Would you trade your MG (s) for your first car?

I was going through some old boxes and found a bag of 35-mm negatives. I went through them and was shocked to find 4 negatives of my first car- A 1969 GTO. I didn't know any picture of the car still existed...I don't even know if the car is still around.

I bought it from my best friend in 1979 when I was 16 after the brake lines blew out and we almost had a head-on collision with a school bus at 70 mph. (he was convinced the car was cursed)

I bought it for $250.00 (and got a running 68 GTO parts car as well) and sold it a few years later for $450.00---thought I made a good deal

I did the best I could converting the pics to digital files and restoring them (I'm going to take them to a pro restorer) and posted them on my Facebook page.

I then wrote the comment that I'd trade every car I own now to get that car back. But not because of the money its worth, but because of what it meant to me.

I'd trade both of my MG's, my Spitfire, Corvette, Honda...hell, I'd throw in my bicycles,riding mower and the garage they're all stored in to get that car back.

Does anyone here have a car like that in their past or are you lucky enough to have the 4-wheeled soul mate right now.
:)

First car was a 63 MGB. Of course I'd trade.

Doesn't apply to me. . . never sold my first car. I still have it some 40+ years later.

Cheers,

Rick

Yup....72' 240Z I would trade in a heartbeat ( if it were still in the condition I had it in)

trade for my first car? shoot, it is my first car! not my first running car, first running was an 87 blazer

I never had a GTO. I still own my two favorites,but there are a lot id still like to own.as far as a trade, it would have to be one hell of a deal.

The first was a 1960 Morris Minor convertible.. $50! loved that car. Maybe considering the place I'm at with the current B.

I have no early life MG memories.

Oh but the 72 Subaru 1400 DL I had when I was 16...

<sigh>

It just might be more than I could take to walk out and see that in the back yard.

1st car ... maybe? ('78 Alfa 2000 Spider)
4th car ... HELL YEAH I miss it SO bad and now with Internet I could actually care for and feed it sucessfully ('73 Alfa Romeo Montreal 2.6L V8)

Had to let it go 'cos it was down payment for my 1st house. :( I set a record for price fetched for one in 1991 (since broken)

I've kept track - it's happily living in Edinburgh, Scotland and not for sale .

New '65 Mustang ragtop - Red with white top and interior, 289 HiPerformance (271HP) and 4 speed.

I'm with Rick. First car was a B and I still have it.

Nope. The first car I actually purchased with my own money was/is my '66 Mustang GT coupe. Candy apple red, 289 4V, and original pony interior in the back seat. I still have it and, Lord willing, will never have to let it go. Although I drive my B a lot more than the Mustang, I've read too many stories like these filled with regret to ever consider letting it go.

This car - owned one 69-71 in Germany when in the Army. 1961 Fiat coupe' Not my first car, but my fourth.

My first car was a '72 Midget. B's have more room inside.

My 2nd car was a '67 MGB-GT. I'd trade the '70 & '71 GT's for the '67.

My first car was a 1967 Dodge Charger. Green over black with the shift on the tree, so it had a center cushion with a fold up arm rest. Great place for the GF to sit! The rear seats and security panel folded down to make a 7-1/2 foot bed. 383 with the carter two barrel, nothing special, automatic with posi rear end. But I wouldn't trade my TD for it. I still look at them on ebay though...

My first car was a 72 BGT (Green Mallard with Autumn Leaf Interior). I have driven Porsches ever since that car but I yearned for the simplicity and low cost so I bought my latest in Dec 2010. My daily driver is still and will likely always be a Porsche - awesome power, handling, brakes, comfort, dependable electronics, etc. the Germans really know how to do it right!

No. My first car was a yellow 105E Ford Anglia (the one with the raked rear window. I would trade it for my 64 MkIV Red Jag. even though it was rusty as hell.Just loved the walnut and red leather.

Would trade in less than a heartbeat! My 1st new car bought as a 22 y/o while stationed in UK. If I knew then what I know now...! 1965 Morgan 4/4 series V weber carb competition model.

First car maybe - parents gave me their Peugeot 204 (so there's some nostalgia) but 2nd car I'd be tempted to trade the B. It was a '70 Cooper S which I had out to 1293cc etc. Go kart on the roads (until it got hit by a truck!)

Hi,

My first car was a 1958 Austin Lancer, long gone to God.

I have recently acquired a 1958 Wolseley 1500, which is the same basic car, but with fancier trim, so I more or less have my first car, anyway.

Herb

Yes....I had a 1957 Chevy.

My first car was a 71 Merc Capri. Body had dents but it had a new rebuilt motor. I was amazed at the RPM range. I could wind it up to 50 in first gear!

