Highlights
- 20,755 warranted miles
- One of the last 350 MGs to leave the Abingdon factory
- Restored to a superlative standard between 2017 and 2022
- Full engine rebuilt and tune by MG Motorsport on 11th October 2023
- Working Overdrive in Gears 3 and 4
- Full bodywork respray, strip down and WaxOyl application completed on rebuild between 2017 and 2021
- New upholstery and carpets throughout
- Extensive documentation with over 100 invoices and 150+ restoration photos
- Private registration included in the sale
The Appeal
It's always a joy to see restoration done right.
This 1980 MGB Roadster has undergone a comprehensive, meticulous and well-documented rebuild totalling £17,782.03 in invoices alone, omitting the thousands of hours of work carried out over. five-year period. As the photographs attest, it's a truly outstanding example, the likes of which you seldom see.
The vendor provides the following detailed account of the MG's history:
"This was one of the last 350 MGs to leave the Abingdon plant on closure. This is a historic vehicle, registered 31 Dec 1980 and shipped to Johannesburg, South Africa when the Abingdon site was sold on 24 Oct 1980. The engine and chassis number was recorded by the Secretary of the MG Car Club in Johannesburg on its arrival from the UK and I have a copy of that schedule.
The vehicle was returned back to the UK in 1987 and in 2018, it had a total rebuild of which there are 150+ photos of the vehicle arriving on a flatbed and the total strip, spray, rebuild of every component part of the car. Every nut and bolt was reviewed. I have 100+ invoices/ receipts of all parts bought to rebuild the car between 2015 and 2021. Underbody, chassis, sub frame and outer shell all blasted, primed, restored and total respray.
This vehicle is A1 concours standard and is a reluctant sale due to personal circumstances. The private number plate is included.
The original odometer read 32,229 KMH (20, 026 miles) and a re-conditioned odometer in MPH (48, 102 miles) replaced it to meet UK roads and speeds. Therefore, you need to subtract 28,076 miles from the current MPH odometer to get the real engine mileage. I have the original KMH odometer and the paperwork and guarantee of the replacement odometer to prove the current mileage.
The car now features a brand new roof, wheels, and interior. Total receipts amount to £18,685. 72 spent on this cars rebuild and maintenance since 2015. The restoration was completed in 2021, and I purchased the vehicle in 2022.
The restoration is on an SD stick, which can be viewed pre-purchase and will go with the sale of the vehicle for proof of restoration. Likewise, a photo of the restoration receipts, as well as the British Motor Industry Heritage Certificate dated Oct 2022 evidences the history of the vehicle.
A mint condition, lovingly restored MGB by a true engineering enthusiast and much loved by its current owner. An amazing story and history of the car, sold to export in 1980 on the closure of the Abingdon plant, exported back to the UK in 1987, neglected, recovered and restored and now driving as new."
This 1980 MGB Roadster has undergone a comprehensive, meticulous and well-documented rebuild totalling £17,782.03 in invoices alone, omitting the thousands of hours of work carried out over. five-year period. As the photographs attest, it's a truly outstanding example, the likes of which you seldom see.
The vendor provides the following detailed account of the MG's history:
"This was one of the last 350 MGs to leave the Abingdon plant on closure. This is a historic vehicle, registered 31 Dec 1980 and shipped to Johannesburg, South Africa when the Abingdon site was sold on 24 Oct 1980. The engine and chassis number was recorded by the Secretary of the MG Car Club in Johannesburg on its arrival from the UK and I have a copy of that schedule.
The vehicle was returned back to the UK in 1987 and in 2018, it had a total rebuild of which there are 150+ photos of the vehicle arriving on a flatbed and the total strip, spray, rebuild of every component part of the car. Every nut and bolt was reviewed. I have 100+ invoices/ receipts of all parts bought to rebuild the car between 2015 and 2021. Underbody, chassis, sub frame and outer shell all blasted, primed, restored and total respray.
This vehicle is A1 concours standard and is a reluctant sale due to personal circumstances. The private number plate is included.
The original odometer read 32,229 KMH (20, 026 miles) and a re-conditioned odometer in MPH (48, 102 miles) replaced it to meet UK roads and speeds. Therefore, you need to subtract 28,076 miles from the current MPH odometer to get the real engine mileage. I have the original KMH odometer and the paperwork and guarantee of the replacement odometer to prove the current mileage.
The car now features a brand new roof, wheels, and interior. Total receipts amount to £18,685. 72 spent on this cars rebuild and maintenance since 2015. The restoration was completed in 2021, and I purchased the vehicle in 2022.
The restoration is on an SD stick, which can be viewed pre-purchase and will go with the sale of the vehicle for proof of restoration. Likewise, a photo of the restoration receipts, as well as the British Motor Industry Heritage Certificate dated Oct 2022 evidences the history of the vehicle.
A mint condition, lovingly restored MGB by a true engineering enthusiast and much loved by its current owner. An amazing story and history of the car, sold to export in 1980 on the closure of the Abingdon plant, exported back to the UK in 1987, neglected, recovered and restored and now driving as new."
The History and Paperwork
- Registered on 31 December 1980 and exported to South Africa due to MG Abingdon factory site closure
- Recorded as one of 350 MGs arriving in Johannesburg by the South African MG Car Club Modern Register Secretary Brian Woodhams
- Mr Woodhams recorded the engine and chassis numbers of the 350 vehicles shipped from the UK and provided a copy of the inventory where this MG was recorded (included with the paperwork of the vehicle)
- Shipped back to the UK in 1987 and initially allocated a 'Q' plate by DVLA
- Restoration conducted between 2017 and 2022 with 100 invoices evidencing a spend of £17,782.03
- Current owner purchased the vehicle in 2022 and conducted several servicing inspections, including a £634 engine fine tune and other minor adjustments (recorded on invoice number '100'
- All invoices have also been placed on an inventory
- The current owner proved the provenance of the vehicle to the DVLA, and the Q plate was revoked in 2022, whereupon the current private number plate was allocated.
- Over 150 photographs chronologically evidence the restoration journey between March 2015 and July 2021
- British Motor Industry Heritage Certificate dated October 2022 included
- 20,755 miles
- Exempt from road tax and MOT
The vendor summarises:
"The fact its history has been discovered and the full restoration, evidenced through the photography of the restoration and accompanied paperwork of parts and money spent on the restoration makes this car a supreme example of honesty, skilled workmanship and reassurance of a quality vehicle for the new owner."
"The fact its history has been discovered and the full restoration, evidenced through the photography of the restoration and accompanied paperwork of parts and money spent on the restoration makes this car a supreme example of honesty, skilled workmanship and reassurance of a quality vehicle for the new owner."
The Condition
- The vendor notes this MG is presented in "A1 concours standard"
- Damask Red over cream upholstery and green carpets
- New roof fitted, complete with cover
- Full bodywork strip down and respray
- WaxOyl protection applied
- New upholstery and carpets throughout
- Chrome bumpers in superb condition
- Period-appropriate Moto-Lita sports steering wheel
- Brand-new alloy wheels plus full-size spare
The Mechanics
- 1.8-litre (1,798cc) B-Series inline-four
- Four-speed manual gearbox with overdrive
- Full engine strip-down and overhaul
- Recent full engine tune conducted by renowned specialists MG Motorsport
- Engine service included replacement of float chamber seals, cylinder review, system bleed, reset jets, set ignition timing, and carb adjustments
- Reportedly driving superbly with no known issues to report
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