Description
This Tahiti Blue car is a very presentable example, which could be used regularly – much work has been carried out over recent years to ensure it’s fit and healthy. The previous owner was a true enthusiast and ensured that any works completed were to ‘factory’ spec. The car had a major restoration in the late 1990s, but still presents very well indeed and has had much recent expenditure to help ensure reliability and ongoing health. The car is ripe for further fettling whilst you use and enjoy!
Recent ongoing works over the past couple of years include:
• New radiator, water pump, thermostat and hoses – system back-flushed and refilled with the correct blue Glycol mix.
• New rear GAZ fully adjustable gas shock absorbers
• Complete new rocker assembly – shaft and rockers.
• Major service including ignition components – new points, condenser, plugs, leads, coil. Ignition timing reset and advance curve checked.
• New carpets and underlay in the cockpit and boot area
• New OEM spec door cards and Autumn Leaf internal door handles
• Rear seat recovered
• Chrome bumper conversion on the front, complemented with a British Leyland Special Tuning front valence
• Rear bumper swapped for a lightweight GRP item that looks a lot tidier than the clumsy (and incredibly heavy!) original
• Telescopic boot stays fitted
• Rear axle ‘de-clunk’ kit fitted
• New door locks fitted
• New dual oil pressure/ water temperature gauge
• Carburettors rebuilt including new needles and jets
• Cylinder head removed, decoked, Payen head gasket fitted.
• New oil cooler and pipework
• New brake calipers
The earlier restoration in the 1990s included major bodywork restoration – new front wings, doors, bonnet, inner wings, inner and outer sills, floors (photos are available!), along with an engine rebuild. Unleaded conversion.
The car runs and drives just like you’d expect an MGB to, ticking over healthily at 800rpm. The engine fires up from both hot cold with ease, pulls strongly and runs at the correct temperature – the oil pressure is also excellent. A compression test has revealed good results – around 150psi. 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. King pins, wheel bearings, steering rack etc are all in good order with no excess play. I have covered around 250 miles in the past week or so, including being stopped in heavy traffic, 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. Painted in Tahiti Blue from new, it has a very deep shine and looks great. There are a few areas of minor bubbling and blistering, and the odd minor scrape here and there, 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 clean and tidy but would benefit from a detail, if that’s your thing. The car was Ziebarted when new, and this included the engine bay – so you’ll see from the pictures that the bulkhead area could do with a good scrub – but it’s all nice and solid. Structurally, all appears to be good and solid where it matters. Sills, floors, spring hangers, chassis legs etc all seem to be good, without lashings of underseal hiding nasty repairs. I’d perhaps recommend a good wire-brush and a recoat of protective underseal if you plan to use this car year-round, but decided against doing this before sale so you can see exactly what’s what.
The interior is very clean and tidy indeed – dash, door cards, centre console, original steering wheel etc are in good order. The original front seat covers are fitted and are starting to show their age a little, but they’re still perfectly usable. They’re an easy swap if you do decide to replace. The carpets are in excellent order, too – a high-quality carpet set was fitted just a couple of years ago. It’s worth noting that the heater has been disconnected – it could easily be plumbed back in without too much hassle.
The car is, of course, tax and MOT exempt. You’ll see that the MOT history is very clean. The V5 document is present along with a huge amount of history – a huge amount of old receipts, MOT certificates, and photos of the restoration etc. A Heritage certificate is also included – the car also has two sets of keys.
All in all, this is an absolutely charming little car, ready to use and enjoy, and further fettle with as you please. If you’re looking for a concours car, please double your budget and look elsewhere, but if you’re looking for a nicely restored, jump-in-and-go car to fettle and tinker with further, this is probably the car for you!
