Maestro’d by Longbridge lads

Richard Gunn’s MG Maestro restoration story (PC Nov 2018) reminded me of my own A-reg 1984 1600.

While not a Turbo, she was still a quick motor. It had suffered an under-bonnet fire, and most of the engine bay had melted. But, as my father worked at Longbridge, he said he could get the car fixed up as a project by some of the apprentices. The photo (above) is after she came back.

Work done including (to quote my father) a ‘bodywork tart-up’, was a brake and suspension overhaul, engine tune including carb re-jetting, a general overhaul – plus a new interior. The talking dashboard amused many a friend at the time and this was demonstrated at every available opportunity.

I could only afford to insure it third party, but that never stopped me taking on Escort XR3S and Fiesta XR2S. Stuart Mcdonald-booth, Worcestershire

Stuart’s MG on its return fromthe factory.