Highlights
- £60,000 restoration by Phoenix Classic Cars in 2017
- Fully rebuilt car including body, paint, interior, engine and gearbox
- Only 4,600 miles since work completed
- Beautifully finished in Teal Blue metallic with black leather
- Previously owned by a Bentley Drivers' Club chairman and race driver club member
- Extensive documentation including Heritage certificate and restoration photo album
The Appeal
Finally dropping the Buick V8 into the MGB GT delivered the mini-E Type that Pininfarina’s coupe had always promised to be. We love them and if you do too then you’re unlikely to find another one quite like this ‘74 example.
It comes to market with just 4,600 miles on the clock after a £60,000 restoration. That isn’t a typo. The work was undertaken by specialist Phoenix Classic Cars for its then owner, the son of a well known Bentley Drivers Club racing driver. It included full bare metal restoration, involving many new panels, repainting in fetchign Teal Blue metallic plus retrimming the interior in soft black leather. The mechanics were also overhauled, notably a full engine and gearbox rebuild, including the overdrive unit.
The vendor acquired the car shortly after its completion in 2019. He has used it sparingly and entrusted it to a local MG specialist for regular servicing and maintenance. He tells us that the car is not concours due to some small signs of age, but nothing that overly detracts from the condition.
The recent history and records of the restoration are all contained in the car’s vast history file. You’ll find invoices, receipts, typewritten notes and photos as you leave through the images.
The BGT V8 is one of classic motoring’s gems, and this car surely is amongst the nicest available. Then there’s that interesting Bentley provenance.
The vendor says:
“I've owned this MG since May 2019, and had it fettled by a local MG specialist so that it starts and runs really well.
“The car is excellent but not concours standard due to the minor mods and paint, but it is very easy to live with and guaranteed to bring a smile to your face.”
History and Paperwork
- Built in December 1973
- First delivered and registered 13th March 1974
- Four previous keepers recorded by DVLA
- First keeper was former chairman of the Bentley Drivers' Club until 1978
- Second owner was a Bentley racer and fellow club member
- Third keeper was the second keeper’s son who had the car restored
- Vendor acquired the car in April 2019
- £60,000 restoration by Phoenix Classic Cars of Poole completed in 2017
- This work is summarised below and in photos
- British Motor Industry Heritage certificate
- MG Car Club V8 Register factory record
- Digital and paper photo album detailing the restoration process
- Thick sheaf of invoices and bills confirming the restoration work
- Mieage was zero’d when car was restored
- Online MOT history confirms the car's mileage
- Several expired MOT certificates included
- Factory handbooks and Passport to Service books as shown
- Spare badges
- V5C in current keeper’s name
- Registered as a Historic Vehicle
- The car is available to view near Sherborne, and in Sunningdale on 27th September by appointment
- Written records of restoration which are also summarised below
The vendor says:
“Built in December 1973, it was delivered to its first owner in March 1974. He was a former chairman of the Bentley Drivers’ Club (BM 'Rusty' Russ Turner) and kept the MGB until 1978, when he sold it to a fellow club member, a certain Paul Pancheri a fellow club member who raced Bentleys. I acquired the car from his son Michael after he had sponsored a complete rebuild by Phoenix Classic Cars of Poole, Dorset, costing in excess of £60, 000 completed in 2017. (yes … this isn't a typo!). It has covered a total of 4600 miles since that rebuild.
The Condition
- Finished in Teal Blue metallic following extensive restoration
- Summary of restoration work provided by current keeper below
- Paint and general fit and finish appear in very good order with a few minor blemishes
- Full-length Britax sunroof refurbished during restoration
- Original glass retained except for windscreen
- New chrome bumpers and over-riders fitted
- Original Dunlop composite wheels bead-blasted and powder-coated
- Fitted with matching 185/70 R14 tyres
- Professionally undersealed underside
- Interior completely refurbished with new or reconditioned gauges
- Cleaned and rebound wiring loom
- New wood-rimmed Mota-Lita steering wheel
- New carpets, door cards and MG rubber mats
- Seats rebuilt and upgraded with soft black leather upholstery
- Door caps and centre console also trimmed in black leather
- Original locks retained
- Additional gauges fitted to centre console
- USB connector installed
The vendor says:
“It is finished in a modern metallic blue (Teal Blue from British Leyland) and features a mildly uprated interior with extra dials and seats in very soft black leather.
