Mgs Gave Postwar Americans Something to Smile About
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
P.O. Box 87 Traverse City, MI 49685 THE VOICE OF THE COLLECTOR CAR COmmUNIT Y MGs gave postwar Americans something to smile about PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID HAGERTY VOL. 2, ISSUE 4 | WINTER 2007 Haggertys_Ad.pdf 6/27/07 11:12:26 AM publisher’s letter THE TEAM EDITORIAL STAFF Executive Publisher MCKEEL HAGERTY Associate Publisher JONAThaN A. STEIN Managing Editor LORI BREMERKAMP Executive Editor JERRY BURTON Designer GRAYSON CARDINELL Art Supervisor TODD KRAEMER Creative Director LAURA ROGERS Editorial Director DAN GRANTHAM Copy Editor THEA GOCHICOA PUBLISHING STAFF Managing Director JEREMY MORRIS Director of Publishing ANgeLO ACOrd Publication Manager DANIELLE POISSANT Assistant Project Manager SCOTT STANISLAV S Account Coordinator NIK ARINI O Production Manager KATHY COSGRO AM R E CONTRIBUTORS NT CE I PHIL BERG V CARL BOMSTEAD TERRY BOYCE KEN GROSS KEITH MARTIN DON SHERMAN ADVERTISING STAFF NOT OUT OF REACH National Sales Manager TOM KrempeL, 586-558-4502 [email protected] COLLECTOR CAR PUBLICATIONS are always writing about high prices for certain collector cars, especially muscle cars, sports racing cars and classics. We succumbed to that temptation ourselves with East Sales Office TOM KrempeL, 586-558-4502 our coverage earlier this year of the January Arizona auctions like Barrett-Jackson and RM. But while [email protected] headline-inducing prices will always be news, they are not the whole — or even half — the story. Central Sales Office Yes, there’s hope for the rest of us out there who don’t wish to spend six figures and up for a LIsa KOLLANder, 952-974-3880 nice collector car. In fact, you can spend far less than that for many excellent cars. Our cover story, [email protected] “The World of MG,” by our own Jonathan A. Stein, is a proof that the visceral wind-in-the face thrill West Coast Sales Office MELIssa AUSTIN, 818-225-0466 of top-down motoring is still available for a reasonable price. While there are always exceptions for [email protected] rarity or history, Stein reports that the top of the range for the oldest of the postwar MGs, the MG TC, is around $40,000. A really nice mid-1960s MGB can be had for less than $20,000. Questions about the magazine? Likewise, Keith Martin and his Sports Car Market staff report in this issue that many postwar Call 866-922-9401 or e-mail us at [email protected]. Italian sports cars, especially those from the 1970s and 1980s, can be had for very reasonable prices. Martin cites the 1971–1990 Alfa Romeo Spider (less than $10,000) as well as the 1980–83 © 2007 HAGERTY. All rights reserved. Printed in USA. No part of this magazine may be Fiat Spider 2000 ($4,000 to $6,000) or Lancia Beta ($5,000 or less). reproduced without permission. All unsolicited submissions, including manuscripts, photo- Or look at the thousands upon thousands of Corvettes, Mustangs or Camaros you might find graphs and queries, must be accompanied by adequate return postage and an addressed in Hemmings Motor News, on the Internet or even in your local newspaper. Depending upon return envelope. Editorial correspondence: Hagerty’s magazine, P.O. Box 2120, Warren, MI year and condition, many of these cars are available for less than $5,000. They have tremendous 48090-2120. Publisher’s correspondence: [email protected]. Products and bang for the buck if you want raw performance and are always fun to drive. Of course, the big services advertised in this issue are not necessarily endorsed by Hagerty or affiliates. Complaints or advantage with American cars is that parts are always plentiful and service — available just about inquiries should be forwarded directly to the advertiser. All purchases are at the complete dis- anywhere — is cheap. cretion of the consumer. CHANGE OF ADDRESS? INCORRECT Indeed, today’s aspiring car collector has an amazing array of choices and it’s never too late to get ADDRESS? RECEIVING DUPLICATE COPIES? We want you, as a member, to continue receiving in the game. Don’t do it for the investment value — do it for the fun. You’ll never know what future Hagerty’s magazine. Please send all address changes and duplicate copy information to collectors are willing to pay, so have your cake now and someday you might be able to eat it, too. Hagerty’s Reader Services, P.O. Box 87, Traverse City, MI 49685. ON THE COVER A 1958 MGA Roadster. Photo by Michael Furman. McKeel Hagerty Hagerty’s 3 contents car counselor AT YOUR SERVICE Whatever your question, we’ll