OK… I think I have tracked down the guy in Florida who tried to buy the MG from right our from under me.
At least in my minds eye…
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Ten Miles Home (Almost 0...)
Well, she is home...
No good project goes without some real drama. If that is true then I am off on the right foot. As only Donald Trump would do I "negotiated" the terms of the sale on the condition that we could get her started. Now we all know that I was taking this car come hell or high water but since I took it for the asking price I felt this was my small victory. The seller and I traded happy emails today as we readied for the big trip home. There were some small hiccups with the fuel pump but nothing too dramatic. As a "plan B" I found a guy that would tow her home should we need to go that way. I was happy as a clam working my way towards 5 o'clock. Around 4pm disaster... This is the email I received:
“Bad news. The car was just bought sight unseen by a guy in Florida who plans a total restoration.“
Ahhhh.... Tragedy. I mean I already had a blog going. This was unfair! Were the car gods cursing me already!!!
After a few frantic calls I was able to work out that the seller figured that if he couldn’t get it started then our deal was off. And with another willing buyer on the line...
So, with my check in hand and an unknown tow truck guy on his way I tore out of work like a man possessed. Made it over there in record time, finished the sale, loaded up the car with an assortment of pieces parts and once the tow truck guy showed up I was on my way home... Now I will tell you I did have visions of my cool new MG flying off the back of that tow truck on my way home, or maybe a meteor strike, or something like that... but when we turned up the road I knew I was home free!!
It looks like Job 1 is a new fuel pump... Hmm that sounds important and trumps my other first project: license plate and new key ring... Interesting. Anyone for Dunkin Donuts run!!!
No good project goes without some real drama. If that is true then I am off on the right foot. As only Donald Trump would do I "negotiated" the terms of the sale on the condition that we could get her started. Now we all know that I was taking this car come hell or high water but since I took it for the asking price I felt this was my small victory. The seller and I traded happy emails today as we readied for the big trip home. There were some small hiccups with the fuel pump but nothing too dramatic. As a "plan B" I found a guy that would tow her home should we need to go that way. I was happy as a clam working my way towards 5 o'clock. Around 4pm disaster... This is the email I received:
“Bad news. The car was just bought sight unseen by a guy in Florida who plans a total restoration.“
Ahhhh.... Tragedy. I mean I already had a blog going. This was unfair! Were the car gods cursing me already!!!
After a few frantic calls I was able to work out that the seller figured that if he couldn’t get it started then our deal was off. And with another willing buyer on the line...
So, with my check in hand and an unknown tow truck guy on his way I tore out of work like a man possessed. Made it over there in record time, finished the sale, loaded up the car with an assortment of pieces parts and once the tow truck guy showed up I was on my way home... Now I will tell you I did have visions of my cool new MG flying off the back of that tow truck on my way home, or maybe a meteor strike, or something like that... but when we turned up the road I knew I was home free!!
So its home, not quite the "wind in my face" experience that I had been day dreaming about but par for the course for me...
It looks like Job 1 is a new fuel pump... Hmm that sounds important and trumps my other first project: license plate and new key ring... Interesting. Anyone for Dunkin Donuts run!!!
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| Yes Papa, Yes... |
Sunday, July 25, 2010
First Post
Hello World...
Ok, so this isn't a blog about programing or anything but I feel the same way about my new project as I did when those first lines of code appeared on my IBM PC Jr 25 or so years ago... Very excited but wondering if I had the capabilty to do more.
I am not really a typical "motor head" but I do fancy myself as mechanically inclined and I know what I like when I see it. I have been looking for something to tool around in on the weekends for some time. I really didn't think of myself as a car restoration guy until I found this...
She is a 1960 MG MGA Roadster. It was in a barn in Tennessee for about 20 years and recently garaged in a town nearby. The poor fellow that owned it is relocating for work and couldn't bring it with him. His wife was pretty happy to see it go but I think I detected a slight tear in his eye.
So here I go... I plan to restore it to her former self. If this works here is what I am shooting for...
Baby steps, baby steps...
Step 1. Drive her home the 10 miles from where its been sitting for a couple of years. Last time I did this my grandfather pushed my $400 Buick Skylark most of the way with his van... Gramps, hope your watching out for me on this one.
Stay tuned...
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