Reply To: My 1953 Legere

[Larry LewisParticipant]

I had a 1938 Mercedes 170-V convertible that had wood framing. The wood was rotted, the steel was rusted out. If the wood isn’t the right shape you can only guess what the metal is supposed to look like. I paid a guy to put a wooden frame into the body and he didn’t do a very good job. I was driving the car but it just wasn’t right. The doors and the convertible top all had to fit correctly at the same time, you can’t do one and then address the other and none of it fit right. A friend in the States restored an identical car and tried it three times before he got it right. So, while I like those Rileys I wouldn’t touch one with wood rot. Or termites. Or carpenter ants. But having said that, I do have a chance to buy a 1948 MG-TC for not a lot of money and the wood frame looks very solid so I may go for it. But, not until I get the 49 BL sorted out.