https://www.rodsnsods.co.uk/forum/top...oadster-313978
A lot of you will have seen this in the thread above that I started asking for someone to photoshop a paint job for me... I wasn't going to bother with a thread in this section but a few folk would like to know more so to save clogging up the "On topic" section...
I bought this as a, possibly short term (who knows?), cheap bit of fun as for one reason or another I'm not getting my Austin finished and if I'm not careful that'll be another summer gone that we won't get back!
It's an NG TA Tourer built in about 1990 using an MGB as a donor. It uses a specially built box section chassis, ally bonnet and a fibreglass tub so it can live outside without too many worries about it going rotten. Practically every thing else is from the donor MGB - 1800 twin carb four pot, 4 speed 'box, front clip, back axle, 14" wires etc. so the finished car is tiny in comparison to something like a Model A. It does only weigh about 1500lbs tho' so it's lively enough and should be reasonable on fuel. It's also got enough room for my new, bigger, more comfortable tent, a gaz stove, cool box and the luxury of carrying a couple of camping chairs - unlike the bikes (it's a ******* this getting old). All the early cars are either MGB or Marina 1.8 based.
NG went on to either build or supply kits for about a 1000 or so cars, many of the later ones (the TC, TD and TF) remaining MGB based but being much lower slung and with the Rover V8 fitted - a viable Cobra rep' alternative but not what I was after for a summer on the cheap. There's also a few with F*rd running gear. The NG name comes from the initials of the original designer, Nick Green.
I picked this one up from Southampton at the weekend and despite the freezing temperatures, sleet and snow, (and the fact that I couldn't get the heater to work!) driving it back over Salisbury Plain was the most enjoyment I've had in a car in a long while... And the furthest it had been driven in years. It needs a little bit of t.l.c. here and there, service and tune, windows are cloudy, interior is a bit tired etc. and it needs a carbuncle removing!
Got it home and the sun came out!
But not for long.
Can't imagine it'll be much fun with the top up...
And here's what I described as the carbuncle on the bonnet, nasty sharp edged box to cover the forward carb'. I'm hoping I can do something to tidy it up without spending a lot of time or money, hence the scallop paint ideas...
Just to give an idea of how tiny it is... the Austin is Model A size, sort of...
![]()
Bookmarks