MGs Are Good for the Heart

For all of us MG owners that have a multitude of MGs, I have a true story that justifies the jumble.

Vicki Ferris, 20 years after heart surgery.

Many years ago I had taken a liking to MGs; they were the right size for a one-person show. My love of these great little cars kept expanding when I would discover the advantages of another model.

My first MG was a 1966 MGB roadster dressed in pink. Well, that color changed in just under two days to baby blue. I later discovered a 1955 MG ZA Magnette, and within a month after that I had gotten an MGA. My wife was wondering when the madness would subside. I knew my scheme was doomed until I got the idea that my wife needed an MG too. So a 1964 MGB roadster was located and became a backup driver. It was Clemson orange, a favorite color with the wife. Along came several other MGBs, a GT or two, MGA coupe or two, another MGA roadster, and then a MGTD. Of course I had to get a TF to go with the TD. I’m not sure how the other MGs ended up in my yard but they must have followed me home one night and jumped the fence.

From left to right: Mary Beth, Vicki, Katherine and Stephanie

Now, despite this MG-a-thon, no one who knows me would ever say I was only thinking of MGs all the time. My wife and I had adopted four delightful girls and we are a happy family. Happy, that is until we learned that our daughter Vicki, 8-years old at the time, had a hole in her heart and would need surgery ASAP.

Reality knocked loudly when the hospital sent us an estimate for the surgery: $180,000! Our insurance would cover 80% so we had to come up $36,000, and they wouldn’t start the procedure until we paid the money.

My wife and I were beyond upset and didn’t know how we would get that much money so quickly. I thought about it and I told her we would have a yard sale—she almost blew up at me for that idea. I said, “No dear we will have an MG yard sale. Let me get some of them ready so they look good to anyone who might want one.”

The next weekend I ran ads for all but three of the cars and the response was outrageous. One guy showed up with his trailer behind his truck and cash in hand. He bought five MGBs so that he and his son could have a father son project. The other MGs went one by one, and another fellow came to buy only parts—he took two trailer loads of MGA goodies. By Monday morning I had the money ready to give the hospital. My wife was floored by the response and has never said another word about the MGs. She even picked out a replacement for her orange one that got sold.

It is now 21 years later and the MG collection has calmed down to six MGs—four finished and running and two projects in the works. These little cars just keep me happy no matter what purpose they are put to.

My original 66 baby blue was sold back then and one day two years ago I needed a rear end for my friends MGB and was told of a derelict MGB in a back yard. I went by to see if I could buy it and bring it home and saw it was my first one, still baby blue but sadly without floors, some front end damage and only the shell with a rear end. I made an offer and the guy said, “Just take it. It’s only junk.” It’s nice to know the rear end is alive and well and making someone else happy in their MG.

By Mike Ferris