Restoring cars takes dedication and commitment. For William Ham of Southaven, restoring his 1960 MGA from the ground up -- took more than four years. Ham said "that it helps immensely having an understanding wife (Fay). I'm lucky in this respect."
The car enthusiast says, "No matter how skilled you are (when it comes to restoring), you will become frustrated and face disappointment. Just 'soldier on,' that light at the end of tunnel is not an oncoming train, it's the sunlight of success."
What car club(s) are you associated with? I belong to the North American MGA Register.
What car do you own: My car is a 1960 MGA 1600 roadster. The 1600 denotes the engine size, 1600 cc. The earlier version of this car had a 1500 cc engine . The later version, the Mark II, has 1622 cc engine. Only 2,111 of these cars had twin cam engines. This is last MG (Morris Garage, Oxford England) built with a separate body and frame and with wooden floorboards. The car has no door handles or locks. You open the doors by reaching inside and pulling a cord. There are no roll-up windows just side curtains which are stored behind the seats until needed.
What sparked your interest in cars: Being a teenager in the '50s when American auto design was at its peak sparked my interest in cars. I became interested in MGs in the middle 1980s when I was traveling to England to buy used tractors for resale. This is not my first MGA.
What advice would you give someone thinking of restoring his first vehicle: Lay in a good supply of perseverance if this is your first restoration. Find yourself a good body and paint man, not just a panel replacer. When it comes to body and paint work, this is an art.
To be featured in My Ride, call (901) 529-5270 or e-mail Kim Odom at kodom@commercialappeal.com.
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