I got the old girl started and out from her long winter's nap and found I had left the battery switch on all winter. Dead battery! Normally I sut off the battery every time I put the car away after a drive, but I must have gotten distracted. I installed a battery shut off switch many years ago after the headlight switch shorted out and overheated, nearly catching the dash on fire. On the day it shorted we had taked it out for a spin earlier that day but had no problem. I was cutting the grass later when I noticed the headlights were on the MGB. When I checked, smoke was just starting to curl up from the back of the switch! Needless to say it's not a two second job to pull up the back carpet, undo the fasteners and take off the battery cables! So after that experience I installed a battery cut off switch in an easily accessible yet secure hidden location. Anyway, back to this year the battery was dead and wouldn't hold a charge, and I had gotten my usual 5 years out of a battery . Like clockwork it seems. So we are out and about for another season and with quick starts!

This journal is about OUR MG, a glacier white 1973 MGB tourer we call "the old girl". She was built December 1972 in Abingdon on Thames, England. We have owned this car for over 20 years. We bought "the old girl" from a friend in the MG car club in 1982 when it was less than ten years old. As far as we know, I am the fourth owner. When we first got "the old girl" she was badly in need of a tune up, a little body work and some paint. I had the complete inner and outer sills replaced and bought a used front valance from a friend's '68 MGB parts car. We got her repainted Glacier white in the winter of 1983-84. Over the years we have done restoration a little at a time. A new convertible top one year, electrical repairs another year. (almost had a dash fire!) I have replaced the grille, gas tank, sending unit, thermostat, fuel pump (twice), brakes, brake master cylinder, hoses, radiator, distributor, alternator, exhaust, headlight switch, turn signal/dimmer control, u-joints, front suspension, rear leaf springs, rear hubs, and wire wheels. I added the SEV Marchal driving lamps and bullet chrome mirrors and converted the two 6 volt system to one 12 volt battery. For several years I would scour the swap meets looking for something like a taillight lens or an interior light. Now, besides the occasional tune up, I just love to drive in "the old girl".