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MG MGA - 'Original MGA' by Clausager

I've just noticed that there's someone on eBay offering a copy of this book (admittedly a very good book) for the astounding sum of £120! Are these in short supply or something?

G
Gus Gander

Amazon have them starting at £99.50 for good used examples but I'm sure I've seen them at less than this.
J H Cole

Must be out of print. Even all the paperback versions seem to be out of stock online.

That eBay one could be cheap, here is one online for £210. http://www.abebooks.co.uk/9781870979313/Original-Mgathe-Restorers-Guide-Roadster-1870979311/plp

Don't remember how much I paid for mine years ago, but dust jacket says £19.95
Jeff Schultz

Are you selling yours Gus?
Robert (Bob) Midget Turbo

Wow...luckily I recieved that book in the late 90's as a present. I can't believe its now so much money. Great book though...
C Burnham

One exchanged hands at Tatton Park Show for £50 over the weekend. I got mine as present about 5 years ago - think they were around £25 then .
Cam Cunningham

Well, I think Gordon has another market that he can corner.
I bought mine in the US about 5-6 years ago for about $35.
Mike Parker

Did someone mention my name ?, I think I've got a couple of those lurking around somewhere
g c pugh

Mine's signed.
Heh heh.
Nick

I have Steve Gyles to thank for my copy. He posted it over years ago.
Thanks again Steve.
Barry
BM Gannon

And I only paid 10GBP for mine in a London Car bookshop on the remainder pile.... new....
dominic clancy

Am I selling my copy? Well, at these prices, this would constitute an 'offer I couldn't refuse', so probably I would.

G
Gus Gander

Barry

I paid the standard fly cover price for yours - £19.95. Sounds like a good investment in one year, better than your shares are doing. I must have a good look at the book stalls in Preston Market. Money to be made here!

Steve
Steve Gyles

Wow, I just checked Amazon here in the US. I think my retirement is assured just from the purchase of this in paperback a few years ago for around $25. They're up to almost $80 used and certainly will go up and I'm years away from completing my car and not needing it anymore. Gordon you might be rich already but you should check and see if a similar work was done on the MX5! ;-) You could corner the market early.
Bill Young

At lunchtime I went into various Preston booksellers to see if I could make a killing. Waterstones (one of the larger UK book retailers) sourced me a new one from one of their suppliers, but they wanted......£210!!!!!!!

Steve
Steve Gyles

I bought mine 5 or six years ago and if I recall right it had just come back in print then. If and when the publishers decide to do another run the price will fall to the usual new price (£25?) so the current inflated prices might not last too long. Probably a good time to sell one if not needed. Mike
m.j. moore

Waterstones told me it is permanently out of print. When I spoke with Bob West (major contributor to Clausager's research) he also said there was no plan to do another production run.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Steve, If this continues I will send my copy back to you! I now have it under lock and key!
Barry
BM Gannon

There is one for sale on UK Ebay now
B WALKER

The one book I don't have and really would like to complete the proper under hood restoration. Does any other book or web site document the detail of the proper MGA restoration? I'd like to make sure my brackets and bolts and all the little bits and pieces are painted properly
Chris Velardi

If you just want the pictures, the german language version is cheaply available, just go to amazon.de and search for MGA under Bücher

€19.95 (about 30 US) plus shipping

http://www.amazon.de/MGA-Das-Original-einschließlich-Detailänderungen/dp/3898801071/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244393073&sr=8-1
dominic clancy

There seem to be dozens of german copies available on the secondhand market. Why would someone go to the expense of translating and producing a german edition when surely there can't be many MGAs in german speaking countries. Maybe someone got their wires crossed and thought it was a book about the Miss Germany Association! mike
m.j. moore

OK for you guys to rub your hands together. I have been trying to get a copy at a fair price for months. I am now a regular visitor to all the charity shops but in view of above, am now contemplating a crash course in German.
GrahamMV

If the values of the cars were only to rise at the same rate, my ’59 A would be worth more that a Ferrari GTB4.

