Description
There’s nothing quite like an early 70s MGB Roadster. The perfect mix between 60s sportscar design and the refinements of the later cars. If you’re looking for a nice, straight (but not perfect!) example to use, enjoy and tinker with – then this is probably the car for you.
This Harvest Gold example provides an excellent basis as a starter classic. This colour and spec in particular simply oozes that 70s ‘cool’! I’ve known the car for a number of years, and the car has always been very well cared for: MOT’d every year, and has always been showered in love and attention! We bought a BGT from the previous owner a few years ago, and he decided it was finally time to let go of the Roadster too.
No - it’s by no means a concours show car, but as you can see from the pictures, it presents very well indeed and is a very drivable, usable, solid and honest car. I’ve been using it as my daily runaround while the sun’s finally started to shine! As well as presenting nicely, it appears to be structurally very sound too – sills, spring hangers, chassis legs and floors all look to be rock solid and not covered in dollops of nasty underseal.
Bodily, as you can see in the pictures, the car is very straight and honest indeed – the car clearly had a professional respray 20 or 25 years ago. The Harvest Gold paintwork has a nice shine. Of course, there are a few areas of minor cosmetic imperfections here and there but there’s nothing that you wouldn’t expect from a car that hasn’t had major restoration for some time. The panelwork is very straight and solid: door skins, wheelarches, wing-bottoms etc are all good, and the doors shut with a lovely ‘clunk’. Panel fit is good too!
Personally I’d leave the minor imperfections as they are, and just maintain and enjoy - and you won’t have to worry so much about leaving it in Tesco car park! In my opinion, it’s much better to buy an honest car rather than one with fresh paint, where you’ve no idea what’s hiding underneath!
The original (not repro) chromework is all in nice order and shines very well indeed. A stainless steel boot rack is fitted, and the Rostyle wheels have chrome trims. All tyres have plenty of tread remaining. Period ‘Paddy Hopkirk’ door mirrors are fitted, and they look great.
The car runs and drives nicely, ticking over steadily at 750rpm and firing up from hot and cold without issue. A Gold-Seal factory replacement engine has been fitted at some point, as evidenced by the engine number. It pulls strongly - oil pressure is just where it should be, as are the individual compressions on each cylinder (all around 140psi). Overdrive is fitted, the rear axle is nice and quiet, gear selection works well too. More recent improvements include the fitment of electronic ignition, a Kenlowe fan, 12v battery conversion, and the car has just had a major service with oil change, regrease, carburettor tune and balance, ignition timing and a general once-over. The engine bay is clean, tidy and serviceable, and would detail up very nicely, if that’s your thing.
The interior is pretty good, too! Seat covers are in good order, and a period Moto Lita wheel is fitted. The dashboard has been removed and reconditioned to the correct ‘crinkle’ finish. A period Motorola radio has been fitted, upgraded to allow you to plug your phone in with a 3. 5mm jack. Innertia reel seatbelts are fitted.
The soft top was replaced with a high-quality version from Moss Europe, and a brand new frame was fitted at the same time. The hood fits very well and is nice and taut. Hood cover, full tonneau, tonneau sticks are included in the sale along with a wind deflector which fits behind the seats to stop any buffeting.
The V5 document is present, along with a raft of paperwork outlining works that have been carried out in recent years.
It’s rare to find a chrome bumper Roadster at this sort of price that hasn’t been messed around with and tarted up too much. As stated, it’s most certainly not a concours show-standard car, but it FEELS like a proper 1970s car and is not over-restored. I think I have priced the car very sensibly – you will struggle to find another roadgoing, usable roadster for less than this, that isn’t full of patchwork-quilt repairs and the like! However if you’re looking for a perfect car, please double your budget and look elsewhere! The car is ready use and enjoy, and further fettle with as you please.
