MG Bigotry

[Toller]

Have read about some inferred cases of MG bigotry on our site but had my first personal encounter yesterday. Our town sponsors a Britsh car shown every August which over the last 8 years has grown to attract over 200 vehicles from the 1930’s up to current day models. As they do not have a judging class for replicas I could not register the TDR. There were a dozen TC, TD and TFs and I spent time talking to their owners about work thy had done on their cars, sources for parts etc. When I told one owner about work I was doing on mine, when asked about the model and I told him it was a replica he turned on his heel without saying another word and walked off. I was speechless. Later in the day a couple were looking at my car and the wife made some compliments about how “cute” it was, the husband responded with derision that was a kit car and not a real MG. while factually a true statement I responded with yes it has a fibreglass body like a vette so I never have to worry about rust and there is no wood in the body to rot like a real MG T series from the 40’s or 50’s. Suspect he did not realize I was the owner but he grabbed his wife got into their 1995 RH drive MGC and left.

I have jointed a local VW club to learn more about care and maintenance of non TDR components of the car. They have been more accommodating than some of the MG snobs I encountered yesterday. Perhaps because more kits have been manufactured using VW drive assemblies than any other vehicle.

Thanks for letting me vent

David B Dixon
Port Perry ON CA
Sabine

[scubasteve]

That is a sad story.I guess there will always be those who look down their noses. They are the NOOU (not one of US) 🙄 types.

I took my LondonRoadster to a European car show last year and well received. Lots of people came and asked about it. I had one gentleman come up and chat who had several MG’s in the past; A’s, B’s, TD’s and he was very interested in my reproduction. He went on and on about how difficult the “real” ones were to keep on the road. Oil leaks, rusting, bad body fit, expensive parts, the list went on and on. True labors of love. He said he thought the reproductions were a good alternative for someone who wants to drive their car, not work on it.

I have been to several car shows this year,  open to any and all wheeled vehicles; cars, trucks, cycles. Although they seem to have a lot of American muscle cars, there are always a few imports and antiques. The folks there are ALWAYS interested in my LR, even after I explain what it is.

I watch “Chasing Classic Cars” on the Velocity Channel, and the show’s host, Wayne Carini has sold several reproduction or “tribute” cars on the program. If reproductions are good enough for a multi million dollar dealer, they’re good enough for me.

 

Amor Conquista Todo

[Toller]

I just venting this morning after yesterday’s experience at the show. Fact is more people were stopping to take pics and look inside the car than either the MGB or MGC I was parked between. So at least the general public recognized something different enough to stop and comment or take pics. That was appreciated after all the work that I have put into it in the last year

Also I like your word Tribute better than replica, kit car or reproduction. I think it carries a more positive connotation so henceforth when I am asked about the pedigree of the car I will explain that it is a German MG TD Tribute car. If they want more details I can explain further

David B Dixon
Port Perry ON CA
Sabine

[John Simion]

I’ve never gotten a good vibe from either car shows or car clubs.  I used to belong to the Porsche club in another city and found it extremely clique-ish.  Should have called it the “brag club.”  I overheard one member telling someone that he owned “the fastest Cayman in North America.”  I belonged for two years waiting to meet someone friendly.  Met some nice people, but they were new members like me and eventually they disappeared — so I did, too.  As for car clubs, here in Vegas they all seem to be about muscle cars and hot rods.  Dunno about the British car club here.  They may be fine, but they might be clique-ish and snooty, too.  I have no intention of finding out.  Why should I let these people irritate me?

[Royal]

John, “Why should I let these people irritate me?”  – my sentiments exactly!  I might just as well have played golf if I really wanted to get angry.

Strangely, I don’t get this vibe from the Air and Auto Show in Virginia Beach, Va.  …and that event is hosted by a large Porsche club.  I’m very interested in seeing how the Porsche club there accepts Paul’s Intermeccanica Porsche 356 fiberglass “replica”.  If you haven’t seen Paul’s 356 – it’s perfect in every respect.  I wouldn’t even think about leaving it unattended in Walmart parking lot.

[Rich Kallenberger]

I have attended our local Volksfest for several years now and have always been accepted.  I have an illustration in my showbook called “The Versatile Volkswagen” which lists the many re-purposes of VWs, including replicas.  This is a low key, small-town event where egos are held in check.  It’s fun and every year I find something at a vendor booth I can’t do without.

You can own an expensive piece of iron but you can’t own all the fun.

[Paul Mossberg]

Thank you Roy. That was very nice of you to say.

Of course, Henry Reisner gets the credit!

Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica Roadster

If you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)

[Royal]

This morning, Jack and I had breakfast together, he in his TDr and I in my classic Mini.  A fellow came into the room and asked whose TD it was.  Jack acknowledged that it was his.  “Is it real, or a kit?”  Jack responded it’s a kit.  The guy gave us an Ohhhhhhh!,  in such a voice as to show a definite disappointment.  Then he went on to tell us about how he and a friend had owned one many years ago and they had so much trouble keeping the engine running that they replaced it with a Volvo engine.  To which I said:

“So, you turned your TD into a kit?”  He left abruptly – and I didn’t feel the least bit bad.

When asked “is it real or a kit?”, you might want to say:

Why do you ask?  or What do you think?  or What is the difference?  This usually leaves them shrugging their shoulders.  (Usually, anyone who knows it is a kit will either offer a compliment or not engage you in conversation anyway.)

When you occasionally get a super hypocritical snobbish false purist that tells how he put a Volvo, or Ford (or etc) in his TD,  I say (as I did) …

“So, you turned your TD into a kit?”

