Members

Tim and Sue Coyne
My love for sports cars started right after high school when I found a 1971 Triumph Spitfire in pretty good shape that became my daily driver for my first couple of years of College in London, ON. I then decided to “move up” to a 1971 Fiat 124 Spyder for my final years of College before settling into the “van” scene for the next few years while raising a young family. The sports car bug never subsided, except that now that I had an education…I realized that an MG was the sports car to have.

In 1980, I saw a “car for sale advertisement” in the London Free Press which simply said “1960 MGA, $1000.00”. I immediately called and the car was still available. I looked at the car which was a little rough by 1980 standards (as it had been stored outside under a tarp for a number of years), but yet it was all there. I put forth my best negotiation skills and told the owner that I would give him $850.00 for the car. He replied…”listen son, I’ve already turned down $950.00 and I’m confident that the guy will be back to offer me $1,000.00…if you want it, you’d better act now and give me $1,000.00!” Beads of sweat were rolling down the back of my neck as I looked at the most beautiful car I’d ever seen in my life…then turned to stare at the best salesman I’d ever encountered in my life. Before I knew it, I blurted out…”OK, OK…I’ll give you $1,000.00 and we shook hands on the deal.

We went into his office to complete the transaction and his phone rang. He picked it up and I heard him say, “no…sorry it’s sold. I told you the first $1,000.00 took the car and this guy across the desk from me just gave me $1.000.00. I doubt it…but let me ask him…Tim…do you want to make a couple hundred dollars on that MGA I just sold you?” I replied, “No…tell him it’s sold”.

That’s how my love affair with my MGA started and for the next 8 years I painstakingly took it all apart, repaired or replaced everything that it needed to be a very reliable driver. Since 1988, our MGA has taken us from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific and from the Gulf of Mexico to the north shore of Lake Superior…and everywhere in between. Most of these trips have been to attend NAMGAR Get Togethers where we have traveled with and met many wonderful friends. If you own an MGA…you must join the North American MGA Register…it’ll be the best $30.00 you’ll ever spend.

In 2001, in order to extend our MG driving season, we purchased a 1974 MGB GT from a NAMGAR friend from Virginia. This car needed a little bodywork and a paint job, so for the next 2 years I took a continuing education bodywork course at our local Community College and did all the bodywork myself, but chose to have it painted professionally. The car was originally Bracken Orange, but when it was parked in the garage beside our red MGA…they screamed at each other. The decision was made to paint it Glacier White, which still was an original color for a ’74 and it looks beautiful.

The MGA has a 1971 MGB engine with an overdrive installed as well as a 3:9 rear end. This makes highway driving very comfortable for those long excursions.

The MGB GT also has an overdrive gearbox and is a very low mileage car which allows us very comfortable early spring and late fall drives when a roadster just won’t do.

Rob Davis
I bought YDI 2497 in October 1961. Over the years I have altered the original specs to suit a little club racing and just to personalize the car. A C/R gearbox was first and I swapped the 4.3 for a 4.875 axle. I also bought a 4.55 and fitted 2 inch SU‘s. I did have a major engine failure at around 110mph on a straight downhill bit of the M5, following a friend in a 100M Healey. Suddenly there was a loud puff and steam everywhere. I had just put in new valves and springs and one of the valve heads had broken off. End of head.

About 6 months before this calamity I had bought a set of 8.3 pistons from the great old MG warrior - Bill Thompson of Mitcham. At the same time Bill told me he had bought from the factory 4 half engines and 2 stripped whole engines. They had cranks, rods, pistons, valves, half speed shafts and oil pumps, but nothing else. So it made sense to buy while the going was good and I went away with a head and a whole engine - total bill 300 pounds. Very cheap even in 1967 - I think that was the year. So the big blow up was not the disaster it could have been. I stripped the engine put in the 8.3s, fitted an MGB diaphragm clutch and had the whole thing balanced by Laystall. The first motion shaft had to be changed and in the end I finished up with another very smooth engine.

In ’79 my new wife and I moved to Barbados to set up an AV business. The first work I did on the car was a total dismantle and body off, re-sprayed in Woodland Green. I also put in the new crated engine. I haven’t done any competition in Barbados apart from the odd slalom at our local track. Motor sport is in fact very advanced in Barbados. Mileage on the new engine is about 2,500.

As you can see from the pix I have altered the car here and there - I have always thought that if you have owned a car since almost new, you have the right to modify it as you think fit.

The main list of mods are as follows: Moss front suspension, Konis at rear. Peter Gamble C/R five speed, revised dash as shown, 1600 Mk2 rear lamps, usual radiator grill mod for greater cooling and no over riders. Radio speaker box below dash similar to MGB, “of the period” radio, one piece genuine Le Mans exhaust, smaller steering wheel, Peter Wood radiator and 5J Ali wheels, 2” SUs or Shorrock Supercharger option. Still got a little drive development to do for the blower, but the “Triple M” guys have been very helpful.

On July 7^th I drive the car down to the Barbados Port and into a container for its journey to Canada and London Ontario. Every cubic inch is filled with spares and bits and pieces - even managed to get the old engine and separated head in the passenger’s side along with my old C/R g/box - the seat is removed and will be stacked on the driver’s seat. We are so looking forward to our new life in Canada immensely.

