MGB Storage conundrum

[williskwl]

I have a 1971 MGB Roadster, I’m soon going to be having my Father in Law’s MGB roadster too living at my house. - he is driving less and lives approximately 100 miles away. (Sharing that as I don’t want it to stay unused 100 miles away).

To make matters interesting my garage is small, my MGB fits but over winter the Garage is unusable!

Garage size: 4.05 x 2.20m

I can’t make the garage wider, as it’s bordering my neighbour. As I’m on a corner I can’t really make a new standalone garage due to space.

My current plan is I can raise my garage roof higher quite easily as my neighbours garage is higher, (subject to planning).
Equipment for Garages do a single post lift, I can get that fitted then one MGB can be on top of the other. As the MGB doesn’t weigh that much / the single post lifts have locks this seems the best idea.

This will still mean the garage is unusable over winter but I can stand and admire two B’s inside.

I have a Transporter T6 campervan and a Skoda Octavia VRS on the drive too, so was keen to come up with a good solution that maybe I hadn’t considered.

A normal person would sell one of the B’s but I can’t sell my FIL’s 1978 one and as mine is a chrome bumper mk2 I love it and would rather not sell… plus the PH solution of having a working one whilst one is inevitably broken.

Hopefully that wasn’t too long and boring, but wanted to see the PH thoughts.

[Watcher of the skies]

It sounds like a feasible plan if it's within your budget. How would the costs compare with hiring some alternative storage?

[mgtony]

I'd prefer to use a lift with a solid deck instead of just lifting arms or you'd have to keep the bottom car well covered.

[stang65]

The only problem may be due to the narrowness of the garage. Will you be able to get past the car to put the "arms" out underneath it to lift it? Looking at that website it looks like the posts of a two post lift take up around 50cm width leaving 1.7m between them. Doesn't leave much room to get the car in, walk past and get the arms under the car.

You also probably need to do substantial work to your footings too, so it would be worth getting the specs for that to make sure that you're happy to dig out under the walls both sides. An unstable lift is the last thing anyone needs!

It seems feasible but may not give the ease of use you want. By the time you've done planning, building work, lift purchase you may be better off hiring another garage/renting storage....

[MDT]

Just a thought, have had a look at the lift you are thinking about, nice design. But it says it's Overall Width: 2146mm I think this might be without the arms extended out to take a car......... might be worth a call to check.

[ferret50]

mgtony said:

I'd prefer to use a lift with a solid deck instead of just lifting arms or you'd have to keep the bottom car well covered.

Perhaps a sheet of plywood with plastic stapled to it?