About Ray McCaleb's LBCs
My first car was a 1965 MG Midget. I've had a lot of cars over the years, some new, some old. I had a 1973 small block four speed Corvette and a '65 T-Bird with the very cool "captains chair" rolled and pleated rear seat, front buckets, and a rebuilt 390 that cranked out right at 400 horsepower. I had a first year Prelude and a 300Z...but...nothing compared to the little MG. Maybe it had something to do with being 16...ahhh, the memories. But in truth, it was more than that; the little car was just plain fun!
So, a while back I began toying with the idea of another "toy" car...not something that would be necessary for daily transportation, no, something just for fun. After all, I had retirement coming up in a couple years…a change in life I embraced recently. I played back through my mind all the cars and the decision was easy…on these pages, and at my permanent web site (www.raysmg.com) you will find photos and information about my "new" 1973 MG. The previous (original) owner had spent ten years restoring this beauty. He started with a low mileage (43K) car he had owned since new in '73. Every nut and bolt, wire, and piece of rubber was replaced. The rust free body got the best paint and the engine was built by the best in the field. The interior looks like the day it rolled off the line, only better. Many parts are better than new, stainless sleeved calipers and master cylinder, stainless exhaust, stainless hardware throughout; the list goes on and on. It is in fact a brand new 30+ year old car.
I love the white '73 Midget but don't put it out on the road a lot...a stone chip or unexpected shower could ruin your day. It's reserved for drives on warm sunny days and display on manicured lawns. BUT, I love to get behind the wheel of an LBC (Little British Car) and let her rip. To accomplish this I acquired several additional cars, a '66 MG Midget, a '62 Austin Healey Sprite, and a '60 Triumph TR3. They are quite different in look and performance, the Midget and Sprite with '60s era styling, smaller engine, and agile handling; the TR3 with lines , and demeanor, going back to the early 50s. After bringing home the TR3 I was one LBC over quota so I found a good home for the ’66 Midget. Then, as fate would have it, I ran across a 1960 Austin Healey "Bugeye" Sprite owned by a fellow in Illinois. This is a vintage race car with a very successful campaign history dating to the early '70s. As a result of this acquisition I am once again one vehicle over my quota, so, I’m refining my own definition of ‘collector’ and doing away with quotas!