1968 MG B Roadster

You’ll have noticed our use of the word ‘standard’ in parenthesis in the paragraph above.

There’s a reason for that.

It’s because we’re trying to distinguish the usual, run-of-the-mill 1.8-litre Abingdon offerings from the one we’ve got here – which benefits significantly from having a Stage 2 balanced Oselli fast road engine mated to a notchy and slick Mazda MX5 5-speed gearbox.

Comprehensively restored, upgraded and enhanced by the vendor throughout 2018/19, this car has won friends here at Bonhams Cars Online.

A few of us have driven it and we all returned to HQ saying things like, “That was surprisingly fun to drive”, or, “Wow, that’s actually quite quick”, or even, “I really don’t remember them being as good as this”.

It picks up pace with unusual amounts of enthusiasm and is as well-balanced and poised as any MG B we’ve ever driven.

It also starts, goes, corners and stops rather better than most of the more original examples we’ve experienced in the past.

In short, it’s really very good indeed and is a joy to take out on a twisty B-road.

The vendor tells us that if he was keeping the car he’d probably bleed the brakes to make them a little fiercer.

To be honest, they seemed fine to us.

Purchased by the vendor in 2016 from a man who had owned it since 1993, the vendor promptly set about having the car re-shelled on its heritage chassis.

Rimmer Bros supplied the new bodyshell for the princely sum of nearly £10,000.

The engine had been stripped and rebuilt to fast road spec by Oselli sometime before 2016 when the car was in the possession of a previous vendor.

The current vendor has taken the car back to Oselli to be checked on a rolling road.

The results were 116.2hp and 119.6ft.lbs of torque – figures which go some way to explaining this car’s rather superior performance.

The engine has covered 31,000 miles since being rebuilt.

The odometer (which is new) today reads 4,100 miles, post-restoration.

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 Oselli, Summit Motors, MWS International, Kennington Motors, and The Don Trimming Co, this car is largely new – but with a heritage chassis and historic car status with the DVLA.

The car doesn’t currently have (or need) an MoT, but it’s mileage on the occasion of its 2016 MoT was 28,840 miles and, in 2005, just 13,324 miles.

Basically, the bodywork is more or less pristine and you’ll be largely looking in vain if you’re intent on finding any dinks, dents, creases, ripples or folds anywhere.

The shut-lines and panel gaps are as crisp and consistent as you would hope and wish to find.

The ‘Snowberry White’ paintwork is shiny and bright.

All 5 wire wheels, which were shot-blasted and powder coated in red in 2018, are beyond reproach and devoid of any meaningful damage that we can see.

Unsurprisingly, the tyres look to have plenty of life left in them.

The red vinyl hood is in excellent condition (as it should be, having been fitted new in 2018), although a small section of trim is coming away from the rim of the bodywork behind the hood.

The chrome work, badging, lights and lenses are all good, as are the car’s other exterior fixtures and fittings.

There are one or two small paint chips on top of the passenger door and a bit of rubber trim has come loose around the driver’s side quarter-light.

It’s all really very good.

The good news continues uninterrupted on the inside, where everything is a rather attractive and stylish symphony of red and white.

The red leather seats are comfortable, supportive and functional, front and back, and have yet to earn more than a couple of light creases, let alone any patina.

The door cards are equally beyond reproach, as are the red carpets and mats.

The white dashboard is pristine, aside from a barely perceptible hairline crack around the base of the odometer binnacle.

The gear lever, wood-rimmed Moto-Lita steering wheel, handbrake and other controls are all excellent.

As far as we’re aware, every button, toggle, switch and dial does what it’s supposed to at the first time of asking.

As you would expect, the boot is every bit as good as the rest of it and contains a spare wheel and tonneau covers.

The engine bay looks squeaky clean, dry and full of all the right bits and pieces.

The undersides of the car appear to have plenty of structural integrity.

The car comes with a V5 and a wad of bills, invoices and receipts attesting to the scope, extent and cost of its comprehensive restoration.

It also comes with a variety of bills covering work carried out when the car was in the curation of previous owners.

However you look at it, this low-mileage car is in fabulous condition, drives superbly and has had over £23,000 spent on it during the course of its restoration.

No, it isn’t a car for MG purists and those committed to 100% authenticity and originality.

But it is a car for people who love the ethos and spirit of an MG B Roadster but would like one that presses on with gusto, stops when you want it to, goes around corners without complaining, and doesn’t break down just for the hell of it.

In those terms – and in respect of its fabulous overall condition – this example is pretty much the best we’ve seen.

We’re confident to offer this splendid car for auction with an estimate of £20,000 - £25,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at the Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment. To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.