My Y Tourer Story

by Leone Furler

I have had my MGYT since1974. It was a gift from my former husband, He was in
Perth finishing paintings and to attend the opening of his exhibition at Greenhill Gallery and saw the car in Fremantle as he was driving past.
He knew I had always lusted after an MG and as I understand it, he sought out the owner and offered to buy it. I still have the receipt, which shows the previous owner lived in Inglewood in Western Australia
I flew to Perth to attend the opening and that day took me for a drive to
Fremantle where I noticed the car and after I had finished raving about it, he
 said it was mine. Obviously I was thrilled. We attempted to drive it back across the Nullarbor Plains to Adelaide but I had failed to recognise that the oil light was
not functioning and as I was happily motoring along was brought back to earth with a shattering noise
The car was towed to the railway town of Southern Cross where it was placed on a train to be freighted back to Adelaide.
 Meanwhile we hitch hiked back across the Nullarbor to Adelaide, a journey I never wish to repeat.
The railways lost the car and it was not until about 6 months later I was contacted by the railways asking if I was the owner of an MG, which had been found in a siding in Kalgoorlie WA.
I was very pleased to have the car back and friends and MG buffs pulled together to get it back on the road. When I first acquired the car it was, what I think was called Guy Mitchell blue with silver specks, with bright blue and white vinyl upholstery.
A little later we stripped the car to paint it cream and then in 1986-87 I had it repainted to what I think was its original; Green, with cream leather upholstery and red trim.
This MGYT was my main car for over 25 years and I drove it to the Queensland border in 1976. The only problem it had was a petrol choke in the hot weather and I could fix if I needed to but if ever I pulled over to the side of the road there would always be a kind man who was very keen to help or who used to own an MG. It was with me when in I lived in Sydney in 1976.
I returned to Adelaide for Christmas and the car has been living in Adelaide ever since. I have kept it garaged or under cover for most of that time and certainly for the last 20 years. I still get a thrill every time I drive it, the note of the engine, the smell and the simplicity of the motor, never cease to enthral.