David werblow

Wow, I bought the whole series of books (MGA, MGB and T series)for the cover price at Indy 96 and Clausager (who was there) wrote a note to me in each book and signed them. Little did I know that these things would be collectables!
Hiram Shepard

Do an ISBN check on the book, I just did, and saw some for $35 to $60; in GB, from 35 pounds up(in stock somewhere or other)
Mike Parker

Don't know where you were looking. Everywhere I look online the prices even for used hardcover ones are over 100 USD and paperbacks over 50 USD.

This site has a red banner that says "We believe that this item is permanently unavailable, and so we cannot source it."
http://www.pickabook.co.uk/moredetails.aspx?ISBN=1870979311&source=aw&awid=27631


Jeff Schultz

Mike, if you follow up on any of those, you will see they are out of stock.
Neil McGurk

The second hand one on UK Ebay has obout 4 days to go. Starting price £40, no bids so far.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ORIGINAL-MGA-by-Clausager_W0QQitemZ170341091011QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarParts_Vehicles_Manuals_Litterature_ET?hash=item27a91ec6c3&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

Steve
Steve Gyles

Well, I checked again, and there are one or two sites for $70, (half.com)but I couldn't find any other in stock, unless obviously you spoke German.
Interesting.
Mike Parker

A quick look[ORIGINAL MGA] brought up multiple offers of $25.00 US
for new copies. Am I missig something?

RIC
RIC LLOYD

Ric

Check if they actually have stock......
dominic clancy

Dominic is right. Our national W H Smith (newsagents, stationery and booksellers) quote a 4 week delivery. I phoned them up and they confirmed it was a standard statement for any book out of stock. If anyone orders one, they phone around their suppliers. I set them the task and they came back with a blank.

Steve
Steve Gyles

The important quote was "in stock" SOoooo we will see if and when it drops through the mail slot,I'll let you know. RIC
RIC LLOYD

Greetings all,

Always check....if you ever find one, if it's hardcover or paperback. Some of the lower priced listings are for paperback editions, and they are bringing a fairly steep price as well. All of the sources I found, that show a listing, in fact have none in stock! Cheers!
Robert Maupin

an interesting thread. i have a copy of clausager's original MGA with dust cover in mint condition. been thinking about selling the 59 MGA (as i'm too old to tackle the needed repairs. clausager's book should add value to the "A" don't you think, espeially since i have a 58 MGA coupe parts car to go with it.
anyone out there interested. garry irwin
gei irwin 1

Well the brand new soft cover book droped through the slot to day, fun book $25.00 plus shipping. Keep looking they are readily available RIC
RIC LLOYD

Rick

$25 + shipping?! where from?

cheers,

Grant :-)
G Hudson

Ric
Like Grant, I would also love to hear where the book came from - have been trying to source one for ages

Thanks
GrahamMV

ebay nr. 280358789471 for sale

Wim Betzel

Yes Ric please at least let us know the site , I cant even find a library near me that has one to borrow , That is by searching with the ISBN # 187097931 or ISBN 9781870979313
Chris Velardi

Ebay has the hardback one for sale at present for $100 USD. Item #160346020169
Hiram Shepard

I just order one , If it gets to my door on Monday , I'll let everyone know where to get 3 other copies
Chris Velardi

OK , I got the soft cover . And of course after I flipped through the pages it all looked so familiar (I own the hard cover , but it is packed somewhere in moving boxes (so I'm not selling my new soft cover copy just yet) The good news is Scarborough Faire in Pawtucket RI (USA) has more copy's at $23.95 ! their part # is G253SB their email address is mgaparts@aol.com or their phone is 1-888-MGPARTS or 401-724-4200 . You guys all owe me one ;-)
Chris Velardi

Ric,
Are you a member of the CT MG Club? Not only are we an affiliate of NAMGAR but we also have a very complete MG related library. The web-site is:www.ctmgclub.com
David werblow

I have just dragged this thread out of the archives because I have spotted a hard copy version for sale at $988.92 plus $3.99 p&p!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/1870979311/ref=dp_olp_0?ie=UTF8&condition=all

Steve

Steve Gyles

Bargain! That'll go nicely with my $1500 grille!

(ok, not really)

Do people think we MGA types are made of money?

Grant :-)
G Hudson

I agree. if I had $988.92 (plus tax)I can think of at least one or two other things I might buy.
Mike Parker

This thread was discussed between 02/06/2009 and 18/09/2009

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