Description
** Many more pictures available via our website - RMC Classics Ltd - please see the link above. **
Rubber-bumpered MGBs are most certainly finding their feet in the market. Finding a decent, honest example is a tricky task as so many have been restored badly over the years. These cars provide an excellent investment opportunity for somebody that wants to enjoy their money, rather than having it sitting in the bank!
The car is a really straight example, which could be used regularly – much work has been carried out over recent years to ensure it’s fit and healthy - including a fully rebuilt Ivor Searle engine! The previous long term owner was a true enthusiast and had put a lot of care and attention into keeping the car as healthy as possible. The car is an older restoration (15-20 years ago) but still presents very well indeed and has had much recent expenditure to help ensure reliability and ongoing health.
Recent works include:
· Ivor Searle Recon engine fitted just a few thousand miles ago.
· Full front suspension with new trunnions, springs (chrome bumper ride height), track rod ends, anti roll bar and polybushed throughout.
· Carbs rebuilt, rebalanced and retuned
· Coolant hoses replaced throughout, heater box removed, new heater matrix and controls. New thermostat.
· Electronic ignition fitted, along with rebuild of distributor and resetting of ignition timing
· Rostyle wheels blasted and completely refurbished
· New 12v battery
· General service
· …and much, much more!
The car runs and drives very sweetly indeed, ticking over healthily at 800rpm. Only a few thousand miles ago the car had a replacement Ivor Searle fully rebuilt engine fitted - and it shows! The engine fires up from both hot cold with ease, pulls strongly and runs at the correct temperature – the oil pressure is also good. A compression test has revealed good results! Electronic ignition has been fitted. Overdrive is fitted, and is working well, and the rear axle is nice and quiet. The gearbox selects all gears without fuss and is a pleasure to use. It drives very nicely, stops in a straight line and doesn’t clunk and rattle like so many of these cars do – mostly thanks to the suspension rebuild. King pins, wheel bearings, steering rack etc are all in good order with no excess play. The car has just completed a 50 mile motorway journey with absolute ease, including being stopped in heavy traffic – the fan kicks in and out just as it should and the car keeps itself perfectly cool.
Bodily, as you can see in the pictures, the car is very straight and honest indeed. The panelwork all appears to be nice and solid with no horrid repairs anywhere. Door bottoms, bonnet and boot lid are all free from filler and corrosion.
The car was Ziebart treated when new which seems to have worked wonders! The doors shut with a lovely ‘clunk’ and the panel gaps are very good. Painted in Vermillion orange from new, it has a very deep shine and looks fantastic. There are a few areas of VERY minor bubbling and blistering but nothing to write home about – but please don’t expect a perfect concours car at this price! I have uploaded pictures of all the panelwork on my website so you can get a very good idea of condition from them. The engine bay is very clean and tidy indeed and is a credit to the previous owner. Structurally, all appears to be really nice and solid. Sills, floors, spring hangers, chassis legs etc all seem to be really nice and solid, without lashings of underseal hiding nasty repairs.
The interior is very clean and tidy indeed – dash, door cards, centre console, Moto Lita steering wheel etc are in good order. The original (and now very rare!) seat covers are fitted, and are free from stains, tears and marks – almost unheard of these days! The carpets are in good order, too. The CD player has been removed (could be refitted without too much trouble!) and I have ordered a radio blanking plate for the centre console – you’ll spot it’s missing in the pictures.
The car is, of course, tax and MOT exempt. You’ll see that the MOT history is very clean, and any advisories have been sorted. I can’t foresee any issues that would stop the car from passing one. The V5 document is present along with a wad of history - old MOT certificates, receipts etc.
All in all, this is an absolutely charming little car that is ready to be used and enjoyed. You won’t find another car at this price to this standard, and it is a credit to its previous owner. I travel all over the country to view these cars and this one is particularly good for the money I’m asking. You really will struggle to find another roadgoing, usable GT for less than this that isn’t a patchwork quilt. The car is ready use and enjoy, and further fettle with as you please. If you’re lookiplease double your budget and look elsewhere, but if you’re looking for a nicely restored, jump-in-and-go car that has stood the test of time, then this is probably the car for you!