do everything we can to track down an cutting out the bad metal and letting in the new pieces. In many cases, 14 answer. “Ask Hagerty” Concierge Service is available free to Hagerty restoring the body of a badly rusted vehicle may not make financial sense. Plus members by dialing 888-310-8020, option 3. Q: How can I find out what colors were offered on the new model Q: I’m in the process of restoring my 1970 Camaro, which does 1959 Chevrolet Apache pickups? not have a VIN or a title. (The vehicle was a drag car and doesn’t have the original firewall that carried theVIN .) How can I obtain these? A: Check out tcpglobal.com/autocolorlibrary. The site is phenomenally useful and can help owners of many kinds of vehicles. A: You’ll need to contact the DMV in your state and see what they Another option might be to look for new vehicle brochures or recommend. They’ll most likely tell you to take the car and the bill of sale catalogs for the line. For American literature, my first stop is usually to a state police post for inspection. Once that’s complete, the state can Walter Miller in Syracuse, New York, at AutoLit.com. usually assign a VIN or VIN plate and then provide a title. THE UNANSWERED QUESTION Q: I just bought a 1952 Muntz Jet with a rare Lincoln flat-headV -8. The unit body of steel is in rough condition, Do you or does someone you know of own a 1955 Chevrolet car with CK though. At what point should I replace the metal? original factory air conditioning? (Only 3,500 of the 1.1 million ’55 Chevys TO S produced featured it!) If so, send us a photo at [email protected] N RA T A: If the car is badly rusted, you’ll have to have new for possible inclusion in a book on the exploits of the General Motors panels crafted and welded in. Unit bodied cars of this era development engineers who worked on these first “front” air conditioning are not impossible to rebuild — as long as you take it to systems for cars. FEATURES 22 someone capable of fabricating the panels and carefully 14 The World of MG They were small, rough riding and lacked the power or comfort of the most basic Ford or Chevy, but MG cars were — and still are — fun to drive. BEFOREBEFORE YOU YOU GET GET INTO INTO A A T R 22 A Moving Experience O SP Nearly every collector needs to transport a car at some point. Make sure you N explore all your options before making a move. TRA T AUTO R 28 Touring Rallies O Participating in a touring rally is only half the battle. The biggest challenges can ASSP X P BIDDINGBIDDING WARWAR come before and after the event. FEDE BETTERBETTER HAVE HAVE PLENTY PLENTY OF OF DEPARTMENTS 28 5 Car Counselor 6 Before & After AMMOAMMO 8 Briefing 12 Great Resources 20 Market Watch 26 Automobilia WantWant to scareto scare off theoff thecompetition? competition? Arm Arm yourself yourself with with a loan a loan fromfrom Hagerty Hagerty Finance Finance – a –program a program designed designed especially especially for colfor- col- 32 Essential Collector lectors.lectors. Get Get the thelowest lowest monthly monthly payments. payments. And And pay payit off it asoff as IN E L 33 Gear Guide K fast fastas youas youwant. want. War War can canbe hell.be hell. Especially Especially for thefor theother other guy. guy. N A V 34 Rearview Mirror E 800-922-4050800-922-4050| WWW.HAGERTY.COM| WWW.HAGERTY.COM INSURANCEINSURANCE • FINANCE • FINANCE • ROADSIDE • ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE ASSISTANCE • HOBBY • HOBBY RESOURCES RESOURCES 4 Hagerty’s 6 Hagerty’s before &afterbefore few sentences about the project, to [email protected] for a chance to show off your vehicle. your off show to chance a for a and [email protected] photos, to after” & project, the “before about best your sentences Send few it! about hear to want we and — family the of member W RESTO E KNOW E the work you’ve put into restoring that special vehicle in your garage. garage. your in vehicle special that restoring into put you’ve work the R ATIO N RE W I nd I t’s almost like a like almost t’s quality and is valued at $25,000. at valued is and quality car show now is purchase $1,500 his as off, paid work rust. severe caused which moldings, body the behind collected had Moisture says. Machado springs,” just were seats the there, was everything but restored, “ chose. he car the on tip a him gave friend A job. restoration complete a on take to enough T 1954 ChevyBelAir he look of ’54 ’54 of look he B el Airs struck struck Airs el N azario Machado’s heart heart Machado’s azario I t needed to be be to needed t B ut the the ut JD the of choice the has Gallin Glide.