Highlights

• Significant mechanical investment in current ownership
• Desirable chrome bumper car with wire wheels
• Rare factory hard top included

The Appeal

History/Paperwork

• V5 registered keepers document, showing 3 former owners
• Extensive documentation and history, all contained in a well-organised folder
• Workshop manual included
• Original driver’s handbook present
• Garaged during the current owner’s tenure
• In the current ownership, the following areas have been addressed: Nearside rear shock absorber replaced, welding to nearside rear inner wheel arch area, repair to overdrive wiring, replaced all coolant & heater hoses, fitted new batteries & clamps, replaced nearside & offside front wishbone bushes, fit new rev counter & electronic ignition, refit gearlever bush, fitted new rear brake cylinders, new distributor & electronic points, rotor arm, distributor cap, HT leads & ignition coil, replaced flywheel, starter motor & clutch kit, thermostat housing, thermostat, gearbox mountings, waterpump fan, door cappings and brackets, wiper blades, replace clutch master and slave cylinder, and a new set of wire wheels.
• The original wire wheels and fog lamps/driving lamps are included with the sale of the vehicle, along with a host of miscellaneous spare parts

The Interior

• Presents in fair condition for the car’s age, but would benefit from a re-trim and TLC
• Soft-top in good condition with no noted rips, tears or damage, and the folding frame goes up-and-down without resistance. The soft top vinyl would benefit from some heat to ‘stretch’ it over the frame a little, however, as some of the tonneau tabs are slightly too tight to engage correctly
• The rare and desirable B Roadster hard top is included in the sale of the car, though this would benefit from some aesthetic attention, whilst the securing clips at the front of the roof would benefit from lubrication and adjustment
• The seats both exhibit some areas of significant wear, with numerous rips and tears noted on the driver’s seat especially
• The dashboard appears to be free of any sun damage or cracking, though there are areas that are more heavily worn than others, particularly on the high-traffic areas such as the various switches and dials on the fascia
• In the rear, the spare wheel is present
• The vendor notes no known electrical faults with the car’s systems, switches or gauges

The Exterior

• Externally, the bodywork of this MGB appears to be sound and has had any known corrosion-related issues attended to, but would benefit from full restoration to bring it back to its best
• Whilst in storage during its previous ownership tenure, it would appear that some chemicals or fluids leaked onto the bonnet and front wings of the car, causing a number of ‘run’ marks
• There are numerous spidering cracks/lines in the lacquer on the bonnet, along with several scuffs and larger imperfections dotted around the car, in addition to the commensurate stone chips and light blemishes that you’d expect for a vehicle of this age
• The nearside door in particular would benefit from adjustment, whilst the latch mechanism for the driver’s door can only be opened from the outside
• There are two small holes on the nearside front wing from a previous accessory attachment, along with holes in the front bumper from the fog/driving lights, which are included in the sale but are not fitted
• The various chrome details, trims and badges all appear to be present-and-correct
• A new set of wire wheels were fitted by the present keeper, and these present in very good order throughout

The Mechanics

• 1.8-litre, B-Series inline-four engine
• The engine bay, block and ancillaries present in fair condition, though a full detailing would likely transform the visual appearance of the engine
• There is some misting of oil around the cam cover, but otherwise no signs of any outwardly visible issues
• An electric fan with manual over-ride has been fitted to aid usability in day-to-day traffic
• Following a programme of expenditure in the current owner’s care, the engine, brakes and chassis are reported to be in excellent health, with the vendor stating that the car tracks straight-and-true at 70mph, is wonderfully drivable and shows good oil pressure
• During our photo shoot, the car starts without issue and idles happily
• There is a known issue with the gearbox, with reverse and 1st ‘jumping’ out of gear unless held in place, which will require attention
• On account of its age, this MG B Roadster is exempt from mandatory MoT examinations

Summary