One day the car quit moving while going through the gears. Removed the boot over the clutch cable into bell housing, pulled out a big WAD. My first thought was I had Moss growing in my transmission, then it hit me what I was holding was my clutch!
It was great to be 15!

My third car was a 77 MGB.

Would not trade for my first car but I do need a hardtop and it is between a BGT or a 76 Capri- need a hatchback. Searched the internet, there are NO 70's Capri's for sell in the US! Much more popular overseas.

My first car was a bronze and ivory '57 Chevy that I bought while in high school in 1966. Nice car - and would be worth a lot today - but, no, I wouldn't trade my MGB for it. Later on, I had a dark blue '65 Mustang with a white interior and white soft top. Stunning car! But again - no, I wouldn't trade the MG for it.

Absolutely! My first car was a 1960 MGA.

umm, dont know how to vote on this as I still have my 1st car/MGB !
RS

Nope--not a chance. First car was a 48 Plymouth 2 seater business coupe with an inline 8, 3 speed on the column. VERY plush, comfortable interior. Bought for $150. Would stay neck and neck with a VW in a drag race. However, 2nd car was a 62 MGA. THAT's when the bug bit. Would pay obscene bucks to have it back or everything in current stable.

No way, my first car was a 1965 Chev Belair 4 door with a 231 straight 6 and a column shifter. I remember I paid $200.00 for it in 1971. That car was nothing special, just basic transportation. My second car was a 1969 MGB that I bought in 1973. The difference between those two cars was like night and day. Would I trade my '74 B for my '69, again no way, my '74 is ten times nicer than the '69. But I would love to drive a '69 B again.

I'd have to say.....MAYBE. My first car was a '59 Porsche 356A coupe. While I dearly love all of the 356s I've had (and the one I still have), the MGs deliver so much more "bang for the buck", these days, that it would be a difficult decision.

My first car was a 77 B. I'd love to have it. Technically, I suppose I still own it since I parked next to my FIL shop and that's the last I saw. I'm sure he's moved it around and I haven't seen it in a couple decades.

Would I trade my newer 74 B for the 77? No. I want both. The 77 was acting up and I didn't get it figured out until after I moved. In hindsight I bet all I needed to do was put a new battery cable on. Ouch!

My first car was a 1974 Vega, so that is a definite NO.

Second car was a 1970 Camaro and I'd trade for that car in the condition it was when I sold it in a minute.

Yes I would. 61 Alpine in 1968.. I threw a rod through the block. It taught me a life long lesson. Never abused another machine.

You might all enjoy Matt Stone's new book "My First Car"... a collection of mostly self-written vignettes on folks like Jay Leno, Paul Newman, Steve McQueen, Robert Wagner, Tony Stewart... mostly car guys. My first car wasnt an MG, but it IS in the book.

Monte,

Contact Pontiac Historical Services on the web... I know that from your VIN they can tell you all about the birth of your car... they might also be able to provide some of its more recent history.

No. My first car was a gremlin.

David

Right about now, maybe? First car was a '41 Plymouth business coupe, bone stock, bought in 1954 for $75.

1st car - maybe - 63 Falcon convertible.
2nd car - in a heart beat - 65 Mustang convertible w/289

Only if gas goes down to 25 cents a gallon.

No - My first car was a 52 Chevy, 4-door with Powerglide in "turd tan". Cost me $85 in 1966. Got me from point A to point B and much better than walking.

Well, yeah. My first car was a 27 Olds that needed a total restoration; last licensce in 1941 then parked on a hill outside of Chelan, WA. My great uncle gave it to me. We got all of the chassis done and had started on the body.
I'd trade for my first running one also; 46 Chevy pickup in flat dark grey. It is still running around west Eugene.

First car was a 15 year old 1963 four door Rambler that I bought from a neighbor for $150. Drove it for 100,000 additional miles through college. Had to work on it most every weekend to keep it running. So no, I would not trade for that car.

However, my family had also owned a 1963 Rambler convertible. Quite a sporty car at the time. I do wish I still had that car today. It is very rare.

Of course there are also several others I wish - at times - that I still owned.

I still have every car I ever had including my first, except for a ’76 Spitfire parts car that I sold off in pieces through E-bay. But the Spit was free with the purchase of my ’69 TR6, so did I really buy it?? Guess that’s why I’m up to 10 cars now.

Yeah, I'd trade the B for my 1958 T-Bird - my first street-legal car. 125 mph on recap tires. Ah, youth...
Or for my 1954 TR 2 - which I did trade for a microphone and an Echo=plex. Wish I still had the Echo=plex, tho.
Maybe not for the 1962 Alpine, though - could never keep a tranny in it.
One of my 1966 VW campers? Heck yeah.
But I'd NOT trade it for anything I've driven since I got married in 1974.

