Highlights
- 67,259 miles from new
- South African car
- Beautifully preserved
- £5,000+ spent since 2019
The Appeal
The MGB Roadster is the quintessential “everyman’s” sports car from the latter part of the 20th Century. It was the car that almost everyone could afford, but still offered the thrill of a sporty drive and wind-in-the-hair motoring.
Nowadays, many of them have sadly been claimed by the ravages of time. But this example is wonderfully well preserved, presenting in excellent condition inside, outside and mechanically. As a way to enjoy a genuinely fun little sports car and the joy of owning a classic car, this is difficult to beat.
The History and Paperwork
- Built in late July / early August 1973
- Dispatched to South Africa in September 1973
- Johannesburg car (dry and high altitude)
- 2+ owners in South Africa
- Exported from SA to the UK in March 2020 by the current owner when they relocated to the UK
- First registered in the UK June 2020 (took 3 months for DVLA to process papers)
- Comprehensively mechanically refurbished prior to export
- Historic vehicle status: tax and MOT exempt
- Matching numbers vehicle
- Two sets of keys
- Haynes Workshop Manual included
- Period MG brochure
- South African number plates included
- V5C present and correct
- BMI Heritage Certificate
- Kept garaged in current ownership
- Only 584 miles covered since export to the UK
The Interior
- New black vinyl upholstery (seats and door cards)
- New black carpets and
- Classic wood rimmed steering wheel
One of the nicest aspects of this car is how the owners have striven to keep it as original as possible, but have not shied away from replacing items with new stock when required.
The previous owner (2017-2019), who was a friend of the current owner, had the seats and door cards reupholstered and new carpets fitted. It means the cabin of this little roadster looks really very smart indeed. As it is really quite new, all of the upholstery and carpeting is in very fine condition, with no notable wear or damage to be mentioned.
Looking at the controls, dashboard and instruments, it’s clear that a real effort has been made to preserve the original equipment and keep it in as good a condition as possible. The success of this policy is evident as all of the trim items and controls present in exceptional original condition, with only minor signs of wear that add a lovely natural patina to the cabin.
We’re told by the owner that everything in the cabin functions just as it should, with no issues they are aware of.
Some textured metal sill guards have been added to both door jambs, which offer significant protection for this easily marked area. The boot area also looks to be in nice condition, with good carpeting, a full-size spare wheel, a fire extinguisher and the fully removable tonneau.
The Exterior
- Original bodyshell
- Refinished with period red paintwork
- RoStyle wheels
At some point prior to 2017, the car has been restored. The BMI Heritage Certificate shows the car left the factory with Glacier White paint, whereas it now wears a smart coat of period red paintwork.
The restoration work was clearly carried out to a reasonably high standard, as the paint finish still looks very good, as does the bodywork. The sills, arches and valances (usually problem areas for these cars) look solid and corrosion free. Of course, there is the odd blemish here and there, with one or two minor dings to the brightwork too, but overall the bodyshell is in remarkably good condition.
Speaking of the brightwork and other external trim, it presents very well. It appears to be largely original and free from major blemishes or pitting. All of the light lenses, badging and other external details look complete and undamaged too.
We’re told by the vendor that the previous owner had some restoration work carried out to the footwells, but otherwise the car has needed no bodywork since 2019. The dry, high-altitude Johannesburg climate has clearly been very kind to this British roadster. Nowhere is this better seen than underneath, where the chassis, floor pans and drivetrain elements look to be straight, solid and in excellent condition. There’s a small amount of surface corrosion in one or two places, but overall it looks very fine indeed.
Of course, this being a roadster, the roof is of the manually-operated fabric variety. Whether or not it’s the original item we cannot say – although we highly doubt it. What we can say is that the roof looks to be in very nice condition, with no UV damage that we could see, and no signs of stretch or sag. It comes with a removable tonneau for the full roadster experience. There is a small tear on the folding hood (on the left side).
The car rides on original 14” RoStyle wheels, complete with Continental tyres which look to have excellent levels of tread on them.
The Mechanics
- 1,798cc B-Series 4-cylinder
- 4-speed manual transmission
- Engine, gearbox and clutch rebuild in 2019
- Electronic ignition upgrade
In keeping with the theme of maintaining the car’s original character as much as possible, the cylinder head has not been modified for unleaded fuel. As such, the charming 1.8-litre B-Series engine still requires a lead supplement to be added to the fuel.
One sensible upgrade that has been carried out is to convert the car to electronic ignition, which makes for much more reliable starting. Before the car was exported from South Africa, the owner had it inspected and overhauled. Work undertaken included: full engine, gearbox and clutch removal, strip and rebuild, and the installation of a new release bearing.
The owner tells us that there is a slight knock from the exhaust on occasion when decelerating (probably from a slight hanger misalignment), but otherwise the car drives absolutely perfectly, with no mechanical issues whatsoever. A box of spares comes with the vehicle, which includes the original steering wheel.
Summary
One of the key benefits of purchasing a South Africa car is that they haven’t been subject to the ravages and salt-laden roads of British winters. As such, they tend to be very well-preserved vehicles.
And so it is with this delightful machine. Largely original, with one or two choice upgrades, recent significant mechanical maintenance and a beautifully preserved structure and cabin, it’s the perfect classic roadster for anyone wanting a reliable, handsome and fun sports car.
Notice to bidders
Notice to bidders
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