MGB: I bought a ZB!

I finally got pictures of the car in Buffalo... and bought it! I'm going to wait until I get the car in my possession to post some better photos here with the doors and fender back on, but I'm just too excited to not tell you fellow owners! I'll be picking it up and trailering it back East on the 25th. Here is a preview shot, I promise it is not as bad as it looks!

looks like the air conditioning thread should look at this novel idea of keeping cool in a magnette

It looks like it has a lot in common with mine. Solid where it counts. Get out your wallet.

That looks like a good one! I wish I had something that good to start with. I got mine in 1985 and was missing a lot of the parts. It helps that it is solid and complete.

Welcome aboard!

Nice solid foundation. Congrats!!!
"Some assembly may be required." That's the fun part, right???

Looks like a good project. I sure could use those fog lamps and brackets! And probably a few dozen other parts and pieces...
Looking forward to watching your progress.

-Kent

Looks like a lot of work to me...I'll give you $400 for the whole mess if you'll bring it to Texas for me.

Wombat

Sorry Wombat, worth a lot more than that to me. It is complete down to every nut and bolt but was taken apart to get measurements to fabricate new rocker panels (which are also included). I plan to install the new rockers, fix the floors, and put it back together to driver-level and start enjoying it.

Oh, and it comes with every piece of documentation since new. If any of the first 3 owners so much as changed a light bulb, there is a receipt. I can't wait for the 25th!

Sounds great...just like mine was. I've got bills even for lube jobs and minor tuneups as well as for the Gold Seal motor at 112,000 miles, and the rebuild of that motor at 198,000 miles. Even with all those miles NO RUST anywhere on mine.
I was able to chase down the original owner's widow and she forwarded my note on to her daughter, the second owner of the car. Daughter has told me all about car, her kids, her husband, (now ex-husband) and even sent me some old photos of the car when she was young, and the car was new.
Later this month she is coming to Texas from Nashville for the express purpose of going to a MG Gathering of the Faithful out in Waco TX. to see and be with her little car again.

I'm sure you know I was jut jerking your chain a bit with the "low ball" purchase offer.
Wombat

Ed, Does this mean I'm no longer the youngest guy on the planet driving a Magnette???

Jeff;
Unless you were old enough to remember reading the Tom McCahill of Mechanics Illustrated road test of a ZA Magnette, then you are younger than I am.

I got my first car in the summer of 1954, got it running and got my driving permit in it later in that summer... bought my first brand new car in May 1958. It was an ash green MGA.

Wombat

Well, I didn't buy my first car until 1987... ;)

I took my Mothers side valve Morris Minor over in 61. She was very generous to the last of 4. Or maybe she was happy to see the last of us go down the road!
Andrew M

Ed, that car looks super clean and I envy the documentation you got with it. Good records bring a lot of life and personality to the car.

Jeff, We are neck-and-neck: my first car was a Triumph TR6 in 1987...

Mark

First car in 1984... a '67 mgb.
Didn't get the Magnette (54) 'til '94.
At this rate, my next car may well be a PA Magnette!

My first car was a brand new 1974 MGB. I had been riding the bus to work past Grand Prix Motors in Vancouver where they had a citron coloured B in the window.
One day I got off the bus.
The cars got older after that, several MGBs and GTs, an MGA1500, Twin-Cam, then my first Magnette, a ZB. Now it's the oldest so far, my 1955 ZA. At this point even my daily driver is 33 years old!
We'll see what comes next.

Cheers,
Rich

I love it...a 33 year old daily driver. Actually I've found a Morris Marina near here that Ive been thinking about getting for the same purpose. It's a '72 model with that odd little type 35, Borg-Warner auto box like they actually put on about 12 MGBs back then.
The little Marina is about like an older Toyota Corona or Datsun 510 in size, and uses a lot of the very familiar Austin / Morris parts bin pieces..the 1800 5 main MGB block, the same power brake booster as the later Bs, the same disc brakes and rear axle as the B except geared at 4.11 to 1 rather than 3.9 to 1.
They weren't really bad cars, and like a lot of the older Austin products tough as nails overall, with only the thoughtlessness of the assembly workers to let them down.
Anyhow it really appeals to me to have a 36 year old daily driver. If I could figure out how to fix an AC in it, I'd jump at the chance...may anyway. I remember Art Z. told me he has an old MGB ac kit still in his shop. That'd probably work, if not one of the little ones for a Jap car could probably be adapted.
How's that sound???

Wombat

Ed,

Sweet! You seem to have a innate knack at hunting out old MG's! It looks like you found a keeper that hasn't been sitting exposed to the elements for the last 30 years. Are you going to leave it in it's existing patina or subject it to some fresh paint? Look forward to seeing more of it.

I was actually looking for a Marina when I stumbled across my TR7. The TR was in such good shape that I couldn't pass it up.
I liked the idea of the familiar mechanicals in the Marina, and of course you can soup them up to be pretty quick. Ideally, one of the Marina Coupes would be good, but they were pretty uncommon even when the cars were new.

Rich

BTW: there is a web site about a Marina V8 rally car-fun!

B-racer Wrote:

No James hasn't been behind the wheel of the Magnette for a couple years - unless things have changed. We may have gotten him motivated though!

Things are a go for this Friday! I'll be headed to Buffalo friday night, grabbing a motel along the way, finishing the drive Saturday morning, picking the ZB up, and making a dash back to New Jersey. It will be a lot of driving but I'm very excited :)

OK one last time, a chance to escape...I'll make it $450 but only if you bring it to Texas.


Congrats anyway. Please show us some pics as soon as you are safely home.
Now starts the long road to ruination..little bits of rubber that cost $18.00 each, little pieces of felt that cost $15.00 each. Long hours spent on your back trying to peer into the dark behind the dash to find out why the smoke is escaping again, etc, etc, etc.

Wombat

Heck, I'd be happy if my wiring harness could even make smoke!

Photos yes, and it looks like a good car so far.
MH

Expect photos tomorrow!

Have a safe trip!

We're waiting for those pics...
:D