Another Montego!

[MG Mal]

I picked this one up for my Dad, as he "Was" planning on driving again.
Changed his mind, so will be up for grabs soon.

H plate 2.0 LX Saloon. (Carb Model), P.O. fitted a manual choke kit, but fitment of the cable needs a little work. P.O.'s local garage repaired lower arch to sill joins for him, to let's say "testable" Standards, so will need work to "Look right".

24,900 miles from new, with only 5 registered Keepers of which the last two where Husband and Wife. (so really only 4).

Otherwise needs general tidying, head liner and a darn good clean!. All test certs with it too, as well as a small pile of receipts for works done etc.

Although MOT'd until the 22nd of August, I have booked it in for a test next week to ensure "all is well".

Pics below. (and more on photo bucket)













http://s236.photobucket.com/user/MGTurb ... t=2&page=1

[zipgun]

Funny how at the time I thought these and the Maestro looked dreadful but now see them as quite attractive especially the MG versions

[MG Mal]

It's usually the case.

Austin rover group took some serious blows from the press and the public at the time these where being built. Mainly due to all the union issues and rust etc.

But then most if not all 80's cars suffered from early onset corrosion no matter what make.

I remember Fords and Vauxhalls falling apart at 18 months old, but because they were "Not" ARG it seemed they were ok to do so.

Now they are building up quite a large following, and not just for the high spec Austins and MG's, but base models too.

[tractorman]

Hmm, another white Montego that rusted where mine did. I could put a hand through the hole mine had (at five years old)! I have to confess that, while I never liked the Maestro (a poor car after a Maxi), I did like the looks of the Montego. However, I much preferred the earlier rear lights (they had a Merc look about them!).

I wouldn't say all 80's cars rotted quickly - though I did have to repair rust on a '85/6 Passat estate in 1989 (and got some slag in my eye - I can still see the scar). That was badly repaired accident damage - the car was bought second hand by an ex boss. My 85 Golf wasn't too bad - in spite of me driving through salt water and I knew a few people with BMWs Volvos and Saabs that seemed to fare well!

[mach1rob]

My 1988 E plate Orion was a damn sight rustier than my D plated MG Montego, that never failed an MOt due to serious structural corrosion around the cross member. That Orion was rotten as a pear underneath, yet looked ok from above, the Monty did start getting scabby doors, but the sills etc were fine.

[tractorman]

A friend's daughter had a Mk3 Escort (fairly early one) and, IIRC the Mk3s had a common problem with rust around the battery tray that led to corrosion in the bulkhead - perhaps similar to the Orion? My brother-in-law had a late Mk3 estate diesel as a company car and it did 150K+ by the time it went (about 4 yrs I think). He was well pleased with the car (though it was "of the era" - about a 1988/9 model), but my niece's boyfriend (at the time) was an apprentice at a Ford garage and insisted the engine wasn't original as they "don't last over 100K!"

The friend had a "W" reg Cortina and it needed new wings before it got to ten years old (I welded the old ones up when it was nine or so - there were hand-sized holes in it). The car had been treated with various "wax oils" more or less from new - but it was a farmer's car, so always in the clarts! The next car they got was his sister's Pug 205D ("J" reg) and Mother's old Metro (1984). The Metro didn't last long - we'd had a patch on the sill by the time we sold it in 1989 and it was done with Waxoyl from new! They "sold" the Metro to a niece to learn to drive with and the Pug lasted donkey's years and was only got sold because it failed an MOT (front struts) and the repair was "too expensive". I suspect they fancied a newer car - they bought a 2005 Jazz instead (and still have it).

The snag with buying second hand is that the state of the car depends on the first (or subsequent) owners. I'd looked at a few four or five year old Montegos and bought the best I saw. However, it could rust for England! Being fair minded, I suspect part of it was that the PO didn't wash it or attempt to look after it (possibly a company car). I put over a gallon of Waxoyl on it - and it still rusted through!

[kstrutt1]

the 80s was when many manufacturers were updating their paint plants to phosphate coating etc, even the same car would rust completly differently depending on where it was made. I have found several of the cars I have restored which have been waxoyled have similar issues these are areas missed altogether and seams rusting out, I add clean 20 50 to waxoyl which greatly improves its creeping poperties ( It still doesn't drip out though) to make sure it is well covered i use a compressor powered gun and do it on a warm day, exposed areas need doing every year as well.

[MG Mal]

Just got back from the MOT station.
very impressed with the car, but not the previous owners garage who repaired the sill ends!

Has been advised on both repairs. (for piece of mind).
Repairs are :testable" but advises a correct repair be carried out in the future.

So, now she is Tested until August 22nd 2015 and is looking for a new owner.

We found once on the ramps that, It has a brand new full exhaust system fitted as well as recent track rod ends and other new bits "down below"


Mal.

[tractorman]

I have to agree that the welding doesn't look great - though being a white car rust on and around the patches doesn't help. I would hazard a guess that it was done a while ago, when such repairs were common and, if the rust is confined to that area it should be safe - if unattractive. I reckon the patch on my Montego was bigger than both those put together (as was the one on the first Metro we had - though that was welded after we sold it).

Nice to know it went through the test so easily - I hope it finds a loving home!

[MG Mal]

If I understood the late owners wife, it was done less than two years ago!