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MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical - How Much For A Donor Car

Guys, I am thinking of starting a MGB GT Rubber Bumper (call me strange but I like them) V8 conversion and am looking at possibly importing a rolling 4 cylinder car from UK. Specifically a rolling shell without drivetrain (but with diff, glass,seats,doors,tailgate, bonnet and bumpers). I want a body that has limited serious rust (OK in sills, door skins, front wings and lip of rear wings)but only surface anywhere else. I plan to fit fibreglass Sebring guards/flares so a supplier of these would also be appreciated. How much do you reckon I will need to pay to buy such a beast, how hard to get and can any of you suggest any reputable MG Dealers who could supply?
regards
mark
Mark Mathiesen

Mark,before you spend your money do a lot of research into getting the car legally registered. For starters, a British built MG GT >74 will never pass Aust. Design Rules. They started to get tough about that time. A US car stands more chance. Check with the authorities first. You could end up with a nice car & nowhere to go. You can register a car as an "individual one off conversion ", but the car has to comply with the ADRs that are current at the time of rego. In other words that of a brand new car!
Good luck Barrie E
Barrie Egerton

Probably dumb question, but do you not have plenty of rubber bumper BGTs already out there to base your conversion on ? Or had they stopped exporting to Oz by '74 ? Just curious....
David Smith

Hi Mark, I dont know what a GT RB shell is worth but the roadsters are about $4000+ in LHD format in rough cond with no rust. You may find that it is cheaper to ring up a guy that already imports MG's from the US. SA is a good source for imports and shipping to east coast is about $200.Try the Unique Car magazine. Don't touch the UK ones as they are usually full of rust or expensive. You can import them using the over 15 year category where you only have to get import permission and no ADR unless your state registration insists.

David, Yes, they stopped importing MG's into Oz in about 73/74. Ever since that they have been private imports. RB's used to be more expensive than CB's as a result but the market has been flooded with US imports in the last 10 years.

Allan
Allan Ogilvie

Thanks for the comments so far guys. I have checked with Qld Transport Dept and will have no problem with a single private import into Queensland. I am specifically after a GT as a bookend to my MGA V8 with a leaning to the rubber bumper as these will need minimal bodywork to fit the engine and are in my opinion better looking than a chrome GT. So what would my dream hulk cost?? Australia seems to be devoid of rubber GT hulks.
regards
mark
mark mathiesen

Hi Mark,

The sort of car you are looking for can be picked up really cheap - probably around £4-500. I don't know about the cost of shipping but could look into this if you want.

Let me know if there is anything I can help with from the UK.
Chris Betson

This thread was discussed between 20/10/1999 and 23/10/1999

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