MGA - My Great Ambition
to own one and here she is:
YSY 705 - aka BLUEBERRY - 1500 cc Roadster
Acquired by her current owner in 1997, for a very special birthday, from Ian Forgan of Mercury Motors. First seen when in bits but the body shell had been painted British Racing Green – not a colour I wanted so she was re-sprayed to her current shade of dark blue with purple undertones.
Born in 1956, wearing Old English White, she was immediately exported to the USA where she remained until re-imported in 1996, converted to right hand drive, given a total rebuild and fitted with wire wheels. Her current engine is not the original. Seats are red with dark blue piping. Carpets also dark blue, as is the mohair hood. Side screens, storage bag and tonneau were made to measure and supplied by Bob West, Pontefract, who also fitted seatbelts and converted her to run on unleaded petrol.
Not averse to going out in all weathers – except on salted roads, of course – she does not leak as much as she once did since Mike fitted a strip of draught excluder to the header rail! Water is however still known to drip on to both the driver’s and the passenger’s ankles as well as coming up through the floor boards when flooding is encountered.
Despite sounding somewhat agricultural, she is a reliable runner and the after-burners kick in once up to 60 mph. The large steering wheel, lack of synchromesh in first gear and fly-off hand brake make for a “real” driving experience. Her long curves and no door handles mean she is the most elegant of MGs and a joy to polish!
Fiona Davis