‘It Might Just Work’

Mark Fishpool’s Mgb-based BSA certainly turns heads.

‘Sounds crazy but it might just work...’

I’m a glutton for punishment, I am. Simple reason, I love saving old cars. This one is no exception. It should have gone for scrap. I was at a farm buying something else when I saw it in the corner of an old barn. Many years ago it had been caught in a horrific fire and completely burnt out. All that was left was the body, chassis and engine really.

I took pity on it and bought it. At that point I didn’t really know what I wanted to do with it, but I soon had the idea. I would keep it looking the same as it did when I found it and put the running gear from a terminally-rotten MGB under it. A full restoration would have cost hundreds of thousands of pounds… this one has cost me under three! And what you see is the car telling its story. There is a new dash in it, the MGB engine and running gear makes it stop and go really well and the interior is actually very comfy. The hessian sack trim takes a bit of getting used to but it is really nice to sit on. Everywhere it goes it gets loads of attention, it’s the car that refused to die – and as a BSA it is rare. It would have been sent to the crusher if I hadn’t intervened, so I don’t feel any guilt about not restoring it, and if it inspires people to see what is possible then that’s no bad thing. It’s even won a few prizes!

HOW MUCH Cost is under £3000 including purchase price.

HOW MAD Not mad at all. It makes people smile and the kids love it. HOW HAPPY I’m always happy!