Restoration of a 1969 MG: From the Aesthetics of the Unfinished

Recently, classic car expert Jan Delpy had his 1969 MG rebuilt and gave it the final touches in his workshop in Basel, Switzerland. This isn’t something you see every day. It was a fantastic opportunity for streetwheelz1 to watch him at work and capture special moments with the camera. Here’s an experience report.

The First Encounter

The first car of Jan Delpy’s that streetwheelz1 accidentally came across was a yellow Morgan. On a sunny Sunday, this beauty was cruising through the streets of Basel. The engine could be heard from afar, and the bright yellow color of the vehicle stood out against the monotony of the black, silver, and white cars typically seen on Basel’s streets. Luckily, the car parked nearby, and a spontaneous conversation with Jan Delpy ensued. He talked about his car workshop and agreed to a short photo and video session with the Morgan Plus right then and there.

Here is the Morgan with the adorable dog Danilo (Source: youtube/streetwheelz1)

Jan Delpy and his Workshop

Jan Delpy is a classic car expert who not only restores these cars but also rents them out. He has invested many hours in his gems in his workshop. Some of them, like a dark green 1969 MG, he rents out by the day because maintaining and keeping such a collector’s item is not cheap. Besides the ongoing maintenance and fuel, an older car requires more effort for repairs and restoration. However, it is important to Mr. Delpy to rent his cars at a fair price: weekdays for 180 francs per day and on weekends at a combined price. One way or another, there is always something to tinker with on such cars. The hours invested in such a car cannot and should not be counted because it is a hobby, a passion where time doesn’t matter.

Image Gallery: The beauty of a workshop (Photos: streetwheelz1)

The Rental Cars

Such a rare and well-maintained classic car needs to be handled with particular care, even by renters. As stated on the website, renters must “commit to driving the MG with due care (after all, it is already 54 years old).” This makes sense because such a car must be driven thoughtfully and with appreciation, just as one would treat their own property.

The MG is definitely a fair-weather car that you treat yourself to for a special day. Perhaps for a milestone birthday, driving through picturesque villages on country roads, or for a picnic outing with a partner.

On such occasions, sayings like “the journey is the reward” or “haste makes waste” definitely apply. With such a car, you don’t want to drive to the nearest supermarket; you want to have an adventure that you will remember later. Not only the route matters but also the rich sound of the engine, the wind in your hair, and all the little details that car lovers enjoy when driving a classic car.

The MG Returns from the Overhaul

The workshop in Macedonia did an excellent job during the months-long rebuild of the MG and kept Jan Delpy continuously informed about the progress. The specialized workshop comprehensively overhauled the classic car, including work on the floor and sills to ensure the vehicle’s structural integrity and safety. Additionally, the restoration experts reupholstered the seats and gave the car a fresh coat of paint. At the end of April, the transport from Macedonia to Switzerland took place. Nearly 2000 kilometers later, the car arrived at night. Everything was perfect.

The following fine-tuning was, of course, the task of the Swiss workshop owner because a passionate classic car mechanic does everything he can himself.

A Thousand Small Jobs

On that Sunday, when Jan Delpy was driving the bright yellow Morgan Plus, he kindly offered streetwheelz1 the opportunity to visit his workshop soon and take some shots of his work on the MG once the car would be back in Switzerland. A wonderful opportunity to watch him at work.

At the end of April, the time had come: the car was jacked up on the car lift in the middle of the well-organized workshop, which presented its own unique aesthetics. Shelves full of small and large tools, spray cans, and oil cans adorned the room. On the wall hung wrenches of various sizes and a coiled air hose – the perfect setting for a car video.

Image Gallery: This is how the MG looked on the day of Video 1 (Photos: streetwheelz1)

Video Day 1: Working on the MG

There was still a lot to do on the car, even a layperson could see that; from basic tasks like mounting the wheels to finer work like attaching the ventilation grille. Some moving parts on the MG were only temporarily installed or missing altogether, and the car was far from roadworthy. It lacked not only the tires but also many other important components like the side mirrors, the windshield, or even the wipers. The seats, which had been reupholstered in Macedonia, were also not yet installed.

Jan Delpy loosens the screws where the windshield wipers will later be attached (Source: YouTube/streetwheelz1)

The Beauty of the Unfinished

Although, as mentioned, the journey is the reward both when driving the classic car and during its restoration, one naturally wants to see the car in its finished state, ready to be not only an eye-catcher or a collector’s item but also a means of transportation.

This is what you normally don’t see. There’s beauty in the unfinished. (Source: YouTube/streetwheelz1)

Nevertheless, such work also has its charm. The unfinished can be beautiful too. There’s the bare metal inside the trunk where a velvety lining would normally please the eye; there’s a construction site in the passenger area where the two leather seats would typically be. Of course, the car is already in good condition, not like an old-timer left to its fate in a barn, full of rust and dust with flat tires in the dark until discovered by a lost-place adventurer. After all, this is not a rescue mission but simply the restoration of a well-maintained collector’s item. But still, this raw look has something magical. At this stage, it shows that this is an over 50-year-old object that has been brought from another era into our time. The (still) unfinished definitely has its charm.

The video of Day 1 on Youtube (Source: YouTube/streetwheelz1)

Video Day 2: The MG is finished

About two weeks later, the MG was as good as finished. Everything was mounted and in its place. The only thing missing was the video documenting the progress. And once again, streetwheelz1 did not miss this great opportunity. After some shots in the workshop, it was time to go outside. The car was now ready to drive, and Mr. Delpy started the engine, which purred pleasantly right away. As if nothing had happened, as if it hadn’t traveled a long way and undergone many work steps to look so fresh now, the car was maneuvered to the parking lot in front of the garage. This car was built when the first human set foot on the moon, yet it doesn’t show its age.

The video, which also includes some before-and-after comparisons, is now online on the streetwheelz1 YouTube channel.

Disclaimer:
This is not a promotional cooperation but an experience report. streetwheelz1 is always looking for exciting stories about special cars. Do you have a special car (Hyper, Super, Classic, Tuning) in Switzerland? Then feel free to get in touch if you would like to be featured along with your car.

Additional Information

Jan Delpy’s Workshop and Classic Car Rental:

Workshop Delpy
Mr. Jan Delpy
Auf dem Wolf 31A
4057 Basel
Switzerland
Website: oldtimerbetreuung.ch