MG Update

Posted On Saturday, May 02, 2009 at at 12:51 PM by Rich  

Just got off the phone with my brother, who you'll remember is restoring my 1974 MG Midget for me.  (I have helped, btu he's done 90% of the work).

We're getting close!  It might be ready to come to Colorado by June 1!  On the docket to get it complete:
  • Front brakes need replaced (in progress)
  • Master cylindar needs rebuilt (in progress)
  • Muffler needs replaced (have the muffler, shop will replace)
  • Need to put the top on
  • Need to replace the center console and mount the stereo
That's IT!  Then just some tuning and we're good.  I'm dying.  Trying to see if I should head back to Iowa over Memorial weekend to check it out (and maybe bring it back?).

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New info on my car color.

Posted On Monday, October 27, 2008 at at 11:40 AM by Rich  

So apparently "Barbera Red" on my new car is not a reference to a cult movie classic or former first lady (obviously), but instead it's a booze reference.

Yes, shocking as it may seem, I subconsciously chose the color for my new car based on a variety of grape used to make wine. I'd never heard of it before, but I guess it's out there.

I guess "vodka-tonic white" wasn't available from BMW anymore.

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Barak'Rolled at the RNC

Posted On Monday, September 08, 2008 at at 8:41 AM by Rich  

Sometimes I love the digital age... this is a cunning piece of editing, if I do say so myself.  I bet the RNC is wishing no one ever got video of their raw blue screen behind McCain where they projected all those patriotic images (and one random image that looked like one of McCain's houses).




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What the heck?

Posted On Saturday, September 06, 2008 at at 8:06 AM by Rich  

So Microsoft's new ad campaign for Vista launched... here's the video:



Their ad agency says: Today, we are kicking off a highly visible advertising campaign. The first phase of this campaign is designed to engage consumers and spark a new conversation about Windows - a conversation that will evolve as the campaign progresses, but will always be marked by humor and humanity. The first in this series [...] aims to re-ignite consumer excitement about the broader value of Windows.

I say "WTF?"  I suppose if the conversation they want to start is "what the hell does that ad have to do with Windows or Vista?" they've accomplished their goals.  Rumored the ads are coming from Crispin Porter, which surprises me.  If this is how MS plans to kill Apple, Steve Jobs must feel a lot like Barak Obama after hearing McCain picked Palin.  "We can deal with this."

Weird.

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New Car

Posted On Monday, September 01, 2008 at at 12:40 PM by Rich  


While I'm on the car thing, we went up to Gebhardt BMW this weekend to get a "pre-turn in estimate" on my car for wear and tear.  Overall, it came out pretty good.

  • Ding in the rear bumper where someone tapped me WAY too hard - $400
  • Scrapes on 3 of the alloy wheels - $100 ea - $300 total
  • Scrape on the front bumper - $50ish to buff it out
While we were there drove a GORGEOUS blue 328xi coupe - it drove well, but getting people in and out of the back would be tricky - unless they were small children or little people.  

We also drove a maroon 335xi with black interior (pictured above).  The car drove like a dream - and was essentially my old 330xi with a different color, bigger engine and lacking navigation - otherwise it was all the same features.

At the end of the day, they forgave the damage on my car due to the low miles (they decided to keep it and sell it instead of send it back to BMW), forgave the last 3 lease payments (this is very common of BMW) and gave us a great deal on the 335xi.  So now it's in our garage - and I have a new car.

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Update on the MG

Posted On at at 12:27 PM by Rich  

I totally forgot to post this - even though I have a Picasa & Flickr album up for the thing.  I spent a week or so in early August home in Iowa working on the MG Midget with my brother. We got it SO CLOSE - almost close enough to bring back to Denver.  But... when we were testing the brakes, the master cylinder popped it's seals and *poof* no rear brakes.  Front ones worked so we drove it around a bit, but it's still in Iowa.  Hoping to get the brakes done and bring it back here soon.  Here are a few pics once we got it out of the driveway.

For those keeping score at home, we've made a lot of progress:

Complete:
  • New Wheels & Tires
  • Paint/Body Work Done
  • Carpet installed
  • Gas tank installed
  • New seats installed
  • Windshield installed
  • Trunk carpet installed
  • Lights rewired & finished
  • New Dash Cover installed
Remaining to do:
  • Finish Top (got part way done but were missing snaps, so had to stop)
  • Finalize stereo install (part way done, but need a new center console)
  • Fix Brakes (top on the list)
  • Door panels (tricky with the windows/etc.)
  • Tune Engine
That's really it.  So close, yet so far away (darn brakes).  More to come when it's complete!

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Back from the body shop!

Posted On Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at at 6:35 PM by Rich  


My brother called the other day to say he was picking up the car from the body shop.

There were some issues with the fuel lines/gas tank ($249.99 later a new gas tank is en route to my brother to replace it).

I'm so excited seeing these camera phone pics he sent over. The body looks amazing. The color is perfect. It's truly flawless.

For those who are curious, the paint job was ~$1,400 all in. We did choose a custom color which drove up the cost a bit, and had some body work done at the same time (though that fender you see in the foreground is brand new - ordered from the Victoria British catalog).

For a quick look at what the interior might look like, check out this second pic my brother sent. Now I REALLY want to drive it!


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