1969 MGB Roadster

Highlights

  • Displayed and maintained at the Pembrokeshire Motor Museum from 2003-2021
  • New heritage shell and new body panels in 1991 
  • This car has covered only 1,000 miles since its restoration 

The Appeal

An icon of British motoring the MGB entered production in 1962 and ran until the 1980s in its original form, the name was revived in 1992 for three years but it wouldn’t live up to the original MGB. Along with the hardtop option, known as the GT, there was the roadster, and this is what we have before us today. Presented in practically perfect condition this could be one of the best MGB Roadsters around.

This car has a well-documented history and has gone through an extensive rebuild that lasted 4 years. With a heritage chassis and new body panels, it is about as close as you can get to a new MGB Roadster. A nice part of the history of this car is the fact that it was displayed at the Pembrokeshire Motor Museum between 2003-2021. Upon the museum's closure, the current owner acquired it and has used it sparingly.

With a perfect hood, this car will be usable in all weathers making it a great classic for everyday use. 

The History and Paperwork

  • Starting life on the UK's roads in the September of 1969 this MGB Roadster has gone on to live a great life, with one of the previous owners putting her through an extensive 4-year restoration 
  • From 1969-1991 the history of this car is not that well documented, but by the time it turned 32 years old it was time for a bit of a spruce up 
  • One of the first, and biggest, invoices available is from MG specialists Brown & Gammons. For the princely sum of £2,614.38 a heritage chassis and new body panels are acquired 
  • In 1993 the car has a new hood made for the car, today it still looks like new 
  • If you were to look at the seats you wouldn’t believe that they were fitted in 1993, almost 30 years ago, they are still in excellent condition 
  • If you were to go through and add up all of the invoices, they total £12,700, but that was the 90’s, if you were to do the same restoration today it would cost you in the region of £30,000. So you can tell that the restoration was done properly 
  • Along with a lot of invoices, there are also quite a few old-style tax discs, with the earliest dating from 1986 and then an almost unbroken collection from 1994-2014 
  • It would appear that a few of the previous owners have been fastidious with their record-keeping as there are a lot of MOT certificates present too, these date from 1995-2013 and document the car's minimal mileage during this time
  • Not only is the current V5c present, but there are also a few V5s from this car's past owners
  • The next owner will be able to sift through the history folder at their own pleasure so that they can build up a better picture of this car's life 

The Interior

  • Presented in great condition 
  • Soft-top is in ‘like-new’ condition 
  • Perfect place to sit and take in the journey
Filled with great 60’s features the interior of this MGB Roadster is presented in excellent condition. Since the restoration wrapped in around 1995, it has barely been sat in meaning the next owner will still be able to enjoy the fruits of the previous owner’s love and attention. 

The seats that have been fitted to this car during its restoration are in such great condition, with no rips, tears, or staining to the material. It has been on display in a museum for almost 20 years so that’ll probably be why these seats haven’t been used. Along with the seats, the carpets are also in great condition, these were obviously changed during the restoration and are lovely and plush.

Unlike a modern soft-top, the mechanism on this classic is a little bit more involved. Once you pop off the fabric hood and fold it neatly into the boot you are left with the metal frame, this simply pops out of its two mountings just behind the two front seats. A marvel of simple British engineering it then pulls apart in the middle and stores neatly in the boot. 

There are a few smaller details within this interior that are not to be overlooked, such as the beautiful MG stamped Moto-Lita steering wheel, the period cassette radio, and the lovely knobs to dial in the heating to the perfect temperature.

Overall, the interior of this MGB Roadster is in such great condition that it could be mistaken for a new car. Whoever gets the pleasure of owning this car for the next part of its life will have the place to sit and watch the miles roll by.

The Exterior 

  • Finished in the beautiful Tartan Red
  • Fitted with the more sort after chrome bumpers
  • All five wire wheels are in great condition 
The MGB is almost an institution in itself, with the car being so good in its day it has gone on to live in the hearts and minds of many classic car enthusiasts. Finished in Tartan Red and dripping in chrome it looks stunning whenever any light hits the exterior. 

When this car was restored a new heritage chassis was acquired, to make sure the bodywork matched the nice clean chassis new body panels were also bought. These new panels look like they were fitted only yesterday, so they show no obvious signs of damage or paint bubbling.
Classic cars are always finished with lovely chrome details, and because this car has been looked after in a warm and dry museum building, the chrome details that adorn this MGB are presented today in great condition. The intricate centre lock wire wheels are incredibly shiny and add to the curb appeal of this pretty little classic.

As this is a Roadster example it comes with a removal soft-top hood, the exterior condition of this hood is excellent and ever the rear screen section is new. 

With this car being in such great exterior condition it should be the next addition to your garage, with looks to die for these cars always draw a crowd of enthusiasts. 

