﹒Desirable wire wheel upgrade ﹒Stored in dry, heated garage storage – never left out overnight - when not in use
The Background
Introduced in 1962, the MGB was a sports car revolution. It was light, it was clever in its construction thanks to being of a monocoque design and the 1,798cc B Series engine under that long, long bonnet, it had the pace to match the looks. It was, from the off, a sales success and it soon cemented itself as being one of the most popular British cars ever made.
The MGB’s ability to permeate the public consciousness goes even further than ‘early days’ popularity. It’s a car that has maintained its popularity throughout its life. This means that the MGB and associated variants now enjoy incredible levels of support. As such, for many, it is the perfect first classic car. You can buy one, safe in the knowledge that parts, support and upkeep are all just a call away.
This 1972 example is a perfect case in point. Lovingly restored, it’s now ready to be enjoyed either by a die hard classic car nut, or by someone looking to take their first steps into classic ownership. On the button, ready to go, classics don’t get more attainable. And the best bit? You could get yourself a serious bargain, as this car is being offered with no reserve.
Enthusiast owned, this MGB has lived a life of being fully enjoyed, and has had very little time off the road. Of course, all those years of regular use did eventually catch up with it, which is where the current owner comes in.
Looking to finally pull the trigger on the MGB owning dream, he acquired this one as a rough but running project. The car was then given to a close friend in 2014, who happened to be a huge MG buff and completely went through the car and restored it to an exceptional standard with no expense spared. There is a full photo album with the car, which serves to show the level of work that went into bringing this B back up to tip top condition. New floors, new doors, new wings and fresh paint have all been applied. The interior has been redone as have the electrics and of course, the mechanicals. It really was a full, proper and detailed restoration.
Since the completion of the restoration, the car has had little in the way of use. In fact, when not on the road, its stored in a dry, heated garage and never left out overnight. Sadly, due to the busyness of life and of course, the added stresses of this year’s pandemic, the little MGB has only done a few hundred miles in the last three years. When not in use, the car has been in secure, dry storage where it has been regularly run to keep everything happy.
Plentiful would be the adjective to use here. There is no shortage of paperwork for this little MGB, which serves to offer a timeline of the car’s entire life. And we mean that quite literally, as there is even a copy of the car’s first registration document! Then of course there are all the old MOTs along with countless invoices for regular servicing, service parts, general upkeep and restoration works.
The crowning glory of the documentation included, however, is the photo album that details the car’s restoration back in 2014. Flicking through the album, you can see the new panels going on, you can see the new metal going and the rot being cut out and you can see the new paint going on. Furthermore, you get to see the new wiring going in, and you also get to see the reconditioned engine before it went back under that long bonnet. There are a lot of classics out there that have been restored, but few with such in depth photographic evidence. And of course, there are invoices and bills in the hefty folder to back up everything that you can see in the pictures.
No expense has been spared in the restoration of this British classic, and as such, it has a bright future ahead of it. Solid, and well presented, it’s a charming little thing.
As you’d expect from a car having been restored in recent years, the interior is in great overall condition. The carpets are all in good order, and looking under them you can see fresh paints and decent quality repairs. The wiring, which should always be considered on an old car, is in excellent order having been renewed, and has all been fitted and tied back neatly.
The front and year seats present well in black vinyl, and have no signs of any damage or excessive wear. Both front seats tilt forward as they should and the rear bench has clearly never been used to carry people or anything of any significant weight - it’s nearly as new.
The headlining is in good condition with no rips, tears or heavy staining, and all the door cards are present, correct and free from any damage or sign of damp. All the releases and handles works as they should.
The dash, which is an aftermarket wood effect unit, features a centre console with period radio and lights. The seller tells us the radio works fine, but is not connected at present. All the gauges are bright and clear and function as they should, and the dash top is free from cracks or any other damage. The leather Mountney steering wheel is also in good order, with only minimal signs of wear and use.
Opening the doors and looking closer, the door strikers and catches are all in good condition, as are the inner sills/kick plates and also the A pillars. Looking down into the A pillar area, the paint is fresh, there is no cracking or sign of stress and the check straps function as they should on both doors.
Finally, in the boot, a new carpet set keeps everything neat and tidy. Under this, the wooden partition that separates the spare wheel is in good order, and there is a spare wheel and tools present. Furthermore, the metalwork of the car is all in excellent order, with no signs of rust or damp.
As you can see, this MGB presents well. The paint, which is an original hue, makes for a fetching aesthetic. However, while the paintwork has been done professionally and with care and consideration, there are imperfections over most panels. There is a slight stippling that can be seen up close, minor pinhole imperfections. We have endeavoured to capture these in the images, of course. And aside from this, the paint is in solid condition and still responds well to polish and attention. As you can see from the wider shots of the MGB, it’s quite the eye-catcher.
The chrome (this one one of the final years to be offered with chrome before the “Sabrina” rubber bumpers were fitted) is in good general order. There is some pitting here and there, but nothing detract from the overall presentation of the car. It’s all straight and true, and looks lovely when polished up.
The car would have had Rostyle wheels originally. However, the current owner has wisely opted to fit wire wheels, which give the car its classic look. Again, they are in good general order with only minor pitting to the chrome. The tyres all have plenty of tread, too.
All the glass is in good order, as are all the rubbers and chrome trim finishers. The lights are all in good condition, with no damage nor any cracking to the plastic units on the rear.
The underside of the car is in good general condition, and plenty of care has been taken to protect it from corrosion. There is a thick coating of rust proofing present, which should be effective for years to come. There is some evidence of repair, of course, but it’s all solid and free of any serious rot. The brake and fuel line we could see were also in good order with no corrosion or leaks to be seen.
As we mentioned earlier, this MGB hasn’t done a great many miles since the restoration was completed. As such, the oily parts are in fine fettle. The engine sounds healthy and pulls the car along with a pleasing eagerness and the gear change is slick and direct with a pleasing mechanical feel.
The engine was completely stripped as part of the restoration before being cleaned, painted and reassembled, so it presents exceptionally well. The cooling system has also been refreshed, so there are no overheating concerns at play.
There is no noise from the driveline, nor any crunches or grinding. The original factory spec brakes work well, and pull the car to a stop without any change of direction and the suspension is quiet and compliant, with no nasty knocks or bangs. It’s simply a very well put together little car that’s raring to go.
It’s a bright, cheerly little car that really does grab the attention of anyone looking. It’s the sort of MGB that you can get in and use come rain or shine, and enjoy thoroughly whilst doing so! While not perfect, it’s certainly not far off.
And having been fully restored in 2014, it has plenty of life left in it. This is, for us, the perfect classic that you can really enjoy and use. It presents exceptionally well, but there is enough ‘life’ to it that you won’t be intimidated to take it out. This is a car for the driver, for someone who wants a classic and wants one they can use often.
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 sellers discretion.
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
NO RESERVE! - 1972 MGB GT
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