South Whidbey “Sports Car Club”

South Whidbey Informal Club gathering

It’s not really anything like a “real” club, just an open-to-anyone gathering once or twice a month on a Saturday. Bring an interesting old car (doesn’t really need to be a sports car, either) for an enjoyable morning spent spreading bull and gawking at cars. My GT was was the sleaziest machine here, which is probably why it has everyone gathered around it.

Naming all of the cars should be pretty easy–but the one at the far end may give you pause.

New Boots

1963 MGB & 1967 MGB GT

In one of those fortunate coincidences, a gentleman up in Anacortes was offering a set of good wire wheels with nearly new tires to fit an MGB on craigslist for $200, and since I desperately needed tires, I emailed as soon as I saw the ad. Fortunately, I was the first to be able to get to his house–the GT now has new boots.
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Another Magneto Rebuild

1954 BSA A10 Golden Flash

Here is the BSA in a friend’s borrowed shop, with the timing side cover off and the magneto removed in preparation for another rebuild of the balky electrical device, this time hopefully for good. I would ride this bike a lot more than I do, but the poor starting from hot makes it a chore, not a pleasure. I’m dropping the mag in the mail tomorrow; hopefully by this time next week Bill will be able to tell me what is wrong and how much it will be to fix it.

I need to reseal the front forks, too, a job which is not much fun. Not going to worry much about it at the moment. The bike also needs a detail in the most desperate way, and that I will take care of!

GT Arrives from Sunbake City

1967 MGB GT

The ’67 GT arrived today from San Diego. My friend Paul is manning the wheel while Dave (of “Dave and the Dog” auto transport) guides him off the trailer. The car is very straight, valance panel aside, and the paint is baked, along with the interior. But it’s a nice car. And as a bonus, it was originally painted Grampian Grey, a nice medium grey which I hope to return the car to.
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Hello 1967 MGB GT

1967 MGB GT

I’ve wanted a nice early MGB GT for awhile now, and now I own this example. These early GTs had pleasing crackle-finish metal dashes, old-style switches, low-back leather seats, the early style grille and non-syncro gearboxes–all things I admire.

A friend spotted this for sale (in San Diego) and I’ve agreed to buy it for a very reasonable price, even if you include the shipping. The previous owner bought it in the early 1970s and, aside from the severely sun-faded paint, it’s largely original and runs well.

The car does not have overdrive, which is the only upgrade I’d care to make from the original specification. I have yet to own an MGB with overdrive, which is surprising given how much nicer it makes the car on the highway. Ah, well, I’ll keep my eyes peeled for another non-sycro O/D gearbox…

Goodbye, Vanden Plas

I sold the Vanden Plas earlier today for just a smidgen more than I paid for it. I like the car and felt it was good value, but I’m going to stick to genuinely old stuff for the time being.

I’ve been doing some long-delayed work on the ’63 MGB–I’ll post a roundup of what’s been happening under that bonnet in the next day or so.