1967 MG B Roadster

In the seller’s care since September 2023, ‘WGU 701F’ came to him via a friend; he wasn’t looking for another car but had a quick look out of polite interest – and drove it away the next day!

And we can see the appeal; thought to have been restored in the 1990s, he was told it had been used mainly to attend car shows, something its still-excellent condition appears to confirm.

His friend bought it in 2020 and used it only a couple of times. Our seller has enjoyed it for little more than summer runs to the Lake District, during which it has always been very well behaved; “it’s been an absolute gem” and has never overheated, even when stuck in tourist traffic.

But, with two other classic sportscars in his garage, including another convertible, he finds he’s been using it less and less, although he does admit to sometimes parking it on the cobblestones outside his 500-year-old cottage to admire it.

And while it does make a beautiful sculpture, he thinks it deserves better and feels now is the time to let it go to someone who will have the time to use it as it deserves to be used.

Finished in red, the MGB looks good as you walk up to it with a healthy shine and decent panel alignment. There are no obvious dents or dinks either, and the overall impression is very positive.

This is a car you could take anywhere without embarrassment.

Peering more closely we see the apertures are good, as are the sills and jacking points. Certainly, the online MoT record shows a clear run of passes from 2008 through to 2020, with no advisories whatsoever, much less any mention of rust or corrosion.

The chromework is also in good order with straight bumpers and a marked absence of flaking chrome, rust, or impact damage. There’s very little in the way of pitting or tarnishing either, so any Autosol you choose to use will be to protect rather than to restore.

While we are on the subject, the 14-inch chromed wire wheels might show a little rust on the front pair but they appear to be fundamentally sound overall and the rest of the chromed finish, including the prominent spinners, is good.

Tyres are matching 165R14 Dunlop SP7s all around. Made in Great Britain, they have good tread but cracks to the sidewalls mean it would be prudent to get them replaced.

Nonetheless, we will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly.

The stickers in the windscreen suggest it enjoyed the odd continental jaunt back in the 1990s as well as a tour of Northumbrian castles, where the luggage rack on the boot would have made a useful contribution to the MGB’s already capacious luggage space.

Other nice touches are four MGB mudflaps and a pair of black-and-silver pressed aluminium numberplates.

Finally, the folding roof is in good shape with only one tear to the nearside rear quarter. It is otherwise free of damage, rises and falls easily, and the plastic windows are clear. It also provides sufficient protection for the MGB to be used all year around.

The package also includes a tonneau cover, which regular readers will know we love: If you want to use your convertible sportscar throughout the winter – and you should, because few things are more enjoyable than a fast run with snow falling around you – then a tonneau cover is the way to go; dress for the mountains up top and let the combination of waist-height weather protection and a heater keep your nether regions dry and toasty.

As for blemishes, the scuttle has some blistering, as does the top of the offside rear wing. The latter also has a crack to the paint finish, an affliction that also affects the offside front wing and the scuttle. There are also chips to the front end, the offside front wing, and both doors.

The nearside rear wing has a scratch, the offside door has a high spot near the handle, the rubber windscreen seal has perished, the nearside mirror rattles, and neither the tailgate alignment nor its paint match are perfect.

Turning to the lighting, the offside rear indicator lens is cracked, and the nearside headlamp also appears to be for a left-hand drive car. The offside, which is from Lucas rather than Wagner, seems to be correct. The rest of the lamp lenses are in good order, albeit with a few rusty mounting screws.

The three-spoke (or is it nine-spoke?) steering wheel is delightfully old-fashioned. Thin-rimmed and vast in diameter, it suits the MGB’s touring chops much better than something smaller and fatter. It’s also nice to see the standard rim rather than something made of wood; of course, we aren’t against making a car your own but it is refreshing to see standard fittings every now and again.

As you can see, there is some wear and loss of colour to the outer edge of the driver’s seat but the rest of the seat, and its partner on the nearside, are only gently crumpled with a few creases and only moderate softening of the underlying structure.

Still comfortable, supportive, and attractive we wouldn’t be in a hurry to do anything other than to keep their leather covers fed.

Instrumentation is comprehensive and covers speed, distance, engine revs, coolant temperature, fuel level, and oil pressure. All look good and read well.

The top of the dashboard is free of cracks and sun damage, the switches are in good order, and the odometer reads just 61,000 miles (although we have no way of knowing whether this is accurate).

Everything we tested works as it should.

The fitted black carpets, which are finished with red piping along their edges to match the colour scheme of the door cards and the leather seats, are in a decent condition, albeit with what appears to be a few cigarette burns to the offside sill.

Lifting them out of the footwells reveals a little surface rust to the floorpans. However, peering underneath the carpet behind the seats doesn’t uncover anything worrisome.

The headunit is an incongruously modern radio-cassette player, but the history file does include its handbook.

The luggage space is trimmed in plain black carpet, which is in good order and includes a cover for the full-size spare wire wheel. It also conceals a tool kit and lifting that little lot out uncovers a solid and well-painted boot floor.

The boot also contains a hard-wired Anderson-style plug and a booster pack to get it started should the battery get a bit low.

As for flaws, the inside of the fabric roof is stained, and the frame has a veneer of rust in places. The handle for the handbrake is also worn, and the chrome lever is pitted. Finally, the brake pedal is missing its rubber.

The 1800cc engine was rebuilt, including modifications to the cylinder head to run on unleaded petrol, in 1990 – and they must have done a good job because it remains in rude good health as the video demonstrates.

The seller admits it does sometimes need a battery boost to get it started if it’s been standing for a while but says it does always start, even after lying unused for a winter.

Our man reports back that it drives well too, although he says the Bell exhaust system is quite loud. For some this might be a drawback, but for others it will merely add to the MGB’s already considerable appeal; we suggest cranking up the volume to help you decide which side of the fence you fall but we’re sure everyone will appreciate the craftsmanship that went into this made-in-England system.

As for its cosmetic condition, the engine bay presents well without being overly fussy; this is a classic sportscar you won’t mind taking out in the rain and yet would still be happy to pop the bonnet to show it off to interested passersby.

The underside has been left painted rather than undersealed, which is handy because it enables you to see exactly what condition it is in.

Which is very good; while the paint might be peeling off in places, the underlying metal is still strong and touching it up would be a joy rather than a drudge.

The MGB doesn’t have a current MoT certificate, and the recent Vehicle History Check is clear bar a marker for not being taxed.

Its history file contains a good selection of invoices and bills for parts and work since 1990 plus 25 expired MoT certificates, an old tax disc, photos of it being restored, a Haynes Workshop Manual, and even the quality certificates for the wire wheels and the Broquet Fuel Catalyst.

We’ve sold an awful lot of MGBs over the years and deservedly so; they may be ubiquitous, but no car better fulfills the role of affordable classic sportscar.

They’re reliable and easy to work on, and parts are both widely available and reasonably priced. They’re also cheap to run, hold their value, and serve as a benevolent introduction to the classic scene while continuing to deliver ample rewards as your experience and skills grow.

It’s not as if buying an MGB Roadster will bankrupt you either: Our estimate is that the hammer will fall somewhere between £7,000 and £10,000 – but as it is being offered with no reserve, it’s going to sell from the very first bid, no matter how derisory that might be.

And, being a well-cared-for older restoration, all you’ll have to do is pop a set of tyres on to be set for the coming summer season.

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’.