Highlights

A period faithful example of the sought after first series of MGB Roadster
Presenting in great looking Mineral Blue which has been more recently reapplied
Complete with pristine, period correct wire wheels and twin eared spinners

The Appeal

The MGB remains an absolute staple of the classic car scene thanks to a mix of desirable facets and qualities. Excellent availability of parts, an engaging and enjoyable drive, and low cost of ownership are chief amongst these. The car was launched in 1962 in Roadster form and remained largely unchanged until the MKII version was introduced for the 1968 model year. These early cars are certainly considered the purest interpretation of the MGB and, hence, perennially popular.

This example is a very well-presented car and has clearly been professionally maintained and re-painted in its past. It seems to have enjoyed very attentive ownership over all periods of its history. As such it represents an excellent prospect for the seasoned MG enthusiast or first-time classic car owner alike.

The History and Paperwork

This MGB Roadster was first registered in September 1966
Over its 57-year history it has been enjoyed by a total of 8 keepers
Spending in its current tenure is documented at nearly £3,400
The car was known to originally leave the factory in Mineral Blue
It seems it may have been repainted twice since in its original hue
The current owner acquired the car in April 2021
Since then, the car has covered less than 600 miles in total
The car comes complete with a great depth of provenance providing paperwork
This includes the current V5 registration document in the name of the owner
The MGB is registered as a Historic Vehicle
As such it is MOT and VED exempt in the UK
A high number of previous MOTs are included in hard copy
Two original sale invoices dated 18 years apart from Croydon Classics are included
Many interesting invoices from all periods of the car’s history are on hand

The Interior

This MGB benefits from a highly original looking interior
It faithfully evokes the British sports car experience from the mid 1960’s
The cabin is predominantly finished in black
The seats are box pleated and finished in blue piping
There is a nice level of patina to the seats and a couple of minor marks to the driver’s side
No rips, tears or wear holes were noted, however
The door cards are also trimmed in black vinyl and are fitted with surface mounted speakers
The black carpets are protected by some quality, full length MG rubber mats
The dash front is finished in the MG’s signature textured black finish
The white on black Smiths gauges are in good condition and understood to be working fully
The important overdrive is activated by a dash mounted switch
A Moto-Lita three spoke alloy, wooden rimmed steering wheel is fitted
This is matched by a wooden, MG badged gear knob
The radio aperture is covered with an MG badged blanking plate
The boot is finished in sound deadening material to the sides
The boot floor is protected with a heavy, fitted carpet mat
A spare wheel appears to be stowed under the carpet mat

The Exterior

The exterior is presents very well in its bright looking Mineral Blue paintwork
The paintwork appears deep and lustrous and professionally applied
The car appears to have been fully repainted twice in its history
Most recently this appears to have been in 1998
The previous time seems to date from 1989
Further repairs and paintwork to front wings were recorded in 2008
Consequently, the paint and bodywork condition look good overall
A deep and lustrous shine is evident and chromed brightwork looks fresh
The car sits on 14-inched, chromed 70 spoke wheels
These are centred with chromed, twin eared spinners
A set of 165/80 radial type tyres are fitted with decent tread levels remaining
A new looking black vinyl hood is fitted presenting in an excellent condition
Light lenses and cabin glass all appear clear and undamaged
The car looks very of its period with period with all the correct badges in place
This is a great looking MGB in a popular colourway and presenting in excellent condition

The Mechanics

The MGB is fitted with the 1.8L BMC B-series engine
This has proved to be a robust and reliable unit over many years
Originally rated at 95bhp and 110 Ib-ft of torque with power delivered to the rear wheels
Power is fed to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual gearbox
A switch operated overdrive is available on third and fourth gears
This car has clearly been mechanically well-maintained judging by its paperwork
Spending in its current tenure is documented at nearly £2,000
This work includes work on the electrics, suspension and fuel system
The under-bonnet presentation looks clean and original
The side panels of the engine bay appear to be in decent condition
The expected original data plates seem to be present and correct
The underside of the MGB looks well preserved
A good level of protective underseal appears present
No leaks or significant deformations were noted
New clutch was fitted in 2022
Full recent service and MOT including:
- New fuel pump
- New front springs and shock absorbers
- Tuned and balanced carburettors

Summary

The MG MGB was built in significant numbers over its long production life. Something like 386,000 were built and sold worldwide. Consequently, the MGB remains one of the most ubiquitous classic sports cars enjoyed today. This can generally be considered a good thing for owners. Whilst this may be felt to constrain values a little it also means the cars are very well supported in a number of ways. Parts are generally readily available, and many specialist sources of support and maintenance are on tap. The early, so called, Series I MGBs (pre-model year 1968) are certainly the ones to have, generally considered to be the purest interpretation of the MGB concept.

This example is one such early model and appears to be in a great overall shape. It looks very tidy indeed and remains period faithful in its original hue and riding on the correct cross-spoked wire wheels. The extensive paperwork would suggest it has been nicely maintained and preserved throughout its history. It is now ready for the summer months in the hands of a new owner.

BEFORE YOU BUY

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