THIS MONTHS FEATURED CAR

July, 2009

1980 MGB LE

Owner: Amy Faircloth

Thanks to the Club for showcasing my car this month.  I have only been an MG owner since May of 2008.   I bought my 1980 MGB LE from my uncle.  It has about 97K miles on it, and as of late summer 2008, it has been running really well!  Let me share with you that my uncle is a retired minister, and the Good Lord had to have been with him when he drove the car because the brakes, among other mechanical functions, were terrible!  In hind sight, he didn't realize how bad they were.  Yikes!     

MG's had always been in my uncle's garage, and when both his son and daughter became drivers in the 70's, they had MG's.  As a younger kid, it was so cool when they took me for rides in their cars.  I'm glad to keep this car in the family.  My cousin ordered this car and patiently waited for delivery when he lived in Frederick, MD.  It was one of the last ones to come off the production line.  My cousin married, and after a time his wife said, "The car has to go."  Reluctant to just sell it to anyone, he arranged to sell the car to his father with the understanding that he had to be offered the chance to buy it again should his father, my uncle, ever decide to part with it.  

My uncle and aunt retired and moved from Frederick, MD, to Myrtle Beach, SC, several years ago.  The car went with them, but one day my aunt said to my uncle, "The car has to go."  I visited a short time later, and I learned the car was for sale.  I contacted my cousin to make sure he didn't want the car, and he was told that the car could never ever return to his home.  We all agreed that the car would be well served in Delaware.  So, the car was hauled from SC to DE on a U-Haul trailer.

Since we've had it, my husband, son, and I all have done some work on it.  Of course, my husband has done the most.  (Yes, I give credit where credit is due.  I'm certainly not a mechanic!)  The car had been repainted about 6 years ago, but from sitting outside near the beach and construction site where my uncle worked, the paint had gotten over spray on it, so one of the first things done was to rub and buff the paint finish.  The driver's seat was in very sad shape (almost tatters), so I ordered a seat kit, selecting the style that was original to the car. My husband had to replace the brake system, rebuild the carburetor, flush the radiator, replace wheel bushings, and do some tweaking to the electrical system.  (He says he hates "bloody" English electrical systems).  Also, I HAD to get a new antenna, radio, sun visors, steering wheel, and arm rest to dress up the interior.  A carpet kit was installed in the trunk, and the carpet kit for the front is in the garage....just waiting to be installed someday....          

This car hit the Delaware roads in June of 2008.  I held my breath as I went through the inspection lane.  Since then, the car's running condition has been greatly improved, and now there are hardly any back fires sounds, just a few sputters until she gets warm.  We are having lots of fun with it!  I became aware of the British Car Club of Delaware last fall when one of the members the club put a flyer in my car about the club and the car show in downtown Dover.  We went to the show, and I joined the club!  We are glad to be a part of this organization. 

MG...Simply Fast (well comfortably up to about 65 miles per hour max in this MGB) 

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