Charity auction on behalf of Bicester Heritage’s StarterMotor
Upgraded with a fully balanced Rover V8 engine
Well-kept car in good and usable order
The Appeal
While ubiquitous in its presence, it's often easy to overlook the MGB. Its balanced styling, robust engineering and genuine sporting driving experience guarantee to put a smile on a driver's face. Well served by an industry of specialists and information, these durable, easy-to-maintain and rewarding cars will always maintain a following.
StarterMotor are a charity set up to develop the necessary skills for young classic car enthusiasts and is now being auctioned for charity. This smartly presented rubber bumper 1977 MGB roadster was kindly donated to the organisation in early 2023. It has been treated to a new heritage shell and fully balanced Rover V8 engine as part of a past restoration and was retained by the owner for almost 30 years. This a perfect opportunity to obtain and enjoy one of the best-loved classic cars ever produced while contributing to worthwhile and innovative charity.
The History and Paperwork
Current V5
Past V5 documenting the previous keeper
First registered on 24th February 1977 as an MGB GT
Subsequently rebuilt as a roadster with a heritage body shell in 1996-1998.
Kept by the previous owner for 27 years
Donated to Startermotor in January 2023
Six registered keepers from new
MOT and Road Tax exempt
Previous MOTs from 2019 and 2015 at 39,897 miles free of advisories
Currently showing 43,124 miles
2 sets of keys
Maintained by Startermotor at Bicester Heritage
The Exterior
15" Minilite-style wheels presentable with some lacquer damage
Fitted with Yokohama tyres showing plenty of tread
Bonnet hump and front air dam
Boot-mounted luggage rack
Attractive Jaguar Midnight Blue paintwork has a decent lustre with age-related marks
Bonnet presented in a slightly different hue
Underside, floor pan, wheel wells, boot floor and engine bay in good order
The exterior is well presented with good panel fit and even shut lines
Doors open and close without resistance with good seals
Some minor bubbling was noted on the outer offside sill and top of the rear wing seam
A small crack on the left side of the windscreen
Furnished with decent chrome with some signs of age on the driver's side quarter light.
Wear noted on the driver's door glass seal
Soft top in good shape with a small tear above the driver's door
Soft top raises and lowers with ease
Full tonneaux cover included
Bumpers well mounted and free of significant marks
Headlamps and lenses in good condition
The Interior
Fabric seats in decent shape
Carpets and mats are neatly presented and damp-free
The dashboard is cleanly presented with mild blemishes around the glovebox
Dials are legible showing mild signs of age on the faces and bezels
Switchgear and controls in good condition
The centre console shows signs of age around the gear lever and stowage area
Moto-Lita leather steering wheel
Headlining, trim and door cards are cleanly presented
Boot cleanly presented
Gas struts fitted to the boot lid
The Mechanics
SD1 3.5-litre Rover V8 engine
Fully balanced Crankshaft, Pistons, Con-rods and flywheel
Lucas electronic ignition
Facet Gold-Flo electric fuel pump
Kenlowe fan
4 choke Weber carburettor fitted to Edelbrock dual-plane intake manifold
Maintained by Startermotor
No reported running or driving issues
Clutch has a positive biting point
Engages gears without problems
Brakes smoothly with no unwanted noises
MG Owners Club front suspension upgrade - 4-pot calipers from Austin Princess
MG Owners Club rear suspension upgrade - semi-independent with coil springs and Panhard rod
Quaife Limited-slip Differential
Rover SD1 gearbox with fully balanced propshaft
Large-bore stainless-steel exhaust system
BEFORE YOU BUY
This sale is subject to the Car & Classic Terms and Conditions. By bidding and/or making an offer, you also agree to the following:
✓ The seller is registered as a private seller which means consumer rights stemming from EU consumer protection law do not come into effect. However, you are still covered by Car & Classic’s own Terms and Conditions..
✓ We request that a non-refundable fee be paid if you are the lucky winning bidder at auction or if your offer is accepted Please refer to our helpful FAQs and T&Cs for specific rates.
✓ This vehicle is “Sold As Seen”, on an “As Is Where Is’ basis and without warranty. Photos and descriptions are solely for guidance purposes and it's customary to carry out a full inspection of the vehicle prior to purchase for your own peace of mind.
✓ VAT is included in the buyer's fee. VAT may or may not be included in the final bid or offer price, as specified in the listing.
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✓ We also check whether vehicles are recorded as being written off as part of an insurance total loss claim at the time an advert is placed on Car & Classic and we helpfully provide write-off category labels (Cat C/D/S/N) for your assistance. However, the presence or absence of a label does not guarantee the vehicle’s status and it is always worthwhile carrying out your own full vehicle history check before making an offer on a vehicle.
✓ Buyers are responsible for vehicle collection
or delivery. Importing vehicles may result in additional customs duties and import taxes so it’s worth checking beforehand.. If requested, we may refer you to a third-party shipping company who can help. For more details and to speak to the team, email auctions@carandclassic.com
