MG Car Club of South Australia
MY FIRST MG
From..Neil Williams
W
back into the cabin. So my Brother in
law says I know where we can get a
good engine and the cost is nothing
(never ask too many questions). One
weekend (I think it was Easter) the en-
gine was changed over in a very cold
and draftee garage. Then it became an
excellent car especially driving in the
English winter, snow, ice, sleet and all
the other good things one tends to for-
get. Lots of memories.
Let’s fast forward about nearly 50 years
and would I like that car now? Yes, af-
ter being in the club for some 20 odd
years and I now knowing a lot more
about that lovely little car of course. I
eventually sold it for 85 pounds unbe-
lievable.
Obviously my interest is still with MGs
and over the years have owned many
others not as many as some but I think
the count is about 7.
here did I see my first MG, proba-
bly cruising down Rundle street
on a warm summers night with the roof
down of course, maybe it was the latest
model MGA or maybe a TF. Then of
course on weekends there was Mallala,
really where else would you go on a
Sunday, although in the early days hav-
ing no licence it meant getting there was
always a challenge.
I always saw many types of cars racing
including of course MGA`s against many
others makes & models but the image of
the MG`s were firmly fixed in my mind,
something like a dream to own one.
Fast forward a few years into the very
early 70ys and at that time I was work-
ing in London and yes still not enough
money to buy an MG, but then again in
an English winter who would want a soft
top, complete with the cold, draftee,
leaks, all the nice things we now know
about.
I had been driving a Triumph Herald but
the MOT expired so no car again but my
Brother in law at the time said would I
like to buy an MG. What a silly ques-
tion, but how much?
My idea of an MG and his was quite dif-
ferent , but when he told me the price at
30 pounds it sounded too good to be
true , but why worry although at the time
30 pounds was a week’s wages .
So when he arrives with the car of
course it’s not a sports car it’s a Mag-
nette Saloon. Disappointed of course
but what do you want for 30 quid .Yes
the story was the lady who owned it just
wanted it removed from her property as
her husband who was in goal, so any-
thing of his she just wanted to get rid of.
It was a 1958 green/grey Varitone with
the large rear window , and it ran really
well except for the oil fumes coming
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