I grew up in New England (outside WORCESTER, MASS.), where there were always British cars running around. I commuted to college so I could maintain a full-time job and every day passed the local British car dealer (PICARD MOTORS) where I dreamed of owning a Triumph, MG or Austin-Healey.
I am educated/trained as a Mechanical Engineer and married soon after college. My career brought me and my wife to the Philadelphia area, and soon my desire to own a British car was surplanted by my work, family life and home ownership.
In 1989 I was travelling in my neighborhood and saw a very tired looking Triumph Spitfire (1971) sitting in a driveway a few doors down. The owner had just moved in and really had no place to store the car so I made an offer (dirt cheap) and she took it. Spent a few hours getting the Spitfire running and by borrowing a friend's dealer tag I was able to drive the car enough to realize it had some fairly serious drive axle problems (very, very noisy). Further analysis revealed it had worn half shafts and a bad ring gear and pinion. The repairs were much too expensive for my budget so I pushed the car into my barn and put my rekindled desire for driving a British car on hold until more money became available.
In 1999 a work acquaintance, who knew I had an interest in British cars, came to me offering his 1971 MGB for sale at a very reasonable price. I was familiar with the car because he used it as a daily driver from 1988 until 1992. I parked near it every day in the company parking lot. He had taken it off the road to replace the interior but that work was not completed. I knew the basic car was structurally sound because I was familiar with the outfit (British Restorations) he bought it from in 1988. The price was more than fair and the timing was right (I had the money !!) so my British car dreams were alive again.
I was able to find a home for the Triumph through a BMCSNJ member so the work on the MG could begin. It took almost a year to make the MG safe and sound but in Sept. 2000 it was on the road. It isn't anywhere near concours, it isn't even precisely original, and the paint is tired but the project came in on budget (if you can call less than $500 after the purchase price a budget). There's a saying in New England where I grew up, it goes: use it up, wear it out, make do or do without. The make do part especially applies to my MG.
