1969 MG B Roadster

Turn the clock way back to 1969, and a very lucky individual took delivery of our red MGB Roadster. What a dash he or she must have cut, burbling through the English countryside, roof folded away on those sunny days.

Fast forward almost 50 years, and our seller Gareth purchased what was to become his cherished B. The car’s previous owner was something of a classic car collector and was someone Gareth had known for quite some time.

The car has been used for high days and holidays and has been properly maintained with annual servicing carried out at the same time as the MoT test.

A move abroad has meant the car now languishing in dry storage so the decision has been made to offer the car for sale.

We are told the MGB drives extremely well and has proved to be a reliable and usable classic car to own.

If you are going to have a traditional British sportscar, then you can’t beat red. A respray has certainly been carried out at some point in the car’s life, but we have no details.

The car polishes up well and there’s a lovely gleam to the finish. However, look closely and there are some areas where the paintwork is bubbling (see pics 133 and 166 as examples). You will also find some marks elsewhere, so we recommend you study our extensive array of photographs or better still, arrange to inspect this lovely car in the metal.

Snazzy wire wheels are fitted, surely a must on this archetypal British sports car, and these are in fine condition. Tyres with a decent amount of tread are fitted.

The black hood looks to be in good order, with very little creasing to the rear screen. It was fitted in 2014. It is a relatively simple task to fold it away on those warm sunny days.

There’s plenty of shiny chrome but there are some signs of pitting in places, such as on the rear bumper (see pic 136). The perfectionist may wish to carry out some rechroming work.

The front seats have been recovered and look very smart in black with white piping. They are in good condition with very little sign of wear.

The wood-rimmed steering wheel is both a delight to hold and adds a splash of colour to an otherwise sombre interior. Falling close to hand is the diminutive gear lever, a delight to use.

The smart dashboard houses the usual array of Smiths instruments and there’s a modern stereo should you tire of the sound of the B’s peppy four-cylinder engine.

The boot is a good size, and the battery (now a 12-volt item) has been relocated to a specially made compartment. This is a considerable improvement over the standard fit pair of 6-volt batteries awkwardly sited behind the rear seats.

We always go to the trouble of making our photographer scrabble under our cars to take plenty of photographs. You can see them in our accompanying gallery, and we are sure you will be impressed. We are told the underside has been treated with an epoxy composite coating.

The engine compartment is also very well presented. No signs of corrosion and lots of shiny red paint. The new radiator and electric fan will be easy to spot. There is loads of room, making this an ideal car for home maintenance, especially as a Haynes workshop manual accompanies the car. Parts are readily available from a variety of specialists too.

We are told the car starts easily and runs well, everything functioning as it should.

Gareth purchased the car from fellow Geordie, Martin, who owned the car for around six years. There are some invoices from his ownership displayed in our gallery. One large invoice from 2014 in particular stands out and work done includes tappet adjustment, refurbishment of the carburettors and brake work, amongst other things.

We are told Martin had the cylinder head sent away to a specialist in York for a rebuild.

As well as fitting the aforementioned radiator and electric fan, Gareth also had a new fuel pump fitted.

Annual servicing has been carried out at a local garage in the North East, though the invoices for the work are not to hand at the time of writing.

A number of old MoT certificates are displayed in our picture gallery. The last test was carried out in July last year, the B passing with just two minor advisories.

The online history shows the car to have travelled around 2,000 miles over the last decade.

This classic British sports car is presented in nice condition and is ready for spring adventures. It has been well maintained during our seller’s hands and we feel sure that the new owner will want to carry on the good work.

We know the car will undoubtedly attract a lot of interest as good MGBs always easily find new homes. We estimate that the car will sell for between £8,000 and £11,000. There is no reserve.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with the vendor in Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom. To arrange an appointment 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, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.