The Mechanics 

  • The engine bay is extremely clean 
  • Has only covered 1,000 miles since restoration 
  • The perfect car for summer drives
If you pop your head under the sweeping bonnet, you will be greeted with the well-known BMC B-series engine which was in so many British cars of the period. Its 1.8l 4-cylinder engine would produce around 100 hp which is ample for a car of its size.

It is more than likely that during the restoration the engine and other running gear had some love and attention too. The engine bay itself is extremely clean, as many would say ‘clean enough to eat your dinner off of’. The cleanliness does not stop in the engine bay, if you crouch down and gaze under the car you can see that the frame has been painted another example of the attention that has been poured into the restoration of this beauty.

One of the most important pieces of information to remember about this example is that since the restoration wrapped in 1995 the MOT data would suggest that it has covered just 1,097 miles. So effectively it is still like new. 

With this car sitting in such great visual mechanical condition, we should imagine that it’ll be a hoot to drive and live with. The next owner will have a glorious time exploring the great driving roads around the country.

Summary

With the MGB Roadster being such an endearing and loveable classic, it makes the perfect addition to anyone’s garage. Thanks to the extensive restoration, the time spent as a museum display piece, and the big history file this could be one of the best MGBs out there on the market today. 

As summer approaches and focus switches towards getting away and having fun, this MGB Roadster will offer you a reason to get out and about this summer. Once the roof is folded away it turns into a great summer cruiser. Don’t miss out on this car, you may never find one with such a great individual story. 

Notice to bidders

Although every care is taken to ensure this listing is as factual and transparent as possible, all details within the listing are subject to the information provided to us by the seller. Car & Classic does not take responsibility for any information missing from the listing. Please ensure you are satisfied with the vehicle description and all information provided before placing a bid.

As is normal for most auctions, this vehicle is sold as seen, and therefore the Sale of Goods Act 1979 does not apply. All bids are legally binding once placed. Any winning bidder who withdraws from a sale, is subject to our bidders fee charge. Please see our FAQs and T&C's for further information. Viewings of vehicles are encouraged, but entirely at the seller's discretion.

Please see our FAQs here and our Terms & Conditions here

Vehicle specification
  • Year 1969
  • Make MG
  • Model B Roadster
  • Colour Red
  • Odometer 49,673 Miles
  • Engine size 1798
Auction Details
  • Seller Type Private
  • Town Christchurch
  • Location Dorset
  • Country United Kingdom
Bidding history
21 bids
  • mi•••• £20,250 23/05/22
  • Ma•••• £20,000 23/05/22
  • mi•••• £19,750 23/05/22
  • mi•••• £19,500 23/05/22
  • Ma•••• £19,250 23/05/22
  • mi•••• £19,000 23/05/22
  • an•••• £18,750 23/05/22
  • mi•••• £18,500 23/05/22
  • Ch•••• £18,250 22/05/22
  • JO•••• £16,750 20/05/22
Message C&C Auction Team

The gallery

The safest way to buy a classic car online

Car & Classic's secure payment system protects buyers and sellers. At the end of the auction, the winning bidder transfers payment into a third-party escrow account. Once the transfer of the vehicle is complete, both parties confirm they are happy with the sale and the money is released to the seller. More about buying with us
Safe, secure payment process

About Max Bids

The max bid process allows you to bid without any hassle.

Enter your maximum bid and we will then bid on your behalf to ensure you're the highest bidder - just enough to keep you in the lead and only up until your maximum.

Anti-sniping

Car & Classic prevent auction snipers from bidding in the last seconds to win an auction.

Auctions are extended by 3 minutes if anyone bids within the last 2 minutes to allow other bidders to react and counter-bid.

Auto-bidding increments

  • If your maximum bid is equal to or below the reserve price, your maximum bid will be applied in full if you are the highest bidder.
  • If you are the highest bidder and place a maximum bid above the reserve, we will automatically put in the reserve as your first bid.
    • Once the reserve has been met, Car & Classic will make sure you are the highest bidder using only the bidding increments stated below.
    • We will keep you in the lead up until your maximum bid OR the increment closest to your maximum bid, providing your maximum bid is enough to cover the increment value.

Bid Amount Increment
£0 to £9,999 £100.00
£10,000 to £49,999 £250.00
£50,000 to £99,999 £500.00
£100,000 + £1,000.00

Automatically outbid immediately

When you place a max bid and are outbid immediately that means that another bidder has placed a max bid limit which is higher than yours.

You can bid again and we will use our automatic bid system to try and get you as the highest bidder.

Matching max bids

When there are two max bids of the same value, the one placed first remains the lead bidder.

Pre-authorisation

We may hold a pre-authorisation charge on your card until the end of the auction when the hold will be cancelled. If you win, we'll take a security deposit which counts towards the payment for the vehicle and isn't any extra cost to you.

What are pre-bids?

A pre-bid means you're able to place a bid before the official start of the auction.
You will be notified whether or not you are the highest bidder when the auction starts.

Problem with your bid

Bids are contractually binding. To help protect you, we have some rules in place if we think it's been mistyped. Please check and amend what you have entered.