MG, a rather significant name in British motoring history. Arguably the go to brand for quality sports cars, the marque was famed for its stylish, dynamic automobiles, and none so more than the MG B. The perfect recipe of performance style and value meant the lightweight 2 door soft top was an absolute hit, still boasting icon status to this day.
So what would happen when the boffins at the British Motor Company handed the pen and paper over to legendary design house Pininfarina to see what they could do with the B? Perhaps some restyled bumpers or some revised headlights?
No, what the Italians brought to the party was a radically revised MG B with an all new “greenhouse” sloping fastback design, aptly named, the MGB GT.
First introduced in 1965, the MGB GT was the all new 2+2 coupe for MG’s roster. The car was largely reminiscent of the convertible, but boasted a new more aerodynamic roofline and as a result slightly improved performance.
Equipped with the famous BMC B series engine, the MGB GT boasted 95bhp and was advertised as good for 105 mph. The cheap, powerful, yet economical coupe proved incredibly popular with the general public and motoring press alike, and in its own right the GT achieved something of a legend status, still adored across the world all these years on.
First registered for the road in October of 1973, investigation suggests this particular MG spent the first part of its life in Ireland, with the dealership the car was first delivered to being Thompson Reid and Company LTD of Belfast.
It then came into the life of the current owner around the late 1990’s/early 2000’s at which point a friend, the owner of the MG at the time, asked the current owner to store the MG at his barn.
Flash forward to the year 2018, and with the car not showing any signs of moving, it was purchased by the current owner, who then set about extensive restoration work, whilst simultaneously modernising the car so that it could be used more comfortably on a regular basis by a different friend who covered around 8,000 miles a year,
In this time, it was annually serviced and the oil was changed every three months.
The current owner is now looking to move the car on to a new loving home in order to free up storage space and start new restoration projects.
Certainly a testament to their mechanical abilities, the restoration and modernisation of this MG has been undertaken by the current owner, and thus we don’t find stacks of invoices to accompany the car.
What we do find, is the all important V5 registration document, correctly re applied for during the vehicles colour change, and a British motor heritage certificate, detailing all of the important information known about the car when it rolled off of the forecourt back in October of 1973.
Being a 1973 model, the MG can of course be registered as tax and MOT exempt by filling out the relevant DVLA forms, if the new owner wishes to do so. At present however, the car is still regularly MOT’d, holding a current MOT until May of 2022.
It should be noted that the current owner has said they will have a full 12 months MOT put onto the car prior to sale.
Smart, stylish and understated, the cabin of the GT is probably best summed up with those three words. A sea of dark fabrics and plastics all well trimmed with a brilliant feature piece in the form of the wooden rim steering wheel protruding from the dash.
The simplistic front seats are in remarkably clean shape, the upholstery still rich with colour and lacking in the major wear seen on so many of these cars, this courtesy of new seat coverings fitted back in 2018.
The same of course can be said of the rear bench seat, which like almost all MGB GTs will have seen very little use throughout its lifetime. The current owner has utilised the space in the rear footwells of the little MG to install upgraded Kenwood subwoofer and stow the wiring for the splendid heated seats installed during the restoration work performed in 2018.
At the sides we find 2 well trimmed door panels, in excellent shape with equally clean door furniture, embellished with neat chrome trim to really tie the cabin together.
Up top sits a clean contrasting grey roof liner, notably free from the staining normally seen on lighter coloured roof liners. Draping its way across the floor of the cabin, we find a plush and neat, newly fitted carpet, flowing right the way through to the boot which holds the full size spare wheel. The panel that opens to reveal the spare has been fitted with upgraded gas struts to more easily hold it in place.
Front and centre sits the sculpted dash piece, still vibrant in its colour and lacking in sun damage or cracks to the plastics. Those familiar with MG B’s and GT’s will note a series of switchgear housed within the dash not seen on a standard car, this comes courtesy of the 2018 rebuild, in which several modern creature comforts were installed in the car, the list goes as follows:
DAB radio with bluetooth
Heated front windscreen
Remote central locking
Electric windows
2 speed wipers with quick wipe and delay
Puddle lights and interior lights on a fade delay
Rear reversing camera
The additions made to the car make it a truly excellent daily driver and far more usable than the average classic. The installation of the various pieces has been done to an incredibly high standard, with the various wiring and fuses neatly stowed within their own bespoke removable panel in the passenger footwell.
The excellent thing about this MGB GT is that, although it’s been fitted with hoards of modern tech, nothing has been done to compromise that classic 70’s Pininfarina styling. From the outside, nothing is amiss.
One major job in terms of the 2018 restoration of this car came in the form of the bodywork. The car was stripped, sandblasted, welded where required and then resprayed in a wonderful dark navy hue.
This combined with excellent maintenance means the car sits in absolutely exquisite condition, a brilliant shine exuding from the paintwork and brilliant chrome trim, much of which has been replaced or refinished to bring it up to a standard equal to the rest of the car post restoration.
The glasswork within the car is all of a clean standard, as is the lighting front and rear, the car also benefits from the installation of xenon headlights as opposed to the factory fitted headlights more reminiscent of candles in jam jars.
The car sits on four excellent Rostyle wheels, with a fifth spare stowed in the boot. Courtesy of the British motor heritage certificate, we know these to have been a factory fitted option. At present the wheels are in incredibly clean condition and really set the car off from an aesthetic perspective.
A restoration is never complete without some extensive mechanical work, and this little MG stays true to that notion. Under the bonnet we find one of the cleanest examples of BMC “B-series” engine fitted to all, bar the v8 models, MG B GTs.
The current owner has rebuilt this standard engine to an incredibly high standard, hence we see it in this remarkable condition. The engine also benefits from rebuilt carbs, a new starter motor, new radiator and fan, as well as a Lumenition optronic distributor and upgraded coil.
As a result of this extensive work, the car fires into life with ease, settling into a comfortable idle, an excellent tone produced from the single rear exhaust.
On the road the owner reports an excellent dynamic drive, courtesy of suspension that has all been rebuilt, alongside new king pings and leaf springs all of which are on poly bushes, we also find a new steering rack and track rod ends.
Coming out of the corners the car has plenty of power on tap, put down easily through the replacement gearbox and overdrive system, which is further benefited by a replacement rear diff, axle and propshaft. It’s fair to say there aren't a great deal of mechanical parts on the car that havent been replaced, rebuilt or upgraded.
The car, as to be expected, appears incredibly solid, both on the underside and the bodywork. The famed rust spots around the front quarters of the MG are spot on as the normal water ingress from the front wheels has been prevented by the fitment of custom wheel arch liners.
The term winning combination isn’t one to be used lightly, but this MG might just be that. Where else does one find beautifully 70’s Pininfarina styling and dynamic performance, twinned with modern amenities, comfort and genuine usability? Not even other MGB GT’s can boast all that, this is a truly special and unique car.
For someone who wants to stand out from the crowd with their daily driver, or perhaps just wants a more usable classic car for longer trips, you can’t go wrong here.
This is an incredibly rare opportunity to acquire a beautiful, solid (both from a mechanical and aesthetic standpoint), well performing car that will be at home both on those everyday drives or parked up on display at a classic car show.
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 seller's discretion.
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1973 MGB GT
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