1968 MG B Roadster

No matter which criteria you care to use, this fine MG B Roadster is a far more capable and potent machine than it was when it was waved farewell from the Abingdon factory gates in September 1968.

For a start, it was re-shelled (British Motor Heritage shell) on a heritage chassis in 2017 and underwent a full restoration during 2019.

It derives its now considerable motive power from a Stage 2, balanced and tuned, high torque, Oselli fast-road engine mated to a slick and notchy Mazda 5-speed gearbox.

Best of all, the extra power and control delivered by the significantly upgraded engine/gearbox combination is deployed to optimum effect on the road thanks to some wizardry from the team at Frontline.

Allow us to explain further.

All sorts of firms exist whose remit it is to tweak and fettle MG Bs and the like. 

Most are OK. Some are very good. Others are a bit Heath Robinson. 

Only one is Frontline, who are to MG Bs what Singer are to Porsche 911s and Eagle are to Jaguar E Types.

But don’t just take our word for that.

Famously, Top Gear’s then host Chris Evans declared the Frontline to be “…the best car we drove through the whole of the series.” 

Although this isn’t a Frontline car, it is fitted with four-pot billet alloy front brakes, front suspension, rear dampers and a Panhard rod all developed, sourced and supplied by Frontline.

The result is a supremely well-balanced driver’s car with all the poise, agility and responsiveness needed to make the most of the extra horses and torques available to the spirited driver.

The car has covered little more than 5,000 miles since the 2019 rebuild, including a return trip to Spain, during which it impressed everyone with its aesthetics, performance, comfort and touring capabilities - and never missed a beat.

Repainted in ‘Snowberry White’ during its restoration, the car presents very handsomely from every angle and is a fine example of both the marque and the model.

The shut-lines and panel gaps are at least as good as they would have been when it left the factory (probably rather better in all honesty) and the whole car has the look, feel and sound of a car that’s properly screwed-together.

The only minor exception to the otherwise irreproachable panel fit is the bottom of the passenger door, where the alignment is a little less than laser-accurate.

The 14” wire wheels are in very fine fettle and the matching Goodyear ‘Efficient Grip’ rubber evidently has a good deal of useful life left in it.

The chrome-work is free of any foxing, tarnishing or pitting that we can discern, and the lights, lenses, badging and other exterior fixtures and fittings - including the luggage rack - are all in very good order.

We noticed a small paint touch-up to the offside of the bonnet; paint chips adjacent to the chrome strip on the o/s/f wing and on the o/s/f wheel arch; and a paint touch-up and some chips on and near to the front and rear edges of the driver’s door. 

The red hood looks as good as new, fits snugly, goes up and down with a minimum of fuss, and is possessed of a bright, clear rear screen.

The full-sized red tonneau cover and black hood cover are in equally excellent condition.

The good news continues unabated on the inside, where everything is presented in a very fetching colour palette of dark red and grey.

Reupholstered and trimmed during restoration the interior is, unsurprisingly, in very good condition.

The red leather upholstery on the seats has done little more than earn a few light creases, a small scuff on the outer bolster of the driver’s seat backrest, and a few scuffs at the side of the passenger seat base.

The seats themselves are as comfortable as they are supportive.

The grey carpets and MG-branded black rubber mats are very decent throughout, including in the boot, as are the door cards, which are trimmed in a darker shade of red than the seats. 

The dashboard is beyond reproach, with no significant scratches or scuffs to the crackle-effect finish, and the wood-rimmed Moto-Lita steering wheel and wooden gear knob are every bit as good as the rest of it.

As far as we’re aware, every button, toggle, switch and dial does what it’s supposed to without deviation, hesitation or repetition. 

The engine bay is reassuringly dry, clean and orderly. 

Everything on and ancillary to the engine looks to be in excellent order.

The undersides look notably sound, clean and possessed of oodles of structural integrity.

So squeaky clean and minty fresh are the undersides, you’d be forgiven for thinking that this car hasn’t been outside since being rebuilt.

Absolutely nothing we’ve seen has made us question the car’s integrity, character or honesty.

There are thick wads of bills, invoices and receipts from marque-specialist parts suppliers covering the exhaustive restoration, the Oselli engine upgrades, the Rimmer Bros-supplied BMH shell, and all manner of on-going maintenance, servicing and repair work going back many years.

The car comes with a BMIHT certificate of authenticity, plenty of old tax discs and MoT certificates, a recent HPI report, a V5C and full sets of keys.

Rebuilt, reupholstered, re-hooded, re-painted (in its original colour of ‘Snowberry White) re-trimmed and retro-fitted with all manner of mechanical and cosmetic upgrades and enhancements by specialists such as Frontline, Oselli, Summit Motors, MWS International, Kennington Motors, and The Don Trimming Co, this car is far better than it was when new – but with a heritage chassis and historic car status with the DVLA.

It is the car MG would have built had they had the budget and the technology back in the day.

Thankfully, other people have done it for them.

All of which is very much your gain, as far as we can see.

We’re confident to offer this fine car for auction with an estimate of £25,000 - £30,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at THE MARKET HQ in South Oxfordshire. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays (apart from Bank Holidays) between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.