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MG MGB Technical - Body shell - repair, replace & with what?

This is one of the questions that comes up a lot when regarding MGBs I guess: what to do with a body shell that needs TLC?
My car's a 1965 MGB, yet it hasn't got pull handles.

Externally, it's already visible that some panels need welding or fixing, and that's without knowing what's happened underneath.
So, this leaves me with a number of options:
1) Get a heritage shell (£5200 as it's a 3sync car) + having it painted
2) Repair the current shell (the car was restored for the previous owner in '94), but without knowing what's underneath at this point (this can turn out to be good or bad obviously)
3) Buy another car/ 'used' shell

What do you recommend?

Thanks in advance,


Alex
Alexander M

depend if you like your car, personally, I repair she
regards
michel

Alex
Do not be surpised that your 1965 car does not have pullout door handles.

From body number 57986 ( found on a welded on plate on the left inner wing generally under the wiring harness when looking from the front ) produced in early April 1965 all cars had push button door handles. This is NOT the chassis number or MGB number sometimes found on another plate held by self tapping screws on the right hand side.

So the majority of 1965 production ( ie April onwards )had push button door handles not the pullout type.

I have 1965 car assembled on the 30th April to the 3rd May 1965 ( a Bank hoilday weekend so started on a Friday and finished on a Tuesday ) which of course has the push button door handles not the pullout type.

If possible repair your shell - it willnot felllike the same car with a new one.

George

G R Wilder

Alex,

you can only judge if it is worth fixing when the corroded panels have been cut out and a calculation for spares and welding can be set up.
Good doors and hoods can be found at low prices in here, and, as it is your Roadster, the repairs to the sheet metal are not that difficould as on a GT bodyshell and a roadster is worth more investment tan a 4-banger GT in here.

when ever possible and, as long as economical, you should repair the body or have it repaired.
If so, do not take anything apart as for a nut and bolt restauration but just do one repair after an other and respray or have it painted it after the the shell is sound again.

Ralph

Ralph

I tend towards the save the current shell camp. The GT that has undergone a lot of bodywork that I mentioned in another thread in MGB general was done to an excellent standard at a local shop here and cost a lot less (less than 1/2) of a new unpainted shell. From memory that was sills front wings rear 1/2 wings both valances and a re-spray. For a daily driver the extra corrosion proofing af a BMH shell is a consideration however.
Stan Best

George

The UK did not adopt the May Day bank holiday until it had joined the Common Market in the 1970s. The first Bank Hol after Easter Monday was Whit Monday - in 1965 that was 7th June.
Geoff Everitt

Geoff

Your are of course correct on the hoilday issue - got it confused with another vehicle though my dates are as per Hertitage Certificate.
It would be perhaps more correct to say mine is "Friday" car but finished after the weekend.

George
G R Wilder

This thread was discussed between 14/08/2008 and 15/08/2008

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