MG Maestro Progress

[John S]

Amazing quality workmanship going into this car but in typical fashion with these cars I see not all the rust is quite gone on the roof pillar shot. It takes lots of wire brushing of de-rusting gel after machine grinding to my experience. The process really does need repeating time after time until only pitted but shiny metal is left - no black bits! (but I assume you know already). I also hear too much paint and the windscreen won't bond properly - nightmare. I zinced my car around this area, I assume you'll be doing the same. Toast rack alloys would look better than X spokes in my opinion.

[Jonathan]

They were actually wondering about sand blasting the windscreen surround but we decided against turning my interior into a beach - the stuff gets everywhere! All that rust will have been removed before painting though... at least as far as possible - I don't think you could ever remove every last trace of it from a car but given how sparingly it's used it's not likely to be back in a hurry.

[E_T_V]

If you have a read on forward the MGM lot are doing repro badges for a reasonable price (pg 18). I'll be ordering at least 1 probably 2.

[matthewsemple]

If you have a read on forward the MGM lot are doing repro badges for a reasonable price (pg 18). I'll be ordering at least 1 probably 2.

These badges will fit into the recess of the grille on 2-litre cars.

Jon's MG1600 badge is different to that - but the MG 'M' Group also stock a reflective chrome decal which can be applied after the badge has been repainted so that the original look can be achieved.

When I have refurbished my MG1600 badge, I'll post up a picture.

[E_T_V]

Ahh sorry my mistake, I thought he had the original 2 litre grill still.

[Jonathan]

One thing that's been holding things up is that in preparing for painting they've now found more rust holes in the sill and in the floor, all now properly repaired.



The most visible thing this week has been the removal of the black paint from the cylinder head and painting of the block back to red, just as they would have been when new. Various brackets have been painted and parts cleaned up so that the engine bay looks as good as the rest of the car.

[Jonathan]

Things appear to be moving fast now with the front end in primer, although as usual it's been a case of things having to get worse before they can get better as some of the latest pictures show. A lot of extra time has gone into dealing with the various rust scabs all over the car, the difficulty being when to say enough's enough and start painting without fear of it returning later. I made my mind up about the wheels too...

[Guest]

Thats gonna be another great car when its done Jonathon.

Have you managed to find new centres for those shiny wheels as well?.

I can help if you need some.

Mal.

[Jonathan]

Thanks, Mal. There are still a few on Xpart's database but still awaiting a reply on that one. I'll let you know.

Quote for five low profile Pirelli P6000s (nearest equivalent I can find to the P8s originally fitted to early MG Maestros) was under £50 each fitted so not as bad as I'd been expecting

[G51 NAV]

Good to see things motoring along at last (pun intended). When you consider that Maestros were churned out new at an average of around 3,800 per month for nearly eleven years, it's amazing that restoring just one of them should be so time-consuming, though I appreciate the reasons why it is.

Good choice of wheels as well. If you'd said you were going back to black 14" steelies with plastic wheel-trims I would have had to have 'ad a word. Rare enough now to be of interest from a novelty perspective on maybe low-mileage 'timewarp' show-cars, they surely were otherwise the low-point of the MG EFi's seven-year lifespan.

[John S]

I remember 'CHO with plastic wheel trims and they really suited the car. I realise they are low rent for an MG but I think they go with the car.

[Jonathan]

I remember 'CHO with plastic wheel trims and they really suited the car.

I've never particularly liked them, and they were removed long before it went on the road. I'm having to compromise between originality and personal taste a bit here, but I do still have the original rims in the garage, just in case.

Just found a couple of pictures from the day I collected it, 10 years ago





Edit: links work.

[Guest]

Link's dont work

mal.

[G51 NAV]

God I remember you posting those pics on Maetroweb...seems like only yesterday. I was younger, thinner and more hairy. You were just, well, younger :laugh: (yes I'm only jealous)

[Guest]

I have a couple of new sets of those trims.
On a basic early 2.0i I think they look fine.(no toys no p/steering etc)

On a later/full package Mg then alloys are the only way to go.

Mal.