New member part II – This one is too much, right?

[Vinny]

Maybe these are only rare when you’re not looking for them?

Since I kind of caught the fever a little now and have been looking, there’s yet another one near me on CL today:

http://kansascity.craigslist.org/cto/5021643382.html

First off, I’m thinking this one is too expensive at $6500 isn’t it?

I see that the front bumper has a dork and the hat has a rip.

Otherwise, there are a few nice things on this one over the other one I looked at last week. Nothing dramatic though.

I guess I’m just posting to see if my thinking is in line with reality. I do see these things listed for around this price here and there, but seems like these days somewhere around $4K +/- is not uncommon either.

Thanks.

p.s. I haven’t spoken to the seller yet so I don’t know if it’s a Kansas title or not. If it is, that’s a major hurdle (majorly major) that I don’t have to jump.

vinito2015-05-12 20:54:09

[KentT]

That’s a nice example! Front bumper will cost about $150, but the top will likely cost $800 or more…

IMO, $5500 is much more in line, assuming it runs and drives fine…

Early FF TDr on 69 VW pan
Slowly coming back from the ashes...

[John Simion]

A lot depends on the condition of the car that is not shown in the pictures, such as whether it runs(!), compression, whether the transmission and clutch are good, how old the tires are, and what shape the paint, chrome, and upholstery are in — pictures can be deceiving. And a lot depends on your intentions. Are you satisfied with it as-is, or are you going to be a perfectionist and redo everything anyway? As for the top, that can be repaired IF that will satisfy you, and the bumper isn’t that bad right now — IF you can live with it. If you aren’t a total perfectionist and it checks out in all regards not shown online — then the price isn’t bad although it’s always better to pay less! If it pleases you and you’ll want to keep it forever, the price is basically irrelevant. If you think you might drive it a while and resell for a profit, forget it. These cars will never be an investment.

[Bob]

Since I paid $5600 for mine that one isn’t a whole lot more and I like the differences I see in it.

Looks like a folding windshield. Has the replica headlight bars instead of the unpainted flat bars I have. Not sure about the engine cover but maybe it opens to the side instead of up the way mine does. And its dash is more like the original than mine is.

So really, other than the top being worn and torn it seems like a nice car.

Never can tell about the body/paint unless you see it in person. Even when I picked mine up I only noticed a few blemishes and scuffs, was told that by the seller, but when I had it in sunlight and washed the car more scratches and dimples were found. Not only that, the black color has faded somewhat based on a few dark lines from previous scratch repairs. However I’m sure I’m the most critical of it since everyone else doesn’t seem to notice those imperfections like I do.

“runs and drives great” must be the #1 saying of car sellers. 😆  Same said of mine, and although it isn’t bad or broken I had a leaking gas tank to fix and dragging brake pads on a front wheel drum. Suspension and steering parts are going to need a going-over too. Note that my timing issues are apparently my own fault, update on that later!

All 4 of the MG TD replicas within 200 miles of me I had considered, including mine, were about the same price. I figured all had similar issues, enough to equalize them within the price I was willing to pay, that being $5000 to $6000. I was thinking if it were less, especially way less, it would be problematic to fix up. Any more than that and the risk is still there if needing fixing. I was trying for a Goldilocks car buy, just right, and maybe I got that after all.

I realize plenty goes into what you want, something that draws you into it, but that can also take away from common sense. I was very afraid of doing that with this being the first of its kind for me. If I could have done so I would have only paid $5000 (seller had reserve on ebay auction of only $4800 I believe), but realistically that’s also like 2 motorcycles I was thinking about buying instead (already have one, as well, was looking to double up because I like it so much). I feel like this replica MG TD of mine is easily worth the $5600 to me.

[billnparts]

Gangster whites, folding windscreen, luggage rack…nice.

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

[Vicenç Feliú]

It’s a BCW, they are supposed to be really nice and closest repro of the original MG.  I haven’t seen one in person, maybe this week at Carlisle, but I’ve read that they were really well made.  This has been posted before but here it is again FWIW: http://www.caroholic.com/BCW_Information.htm.

