE MG DRIVERS CLUB LEBANON, Baalishmay Square, PO. BOX: 01, Lebanon. TEL: +961 3 199 249