This 1979 MGB LE was purchased NEW at Engle Imports in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Now, the son of the owner has arranged to rebuild this MGB LE as a present to his mother. The approach for restoration is nearly always the same. Remove a piece, work with it, remove the next piece, work with that. NEVER remove more than you can repair/restore right then. This is the mantra for our restorations. You are instructed to follow our lead. It works. Watch!
02 Dec 05
This is a "production restoration" in which we have already performed the mechanical repairs and will now commence the body and interior rebuilding.
Off comes the top
06 Dec 05
Apart come the doors
I wish I'd taken "before" pictures of these LE wheels. The restored wheels are simply dynamite!
07 Dec 05
The LE is now nearly stripped.
08 Dec 05
Fitted with replacement wheels, now the seats are removed
12 Dec 05
It is now stripped of all external fittings and ready for the bodyshop!
19 Dec 05
Off to Mark's for welding and paint!
21 Dec 05
The paint is removed
Huge sections of damaged and rusty metal are cut away!
22 Dec 05
Filling and smoothing has begun
But still more metal must be removed -- here the whole sill section
28 Dec 05
A whole rear section is replaced
The sills are complete on this side
The "crack of doom" is repaired here with an extra piece of metal on the inside of the door.
29 Dec 05
The bonnet looks pretty good, but this car is to be repainted BLACK. Believe it! Black is the most expensive color to prep for. Any tiny flaw is magnified.
This fender, just the other day was missing altogether!
The left rear is undergoing the smoothing treatment. For those who say "I wouldn't want bondo in my car" they are either kidding themselves or simply don't have a car! Every vehicle uses some sort of filler -- it's the application of the filler that is in question. A thin coat is always required; a 1/2" of the stuff is something else!
30 DEC 05
The front end is starting to look pretty nice!
Just a little smoothing and filler here and there.
The back corners always require a little more diligence!
06 Jan 06 Mark has really made progress! Note the MGA in the second picture. That one's for Eclectic Motorsworks in Holland.
Now in black paint, for the most part!
After this paint is set and buffed Mark will fix the stripe
and the chrome strips! We should have it back this week
01/10/06 Back, LE wheels fitted, and ready for assembly!
01/11/06 Front bumper fitted, some lights, and coming right along!
01/12/06 Getting right into it! Ken is working with the wiring, and then staying inside so we can get the latch working correctly!
01/16/06 The rear is looking pretty good now, luggage rack fitted and all!
01/18/06 Mark Kenworthy fitting the stripes, then a picture from the front right, showing a completed side.
01/25/06 Stripes on, boot lid off to fix a paint problem, and waiting for the windscreen
01/27/06 Now getting all washed up -- it's nearly done!
