Hello from Andy on IOW

[AndyB]

Hi, just joined forum. I am on the IOW and now have 3 dead MG Maestros on my drive, one dead Monty Estate TD, and one running Monty Estate DLX. Oh and also a complete 820i as I was going to do the 16v conversion too.

Today is a sad day - my wifes MG Maestro I promised to restore and have spent the last 2 months stripping it down for a major restoration welding job. Was willing to spend 2k to get it back. However the cumulative rust is so great the conclusion with the welding guy is that it is too far gone. So final conclusion is we have lost our last MG Maestro. And a very nice plate too - E999MEL

So I'm left with 4 EFi engines / gboxes and a garage attic full of bits.:confused:

Am now pondering what to do next - may be on look out for a high quality Maestro - maybe turbo.

Anyone know of any members on the IOW ?

Best regards to all

[Beaker]

There is a MG Montego for sale on the IOW at the moment. Have a look on here - guy named thomas.

[AndyB]

Thanks Beaker - eventually found some threads relating to thomas. I am not sure how his 'sale' is going ! If he is keen on montys I might get in touch to say hello.
I am new to the forum so need to learn how to get in touch direct, or is that 'not done' !

[Beaker]

If you click on the name of someone a drop down appears. It will say send privated message to XXXX. Just click on that and you can send a message.

[The Express Valeter]

Regarding the plate E999MEL you should be able to keep it but I'm not sure how you do it if you scrap the car!! Probably get enough from the sale of the plate to buy a mint MG Maestro or advertise the number plate for sale with the car & it is up to the buyer to dispose of the car!!

[AndyB]

Regarding the plate E999MEL you should be able to keep it but I'm not sure how you do it if you scrap the car!! Probably get enough from the sale of the plate to buy a mint MG Maestro or advertise the number plate for sale with the car & it is up to the buyer to dispose of the car!!

Thanks E.V. I think though I have lost out big time. The car has been SORNed for 3 years - I didn't think restoration would be a problem at the time so didn't get the plate 'retained'. I have asked many for advice and getting the car MOTd was the only option. (Short of a replacement unstamped body shell) Hence I was prepared to spend 2k

If someone else has knowledge of a way round this I'd be over the moon. I even tried to contact the DVLA to ask if I could 'buy it back' after scrapping, but can't get through the maze of gateways.

[matthewsemple]

The only way to get that plate transferred is to get a new valid MOT for the car it is on. Plates cannot be moved from cars with no MOT.

[AndyB]

Having bought Dave's (from Chichester) rather fabulous red M16 converted Maestro MG, the bug has got me again.
The wife's old Maestro MG with number plate E999MEL has sat around for 3 years SORNed. Scrap or get it to MOT was the dilema - even if to get just the plate.

Made the decision 2 weeks ago to go for MOT. The list is :
LH sills completely disappeared, most of lh outer floor
RH sills not much better
Rear wheel arches both gone
LH rear turret badly corroded
Rear boot floor to rear valance gone
Front lh strut support corroded at side
Front rh x-member support corroded
Sunroof opening corroded at front
lh screen pillar badly corroded
plus loads of other minor areas.

Got a mig, loads of sheet and learning to weld. Have done the lh floor. Have found a 'mobile' welding guy who is good and he's doing the suspension points and giving me tips on welding.

Weekend just gone I cut out the complete rear turret from 'scrappy' and Chris replaced the whole turret and arch at lh rear in MEL.

I am taking pictures of all the stages.

Anyone interested in this project ? If so I could do a weekly post. Which topic in the forum is a total rebuild ?

Target is all shell welding completely redone by XMAS. Then I'll think about just an MOT, or make it really presentable.

And I think I must be mad, and I'll be broke !

If any of you come to the IOW then pop round for a point and a laugh (and a cup of tea)

[G51 NAV]

Sounds like poor old MEL has taken some pretty serious neglect to get into that state. Obviously I have no idea what condition the car was in when you bought it. Perhaps the damage was already done. But presumably it was at least in an MOTable condition. If so, keeping it that way is not too difficult providing you are prepared to put in a bit of effort. No matter how tiresome it seems at the time, it's always going to be easier than the ball-ache of future repairs, like those you're now going to have to undertake.

Good luck with the resto :)

[AndyB]

Thanks G51 NAV.

I think the sea air plus being parked outside got her. It's all the other projects that have to be done (house extension, all the drains, garden railway for my son) that got in the way over the last 3 years. But now I'm setting aside the time for MEL.

I'll post up some pics at the weekend.

Should this rebuild be a new thread or just add on to this one ?

[G51 NAV]

Probably a new thread, out of the Welcome section :)

[AndyB]

Thanks G51 NAV, will start it this weekend when back from Bristol

[matthewsemple]

I am in Bristol. Just thought I'd add that!

[AndyB]

Thanks Matthew
I visit the Bristol Rolls-Royce site occasionally. If I come down again and have a hire car to myself I'll drop you a line - maybe we can meet - have a chin-wag and I can see your wheels ? !
Will be posting new thread soon on the rebuild of E999MEL. There's a lot of work to do - as you'll all see !

[1100man]

Hi Andy
I am moving to the IOW as soon as my house sells with my monty td estate. Glad to know there is a fellow enthusiast already there!!
cheers

[AndyB]

Great stuff 1100man - e-mail me when you get here and we'll meet up.
You can come and see my MEL rebuild as well - doing a new post today !

[matthewsemple]

Thanks Matthew
I visit the Bristol Rolls-Royce site occasionally. If I come down again and have a hire car to myself I'll drop you a line - maybe we can meet - have a chin-wag and I can see your wheels ?
Cool - I am about 8 miles from Filton so send me a PM when you are next about and we can meet for a chat.

[Oli]

Cool - I am about 8 miles from Filton so send me a PM when you are next about and we can meet for a chat.
Count me in, i live 5 minutes from Matthew!

[thomas]

hi andy as per emails if you ever want to meet up ive still got my monty going to keep it as its a good car

[AndyB]

Thanks Oli - will mail you too when next down that way.

Thomas - drop me an e-mail anywhen. Dont forget I've got that bumper for you and I don't want anything for it. It will give me some space and I'll be happy to see it on a black montego MG again !

Look at my progress on E999MEL rebuild guys in the other thread !

Here is latest MG Maestro, some of you will remember it from Dave in Chichester.

5322 5323

In background is a scrap black MG Maestro (not as bad as MEL). Other picture is my Monty TD Estate, and the yellow ex-British Airports Authority Monty TD Estate, now for spares.