Highlights

• Professionally restored in 1990
• High standard of maintenance since restoration
• Many mechanical upgrades
• One owner for the last 15 years

The Appeal

The History and Paperwork

• First registered in February 1972
• Sold new by Wadham Stringer of Guildford
• Eight owners from new
• Refurbished by Centurions A3 Garage in 1988-1990
• Current owner since October 2007
• Historic vehicle status (tax and MOT exempt) – although the vendor has maintained the MOT status
• Current MOT to December 2023
• Original British Leyland Service Passport included
• Very large history file, with numerous receipts and invoices for maintenance and servicing by main dealers, specialists and independents
• 12 recorded services in the last 20 years
• 28 previous MOT certificates dating back to 1978 at 29,815 miles
• Indicated mileage currently at 5,455 miles
• The odometer was replaced in 2007 at 71,692 miles, then had to be replaced again in 2010 at 9,666 miles – total lifetime mileage believed to currently be 86,813 miles
• Haynes workshop manual
• Comes with a number of spare parts, including spare carburettors
• Predominantly used by the current owner for summer touring

The Interior

• Leather seats were fitted during the restoration in 1990 and present in good order, with an appropriate level of wear, but no tears or damage we could discern
• The seats have been fitted with new webbing and foam
• Black carpets and MG branded floor mats are fitted – the carpets show a little wear, but are in reasonably good order
• Walnut dash, also fitted in the restoration, shows very well, with no cracking or delamination
• The wooden gear knob has a split to the left hand side
• Sporty Mountney steering wheel
• All of the switchgear and cabin trim looks to be in fine condition, with no notable damage or wear
• A modern Kenwood CD/radio system has been fitted
• It’s reported by the vendor that the heater can be a little “hit and miss”
• The boot contains a spare wheel, toolkit and first aid kit

The Exterior

• Supplied from the factory with yellow paintwork – professionally refinished in period correct Tartan Red in 1990 as part of a bare metal respray and restoration
• Despite being an older restoration, the paintwork has held up very well, with just a few minor chips and blemishes and some minor bubbling to the top of the off-side front wing
• When restored, the bodyshell was repaired as necessary and some panels were replaced
• The bodywork all looks to be in fine fettle, with no corrosion or damage we could see
• During the current owner’s stewardship, the valance has been replaced
• The vehicle is fitted with a ‘Double Duck’ hood and tonneau that show very nicely, with no notable fading or damage apparent
• A chrome rear luggage rack, rear fog light and new headlight surrounds have all been added, while the headlights are upgraded items
• The 14-inch wire wheels were refurbished during the restoration and still appear to be in good condition, being fitted with a set of Continental tyres
• All of the external trim looks to be present and correct, with handsome brightwork that still wears a nice shine, despite some minor pitting in a few places
• Underneath, the car has been undersealed and the floors, sills and chassis rails look nice and solid, with no corrosion or damage we could discern

The Mechanics

• B-series 1,798cc inline-four “Gold Seal” engine with twin SU carburettors
• Four-speed manual transmission with factory fitted overdrive
• The engine was stripped and rebored by Roe Engineering during the restoration
• Engine enhancements include: Hepolite pistons, Duplex timing gear, Piper 270 camshaft, Peter Burgess cylinder head, and a balanced clutch, flywheel and crank as well as many new ancillaries
• The rear axle has been refurbished and a Ron Hopkinson handling kit has been fitted
• Between 2001-2007: new distributor, new leaf springs, front coil springs, new steering rack, carburettors rebuilt, stainless steel exhaust system, wishbone bushings and wheel bearings
• Between 2007-2022: new brake pads and discs, refurbished brake callipers, new brake servo, new fuel pump, new lower arm kit, new propshaft and universal joints, near-side track rod end, new Revotech fan and radiator control unit, new steering boot, new batteries
• We’re assured by the vendor that the car drives very well, with the overdrive functioning as it should and no known mechanical issues to report

Summary