Elfman's New Convertible!

[ELFMAN]

Well I've finally gone and done it... :crazypilot:
1974 MGB Roadster, Damask Red, bog standard.
Apart from the Oselli Stage 2 1950cc engine.
Well, we don't do 'standard' around here!

Don't worry, I'm still keeping the Elfmobile! :hand: :thumbs up:

[N16SHP]

Very nice Euan! I had this horrible feeling I was going to open this thread and see a new MINI Convertible!!! There is nothing wrong with the convertible, I just love the Elfmobile :)

[stoney]

Great euan I know you have wanted one for ages

[DigitalLemming]

Very nice Euan, hope you have many happy miles in it :)

[jonnie]

Love it, very nice motor.

[ELFMAN]

Thanks everybody. Been on the Bucket List for a while now as you know, so decided to finally do it.

In typical ELF Style/Luck - it's stuck in the garage! It came off the transporter the other day from the dealer in Surrey with slightly poorly batteries (2x6v), and after a bit of manoevering etc, they decided that they'd had enough... Well, it was 42 years old on the 4th April, so it's a proper British Sports Car! A nice chap from Glasgow MG Owners Club is coming over tomorrow afternoon to check the car over and hopefully get it up and running. It does sound good when it's going!

It's not a 'concours' example, but it still looks nice, it's solid and mechanically sorted (batteries excepted!) and should be a good useable car for sunny days. I initially intended going for a pristine 60s B, but reckoned I'd never take it out in case it got a mark on it - I'm bad enough with the Mini - so I decided to go for a later model with an interesting motor which will hopefully get used. Hopefully tomorrow will at least get it started!
Stay Tuned...

[Craig]

fantastic Euan, love the old MGB's. The chrome bumpers and minilites on this car really suit it and better than the rostyles and rubber bumpers you normally get on these later cars ;)

would love to see it in the flesh some time - wishing you many happy miles in it ;)

[badwolf340]

Very nice and that Oselli engine ,not heard from them in a while used to have a 1500 pre X flow in a Mk 2 Cortina by Oselli

[weefossy]

What a Beauty Euan. love it. :thumbs up:
After she stopped swearing, Mom has offered to be the first to "go topless" with you.:smilewinkgrin: Not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing...........:D

[EcosseGP]

^^^ PMSL ... Can't wait to see Euan's face with that Malcolm. Might be the first time both mom and Euan will be speechless !
Euan what a great acquisition ... That'll be so much fun for a bit of summer cruising. Looks brilliant and in great condition.


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[MINI William]

Looks great Euan. Hope the weather cheers up a bit and you can get out and enjoy it in the sun

[Blueboy]

Congrats on new purchase, love these cars! My mum had a V8 when we were young-many moons ago- and have always loved them. Hope you have many happy miles in it

[CiderFex]

What a cracking wee motor to soak up a few miles, and Sun in, on those long dry Summer days.
[emoji41]
Many congrats and enjoy.
[emoji1303]


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[Crombers]

An absolute stunner Elfmeister, many happy motoring miles :motoring:

[Big Gordy]

Very nice....very nice indeed :thumbs up:

[ELFMAN]

Cheers folks! You always have a bit of a 'wobble' after buying something like this - "hope I've done the right thing" etc, but it'll all be worth it when I'm going through Glencoe and up the West Coast with the roof down and "The Song Remains the Same" by Led Zeppelin on the CD player! (that's my actual Bucket List target).

Malcolm, I promise to return Sioban in (reasonably) good condition. What condition I'd be in is another matter... Not sure I could handle them. It. The experience. Oh Dear... (Elfman has left the building).

Hopefully we can get the car started this afternoon! Ah, the 'joys' of old motors right enough...

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fantastic Euan, love the old MGB's. The chrome bumpers and minilites on this car really suit it and better than the rostyles and rubber bumpers you normally get on these later cars ;)
would love to see it in the flesh some time - wishing you many happy miles in it ;)

No problem Craig, you're not far away from me despite those bloody roadworks! Welcome anytime.

It's a genuine late chrome bumper car as opposed to a rubber bumper conversion, and was built at Abingdon on 3rd-4th April 1974. The Oselli engine (Worked on Unleaded Head, Cam, Lightened and Balanced, Electronic Ignition etc) was fitted in late 2009 and the car was restored and resprayed in 2010. It's had a lot of bits and pieces replaced since 2012 by the previous owner but one who was a mechanical engineer (new rear springs, rebuilt diff, many small parts, etc), so it's a 'work in progress' driver's car as opposed to a show car.

