Well my summer began with a move from our acrage up in NE Washington.. over to the Seattle area last April. After leaving my Rovers, Sprite and the big trucks behind... I decided to see what I could find to play with here...So alas the search began....
After poking my nose around some of my old haunts and such.... I went looking to see what might be on craigslist...... well after watching craigslist awhile I spotted a '68 AH Sprite... it was listed for $1200 or best offer.... So of course I grabbed the phone and punched in the number.. Little did I know that this was the first of two "barn/garage" finds that I was to happen on to....
Well seems the car was located up in North Seattle.... The car was last licensed/registered in 1976 and had been sitting in a garage since.. (see pix) Seems the seller was selling it for a woman in his church. She and her husband had purchased the car new in Southern Calif. and later moved up to Seattle. In the mid '70's there was some issue with the car (she couldn't remember what) and the Sprite was shoved into the garage and became the project that was never quite started.. Yuppers.. one of those "I'm gonna restore that car someday" projects....... and so for 31 years the car sat.... got leaked on...and had stuff banged against it....lol After negotiating a price substantially less than the $1200 asked..... I became the owner of my second Sprite... (although the Primrose Yellow HAS got to go..lol)
The top was in rags..but it came with an excellent tonneau and boot cover... as well as an original set of tonneau support rods.. As to the interior??? All I can say is it was in GREAT cond... only a couple of seam splits in the seats... (easy repair).. and the pillow dash?? in excellent cond. nary a crak.. and still plyable as well..woohoo.
When I popped the hood? I was treated to an absolutely un-touched engine compartment.... That's right guys... never screwed with at all.... EVERYTHING as it is/was supposed to be........ take a look at the pix and tell me what you think...
Barn/garage find.. last licensed in 1976
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MG Midget Forum: Barn/garage find.. last licensed in 1976
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Sep 29, 2007 23:59:29
Sep 30, 2007 06:13:37
Looks like a great find!
How about some pictures of the engine bay?
Sep 30, 2007 12:35:40
Bryanm362 Wrote:
Quote: "
Looks like a great find!
How about some pictures of the engine bay?
"
Looks like a great find!
How about some pictures of the engine bay?
"
Uhhhhh....... would ya believe??? I forgot to take any of the engine bay before I started work pulling the engine...lol
The eng (1275) was "stuck" from sitting so I pulled it and stripped it down to soak.... I figure it's just a case of stuck rings as the bores are clean and smooth... with NO discernable ridge eather..woohoo. so it should be a nice easy rebuild... re-hone the bores...new bearings/gaskets/cam..... and of course do a valve grind as well....
I still need to pull the ribcase and make sure all the gears still have all their teeth..lol and that everything works....... If not? I have 5 or 6 good rib-case tranny's foating around and several box's of parts if I need any....lol
For those of you with early cars??? I have a crap load of smooth-case tranny parts as well..... lots of gears.....etc.....
Michael
Oct 01, 2007 18:54:15
Great find. I am looking for a Midget like that one. I guess I need to start peeking into peoples yards and see what is covered up behind the garage/barn.
Oct 02, 2007 14:07:03
mgb65 Wrote:
Quote: "
Great find. I am looking for a Midget like that one. I guess I need to start peeking into peoples yards and see what is covered up behind the garage/barn.
"
Great find. I am looking for a Midget like that one. I guess I need to start peeking into peoples yards and see what is covered up behind the garage/barn.
"
Smile... I have found MORE cars... by driving the alley's rather than the regular streets.. I found my rover 2000TC that way.. one owner and only paid a hundred bucks.... same with my '59 Thunderbird.... found it sitting behind a garage.. paid $400 for that one.. and with both just took a bit of tinkering and drove them home
Oct 03, 2007 18:37:47
Will on subject of barn yard find. Got two sitting in barn. A 74 and rust 78 or 79 Midget. Both photo's of the 74. More photo's here. http://s177.photobucket.com/albums/w224/mgman75/
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