Classic Car Inheritance With a Catch! MG Model M
Discussion
Sadly my Uncle has passed away aged 74. He was an engineer in Liverpool and at some point acquired 2 MG model M cars. He has always said these cars would be split between myself and my brother on his death. Sounds great, I fancy a bit of classic car action in my cool inherited old car.
Unfortunately the cars are incomplete and stripped right back to their components. A decade ago the container suffered from a leak. He had a wooden body built 25 years ago for one car which I can only presume has been water damaged. I have not yet seen the inside of the container as they are 200 miles away in Rhyl. My Uncle lived in a bit of a fantasy world, and was a hoarder.
My Uncle always said we would inherit these cars, and spoke as though he expected us to rebuild them. He would ring and tell me who I should talk to for advice and where I could get parts from.
I think the best solution to us is to auction the contents, we don't have time, storage and enthusiasm to take on this huge undertaking.
The big reveal will be in a couple of weeks when we are going to make the journey to see what we have been left. I will take lots of photographs and post them on here, in the hope that the PH massive guide me further!
Unfortunately the cars are incomplete and stripped right back to their components. A decade ago the container suffered from a leak. He had a wooden body built 25 years ago for one car which I can only presume has been water damaged. I have not yet seen the inside of the container as they are 200 miles away in Rhyl. My Uncle lived in a bit of a fantasy world, and was a hoarder.
My Uncle always said we would inherit these cars, and spoke as though he expected us to rebuild them. He would ring and tell me who I should talk to for advice and where I could get parts from.
I think the best solution to us is to auction the contents, we don't have time, storage and enthusiasm to take on this huge undertaking.
The big reveal will be in a couple of weeks when we are going to make the journey to see what we have been left. I will take lots of photographs and post them on here, in the hope that the PH massive guide me further!
These were the first of a long-running series of sports cars made by the factory between 1928 to 1932. Just over 3,000 were built, but how many still exist perhaps the MG Car Club (not MGOC!) might be able to help you. These are rare at auction, fetching between £15,000 and £25,000, but only you will know what condition they are in when you get to see them. From what you say, dismantled and possibly wet through, not a lot sadly. However, please keep us informed
People run out time, money, and love rebuilding the cars of their dreams - doing it for a pair of sodden old MGs would definitely be a non-starter. (Probably quite literally!)
You're doing the right thing. Someone somewhere will have use for them.
You're doing the right thing. Someone somewhere will have use for them.
Edited by Wheel Turned Out on Saturday 6th July 19:55
Wheel Turned Out said:
People run out time, money, and love rebuilding the cars of their dreams - doing it for a pair of sodden old MGs would definitely be a non-starter. (Probably quite literally!)
You're doing the right thing. Someone somewhere will have use for them.
I am quite annoyed to be having to sort this out after his death, he had 30 years to build them or sell the parts, he was an engineer by trade with all the contacts he needed to do this. All he did was buy more and more parts, He bought lots of pre war car doors off ebay and a radiator, I am not sure they are for these cars, and when I collected them for him they sat in my garden for 8 years.You're doing the right thing. Someone somewhere will have use for them.
Edited by Wheel Turned Out on Saturday 6th July 19:55
Anyway rather than surrender the container my brother has to my amazement agreed to drive up to see what we have.
If you really can't be arsed then it may be a worthwhile exercise finding a mechanical college or charity that helps people gain real work skills and donate the cars to them on the proviso that they can get at least one back on the road to either keep as a learning vehicle or to sell and funds go back into keeping things rolling.
Unfortunately from a tonne of "bits" there probably won't be much value and the time taken to rebuild will be considerably more than the final worth I think.
If that labour is young people or those in need learning new real skills then it's a worthy cause.
I would suspect some careful mentoring and familiarity with the cars would be required but surely not impossible.
Unfortunately from a tonne of "bits" there probably won't be much value and the time taken to rebuild will be considerably more than the final worth I think.
If that labour is young people or those in need learning new real skills then it's a worthy cause.
I would suspect some careful mentoring and familiarity with the cars would be required but surely not impossible.
Ambleton said:
If you really can't be arsed then it may be a worthwhile exercise finding a mechanical college or charity that helps people gain real work skills and donate the cars to them on the proviso that they can get at least one back on the road to either keep as a learning vehicle or to sell and funds go back into keeping things rolling.
Unfortunately from a tonne of "bits" there probably won't be much value and the time taken to rebuild will be considerably more than the final worth I think.
If that labour is young people or those in need learning new real skills then it's a worthy cause.
I would suspect some careful mentoring and familiarity with the cars would be required but surely not impossible.
That is a really nice idea Unfortunately from a tonne of "bits" there probably won't be much value and the time taken to rebuild will be considerably more than the final worth I think.
If that labour is young people or those in need learning new real skills then it's a worthy cause.
I would suspect some careful mentoring and familiarity with the cars would be required but surely not impossible.
moffspeed said:
Given your “annoyance” perhaps your late Uncle, living in his “disgusting flea ridden flat” would have done better to save you the hassle and bequeath his cars to a true MG enthusiast ??
^^^ ThisPerhaps if you'd helped him when he was alive, he wouldn't have been living in such conditions
KTMsm said:
moffspeed said:
Given your “annoyance” perhaps your late Uncle, living in his “disgusting flea ridden flat” would have done better to save you the hassle and bequeath his cars to a true MG enthusiast ??
^^^ ThisPerhaps if you'd helped him when he was alive, he wouldn't have been living in such conditions
Wheel Turned Out said:
KTMsm said:
moffspeed said:
Given your “annoyance” perhaps your late Uncle, living in his “disgusting flea ridden flat” would have done better to save you the hassle and bequeath his cars to a true MG enthusiast ??
^^^ ThisPerhaps if you'd helped him when he was alive, he wouldn't have been living in such conditions
I feel sorry for Fat Derek's son, who will have the deep joy of clearing the place, other, non car related junk includes Basset locke train set bits and pieces!
Wheel Turned Out said:
Not a pleasant comment. You don't know what OP has attempted to do or not do. Hoarders are often not exactly receptive to any attempts to change their conditions, it's very possible the uncle didn't see anything wrong with the way he was living.
The utter lack of respect the OP showed in his multiple posts more than justifies it If it's all to much for you to be bothered with, (which I'm guessing is the case) then just get an auction house or MG M specialist involved. I think you will be pleasantly surprised on the value of parts you think are scrap. Some of the small hard to find parts can have some serious value.
austin said:
If it's all to much for you to be bothered with, (which I'm guessing is the case) then just get an auction house or MG M specialist involved. I think you will be pleasantly surprised on the value of parts you think are scrap. Some of the small hard to find parts can have some serious value.
Agree. That M-type inlet manifold in the "garden" photo is worth a few bob itself. That red scuttle panel (I'm guessing that's what it is) would also have a value.
Many years back I used to visit Barry Bone who was THE pre-war MG specialist but sadly he died after a short illness. Nowadays I think these people wiill without doubt be the best ones to help you.
https://www.barrywalker.com/history/
https://www.barrywalker.com/history/
Edited by lowdrag on Monday 8th July 15:39
moffspeed said:
austin said:
If it's all to much for you to be bothered with, (which I'm guessing is the case) then just get an auction house or MG M specialist involved. I think you will be pleasantly surprised on the value of parts you think are scrap. Some of the small hard to find parts can have some serious value.
Agree. That M-type inlet manifold in the "garden" photo is worth a few bob itself. That red scuttle panel (I'm guessing that's what it is) would also have a value.
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