As I mentioned it's not 'concours' and as the resto was done a few years ago now it could probably do with a bit of paintwork in a couple of small areas, as the original respray was passable rather than perfect. The chap who sold it to me (he mainly deals in high-end stuff like classic 60s Astons, Porsche 356s and Jags - you can see a few nice motors in the photos) was very honest about the car and told me he'd have probably given it a top-notch respray if he was keeping it (it was his personal 'fun car'), but it's a solid wee beast and has at least been used on and off over the past few years rather than just sitting - lack of use doesn't do old MGs any favours. We'll see how it goes, I'm already having to talk myself out of treating it to a Long Centre Branch manifold...
It's an illness I tell you! (especially when a good LCB is only £160...)

[Craig]

Would sound great with an LCB and stainless sports system :)


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[Big Gordy]

LCB.......just do it wee man....lol

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So it has a "modern" CD player fitted then......!!!

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The sound from the 'B' series 1800cc engine is unmistakable. I remember shoe-horning one of them into my Morris Minor when I was a lad.

[ELFMAN]

Re. LCB - Stop it!!!!!! :hand:
I think the CD's clockwork... :smilewinkgrin:

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The sound from the 'B' series 1800cc engine is unmistakable. I remember shoe-horning one of them into my Morris Minor when I was a lad.

Ahh, got to love a Modded Minor :thumbs up:
Before I started looking at MGBs I was sorely tempted by a 'period' 60s race-style Minor...
Perfect for Goodwood Revival and the like! :motoring:

[Big Gordy]

Only issue with a modded Minor is the tendancy for them to roll onto its roof when pressed through the corners....lol.....that and the torsion bar front suspension....ohh and the brakes, axle tramp....the list goes on:thud:Ended up selling it an going down the Mk1 Escort 1600cc route....RESULT..!!

[ELFMAN]

Only issue with a modded Minor is the tendancy for them to roll onto its roof when pressed through the corners....lol.....that and the torsion bar front suspension....ohh and the brakes, axle tramp....the list goes on:thud:Ended up selling it an going down the Mk1 Escort 1600cc route....RESULT..!!

Yes, it's rubbish when reality interferes with the dream! At the moment, my dream's still on the battery charger... MG bloke couldn't make it yesterday but I eventually figured out how to charge the two 6v batteries off my 12v charger. Fingers crossed. I'm sure it was easier to start a Saturn V rocket... possibly.

[Big Gordy]

I'm sure it was easier to start a Saturn V rocket... possibly.

Big match :Whistle:

[ELFMAN]

Got it started and took it out yesterday afternoon. Great fun, but bloody cold driving then standing footering inder the bonnet!

There are a few wee issues to sort out, like the makeshift 'plug' which was blocking (or not actually) a redundant vacuum advance pipe outlet on the inlet manifold and letting excess air in. When we (my mate Bill who knows about SU Carbs etc came over for the big event) sealed it properly the car ran like a bag of spanners - the carbs had been set up around the fault... It also wasn't putting out anything like the Oselli engine should have been, but is now running a lot smoother and pulling much better. The brake servo seems to be on strike too, so I'm going to put it into an MG specialist in Motherwell, McFaddens (MG Owners Club recommended and used by the chap from MGOC I was in touch with and his chums), to get them to give it a thorough check over.

Nothing drastic wrong with it, but it would be good just to establish what's good and what's needing fettled so that I can enjoy it properly. With the Minis I have a benchmark, so I know what's what, but this is new territory and I've nothing to compare it with, so these guys should be able to flag up anything which needs attending to. As I said, it was running much better when Bill had adjusted the carbs, so a good afternoon. Apart from the cold.

Oh, by the way if you want to smell like a small traditional garage in the 60s, buy an MGB with maladjusted carburettors! I'm going to market the fragance (exhaust fumes, petrol and warm oil, with a subtle hint of slightly musty old cars) for Christmas, "Eau de B - for the man who has everything. Except a girlfriend". Women will swoon. Probably. I bet Guy Martin smells like that all the time, and he's got a girlfriend. But then again he's much braver than me...

[weefossy]

Nobody's braver than "Elfman The Braveheart" :knife:;)

[maxibaby]

Got it started and took it out yesterday afternoon. Great fun, but bloody cold driving then standing footering inder the bonnet!

