One sexy TwinCam - $80k

This car really show how beautiful a MGA is. Nicely turned out resto.

http://thelastdetail.com/galleria_detailed.php?id=348&nhs=0&make=All+Vehicles

Yes, very nice and I'm sure most of us would kill for it (or even a drive in it).

A few disappointing details. Aren't those 'B speedo & tach?

Much nicer than the twin cam one of our club members hauled out of the weeds last week. This one is only good for parts.

That'll buff out, I think.

Very nice but overpriced.
I am certainly no stickler for originality and I do like the Sebring look with the valances and fairing, and even the Aston style filler looks good, but for even half of that kind of money I would want the original seats and would replace the Aeroquip hose fittings with more appropriate looking ones. Can't say the steering wheel looks like it belongs either. All of these items could have been done in a period look without a lot of trouble.

Rich

"A" speedo & tach, I believe.

For that pocket change, I believe Id fix the dent in the fender, or does the glare just look that way.

If I had 80K burning a hole in my pocket I'd be on it in a heart beat. It's not presented as a 100 point car, so why all the sticky questions about original parts? Most of what's there is period or period looking (including the seats) I really like the fabricated tonneau cover, and the construction detailing is impressive.

Even if you started with a clean, but stock twin cam, I can't imagine you could get to this end point for less than 80K.

Steve

JackMG Wrote:

glare, the broadside doesnt show anything. I thought the same and looked twice. It would look better with a pair of Scott's seats in it. The ones used are just wrong.

neely Wrote:

Honestly, having now restored 2 MGAs (racetoration) and knowing the time it takes to produce a beautiful driver like this TC, I admit its a tad high. Lets look at costs....

- A (good) complete TwinCam - 25-30k
- complete body/frame resto - 15-20k (professionally done)
- mild race prep motor - 10-15k
- proper gearbox with quaif gears - 2k
- limited slip with proper gear ratio - 2k
- interrior - 1k
- tire and wheels - 1.5k
- suspension, mild race prep for rally - 3-4k

Did I stir the pot? 8^)

This guy is asking top dollar for a non-concours car. Normally, that just doesn't happen - the correct concours version is cinsidered (by the marketplace) to be the most valuable, and a modified car worth less. If all of the original parts are present, you can get away with more, but there is a lot missing here.

You guys seem to be beguiled by a snazzy paint job. Aside from the missing Twincam bits, some of which would be hard to find, they didn't bother with basic restoration tasks like painting the head and block the correct colour.

I note that they did incorrectly paint the 'MG' emblem on the cam covers (not the first time I've seen that mistake, even in books) - I suppose that they were just doing whatever they fancied. Wrong radiator, no place for the rad draft excluder....one could go on and on. At least they didn't chrome everything in sight.

Nice car? You bet. Worth 80K? Not to my way of thinking. This is a poseur car - not legal for racing, but made to look like a pretend race car. Of limited utility other than to drive to and from shows in the good weather.

Although I am not by any means a concours purist (I often do whatever pleases me on my own cars), I just can't see this substantially non-original example reaching the same price level as a correct car or one that has been reversibly modified, sold with all the original parts.

Or, of course, he could get lucky and find some plastic surgeon/ investment broker/ litigation lawyer (you choose) making $1,000,000/year who doesn't care whether it should sell for $50k, $60k, $70k or $80k.

For once, I agree with Bill....and with Derek as well!

The seats look period, but unfortunately that period is 25+ years after the car was built. The Competition Deluxe seats which were optionally available on the Twin-Cam are correct "period" competition seats.
Within the last six months I saw a Twin-Cam for sale locally which was totally restored to genuine concours condition by the leading North American Twin-Cam restorer, Jim Alcorn. The asking price was $45,000. To convert to the Sebring fairings and headrest would cost no more than $4-5,000. including paint. I believe that the car had competition deluxe seats, but if it didn't they would cost about another $2500.
If you total that up you will find it is considerably less than the $80,000. being asked for the Cafe Racer in question.

Cheers,
Rich

BTW: Not meaning to sound snotty, but just responding to Steve's comments above.

Rich in Vancouver Wrote:

Anyway you look at it, its good for the MGA market.

Like the property tax bill, Scott would you sell your racecar for $80k? How much would it take to recreate it with all the experiences you've gained? Nice car and like buying a lottery ticket fun to discuss what to do with all that money.

Hi JIm... I have been offered some pretty crazy money for my car (insert plastic surgeon/ investment broker/ litigation lawyers here). But as you stated, how do you put a price on 4 years of experiences of building, sorting and racing?

Speaking of which... i'm loading up this morning to head to Sears Point for the CSRG Charity Race. Have a great weekend you MGheads.

scott

Rich in Vancouver Wrote:

I could write the check and it wouldn't bounce, as long as no-one noticed that I'd left off a couple of zero's.

Derek, sounds like the one I posted is more in line with our budgets. Just a few bucks and some buffing! Sounds good to me. ;-)

Cheers all.
I always get a little worried when a seller starts using descriptions like "Rallye" (What's with the "ye" anyway?) and "Pebble Beach quality paint job" Comments like those tend to set off alarm bells. Surprised he didn't mention Barrett-Jackson!

Anyway, here's one of my all-time favorite MGA Twin-Cam race pics, taken at Laguna Seca in 1986, just down the road from Pebble Beach.
BTW: This one looks quite a bit like your cars Scott!

Rich

That is one beauty of a TC... I've yet to see it here on the West Coast. Maybe one of Jim Alcorns cars?