1959 MGA Roadster
Registration mark: MG 1959
Owner: Mr. Colin Barlow
About two years ago I sold my trusty 1974 MGB
Roadster and started looking for another MG of note. This very
nice car came on the market from one of the club members and I
jumped at the chance to own an “A”.
The car had been imported to Hong Kong from
Singapore some two years earlier as the previous owner relocated
from there to here and decided to bring the car with him. He had
restored it nine years previously, in time to enter the 1992 Vintage
Equator Run, so I thought I was getting a car in nice condition.
The
engine bay was a bit messy and I asked my restorer (Richard at
Brooklands in Sai Kung) if he could tidy it up. The wiring was
particularly untidy and there were many components that had been
chromed that should not have been, and were now rusty. The
decision was made to paint the under-bonnet area, which required
removal of the engine and gearbox. On an A, to disconnect the
gearbox requires the wooden floors to come out. As the seats and
carpet were removed, wood-rot was found; with the floorboards
removed the chassis rails that support them were exposed and the
dreaded R word, for “RUST” was uttered. Further investigation
found lots of filler and rust underneath and in other parts of the
car. After more detailed examination, the decision was made to
give the car a full and ground up restoration. This was on July
18th, and the annual 2005 Classic Car Club of Hong Kong’s Concours d’Elegance was on 6th
November, just 16 weeks away..
I
take my hat off to Richard, who is a perfectionist in Motor Car
Restorations, as the car was finished hours before the event. Due
to brake master cylinder parts from the UK being incorrect for the
cylinder, a ‘good pedal’ could not be achieved. Though the brakes
worked it was felt that there was a risk in road use of the car, so
the day before the event, it was decided to have the car towed there
just to be sure. The car was entered and judged and easily outscored
other entrants to achieve the Best Convertible Award.
Unfortunately, at that point, it was disqualified, due to having
been towed to the event. Such a rule had not been in the entry
regulations nor discussed within the CCCHK Committee Meetings
beforehand. Clearly, this was ‘most disappointing’ but simply
‘acknowledged’ rather than then taking issue.
Anyhow, at the Chater Road Show (another CCCHK
annual event) the following Sunday, the car took the “Best Presented
Car” award, and all was forgotten. The car went on to take “Best
Car in Show” at the MGCCHK’s own Concours in May 2006 and was “Best
Convertible” in the 2006 CCCHK Concours in October 2006.
The car is a pleasure to drive and runs
extremely well, an electric fan was fitted to help with the slight
summer overheating problem. It was taken on the CCCHK China Drive in
June 2006, when the car ran flawlessly.
Colin putting the MGA through its paces with Paul Stowe, Quality Director of NAC-MG
The
engine bay was a bit messy and I asked my restorer (Richard at
Brooklands in Sai Kung) if he could tidy it up. The wiring was
particularly untidy and there were many components that had been
chromed that should not have been, and were now rusty. The
decision was made to paint the under-bonnet area, which required
removal of the engine and gearbox. On an A, to disconnect the
gearbox requires the wooden floors to come out. As the seats and
carpet were removed, wood-rot was found; with the floorboards
removed the chassis rails that support them were exposed and the
dreaded R word, for “RUST” was uttered. Further investigation
found lots of filler and rust underneath and in other parts of the
car. After more detailed examination, the decision was made to
give the car a full and ground up restoration. This was on July
18th, and the annual 2005 Classic Car Club of Hong Kong’s Concours d’Elegance was on 6th
November, just 16 weeks away..
I
take my hat off to Richard, who is a perfectionist in Motor Car
Restorations, as the car was finished hours before the event. Due
to brake master cylinder parts from the UK being incorrect for the
cylinder, a ‘good pedal’ could not be achieved. Though the brakes
worked it was felt that there was a risk in road use of the car, so
the day before the event, it was decided to have the car towed there
just to be sure. The car was entered and judged and easily outscored
other entrants to achieve the Best Convertible Award.
Unfortunately, at that point, it was disqualified, due to having
been towed to the event. Such a rule had not been in the entry
regulations nor discussed within the CCCHK Committee Meetings
beforehand. Clearly, this was ‘most disappointing’ but simply
‘acknowledged’ rather than then taking issue. 