There are a few wee issues to sort out, like the makeshift 'plug' which was blocking (or not actually) a redundant vacuum advance pipe outlet on the inlet manifold and letting excess air in. When we (my mate Bill who knows about SU Carbs etc came over for the big event) sealed it properly the car ran like a bag of spanners - the carbs had been set up around the fault... It also wasn't putting out anything like the Oselli engine should have been, but is now running a lot smoother and pulling much better. The brake servo seems to be on strike too, so I'm going to put it into an MG specialist in Motherwell, McFaddens (MG Owners Club recommended and used by the chap from MGOC I was in touch with and his chums), to get them to give it a thorough check over.

Nothing drastic wrong with it, but it would be good just to establish what's good and what's needing fettled so that I can enjoy it properly. With the Minis I have a benchmark, so I know what's what, but this is new territory and I've nothing to compare it with, so these guys should be able to flag up anything which needs attending to. As I said, it was running much better when Bill had adjusted the carbs, so a good afternoon. Apart from the cold.

Oh, by the way if you want to smell like a small traditional garage in the 60s, buy an MGB with maladjusted carburettors! I'm going to market the fragance (exhaust fumes, petrol and warm oil, with a subtle hint of slightly musty old cars) for Christmas, "Eau de B - for the man who has everything. Except a girlfriend". Women will swoon. Probably. I bet Guy Martin smells like that all the time, and he's got a girlfriend. But then again he's much braver than me...

Looks like a cracking car! Bet you can't wait for the weather to improve and summer to finally arrive.

Ah, the smell of carburettors, maladjusted or otherwise...lovely.

Makes me hanker for a 60's/early 70's car again. I had a 1968 Fiat Dino coupe in the 90's, lovely car, wish I'd kept it... [emoji15]

[emoji106]

[ELFMAN]

Looks like a cracking car! Bet you can't wait for the weather to improve and summer to finally arrive.

Ah, the smell of carburettors, maladjusted or otherwise...lovely. Makes me hanker for a 60's/early 70's car again. I had a 1968 Fiat Dino coupe in the 90's, lovely car, wish I'd kept it... [emoji15] [emoji106]

Fiat Dino Coupe - that wasn't the V6 Ferrari engined one was it? If so I bet you wish you'd kept it! Cracking car and worth many £££ nowadays... I'm certain they did other engines though, but the V6 Dino engined one was the daddy.

Had the car out again today. The 'road testing' yesterday had almost emptied the tank, so I had to nip into my local garage to put a wee drop of 95 octane in it to get to the garage which sells 98 octane! :smilewinkgrin: It's quite addictive, though that might just be the fumes... The carbs are now in the right ball park (probably a bit rich) but I can't wait to get it all set up properly - there's a lot of potential in there. Don't worry, still loving the MINI!

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Nobody's braver than "Elfman The Braveheart" :knife:;)

Cheers Malcolm, but yon doctor who's threatening Sioban's HB2 is very, very brave...

[Big Gordy]

A teaspoon of Castrol R in the tank and your sorted :yes nod:

[maxibaby]

[QUOTE=ELFMAN;346157]Fiat Dino Coupe - that wasn't the V6 Ferrari engined one was it? If so I bet you wish you'd kept it! Cracking car and worth many £££ nowadays... I'm certain they did other engines though, but the V6 Dino engined one was the daddy.

Had the car out again today. The 'road testing' yesterday had almost emptied the tank, so I had to nip into my local garage to put a wee drop of 95 octane in it to get to the garage which sells 98 octane! :smilewinkgrin: It's quite addictive, though that might just be the fumes... The carbs are now in the right ball park (probably a bit rich) but I can't wait to get it all set up properly - there's a lot of potential in there. Don't worry, still loving the MINI!

Yes, yes and again yes!

It was a truly great little car! Aquamarine colour and looking at the prices these days, yes I'd wish I'd kept it!
Unfortunately after splitting up with my missus at the time, house was sold and I'd nowhere to keep it...
They brought out 2 versions, 2 L and 2.4 L over the lifetime of the car.
Mine was the 2 L aluminium block, which was lighter but less powerful than the subsequent 2.4 iron block that went into the Ferrari Dino and the Lancia Stratos.
IMO the 2 L was a prettier looking car, but it used to get fun with the live rear axle going over bumps. [emoji15]
It sounded gorgeous too, as the sets of resonator boxes on the zorts got gradually cut away as they rotted.
I never had any mechanical issues with it, only electrical, alternator and the Dinoplex ignition system played up now and then.
I'll try and dig a pic out, but it was in the days before digi cameras and cameras on mobile phones!
I've still got a book on them that's apparently worth a couple of hundred quid, as it's never been reprinted and is sought-after by owners...

