need help deciding

[ray0098]

hi ive got my mg maestro which has been coverted to a turbo (still got mgi bumpers) but ive seen a meastro tickford turbo for sale but shell is almost rusted away do i
1.... use the tickford turbo to make mine look like the real one and use the parts i need as the shell has gone on the tickford and make mine better or
2....... as i know these tickfords are very rare and try to repair the shell and have it as a project and get it done
PLEASE WHAT WOULD U DO
plese bear in mind the tickford is repairable but will need a lot of welding and i mean a lot

[matthewsemple]

This will depend on your budget, time, your own expertise and maybe even your conscience.

Repairing a rusty shell can cost thousands if you have the work done professionally. Swapping the bumpers from one car to another can be done by anyone with a socket set.

However you may also wish to consider the fact that there are probably less than 200 genuine Tickfords left and less than half that will be in use as many are 'awaiting restoration'.

If money is no object, buy the Tickford and get it repaired. You'll have the exclusivity of owning a very rare and desirable car. Or if your budget is tight, try to get some Tickford bumpers (sometimes they come up on eBay) and fit those to your converted EFi and let someone else tackle the Tickford.

There is also a very naughty option, that I would not recommend, that involves using the shell of a good car to rebuild the Tickford keeping the original chassis number, registration, etc.

I guess it will ultimately boil down to cash and how well you sleep at night!

[ray0098]

see i was thinking of all the parts for mine spare engine bumpers ect to be honest i aint got the time to fix it up but if i get it for parts i dont want to be the bad man to kill another tickford off i think its an early one 1-100 in that section but i was thinking putting the seats into mine bumpers and skirts few bits and bob proberley engine buti dont need engine just cosmetics and then sell the car off but i dont know

[Chris Y]

Do the right thing and save the Tickford. If you don't have the time/resources/money to repair the body, then consider selling it to someone else.

[ray0098]

here are some pics of the car and tell me what u think
i been told the sills are knackered

[ray0098]

more and the clutch has gone aswell

[matthewsemple]

Very difficult to tell from those pictures. Doors, wings and tailgate can all be replaced quite easily and sills/arches are not to much of a problem but without seeing the floorpan, I don't think anyone could make a call on whether it is worth saving.

However, it doesn't look too bad and you can be certain that someone somewhere has saved a car that is much worse than that.

It would be a shame though, to butcher that car for its seats and bumpers.

[ray0098]

hes said it needs sill ect floor might need work all kit is in good condition brakes are free (non locked) windscreen rust on wings at bottom engine is perfect runs and drives but he said it need a clutch as it slipping had new boot but needs back window

[E_T_V]

Need to have a look underneath but if it is just sills that need work then it is a pretty easy resto project. Everything else is bolt on/off and easy to swap.

[ray0098]

if i get it im going to store it and restore it as it very rare and no expence will be spared

[Chris Y]

Glad to hear it, Ray! :)

[E_T_V]

Good on ya!

[henocsr]

The best thing to do is pull the carpets up on the tickford and check the floor. Tickford 316 is now no more due to rust rot. There was no way it could be repaired. I have kept the VIN plate and log book so if i find a new or unstamped shell i could reshell it legally

Was reshelling it into a £150 1.3hl that was going to the scrap yard after noone bid out of about 15 watchers on ebay, but have run out of money. So brought an MG EFI and have converted that to turbo instead.