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

(1983 FiberFab MiGi II - "Montse")

[edward ericson]

BCWs are nice. They are also old. 1983 was 32 years ago. No matter how carefully kept, 32 year old cars need overhauling. That doesn’t mean the price is wrong, but. . .

The thing to remember is the market is thin. The seller will likely not see too many serious buyers. Proceed accordingly.

[john barry]

Nice…

[Paul Mossberg]

Ed would know. He owns a BCW.

I agree with the general concensus here, price is a bit high.

 

I’d like Ed to chime in on this, but something bothers me about the windshield.  There is no direct side view shot, the the screen “seems” too vertical to my eye. Maybe no big deal, and maybe it’s just not pushed back all the way.

 

I’d like to know what’s going on to the left of the grill shell, on the fender. It might just be an artifact in the picture. But that black area coudl also be fiberglass damage.

 

And one can’t tell engine condition from a picture, but that there looks like a tired old engine!

 

That said, she’s worth a trip to inspect in person.

 

Offer $4,000, hope to settle at $4,500. I wouldn’t go higher than $5,000. Like Ed said, it’s a least a 32 year old build, on a chassis and drive train that is even older.

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)

[Rich Kallenberger]

Luggage rack, folding windscreen, and (apparently) swing away spare are nice features and expensive to acquire if you don’t have them. It does look good in the pics, but mechanicals are an unknown. A lot of balance weight on the one wheel shown in closeup. On mine that meant tires could not be balanced and had to be replaced but at least not bent wheels.
Nice looking car!
😀

[Vinny]

Thanks for the replies and support folks.

I would have responded sooner but something was wrong with the server all of yesterday I think.

Well, turns out this car was a Missouri title too. That’s three for three that I’ve checked into thus far, two of them being Kansas residents. This one sounded iffy at best too. The guy didn’t even know and had to check out what state the title had and get back with me later. How do you have a car for several years and either never put it in your own name or remember titling it in another state?

I slipped in a quick mention of it being too high price for me unless it was closer to $5K anyway and he sounded as though that would have been out of the question for him too. I sincerely wished him good with it and now I’m on with my half-arsed continued search. (see how I tucked a little British accent in there? see? see?).

The good news for me is now that I know the going rate for one of these things is well within what I consider reasonable so as long as I can either find one with a clean Kansas title or maybe a clean Fiber Fab titled car, I should be joining your ranks after all. I mention the Fiber Fab because I talked to the current owner of the company and he said he could set me up with paperwork which would most likely be accepted by Kansas for titling purposes. Not being tested that isn’t 100% certainty, but possibly worth the risk, and I have a workaround option if it didn’t work out.

It might take a couple years before I find one, I don’t know. But at least I’m actually looking now.

vinito2015-05-14 17:55:43

[John Black]

Hi Guys,

Im a newbie too. only had the car a week on Saturday. I read with interest the title issue on this thread. My car is titled as a 52 MG here in Az. The car came to AZ via California and Nevada. The car was never titled in NV by the then owner. Nv wanted to title it as a 68 VW. He basically said screw that and never did title it in NV. Instead ran the car on the California plates that were on the car when her purchased it. He sold the car 4 years ago to the guy I purchased it from. My seller took all the paperwork from California and NV (bill of sale etc) to third party title company. They transferred title as a VW to Az. Then retitled the car as 52 MG, all my seller had to do was to pay both titling fees. So here I am with a Fiberfab Migi  titled as 52 MG and with the tag reading 1952 MG. I would still like to know who built the car and when, as I have no intel about that or how I can find out.  68 bug running gear plus 1971 Engine and tranny. I have also owned a couple of real TDs. To be honest this is more fun so far!!!

Onwards and upwards,

John the Brit in Arizona.

[Royal]

Agreed! TDr’s are more fun. I had a TF for 15+/- years.

[Rich Kallenberger]

Interesting mention of using a third party title agent. If the cost is reasonable I think using someone who knows what buttons to push makes a lot of sense. I see that a lot in building permit cases.
😉

[Author]

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