MG 88 has always been driven as it was meant to be - pretty hard. It has given so much pleasure over 46 years of motoring. The mileage is now just over 84,000 and it only failed me once due to the faulty valve. I couldn’t wish for anything better.

-First exposed to a 1952 TD in 1953 when my sister and brother-in-law owned one.
-Bought my first T series MG, a 1953 TD, on 18 January, 1958. I was 18 years old and had just dropped out of 1st year university at Christmas 1957. My Dad, bless his soul, loaned me the money for the TD.

-Bought my first TC in Feb/65, gave it to my wife Carolyn on her birthday. Second TC, a parts car, in March, 1965 (still have that one in the same condition as purchased for $150.00).

-Probably have owned at least 25 or 30 T series cars and about a dozen MGAs over the years, currently have far too many, mainly TCs, but 3 TAs, a TD, J2 and PA as well as an MGA. Have probably "saved" 6 or 8 ( maybe more ) T series cars from being scrapped by buying up incomplete wrecks and collecting enough parts to make them into cars.

-Always wanted to race a TC or TD ever since I got my first TD in 1958.

-Raced a Lotus 7 in 1970-72 in CASC.

-Raced Lotus 11 1980-87 in Vintage, including first Pittsburg race. Various other tracks in Canada and USA including LRP.

-Raced Elva Mk2 1991 to 1997 in Vintage at various tracks including LRP.

-Started building TC-6073, my present race car, out of spare parts I owned in about 1996. Completed the car for 1998 Mosport Vintage Festival and have raced it at various tracks in Canada and USA, including Pittsburg and LRP.

-Supplied most parts for Frank Mount to build his race TC-1573 in parallel to TC-6073. Frank completed his car later in 1998.

-Presently manufacture and supply some hard to find parts for T series MGs, alfin drums, axle shafts, oil filter adapters, light racing steel flywheels etc.

-need to live to be 150 to complete all my MG projects.

-Married for 46 years to Carolyn who goes along with my MG obsession. Two daughters, five grandkids who have been introduced to MGs.

-Drive our regular road TC-8654 extensively to various MG events, Florida twice, Nova Scotia, Gatlinburg TN etc. Maximum miles driven in an MG T series car was 14,000 miles in a single year, 13,000 another, 12K, 10 k etc in other years, some TD, some TC. Carolyn has just been awarded a beautiful pin, the "Cast Iron Bum" award, from a friend because she can regularly travel 600 to 650 miles in a day in the passenger seat of the TC.

-Oh, BTW, went back to university after working for 9 months and graduated with Honours in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Toronto.

Photos are:

1-1934 MG PA-0531,

2-1949 MG TC-8654 EXU

3-1948 MG TC-6073 race TC

4-1960 MGA 1600
5-1949 Bob, Carolyn, and the MG TC-8654 EXU

Mike Hosier (President)
I acquired my 1960 MGA 1600 in 1999. It was a decent driver when I bought it but I spent the next couple of years giving it a cosmetic makeover. Getting this car was a long overdue dream. I had a 1957 MGA when I was just out of High School but priorities and finances prevented me from hanging on to it. I always dreamed of owning an MGA again some day but didn't realize that it would take 37 years before that would happen.

Mel Inch
My 1957 MGA Coupe was born August 14, 1957,(car #HMA43/35875 - one of 3326 coupes built that year) & was shipped to North America the same month. It was last reported in the Rochester New York area & eventually found its way to Canada. In 1998 I "discovered" the car in a storage locker on Wonderland Rd. in London Ontario & fell in love immediately. I had a 1979 Midget that was my summer fun for 18 years but this was something I could work on, and for the next 6 years I did a pile of work. It is now my one & only British car & it has taken me (not without problems) to Mackinac & to Gatlinburg Tennessee these past 2 years. It now runs like a top & has become fairly reliable (touch the wooden floorboards)

Paul (Editor) and Kathryn Tonizzo
I got my first MGA in 1991. It was a 1960 MGA 1600 completely disassembled. It took me 9 years to finish it after moving 5 times over those years! I sold that car in the Spring of 2007 and just finished restoring a second 1959 MGA 1600.
Photos are:
1-1960 MGA (sold in 2007)
2-1959 MGA

Brent Tyrell
Here is a photo of my 1960 roadster that I recently completed a body off restoration on. I am also currently restoring a 1957 1500 Coupe, also a body off, and I also have a 1962 TR4 as a driver. I have had MGA's since 1973, both roadsters and coupes. Believe me, neither my TR-3 nor my TR4 drive like an MGA.

Jeff and Jan Zorn
My love for MGA's dates back to 1959 when my cousin in New Jersey bought one as a daily driver. Owning one was my dream and finally in 1968 I almost fulfilled it. But alas MGA's were no longer made so I settled for a new 1968 MGB. I enjoyed this car for about 4 years and many long trips, but had to sell it for something more "practical." The love for MGA's was always in my system and finally in the summer of 1995 I found a wonderful 1500. "Emmy" and I were good friends for about 3 years, when I sold her to another NAMGAR member and purchased "Emmy Too" pictured below. This 1600 was restored a couple of years ago by another Michigan Rowdie and, since he was restoring a "new" Mk II and did not need two MGA's, I was lucky enough to convince him that I would give her a good home.

Send mail to webmaster@hoser-eh.com with questions or comments about this web site. Last modified: 11/03/08

Send mail to webmaster@hoser-eh.com with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: 11/03/08