1966 MG B Roadster

‘GKP 891D’ is a remarkable car, having been in the same hands since it was new. Finished in Old English White and first registered in 1966, the seller’s husband ran it for a couple of decades before stripping it down and rebuilding it in the eighties.

He then only drove it occasionally, and it’s spent the past seven years dry-stored under a cover in their garage. His wife now feels ready to let her late husband’s treasured sportscar go to a new owner, so perhaps you could be the one to nurture and love it through the next half-century?

Old English White is a classic colour for the MGB and the reason for that has never been clearer than here. With a lovely shine to it, the simple hue means the MGB Roadster’s curves are unadulterated – and what curves they are; with great shutlines and excellent alignment, the work the seller’s husband carried out in the eighties was clearly done to a very good standard indeed.

The chromework is very good too being largely free of pitting. It too has a good shine to it and its presence, instead of the rubber bumpers of the later cars, reminds us what an elegant sportscar the early MGB is.

And that grace allows it to carry steel wheels and (very good) chromed hubcaps rather than the wire wheels that seem to be de rigueur these days. FWIW, we love a set of steelies on a sportscar; it shows a confidence we find irresistible.

Something else we find irresistible is a set of matching high-quality tyres like the 165R14 Michelins (three MX and one ZX) you see here. 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 presence of genuine Lucas headlamps and rear lamps are yet more good news and further proof of the car’s integrity.

Which doesn’t leave much for you to do. The tyres, while expensive and high-quality when they were new, are now old and will need to be replaced.

Of course, with Old English White coachwork, black leather is the obvious choice for the cabin. Tasteful and showing exactly the right degree of patination, it’s easing towards its 60th birthday with a style should be lucky enough to emulate.

The seats, for example, which are only gentled ruffled and softened, still look comfortable and supportive. As for the inevitable wear ‘n’ tear every car accrues over the years, the majority of the cracks to the leather facings are on the driver’s seat: the front passenger seat is a little less worn, while the rear seat is very good condition with barely any visible deterioration.

The steering wheel, which is a very good fat-rimmed, leather-covered Supremo, is an interesting period modification that we thoroughly approve of.

Speaking of accessories, the door cards, which are very good, feature flush-mounted speakers for the Pye 8-track player that sits near the driver’s left knee – and should originality be your thing then you’ll be pleased to see that the factory twin-spindle radio is still fitted, as is the central mono speaker and grille.

The boot floor is well painted and looks utterly solid, the dashboard is free of serious blemishes, the instruments and switches are excellent, and the glovebox even still has its key.

Which means that if you can live with the patina – and if you can’t then getting the front seats refurbished would be straightforward – there isn’t much for the new owner to do other than to straighten the wonky oil pressure/coolant temperature gauge.

As you can see, it starts on the button and idles beautifully.

The cosmetic condition of the MGB’s mechanical components is as impressive as the rest of the vehicle. The engine is decently clean and bears witness to the judicious application of shiny bits and red paint. As beautifully judged as the rest of the car, the work that has been done is stylish without being gaudy.

True, the radiator looks like it could do with being reconditioned and the heater valve is leaking but sorting those out would be a lovely way to bond with your new MGB.

As would servicing it. While it does start and run it hasn’t been used for seven years, so it would be prudent to go through it from stem to stern to check it over, though all the fluids have been replaced (oil, coolant) along with oil filter.

The MGB doesn’t have a current MoT certificate, and while it is exempt by virtue of its age, we would strongly encourage the new owner to have it MoT’d at the earliest opportunity. The cost of an MoT is a small investment when offset against the purchase and upkeep of any classic vehicle, and it gives an independent, third-party assessment of the car’s condition, which not only provides reassurance to the owner (and any subsequent purchasers) but might also be invaluable in the event of a bump when negotiating with the police and any interested insurance companies…

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear and the MGB comes with a wealth of old invoices and MoT certificates as well as a V5 registration document, a selection of books and magazines, the handbook and a workshop manual, and even some period photographs of it being enjoyed.

Some spare parts, including a rare and useful hardtop, form part of the listing too and will come with the car. Pleases see the photos for details.

We sell an awful lot of MGBs and that doesn’t happen by accident.

Ubiquitous they may be, but few cars are better at fulfilling the role of a classic sportscar: they’re reliable, easy to work on, parts are widely available, they’re cheap to run, and they hold their value.

They are also easy enough to drive for someone new to the classic scene yet rewarding enough to be able to hold your attention for, as in this case, half a century.

But this is only true if you take the time to find and buy the right one.

Like this. In the care of the same man since 1966, everything about it rings true – and in the classic car field, that’s priceless.

It’s not as if it’s going to bankrupt you either; despite its amazing provenance, we think the hammer will fall somewhere between £12,000 and £17,000, but as it is being offered with no reserve, it’s going to sell from the very first bid.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this particular car is located with the vendor in Fife, Scotland. To arrange an appointment to inspect this vehicle, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.