Classic (MG) daily driver, am I bonkers?

[Church of Noise]

I'm considering buying an MGB GT V8 or an MGC GT to use everyday. The distance from home to work is around 12 miles, some of it is in a city.
Is this feasible? And which car would you advise? (I already have an MGB for blasts on the twisty roads)

Looking forward to your responses!

[Coco H]

We used a BGT V8 as a daily drive for 2 years or so. It was 25 miles cross country and beacuse the car had been set up for this - it was pretty quick (reckon it would outdo the e-type on twisty roads).
It was quite thirsty but that's right foot dependant really. The exhaust dropped off a few times. The biggest pain was bodywork. Athough it was garaged parking outside at work and driving on salty roads etc etc took its toll.
Invest in good headlamp bulbs.

The MGC is definately more of a refined machine unless you wallop triple webbers on.

[filmidget]

Used a Midget as daily driver for 4 years, for 40 mile round trip to work, about third of which was city driving.

Obviously a lot of mileage, so needed very regular maintenance, but consumerables are cheap and I used to enjoy the drive more than in some bland hack car.

Yes the bodywork is gonna get more hammer, but if you do have to spend a bit, the minimal depreciation would make up for it I think? (compared to a a reliable hack)

[klassiekerrally]

Start with a (very) good one, protect it against rust in the best possible manner and enjoy!
I'd love to have an MGB GT (V8) as daily driver...
Edited to say:
Soon I'll have a Morris 1300 Super de Luxe as a daily driver. Bit different than an MGBGTV8, but should be ok

>> Edited by klassiekerrally on Wednesday 25th January 14:32

[Pigeon]

Any of the A/B/C/V8 engined MGs would be just fine as a daily driver, just give it a good hit of waxoyl.

[sheepy]

Used my '66 MGB as a daily driver for a couple of years until I bought my XJS. Then I used it as a daily driver whenever the damn Jag was off the road (ie for most of the four years I put up with the heap of rust). Now she's getting a well earned rest (whilst I drive my 928).

So in nearly six years of constant use, I needed a gearbox rebuild and both rear-wings replacing (due to rust). All of the other stuff has been minor (eg dizzy rotor arms every month or two!).

More reliable (and cheaper) than some of my colleagues' cars (which are all modern).

[ARH]

In the 60's and 70's they were fine everyday, I don't see why that would be different today. As said they will need looking after more, but this is cheap and easy. I drove a midget as my only transport for 7 years. No real issues. I would suggest though for ease of ownership that an MX5 will give you just as much fun, without the costant maintanance.

Right know I have an MX5 for everyday use, her indoors uses a morris minor which though it never goes far is used almost everyday. The moggie causes no issues at all, just serviceing is all it gets, and she has used this for the last 8 years.

I believe any car ever made can be used everyday with no reliability issues, the biggest problems will happen in the first few months of ownership. As they have often been left without use for a while which does a car no good. The moggie needed a new dynamo, new brakes, and a major service before it was fit for everyday use. And just 3 weeks before we bought it, it won a concours competition in a popular classic car show. Just goes to show even if it looks good it may not be.

[Church of Noise]

Thanks for the responses so far, just the info I was looking for.

Given the choice between these two, which one would you recommend?

[Balmoral Green]

The Austin Cambridge Sport, also known as the Morris Oxford Coupe, will be just fine for a daily driver.





Runs away and hides

[klassiekerrally]

Church of Noise said:

Thanks for the responses so far, just the info I was looking for. Given the choice between these two, which one would you recommend?

I'd choose the V8, because as far as I know the engine weighs less than the C's engine.
And the noise of the V8...
Could be harder to find chrome bumpered cars though...
Some brake parts of the C are hard to get IIRC.

[M3 Mitch]

I would think either one would be fine, probably the V-8 will run better in cold weather - the carbs on my '72 B ice some in the winter, the heater is a bit weak, so I don't daily drive it in winter - but on and off in the summer here I drive it quite a lot.

I'm thinking spares would be a little easier to come by for the V-8 as well, but in general MG spares are not hard to find.

I wouldn't drive any classic on a salted road though - rust never sleeps.

[aeropilot]

Balmoral Green said:

The Austin Cambridge Sport, also known as the Morris Oxford Coupe, will be just fine for a daily driver. Runs away and hides

LOL......

If you HAVE to have a 'B' then the V8 is definately the only model worth bothering about, as it's the only one that doesn't have a boat-anchor for an engine

[Andrew Noakes]

I can only echo what's been said so far - it's not a daft idea at all, and of the two the V8 is the one to go for.

I used to know a guy who ran an MGB, his only car, and commuted daily from Hertfordshire to Kent through central London.


Mind you, he was crazy.

[Nick_F]

You might want to think about a bigger battery and higher output alternator - and a good-size Kenlowe fan, and but otherwise should be fine.

[L100NYY]

I've always fancied an MG Magnette myself, a few judicious tweaks and I reckon it would be a great fun car!





I may be on my own with this one though!

[Nick_F]

My father-in-law used to have one of those - it was the only thing he could get insured on with his accident history...

[ARH]

L100NYY said:

I've always fancied an MG Magnette myself, a few judicious tweaks and I reckon it would be a great fun car! I may be on my own with this one though!

Drop in a mildly tuned mgb engine and it will be ok, Maybe a K-series will fit.

Always liked them myself, especialy the dash which looks like a 1920's wardrobe

[L100NYY]

I must agree, my thoughts went towards a modified MGB lump with some period tweaks with a hint towards modern usability.

A k-series would be a logical step but wouldn't sound right imho. Needs to have that raspy, pharty exhaust note that MGB's of the time emitted!

[minornut]

L100NYY said:

I've always fancied an MG Magnette myself, a few judicious tweaks and I reckon it would be a great fun car! I may be on my own with this one though!

You're not alone. I wanted one for my first car but couldn't find one so I ended up with my moggy

[Balmoral Green]

The Magnette is a nice enough thing, but if I was going to go in that direction, it would have to be a Riley 1.5.