….and then notice how it really shuts them up.  There is no good response on his part.  It’s a gotcha.

I usually add “I had a MGTF-1500 for 16 years.  When I sold it, I cancelled my Terminix contract.”

Regarding Paul’s 356, I owned a ’69 911S Targa for some time, so I feel somewhat qualified to suggest that his 356 is going to fool a lot of “real” 356 owners at the Air and Auto Show in VaBch.

 

• This reply was modified 8 years, 3 months ago by Royal.

[Toller]

Beautiful response Roy.

David B Dixon
Port Perry ON CA
Sabine

[billnparts]

When asked if its a kit I usually tell them it used to be. Once assembled it’s no longer a kit.

Bill Ascheman
Fiberfab Ford
Modified 5.0, 5sp., 4:11
Autocross & Hillclimb
"Drive Happy"

[edward ericson]

There are a few MG snobs but I’ve seldom run into them. The Porsche snobs are a little thicker on the ground, in my estimation. It is true, though, that some people can’t hide their disappointment when told they’re looking at an ’80s mail-order car and not a 1950s survivor. And others are just a little bit snobby. Or they like to show off their esoteric and otherwise useless car knowledge. Parked at a Rita’s a couple years ago I watched a dude approach my car from the front and remark to his girlfriend that he could tell it’s a kit because of the VW front axle beam. She looked mighty impressed! I bet he got some that night.

Much more common is the experience I had a few weeks ago at the Cars & Coffee show in Hunt Valley. A guy rolled in with a real TD. The license plate even said “REAL MG.” I went over to admire it and snap some pictures, and he came along and we got to chatting. He asked what I brung and I pointed to Bridget and told him what she was. He was keen to check her out. We walked over and he respectfully gave her the once-over. “The R is for replica, eh?” he asked. I showed him the engine. He told me about his car’s engine troubles, all the usual car stuff car guys talk about. I showed him the little details I did. He noticed the wiper plinths. he noticed the steering column, visible outside the body work next to the driver’s fender. Details. It was a lovely exchange without any condescension that I could notice. But my guard was down.

At car shows, cruises & such my guard is pretty much always down.

[newkitman]

Bill. I love your answer. I might borrow it when Moneypenny is on the road.

Allen Caron
VW based 53MGTD - "MoneyPenny"
"If one thing matters, everything matters" - from the book The Shack

[scubasteve]

Good come back, Bill! 😆

If someone asks, I tell them the London Roadsters were made in a factory in Deerborn, MI , in the late ’70s-mid ’80s.

For car shows, I made a display of the factory info brochures I’ve framed.

At many of the shows I’ve been to there are SO MANY modified cars, there are FEW that would qualify as even CLOSE to original.

Concours d’elegance it ain’t! 🙄

 

Amor Conquista Todo

[Dbanta]

Forget those purist guys. The same issue exists in most manufactures. I have rebuilt Studebaker’s and put aftermarket engines in them (Chevies mostly) and the purist will still turn and become somewhat belligerent because you have destroyed the marque with an aftermarket bastardization. Sounds like a personal problem to me. It’s an MG TD no matter what. Yes it has a different drive train and in some cases the motor is in the back instead of the front. I have owned and rebuilt many MG’s including a 1952 TD that had a Corvette 327 engine with a shortened Ford rear end. It was always a curiosity to the MG guys (well a fascination really) but the purist would basically give me the cold shoulder. (I am guessing the fact that all of the firewall was gone gave them pause). Anyway, The TD’s we drive have style and usability. I am sure the trailer queen crowd is actually envious because they would love to actually drive their cars somewhere instead of polishing the fenders and cleaning up those pristine motors. That’s all for now…. 😈

In wine there is truth, in water health.

[newkitman]

I like what dbanta says. I mean…isn’t that whole idea of rebuilding a TD, TDr, Mustang, Karmann Ghia or any other car. To enjoy driving the car. We usually don’t recoup the cost of our hobby and that leaves enjoyablity. When Moneypenny is complete and on the road, I’m driving her as often as I can. Cold weather and bigotry be damned!  😀 Besides…she’s my car. Who cares what anyone else thinks or says.

• This reply was modified 8 years, 3 months ago by newkitman.
• This reply was modified 8 years, 3 months ago by newkitman.

Allen Caron
VW based 53MGTD - "MoneyPenny"
"If one thing matters, everything matters" - from the book The Shack

[secretagentcat]

You guys are too kind with your responses. I’m too unfiltered to run for President so here it goes. I’m of the opinion that we should own what we are… With that in mind and as your Honorary Village Idiot, I think my response would sound something like “HEY BUDDY! I GOT YOUR GREY POUPON HANGIN RIGHT HERE!” I would then take his girl for a real ride at about 80 MPH, with the top down, to give her her first “O”. Then I’d let him take her back home knowing Eliza Jane just took a few inches off of his stick shift and it will be a while before he gets anything. I’d probably tell him that she prefers her “Motorized Plastic Replica” over his real thing any day…

And then I’d take his dog.

Is that wrong?

[Vicenç Feliú]

Being an official, bonafide, ordained Dudeist priest my response is usually:

 

 

Vicenç - (bee sense)
Pembroke Pines, FL
1986 Aston - BCW Model 52 - "Montse II"

(1983 FiberFab MiGi II - "Montse")

[Dbanta]

secretagentcat – I like the “dog” part!  🙂  And yes every response is a good one and sometimes no response is even better! Dude!

In wine there is truth, in water health.

[Author]

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