Conference terri::cars_uk

	Count me in as an MGA enthusiast. I've noticed a few restored
	examples being tempted out by the sunshine lately and think
	that the styling looks better as time goes by. Such a change from
	todays boxes.

	Certainly a car I'd like to have for those summer days. I can
	remember when there were many available for just hundreds of
	pounds but now it's as many thousands. If only I'd had a
	barn to put all these cars in!.

	What I would suggest is that it would pay to join a UK club
	because this would provide contacts to suppliers and other
	information. You might even get discounts on parts. There are
	two major MG car clubs in Britain, The MG Car Club (see 162.1),
	and The MG Owners Club (see 346.3). The Car Club is mainly for
	pre-war and T series cars, the Owners Club for 'modern' models
	such as the MGB. I don't know which is best for the 'A' type
	but would guess the Owners Club. Certainly the Owners Club is
	much the biggest (biggest in Britain, perhaps the World) and
	have professional magazines full of adverts from suppliers etc.

	If making a visit it would very much pay to organise this to
	coincide with a national MG rally. These are inevitably held
	on summer weekends. You should find all the suppliers present
	and be able to buy lots of parts in one place, apart from being
	able to see all the other cars/owners.

	One point to note regarding 'remanufactured' parts is that they
	do tend to vary in quality and price is not the only consideration.

	-John

    
    Re which club to join.
    
    The A races in the MGOC races, so they obviously cater for such cars.
    
    Mark
    
    PS I like 'em too.

    Re .1
    
    The MG Car Club caters mainly for the sporting enthusiast and is
    licenced by the RAC to promote motor sport.  The MG Owners club is more
    of a social club and is not allowed to promote competative motor sport.
    
    Remanufactured parts are a nightmare.  As the owner of a *real*
    sportscar, a Triumph TR3 I have found over the years never to buy mail
    order.  Go and inspect the parts for yourself.  Talk to the people
    about the materials used and their attitude to quality and customer
    satisfaction.  A friend of mine bought some boot hinges for his Triumph
    some years ago and the plating peelrd of with in a year.  When he
    complained he got the brush off.
    
    Moss at Richmond also cater for MGs.  I will try to remember to find
    their details.  Their parts are good and they have full workshop
    facilities for both Triumph and MGs.  
    
    good luck with the rebuild - mine's taken about 8 years so far and I
    haven't finished taking it to pieces yet!
    
    Alan

    
    Oh well, in that case, the A races in MGCC races!?!? :^)
    
    Mark

	I feel pretty sure that there are MGOC sponsored races.

	-John

    
    I must admit that MGCC doesn't look as right as MGOC does.
    
    Mark

I've just bought a slew of Moss parts for my '74 Midget.  They seem to be of
very good quality.

Here in the US, their prices seem to be as good, or better, than many of the
other mail order MG parts houses.

-Al

    Thanks for the advise. I do restore/re-use as much of the parts as
    posible. Not only for money reasons (it will cost a lot anyway), but
    also because I like to keep the car as original as posible. For most
    mechanical parts this is no problem. (It took me a lot of time and
    creativity to get the brake/clutch cylinder operating again; it was
    completely stuck and rusted.) 
    
    The "only" thing which realy looks a problem to me is restoring some of
    the outer, visible body-parts. The back-section looks fine at the outside;
    inside some partial replacements are needed. But as these are "out of
    sight", this won't be a real problem. The front section however is not
    that good anymore. Apart from some rust-holes (just there were the
    wings join the hood...) it also had a minor accident. I don't think
    I can maintain the smooth "figure" enough (to my taste) when I have to
    weld-in new pieces. I mean if it was flat surface, it wouldn't be a
    problem. But to shape metal exactly to fit on the bonnet etc., no can do.
    So these body-parts will be the most important things for me to buy.
    Indeed I don't want to mail-order them, but check it out myself. 
    
    The F-section ( _|_| ) for example (combined sill and doorposts) costs
    about 70 Pounds (excl. VAT) in the U.K. (according to some ad.). In
    Holland, the same part costs about 130 pounds (ex). Its worth it to
    visit England and have a look myself. 
    I'll also take the advise and join the MGOC. They might also have some
    advise on which shops to turn to for which parts...
    
    Thanks again,
    
    Steven.

    
    You asked what an SAE is.
    
    Its a stamped addressed envelope.
    
    What you will need to do is find the cost of postage from England to
    Holland, and that should do it!
    
    Steve

You can get "interntaional reply coupons" (or something similar), which you can
buy in your own country, and post to another.  These can then be used as the
return postage.  Gets round the problem of being unable to get British stamps
in Holland!

    
>    What you will need to do is find the cost of postage from England to
>    Holland, and that should do it!
    
Same as it is from England to England...

    
    A quick scan through the oracle of all knowledge (Motoring News! :^))
    has revealed that BOTH MGCC and MGOC run races for MGs. However, the
    main MG race series is run by the MGOC.
    
    Mark

    I've been a MGA owner for nearly ten years ('61 MkII sadly I'm still
    far from having a runner!).  I would strongly recommened the MGCC to 
    anyone interested in these cars.  I'm afraid I'm a bit biased as I was
    on the committee of the MGCC MGA Register for quite a few years.  
    
    The car club run an MGA race series each year with races at about a
    dozen circuts throughtout the UK each season.  The're always good fun
    to watch and there's usally alot of other MG's racing at the same
    meetings.  I'm sure the MGOC have some MGA's racing but I think you'll
    find the MGOC has a much bigger representation of post MGA cars.
    
    Each year the Register organise an MGA Day at Waddesdon Manor near
    Aylesbury.  It is usually attended by about 80 car's from all over the
    UK. The Event is usually the first or second sunday in June.  Its not a
    comercial event and makes a good day out for the family. (The House and
    gardens are worth a visit if you tear yourself away from all those
    cars!)
    
    The register has orgaised Two rebuild seminars in the last 3 years,
    there was'nt one this year so perhaps there will be another in the
    spring.
    
    We also have a stand at Silverstone for the MG Car Club weekend in May
    the racing is always great and most of the trade companies have stands.
    
    I may not have got my car back on the road yet but I know lot's who
    have and who will often give excellent advice (especially if your a
    club member, however just having an interest is usually good enough.)  
    
    I'm not often a reader of this conference but if I might be able to help 
    or your interested in the Car Club, the MGA Register or the racing 
    please mail me at VANONE::WALLACE.
    
    				Regards,
    
    					Ian C. Wallace
    
    

    Correction
    
    	The MGA DAY at Waddesdon Manor is usually first or second 
    	Sunday in JULY not June.
    
    			See you there next year!
    
    				Regards,
    
    					Ian