BLOG MY RIDE: ex 'Austin Rover Rally Sprint' MG Maestro 1600 - Car A

[John C]

This is 'Car A' of the 3 identical (apart from original body colour) ex Austin Rover Rally Sprint Maestros that I've got.

-more info on their background is in the Thread for the 1st car here:
http://www.maestro.org.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=15649

This car is currently located at http://www.lunarracing.com/ (Rockingham circuit, Corby NORTHANTS)

[John C]

The latest update from Paul Kneeshaw is as follows:

The Maestro in the spray booth has been primed. I've now got some wet and dry paper so it should be Silver soon.

[John C]

Lunar Racing have run out of space (and let me down TBH) and so this car is currently sitting outside under a tarp (still in primer) -not ideal.

If anyone can offer a good temporary or permanent home for it then let me know -suggestions welcome.

Here are a few to start (based upon its importance as 1 of only 4 works built motorsport Maestros still in existence):
a) Do it up as a Club project (in works livery with club signwriting) and use it on displays, shows etc.
b) Do it up between a small group of enthusiasts
c) Flog it
d) Store it inside a building somewhere (if anyone can offer anything?) to prevent any further degradation while we come up with a better plan in months to come

[John C]

A combination of options a) & b) is being explored at the moment...
http://www.maestro.org.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=17974

[John C]

This car is currently a rolling shell, painted in primer. All its parts are inside or near the car. It is parked outside the workshop at Rockingham circuit awaiting attention...

[John C]

Some pics for reference (these were taken before the whole car was sprayed in primer, but give an idea as to the car's state)

[John C]

This car was requested by the Phoenix Academy http://www.thephoenixschooltrust.co.uk/ for teaching motor mechanics to their pupils, and as such it is on long-term loan to the school in Grantham, and is stored outside in their car park under a cover.

However, they have decided that the sister car that they also have:
Car C http://www.maestro.org.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=16359
is adequate for their teaching purposes, so (Car A) is now available again for another suitable home.

Skidz Reading http://www.skidzreading.org.uk/ are interested in taking it away to use in a similar manner at their operation, and considering the logistics of the above.

Wherever the car ends up in the coming months, we are still hoping to take Jon Wills up on his kind offer of the skills of Cotswold Classic Car Restorations
http://www.cotswoldclassiccarrestorations.co.uk/ to get it back to its former glory.

[John C]

Well the car has recently arrived at Cotswold Classic Car Restorations (Cirencester), but the news isn't good. It was dismantled so badly/roughly (with some panel damage) and sprayed with primer poorly by Lunar Racing that Jon reckons it needs a month of work to get it restored -and he can only spare a week or 2 from his firm as it's a 'freebie'. It also has other random damage like the alloy rocker cover has a hole in it (so it will need to be replaced or the hole TIG welded). I don't know if all the parts are there as they are all piled up in the back of the car in a mess.

As such, we've agreed to look for another home for it ASAP.

So it's 'free to a good home, if you collect it' from the above firm in Cirencester

Let's not see this car getting scrapped -it's got too much history behind it for that!

Give me a ring on 07801 652262 if you have any questions.

[Jeff Turbo]

Well the car has recently arrived at Cotswold Classic Car Restorations (Cirencester), but the news isn't good. It was dismantled so badly (and primered poorly) by Lunar Racing that Jon reckons it needs a month of work to get it restored -and he can only spare a week or 2 from his firm as it's a 'freebie'.

As such, we've agreed to look for another home for it ASAP.

So it's 'free to a good home, if you collect it' from the above firm in Cirencester

Let's not see this car getting scrapped -it's got too much history behind it for that!

Give me a ring on 07801 652262 if you have any questions.

That's a bit of a shame John

[Guest]

Hi John Can you get some recent pics of the state its in??
Such ashame for this little car

[sportingfiat]

Hi. What's the latest with this car??. Is it still available ?

Cheers
Andy

[John C]

I had a lot of people contact me expressing interest in taking the car on. I chose to give it to Mick Covill of this firm:
https://www.facebook.com/RallyLegendReplicas

as he has a track record of restoring cars (and rescued a similar race Maestro recently that many would have scrapped).

[normanmg2000]

mg 1600

hi john, I have spoken to him he is going to get in touch when he gets it,he has my number if he needs any help getting it back.

[John C]

the Haynes manual was ruined by water in the car by the time that it came back trom Lunar Racing

There were none of the new FERODO race brake pads in this car (and the alloy sump guard was missing)

Mick reported that the engine was probably beyond repair as it had been stored outside in a manner which had allowed rain to get in and corrode the bores.

I'm not sure at present if he will save this car, but let's hope!

[John C]

At least some of the FERODO brake pads have turned up in a sister car, thankfully.