“The restoration included stripping down to a bare bodyshell and replacing a few small areas of corrosion. Where this was not possible the floors, outer front wings, door skins, bonnet, nearside rear lower wing, and the entire offside rear wing were all replaced with new panels.
“The car’s panels were carefully refitted before being finished in a Teal Blue metallic. The paint, and general fit and finish are both very good as you can see in the photos, although there are a few minor blemishes which should polish out or touch up. The full-length Britax sunroof was refurbished at the same time as the rest of the car, and all the original glass (with the exception of the windscreen) is original.
“New chrome bumpers were fitted, along with new over-riders and door mirrors. The rest of the chromework is good apart from the light fitting for the rear number plate - easily replaced. The original Dunlop composite wheels were bead-blasted and powder-coated before being fitted with matching 185/ 70 x R14 tyres.
“The underside has been professionally undersealed, and shouldn’t require further work for some years.
“The interior was completely refurbished and replaced as necessary. The work included new or reconditioned gauges throughout, a cleaned and rebound wiring loom, a new wood-rimmed Mota-Lita steering wheel, a full set of new carpets, and new door cards. There are also a set of MG rubber mats.
“The seats were stripped to their frames and then rebuilt before being finished in soft black leather - a serious upgrade from the original.
“The door caps were trimmed in black leather too, as was the centre console. Interestingly, the original locks are still in place.
“There are a couple of extra gauges tidily fitted to the centre console, together with a USB connector. The front grill goes incognito with no V8 badge, but one is supplied with the car together with fitting instructions should you wish to replace it.”
The Mechanics
- 3,528cc Rover V8 engine
- 4spd manual transmission with overdrive
- Factory-fitted V8 engine fully stripped and rebuilt 4,600 miles ago
- Stainless steel exhaust system with tubular manifolds
- 123 electronic ignition system installed
- Dual 12-volt batteries for reliable starting
- Battery isolation switch fitted for security
- Front cross member stripped, sand-blasted and powder-coated
- Front lever-arm dampers replaced with new units
- Polyurethane bushes are used throughout
- Refurbished steering rack
- Refurbished rear axle
- New propshaft installed
- New rear springs and Spax dampers fitted
- Reconditioned factory V8 gearbox with overdrive
- Recent oil change completed
- Regularly serviced since refurbishment
- The vendor states the car starts and drives beautifully
The vendor says:
“It has a factory fitted V8 engine, and a reconditioned overdrive gearbox making it a very desirable car.
“The front cross member was stripped down, sand-blasted and then powder-coated before being reassembled with either new or refurbished components. The front lever-arm dampers were replaced with quality new units and polyurethane bushes were used throughout.
“The steering rack was refurbished, as was the rear axle. A new propshaft plus rear springs and Spax dampers completed the work on the chassis.
“The engine was fully stripped and carefully rebuilt. It now has a stainless steel exhaust, with tubular manifolds routed inside the engine bay. A 123 electronic ignition system helps with starting and general running, as do dual 12-volt batteries, resulting in the engine starting on the button. A battery isolation switch adds further security.
“A replacement correct factory V8 gearbox and overdrive was fitted as the previous one was lost by the company refurbishing it (!).(not Poole restoration)
“The work was fully recorded, and the photos are accompanied by a certificate of completion as well as dozens of invoices for the parts used. The bills total in excess of £60, 000 resulting in the spectacular car that you see today.
“The car has a recent oil change, and has been regularly serviced since the refurbishment
“The car starts and drives beautifully as you might expect.”
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