Highlights
- Upgraded with Ivor Searle 2L balanced engine
- Reported to have been in same family since 1980
- Always stored in a heated garage
- £10,000 invested since 2022 in body and suspension
- Electronic ignition, electric fan and new battery to improve reliability
- Car has only covered 500 miles since completion
- Large history file of recent and older documents
The Appeal
The joy of a B is that what the factory somehow never quite managed to do, namely, exploit its potential, specialists and owners have done instead. This car is a perfect case in point because it now runs a balanced 2L Ivor Searle engine to dial up the performance and benefits from extensively overhauled suspension that has improved the handling.
Alongside the classic British Racing Green paintwork, the car benefits from a long list of cosmetic and comfort improvements. The eagle-eyed will spot the smart Minator Minilite-style alloys. There is also a new roof with zip-out rear window and an upgraded interior with leather, wood and bespoke carpets and door cards. The boot area is also carpeted.
The large history file shows that £10,000 has been invested since 2022, including a suspension overhaul. The bodywork was also attended to including new chassis legs, sills, wings and doors. The car is fitted with electronic ignition, a new battery and an electric cooling fan to improve reliability.
The vendor tells us that this is a one-owner car and the displayed mileage of 50,000 miles is correct. We can’t verify either, but the large history file certainly points to caring use. This standard-looking B has the upgrades that arguably Abingdon should have always added. They make it very appealing.
The vendor says:
“On starting the car there is a deep sweet crisp engine note Then driving it it feels very torquey and smooth and the new suspension makes it feel a very easy comfortable drive in modern day traffic and guarantees to put a smile on anyone’s face comes with lots and lots of invoices and paperwork for all work carried out (£10,000 in last 3 yrs but hardly used by the late owners widow lots more going back years and all documented on paper which was needed for an insurance valuation All in all there is nothing it needs but using or showing.”
Key Information
- Mileage: 49,700 miles (unverified)
- Country of registration: United Kingdom
- Technical inspection status: MOT exempt, previous MOT expired 2024
- The car will come with 12 month mot to ensure confidence for the new owner
- The first owner was from 1979 to 1980
- Second owner has owned from 1980 till 2026
- Technical specs: Ivor Searle balanced 1,998cc four-cylinder petrol, 4spd manual with overdrive
- Paperwork: Extensive invoices and documentation covering work carried out over the years, used for an insurance valuation
- It comes complete with tonneau cover and a hood down cover
The Detail
- British Racing Green paintwork in good general condition with minor points to note
- New chassis legs, sills, wings, and doors fitted as part of recent bodywork restoration
- Underside fully protected and clean, with front wheel arch liners fitted we are told
- Suspension overhauled with new springs, shock absorbers, wishbones, and brakes
- It has been fitted with new tyres
- Electronic ignition, electric cooling fan, and new battery installed
- Interior upgraded with black leather seats replacing the original material
- Custom green carpets, door cards, and dash top fitted
- Walnut dash and door cappings and wood-rimmed wheel
- New hood with zip-out rear window
- Boot fully carpeted
- Fitted with Bluetooth Pioneer stereo
- Minator Minilite-style alloy wheels with non-matching Rostyle spare
- The vendor states the bodywork is in very good condition
- The vendor describes the car as mechanically sound, quick, and very powerful
- Hardly used in recent years
- £10,000 of work in recent years detailed above and in photos
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