richmackey - the blog

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?).

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.

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!

Got a camera phone pic from my brother last night. It appears the body work is nearly done on the MG - they just have to put the fenders back on (you can see them in the back waiting patiently).

From there, it's on to the interior, top, tires/wheels and fine tuning and then it should be done. I really can't wait. On top of how long the car has been in storage, just painting it has taken FOREVER!

I haven't posted in a while, but figured I should. The image to the left is auto paint on a piece of metal - ahead of a full repaint of a car. But I should back up.

In 1991 I bought a 1974 MG Midget for $2300. I actually got a loan for it (kind of laughable for me these days) and within 1 year, promptly had an accident that smashed in one of the doors and then put it into storage. The car has shuffled around to 3 or 4 different storage sites in Iowa (including one out on a farm next to a barn) over the past 15 years and ultimately, had a lot of body damage, a bit of rust and the killer - rats had chewed through all of the wiring, upholstery and carpet.

While in storage (and before the rat damage) I had 2 new carburetors (yes, it has 2) and a new clutch put in. That was sometime in the late 90's.

About a year ago, I decided it was high time to fully restore the car. A quick online estimator showed that it was worth about $14,000 fully restored (my insurance company confirmed this - as that is what they independently valued the car at). My brother, who is quite adept at mechanical things, has been working on it since.

We're now at the point where he has everything he needs to finish the job - though it's taken 3+ weeks to get the thing painted. Which is why I'm writing this post. The above image is all I have of the car. My brother swears he's taken a ton of pictures, but they're too big to email from his hotmail account, so here I sit.

The car SHOULD be out of the body shop and back at my brother's garage having the upholstery and carpet put in, engine tuned, new exhaust put on, etc. But I haven't yet been able to confirm that.

Here's what it looked like last time I saw it:


More to come on this I'm sure. Hopefully I'll be driving it soon!