Made to Move You: Son Continues Father’s Barn Find Restoration

Robert Cerkownyk had a grand vision when he purchased a 1960 MG Model A 1600 back in 1977, but as is often the case, things didn’t quite go as planned. It was admittedly an ambitious project. The classic British roadster hadn’t moved in years and was in very rough shape. Family members and friends questioned the decision, but Cerkownyk could see the potential.

A true barn find, the car had been neglected for over a decade; it was heavily rusted, dilapidated, and covered in chicken droppings. Cerkownyk took quite a bit of ribbing when he towed the project car to the Motivators Hot Rod Club in Guelph, where he began dismantling the car to identify what he was dealing with. 

The old school ‘Rodders weren’t happy with a small-displacement British sports car in their midst and used every opportunity to suggest the 1,600-cc powerplant be swapped for a small block V8. However, Cerkownyk would not be swayed. The vision was and has always remained to bring the car back (as closely as possible) to its original glory. 

The months and years that followed saw the car be completely disassembled and stripped down to its bare metal, where it stayed for quite some time. British cars of that era were well known to be haunted by electrical gremlins even when new, so this project would require a complete overhaul. Initially, some progress was made, then long stretches of time would pass where it sat idle, collecting dust. Parts weren’t readily available at the time and two other projects (his sons), occupied much of Cerkownyk’s time and energy.

His son Darren recalls the car as a fixture in the family garage from an early age.

“I can remember climbing on it as a kid,” says the younger Cerkownyk. “It was covered in boxes of parts and various other household items before the project began to take shape in any way, but I always dreamt of being able to drive it one day.”

Darren’s passion for vehicles initially took him in the two-wheeled direction for many years, riding motorcycles on- and off-road. As the second-born son, he always just assumed that his older brother would inherit the MG.

“Thankfully, my brother isn’t really a car guy,” smiles Darren. “Fortunately for me, he had a new family developing and didn’t have the time, space or interest for the car in his life.”

As Robert’s enthusiasm for the restoration waned and other hobbies took his attention, that’s when Darren happily stepped up. He made sure to find a home with a garage so that when the time finally came for his dad to part with the project, he would have somewhere secure to store and work on it.

Aftermarket part suppliers allowed for the project to be revived. Darren picked up where his father left off, spending the last few years sourcing odds and ends to slowly bring the car back to life, piece by piece. When he ran into a challenge he couldn’t solve, he knew who to call. Because the car had been garaged for a number of years while his dad cruised his boat around the Caribbean, the brake and clutch assemblies had to be be completely overhauled. That was a two-person job that required them to work together. Troubleshooting challenges became an opportunity for father-son time. What couldn’t be sourced was fabricated by their own bare hands.

“I'd say it has made our relationship stronger,” says Darren. “It's been nice to call on him for help, advice, and support. It is something we can work on together, discussing issues and modifications. It has given us the opportunity to have a shared experience.”

Now fully assembled and drivable, bringing the car back to life has been a joint effort. Darren and his partner Cecilia now enjoy the car on nice days, as he’d always hoped. Cruising around downtown Toronto on a warm, sunny afternoon, I can immediately see the appeal.

Driving it turns even the most mundane trip into a special event. Sitting just inches off the pavement is certainly intimidating at first, particularly as every other vehicle on the road seemed to be a crossover or SUV that towered menacingly above us. There’s a sense of vulnerability, but also of great connection with the vehicle. Everything is mechanical. No fuel injection, no synchromesh. Certainly no ABS, let alone power steering or brakes. It doesn’t even have door handles, just a wire on the inside of the door that you pull up to disengage the latch.

The nuanced techniques required to drive it smoothly create a deep, visceral connection with the car that makes you fall in love with it – quirks and all. The idiosyncrasies are many. Anyone who has owned a British car of this lineage can attest to this. It is a small, simple car, but with many peculiar design elements. One of the biggest challenges has been getting parts for the vehicle. One cannot simply go to the local Canadian Tire to purchase parts for a 65-year-old British sports car.

The 1950s and ‘60s witnessed a spike in enthusiast vehicles to entice Baby Boomers into showrooms. Post-war America gave birth to the Corvette and Mustang, while companies like AC, Triumph, Sunbeam, MG, Jaguar, and Austin-Healey were building two-seater sports cars across the pond.

MG stands for Morris Garage, a company founded by William Morris. Cecil Kimber joined the company as a sales manager and then rose up the ranks to general manager. He began modifying existing Morris models, which gave birth to the M.G. Car Company Limited. The chronology of the company and stories of its management could fill many books, so we’ll leave the history lesson there for today.

The reaction to the car is overwhelmingly positive. I can’t think of a car I’ve driven before or since that has received remotely that kind of reaction – particularly for something valued roughly equal to an entry-level Honda Civic. You’d be hard pressed to find a car that offers as much elegance for the money. People just respond to it by smiling or giving a thumbs-up. It’s the kind of car that makes you want to throw on a jaunty flat cap and a scarf. If ever driving gloves were acceptable, it would be to grip the wide wooden wheel of an MGA.

“Everything about this car is a slower process, and that's part of what is great about it,” says Darren. “Driving it, working on it, or even just looking at it forces you to slow down and enjoy the moment.” That also means it doesn’t get driven as often as either Cerkownyk would like. Summers are short enough, and there are only so many opportunities to take it out. It isn’t exactly what you’d call a practical vehicle.

As far as enthusiast vehicles go, performance is modest. Rated at just 80 hp at 5,600 rpm when new, getting up to 100 km/h would take over 14 seconds, if you felt compelled to go that fast, which I would highly caution. The MGA isn’t meant to go fast, but unlike modern cars, it is exhilarating to pilot at any speed.

With Darren now back behind the wheel, I ask if the car has finally reached its finished state. “Never,” he smiles. “There’s always something to do.”

They started out tackling the frame, body, mechanics, and electronics of the car before slowly honing some of the aesthetics. A fresh coat of paint, some new seat upholstery, a new grille, and perhaps a set of Coker tires lay ahead. Being carbureted, there are always subtle adjustments needed to make it run smoother. Even though the MGA is in far better mechanical and aesthetic condition than it was in the past, the car is still very much an ongoing work in progress, and may always be.

As is the case with driving the MGA, the journey to bring the car back to life certainly may have taken longer than expected, but the time is always well spent.