Not my first car, a 60 Corvair four-door (but I'd add a 63 Monza Spyder Turbo to my collection)

Not my second car, a 62 Austin Healey Sprite (but I'd gladly add a 63 to my collection)

Not my third car, a 67 Morris Mini Cooper S in full Alpine Ralley Trim (boy would I love to have that car in my collection! Sadly I can't even find a picture of it, I know I have some somewhere)

Not my fourth car, a Fiat 128 Sedan(Try as I might, I could never get it to be as much fun as my third so my fantasy collection will have to include another Fiat (an X/19) instead.

However, to get back my fifth car, a 1955 BN-1 Austin Healey 100-4, I'd gladly trade my B GT and all of the above + the MGA, 2 MGB roadsters, and the Elva Courier I briefly owned as well.

No car I've ever owned was so much fun to drive, look at, or even repair. As a hot aluminum body dropped on to the drive train and chassis of a London Taxi cab, it is in my opinion the quintessential English Sports Car.

My first car was a '67 MGB. Wouldn't trade the '79 I have in the condition it's in for the '67 in the condition it was in when I sold it.

My second car was a 1972 BMW 2000 Touring. That could be tempting - that car was fast, accelerated well at any speed, held the road beautifully, had 4 real seats and was great for road trips. Tempting but not sure I would do it.

BobbyG

I'd trade them all -- my '64 MGB project, my '67 TR4A project and '67 MGB GT (rhd) driver for my first car, which just happened to be an OEW 1965 MGB bought in 1968 -- no restoration needed!

Bobby, you forgot to mention how rare that BMW model is!

This is my first car. I bought it in August 1970. The car is a 1965 MK1 B

My first car WAS an MGB.

My first car was a 53 Studebaker pickup. I don't think so.

My dad's 67 3000...definitely!!

Not my first car, an early 70's Karmann Ghia with the auto stick (basically a hybrid 4-speed manual with a torque converter).

It's a tough call, but I would trade it for the '71 Bronco I sold around 1998. It was in awful shape body wise. But it ran flawlessly and I just loved that truck. Lack of a garage was why I sold it then and didn't go looking for another one seriously when I bought my MG in December. Any first gen Bronco I could have gotten for what I paid for my GT would have been one good pothole away from turning to a pile of rusty dust. Of course I shouldn't have been able to buy my GT for the price I paid either.

Considering that my MG Midget *WAS/IS* my first car, I would have to vote a firm and resounding "NO"! (Or should I say "YES"??? The voting option for my situation was not very clear.)

My third car was a TR4 (NOT a TR4A). I would trade for it in a second. It was a great car, and I lament the necessity of selling it to this day.

Yep, first car in my name was a new 69 Camaro. Then I'd sell it and by a roadster and a GT! First car I paid for but was in my Dad's name was a 60 Renault Dauphine...not a chance!!!!

In a New York minute. First car was an Austin Healy, 1959 100-6. You do the math.

Ugh - not in a million years. My first was a hand-me-down 1988 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera with about 200k on it. Don't get me wrong, I was grateful to have my own car, but it got old having to neutral drop it at stop lights any time after I'd spent more than 10 minutes on the highway. That car was a dog. Even my wife (who really isn't superficial at all) wouldn't date me until I put it down.

Nope, first car was a 62 Comet 4 door, 6 cylinder, wide ovals, moon caps. Should have died a few times in it, had lot's of fun, but no. Now maybe my 2nd A, a beautiful red 1960 would tempt me again.

My first car was a mid-70s VW Bug with electrical problems that I never got to run correctly. The first car I drove a lot was my Mom's 1979 Ford Fairmont station wagon.

The B is safe!

Don't have to, fortunately...I still have it. A 1959 MGA was my HS graduation present in 1974. Just finished my second restoration on its last summer. Now if I can just find the title:S

First car was a '77 B. put over 100,000 mi on it before i fell asleep at the wheel and flipped the tail over the nose. Like my '73 better.

But......... "Got an MG for my wife................best trade I ever made!" :)-D

Just kidding, but i cant believe that hasnt been posted yet!

first car? a '47 dodge 4 door with the flathead 6 and a 3 speed fluid drive. no way.

now the first car i bought [around '63] 'cos i WANTED it, was a 55 chrysler new yorker convertable with the 331 hemi, wire wheels, and 2 speed automatic. paid 200 bucks and it had only 104,000 miles.needed a top. and paint. did that and then proceeded to put another 145,000 miles on her. never let me down. never touched the engine except for waterpumps.
found out years after i sold her that there were about 700 of 'em built. i'd trade all the toys to get her back again,in the condition she was in when i sold her to my bosses' son for 300 and a ford falcoln. he drove her for a couple years and sold her. then i lost track......

