Designed by lifelong Morris Garages employee Albert Sydney (Syd) Enver, the MGB was launched in 1962 to replace his previous MGA design which had gone to market just seven years earlier. At launch, many of the ingredients were familiar including the B series engine which had first debuted in 1954, albeit with a smaller capacity. The gearbox was also a lightly upgraded version of that used in the MGA while various other ancillaries were carried over with small changes. But while many of the components may have been tried and tested, the move from a body on frame to unitary construction marked a step change and set the car up to do well.
With an eventual production run spanning 28 years, the success of the MGB must have exceeded Syd’s wildest dreams. Not only popular at the time, it has continued to be widely appreciated as a classic and there is a small industry around the continued production and sale of new parts for them. There are also a variety of specialists who can provide upgrades including Oselli, who were there right from the outset offering a range of tuning options and whose work we see here. In all, the MGB is one of the best supported vehicles in the classic car world.
Built in 1977, this example sports an unleaded Oselli 1900 fast road spec engine which was installed in 1999. The previous owner was an elderly gentleman who acquired it from Panorama Bay in Poole following a ground up restoration that was carried out around 8 years ago. Built to chrome bumper spec, upgrades also included a Webber 45 DCOE carburettor, performance distributor, Lumination ignition system and a sports exhaust. It spent four of the next six years at the owner’s home in France where it was largely used to pop into the local village and fewer than 700 miles were added to the clock. When he returned to the UK, it was re-registered here but continued to be little used. It should be noted that a new odometer was fitted as part of the restoration but that the total mileage on the upgraded engine is believed to be less than 20k. Recent work includes a new alternator belt, thermostat and rocker cover gasket.
The current owner was looking for a classic for Saturday country pub runs and bought it only two months ago. However, by chance, another MGB came along just afterwards which also took his fancy and he snapped it up. With two fine examples to choose from, he’s decided to let this one go to a new owner.
The car is accompanied by a large file of paperwork which covers both the engine upgrade and the restoration, and shows evidence of regular maintenance since the turn of the century. The V5 is present and the car will come with a fresh MOT.
With black leather seats, a full wood capped dashboard and the delightful wood-rimmed steering wheel, the cockpit of this MGB is very much that of the quintessential British roadster. It’s all in good condition too with no evidence of it having got wet at any point. The driver’s seat is showing a little wear to the outer bolster which is to be expected but the door cards remain pristine.
On the dashboard, the dials are all working as they should, though a couple of the dash lights are a little temperamental and the indicators are occasionally a little slow. There is a radio fitted but it says much about the type of car that his is in that it remained untested until recently, the result of which is that it doesn’t seem to be powering up. We’re guessing that addressing that may not be the first priority for the next owner though.
Located behind the seats, there is a black roll bar to complete the sporty look and the boot is very tidy containing an original Rostyle spare wheel, a full toolkit and a bottle of the appropriate oil for the stage 2 tuned engine.
Although the restoration is now eight years old, it was clearly carried out to a high standard and the car presents very well. Predictably there are now a few stone chips on the bonnet and there are a couple of splits in the paint at the leading edge of the bonnet, but nothing that looks like it will corrode any time soon. The body seams are showing some tiny bubbling but again it doesn’t look to be of immediate concern. The chrome, notably the boot-mounted luggage rack, is all in fine fettle with just a small amount of oxidation on the driver’s door mirror arm and on the front grille being the only blemishes.
The folding roof operates with no problem and the rear plastic windows are clear and fully intact. The fabric is in good condition with all the stitching still in place but the offside front corner has worn a little. The whole roof does remain fully watertight, however. The car wears Minilite wheels with all new tyres. One wheel has a slight kerb mark and another has very slight discolouration but it’s barely noticeable in the pictures or in the metal. Overall, it’s a car which is sure to draw admiring looks wherC9F08BA4-CE94-41DA-880A-B5A4FBE57BBD.jpeg539.17 KBever it goes.
The Mechanics
Due to the Weber carb, there is no choke but a couple of pumps of the accelerator to prime it gets the car started first time. With the uprated engine, performance is lively to say the least and the temperature remains stable at all times. A fruity exhaust note explains why the stereo has remained dormant and the brakes pull the car up smartly. The clutch is easy to use and, once you have familiarised yourself with the layout, the gear change is smooth. Mechanically this car is ready to be enjoyed.
Believe it or not, despite the hail bouncing off the windows and the thunder rumbling in the distance, summer is just around the corner and what better way to enjoy it than from the driver’s seat of an MGB? With high demand for restoration work, prices are on a gentle incline and with massive part availability they are very much a purchase that can be made with the head as well as the heart.
This particular example is in great condition and has some choice upgrades. There’s a couple of jobs to do to make it perfect but it remains very usable in the meantime. With the extra go and the roll bar there’s the option to get involved in some amateur motorsport but it would equally be a joyous way to enjoy the summer shows and trips to country pubs. The choice could be yours so get your bid in now to secure it!
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