When I moved to Cork, I left my beloved little MG behind in Austria. First I was driving it every now and then when I came over, kind of handy having a car here and there. Soon however, the standing periods became longer and the last 7 months the car was standing around without number plates.

The long resting period didn’t do him (yes, I personalize the car, talk to my psychiatrist) well. A truly sad view seeing it like that.

The interior looked a bit better.

First step, rolling it down in the open. Not that easy with breaks completely rusted.

Checking the fluids and I am delighted to report that the it didn’t lose a drop of oil or coolant.

I also organized to get new rubber: Avon ZV3.

Not easy to find good sports car tyres these days. I wasn’t able to get the ZV1 again. Apparently some people complained about missing quietness and smoothness of proper sport tyres.

Easier to wash the rims before they are on the car.

Looks much better after mounting them.

Reconnection the battery.

Putting the number plates back on.

Some splashes of water to wash the worst dust from it. Mainly to clean the windscreen so I can see out again. Time to fire it up-

Now, I was quite surprised that the engine started at first try. Mainly because the battery spent the winter in the basement and I was expecting it to be empty and needed to be jump started.

As you can see, the engine was idling at 1200 rpm, high but normal for this circumstances. Time for a test drive and run it in again.

Actually breaking it in was even more important for reasons I shall explain in a moment. After the test drive the engine was running smoothly and idling at 800rpm, as usual.

After the test drive I was checking the coolant for oil and the oil for mayo. Everything fine.

The long resting period showed its traces, especially on the breaks.

This is a picture of the rear break disc, which was actually looking not that bad. I ordered a new EBC sport break kit including Green Stuff break pads. The Kevlar-Aramid system is not only promising a shorter stopping distance, it is also supposed to produce less break dust and should be able to cope better with long standing periods.

British made premium quality, I am not so sure about that as an advertising slogan.

Finally time to take the roof off.

Next stop is bringing the car to the garage to get a proper service done and the new breaks installed.

New fluids and filters, as well as a proper car wash.

The breaks look good too. Not only did my style advice recommend them over the red ones, the car would also have lost the operating licence if I would have chosen the Red Stuff break kit. It sounds paradox that one would lose insurance protection for installing better breaks, but starts to make more sense if you keep in mind that ceramic breaks need a certain minimum temperature before working properly. In other words, they might work brilliant on a race track, but on the road on a cool autumn day, they will be worse then original breaks.

Time for a long awaited test drive.

Ohh, I can not tell you how much I have missed that.