Oooh that Double Nickle New Yorker, Johnnie, sounds like a winner.!

she was a real winner. had over 200,000 miles on her when she took wife #1 and i on our honeymoon ... stratford ct to quebec, then on the newly opened trans canadian highway to montreal .... no speed limit then, kept her at 100mph quebec to montreal. try that in almost anything built in the last 50 years with 200,000 miles.......2 1/2 tons of real detroit iron!

Would I trade my MG for my first car? Considering that my first car was an '87 Tempo that I'd 'inherited' from my dad...hell no! That car had some serious issues--the driver's door flew open if you hit the brakes. Provided, that the brakes actually worked! Throw in the rust spots, the knackered engine, etc. and I was only too glad when the engine exploded in '94.

I voted "Yes," because my 1966 MGB-GT IS my first car.
I've been driving it since 1971.
If that ain't loyalty, I don't know what is!

In reflection I think I would rather have the times in that car back.

My '65 roadster is my first car. Been riding in it since Mom got it new when I was six years old. Fun idea, lots of nice old memories on here from the others.
Chris...

You bet I would! My first was a 55 chevy 2dr. hard top Marina Blue black interior and chrome reverse in 1965.
Ahh the memories.

No, one vauxhall viva is enough...Marco, I miss your 4th car also. Never owned one, but rode in one once...Happy days

My MGB is my first car. I got it in 1973 when I turned 16.

Would I trade it for its original condition? Mechanically it is better now than it was then. Of course, there is nothing like factory bodywork.

No, one vauxhall viva is enough

LOL. Probably deserves its own thread, "$h*tboxes I've driven."

... in a heartbeat. In Panama City in the Fall of 1980..she was a golt 1965 Mustang fastback, 289 with automatic and factory air conditioning...$1500


Paul in PC

1970 El Camino SS, fully restored with a monster 454 big block. Got it when I turned 16 in 1993. For some reason my dad thought it was a good idea to give that much power to a 16 year old kid. Somehow I never wrecked it even got a ticket. I do remember the first time I drive it by myself. Driving in a parking lot and two older guys walked in front of the car and gave the universal sign for "light up the tires". I decided to give them a show.. and stalled it.

Weekends like this I'd consider trading the B for a hotdog and a large coke. Damn drivers side engine mount:X

My very first car was a VW Micro Bus, so yes, I would trade in a heartbeat.

Other cars I have owned that I would trade my B for include a '64 MG 1100, a '64 Austin Mini, a 59 Morris Mini, a '68 Mini Cooper S, BMW 2002 Tii, and possibly my old International Scout.

When I think of the cars I owned between the ages of 15 and 18;

1962 Corvette
68 & 69 GTO
57 Chevy
66 Cadillac
74 454 Corvette convertible
74 Monte Carlo (2)

all gone by my 19th birthday...grrrrrrrr

LOL the '67 B roadster IS my first car!

My first car was a Fiat Topolino that I was putting a Devon body on in 1957 but never completed --I bought a 52 TD which I drove winter and summer in Quebec Canada BRRRRRRR!!!! The car I wish I still had is a 64 Pontiac GTO with all the right stuff 3 duces and 4 speed Muncie and posi 3.55 --would love to still have that !!!! But I do love my 79B V8 conversion 302 plus T5 ------

My 79B wins this one hands down. My first car was an early production 55 Chevy 6 cylinder that had been a taxi and was worn out when I got it. It had more problems than a math teacher could count. To its credit it got me through college but no way would I trade my B for that car.

My first car was a "perfect" 3 year old metallic blue 2-door '65 Dart (slant 6/automatic) that my Dad gave me, which I eventually totalled thanks to my overzealous reaction to an errant rabbit on an icy road. While I'd much rather drive my "B" - I reflect fondly on the lovely ladies who at various times graced that Dodge's back seat. The little footprints on the headliner alone... sigh.

You're a kindred spirit. I got my '66 MGB-GT in 1971 when I turned 17. And I've had it ever since. It stopped being a daily driver in 2001 when I blew the headgasket and found a badly damaged piston. It took me five years to rebuilt the engine, get the tranny rebuilt, the head rebuilt, and all the rest I'd wanted to get done. Now she's got a new headliner, wires, windsheild, etc.
Every time I drive it, I get this grin.....

Philippe
'66 MGB-GT
'57 MGA Roadster
'48 TC
'49 Bentley
'77 Citroen CX

My first car was a 56 Chevy with no drive train. But there was a 265 V8 thrown in the trunk. I was 14 years old and I thought my mother was going to kill me. I worked on that car for 2 years before I finally got to drive it legally.

Second car was a 67 Midget.

John