But there's nothing like carbs!

[Alex from NM]

Ooooooh good choice that man. Hope you get its niggles ironed out :thumbs up:

[ELFMAN]

Going to get it booked in to Classic MG Garage soon, so they'll hopefully be able to set it up as it should be. It's probably not that far off, but I'm pretty sure that Oselli lump is being held back. I've had it up to 75 with the roof down, but when you're used to the Works 4-Pots, the MGB brakes are... interesting. They do eventually stop you, but they pretend they're not going to! Much like a girl I knew once, or twice.

On the Fiat Coupe, I'm sure that's what the Mafiosi were driving at the start of The Italian Job when they bulldozed the E-Type and the Aston over the cliff. I was actually more upset when Charlie Croker and his chums binned the Minis out of the bus at the end of the film. Still can't watch that without wincing.

[Burple]

Mmmmmmmmmmmm.... Oselli engineering... They used to do a lot of really good quality Mini engine stuff :thumbs up::thumbs up:


http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/glee/images/3/3e/Drooling_homer.gif/revision/latest?cb=20121116203004




And get that LCB done... Job jobbed! :cool:;)
For that authentic smell get some Castrol R bunged in there too... can you still get that?

Awesome looking motor Other E. There's a few round our way, someone at the Uni has an MGB GT V8... that sounds luvverly.



Here's to many many hours of getting yer tap-aff!! :cool::cool:

p.s.. remember the head-scarf! :smilewinkgrin:

[ELFMAN]

Cheers Alterative E! Yes, 'Frozen Baldy Napper Syndrome' is a concern, wooly hat essential. (No flat caps).

I had an Oselli 998 Cooper head on my wee Mini HLE back in the day and it was a work of art, so I'm pleased to reacquaint myself with that company. Carbs still need a bit of of setting up, though they're now in the right ball-park, but more to come from the old 1950! The engine's only done around 3,600+ miles since it was installed back in 2009, so it's barely run in, and I'm not sure it was ever set up properly... soon will be though.

Will investigate the LCB in near future.

[ELFMAN]

20/50 Feeding Time chez Elf
Grrrr! :beer:

[Big Gordy]

For that authentic smell get some Castrol R bunged in there too... can you still get that?

Och aye........run both my classic bikes on the stuff :thumbs up: I've got a couple of gallons of the very stuff in the garage:smilewinkgrin:

[ELFMAN]

Car's now in at MG specialist for a 12v battery conversion, a service and a good ole check over just to make sure everything's as it should be. Did a wee (almost legal) blast up the motorway with the roof down on my way home from pal's house last night - most exhilarating!
Also overtook a Cooper SD on the way over there, but we won't talk about that... :hand: :smilewinkgrin:

Taking the Mini out tomorrow to reacquaint myself with my 'other love' - feel as if I've been cheating on it, but variety is indeed the spice of life!

[Craig]

Glad it's getting a bit of love [emoji2].


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[CiderFex]

Nice to know that's it's still pulling at your heart strings and that you are paying it back with some T.L.C.
[emoji4]


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[Crombers]

Excellent Elfmeister :thumbs up:

[ELFMAN]

Took it in on Thursday for check-up. Getting new brakes at front, stub axles and some fettling of the contactless ignition in the distributor. Carbs getting fine-tuned, a full service and that 12v battery so it actually starts! Should get it back sometime next week and looking forward to trying it out after it's been 'sorted'.

Have been out and about enjoying G3 ELF and it's quite interesting that you can have equal fun in two such totally different cars. The Mini is a blast and does everything really well as we know and would leave the B for dead. The B is great in its own way, but it's so much more of a 'hands on' experience, you really have to drive it - no assistance anywhere (apart from a brake servo) - it literally is from a different era and the steering is a real work-out when parking and manoevering at low speeds!

I'm a lucky chap to be able to have the chance to own two iconic cars at the same time. Oh and the wee Fabia, which just goes about its business without hassle or complaint, bless it. Only problem I'm having is forgetting which car I'm in and reaching for switches and stalks etc which aren't there - trying to indicate and turning on the wipers, or braking in the S with the same force as the B's (soon to be replaced) dodgy anchors and standing it on its nose!

[N16SHP]

Great stuff Euan, cannot wait to see it in it's prime.

Agreed on the buttons, when I was jumping between Kirsten's CM and my F56 I kept locking the doors instead of starting the car :thud:

[ELFMAN]

If I can make it to the Detailers Box meeting, I'll bring it down. Unless it's raining! :smilewinkgrin: