Black is a tough act to pull off, even on a new car, so the fact this one still looks as good as it does 21 years after being restored speaks volumes about the quality of that work and its subsequent curation.
And it has clearly been very well looked after, as the history file includes invoices for extensive maintenance work since then as well as bills from the MGOC Spares for various bits of bodywork including new rubber door seals, mouldings, badges, blanking plugs, clips, check straps, and all the other myriad components that are required to keep a car looking as sharp as this for more than two decades.
The combination of Maraschino Black and extensive chromework works brilliantly too, as you can see. Throw in a few flashes of colour by way of badges and rear lamps and the result is subtle and elegant; the owner has taken it to the Goodwood Revival and his local pub and everywhere in between – and it’s always drawn a crowd.
Of course, a set painted wire wheels always helps and while these are starting to show their age by way of peeling paint, a few light scuffs, and some rust, they still present well from a distance.
The tyres that are fitted to them are a mixed set of 155/80R13 Toyos, with three 330s on the front and offside rear, and a sole 350 on the nearside rear. Made in 2004, the 330s are showing their age, with age-related cracks between their treads. The nearside front has minor sidewall damage after being scraped along something like a kerb too, so it would be prudent to budget to replace them.
The black softtop roof can be lowered and raised, although care is needed because the nearside roof support has snapped. The roof fabric also has a couple of holes in it, plus one on either side in the top corner of the side windows as well as evidence of a previous repair to the top of the nearside quarterlight. When lowered it can be beneath a good and matching black cover.
Moving around the MG, we noticed the following issues: the bonnet has stonechips, and there is rust on the scuttle on the passenger’s side near the windscreen and lower down on the driver’s side; there is a dent on the nearside front wing and rust on its edges plus rust bubbling through under the headlight; the nearside door makes contact with the rear wing, has chips under the mirror, and cracked paint on its front edge; the nearside rear wing bears witness to it touching the door, the wheelarch is rusting, and there is a dent in the middle of the panel; the tailgate surround is chipped, as is the boot lid; and chrome is flaking away from the rear bumper.
Moving around the car we see the offside rear wing is scratched and starting to rust; the driver’s door glass is heavily scratched, and the doors has chips on its trailing edge plus a scratch and a chip in the middle of the panel; and the offside front wing has rust blisters on the wheelarch plus rust under the bumper and a touched-in stonechip.
Lifting the carpets inside reveals a rusty floorpan too, although given the absence of advisories on the latest MoT, this may not be as serious as it looks.
The light lenses are all in good shape with the exception of the offside rear, which is scuffed.
The relatively recent badges are still shiny and colourful, the black and silver numberplates are a nice touch, and the presence of a sticker proclaiming membership of the UK’s Midget and Sprite Club is never going to be anything other than an encouraging sign, is it?
There is also a useful boot-mounted luggage rack, which sparked a lively conversation in the office as to whether it’s upside down: Some argue the rail should be at the top to prevent luggage sliding forward under heavy braking or in an accident, while others think it’s fitted the right way around and the support is there to stop the luggage falling to the ground if a bungee snaps.
What do you think?
