1976 MG B Roadster

The Market sold this cheeky little MGB to its current owner just under three years ago. At the time it had been the subject of a full, nut-and-bolt restoration. The then vendor, a retired engineer, had been restoring MGBs as a hobby for 30 years and this car was the latest result of his skills. Having been stripped to a shell, he then converted the MGB from rubber bumpers to chrome.

The car had only covered a total of 18 miles when the current vendor took ownership, and the odometer now reads just 2039 miles. “they joined the MGB Owners’ Club at the time and it carried out an inspection of the car; they made a few comments and carried out a bit of minor commissioning at the time. Its condition is evident when you look at the underside, as it remains in very good, restored condition.”

Only the floor panels and door skins were replaced during the restoration, as the rest of the body proved to be very solid. Today, the Damask Red coachwork remains well turned-out. Panels and doors align well, which is always the mark of a conscientious restoration, although the bonnet sits a little more flush to the nearside wing than it does the offside.

There’s the odd imperfection here and there on the paintwork, including one or two marks and scrapes around the chrome beltline and a bit of bubbling just behind of the nearside hood fixing points. However, it is a very smart and usable example.

Brightwork remains shiny new in appearance as do the Minator, Minilite-style alloy wheels, which were fresh at the time of restoration. The Yokohama BluEarth Es tyres haven’t seen much action since, so as you’d expect have plenty of tread remaining.

The black folding hood remains in top condition, and the car also comes with a tonneau cover, although that hasn’t been fitted. The engine bay is as neat and tidy as you would expect although one corner of the under-bonnet heat/noise insulation is coming loose – that’s a quick fix, though. Save for a touch of light surface rust, the underside is very clean and indicative of the car’s overall condition.

The black leather seats are trimmed with red piping and remain new in appearance. These aftermarket items are much more supportive and comfortable than the seats the MGB left the factory with, although they are a touch bigger in appearance. They are, of course, in almost perfect condition (bar a small white mark on the outside bolster of the driver’s seat) and look stunning.

Carpets, the red-trimmed door cards, and dashboard are all good, although the glove box is a bit chipped on its upper left-hand corner so it’ll require some tlc. The three-spoke steering wheel is period perfect and suits what it overall, a nice welcoming cabin.

The boot area is tidy, and you’ll find a spare wheel residing inside a nicely trimmed cover.

During this car’s restoration everything was stripped down, cleaned, refurbished, or replaced before being carefully reassembled. The engine was disassembled and rebuilt with a reground crankshaft, resurfaced cylinder head, recut and refaced valve seats, new main and big-end bearings: the list goes on. The then restorer, a professional engineer, had a “if it rotates, replace it.” There are dozens of invoices for the parts used included in the MGB’s history file, so it’s worth taking your time to browse through them.

“Although the car had been tucked away in our garage for a while it started first time and ran perfectly for the hour and a half drive up to The Market in Abingdon,” says the vendor. “It’s a very nice car to drive and incidentally, it is fitted with overdrive operated on the steering column stalk – we didn’t realise that when we bought it! It works very smoothly and is certainly a big plus when using it for any distance.”

We’ve had the MGB out for a spin and can confirm that it’s a very decent example to pilot. The engine breathes through non-standard air filters so it’s a touch rortier than a standard MGB, but that’s no bad thing and there’s a pleasing bit of pep from the exhaust tailpipe too. Its best attribute is pure MGB: an impressive ability to gobble up mile after smooth mile of road in a relaxing Roadster fashion.

The online MOT history still shows nothing of concern whatsoever and confirms the car’s mileage. The car comes with a number of expired MoT certificates plus a thick sheaf of invoices and bills to confirm the work that has been done to it.

These will take a while to look at but prospective bidders can take comfort from the sheer list of replacement parts fitted.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of this and other paperwork to support our claim that this car has been maintained in recent years to a very good standard.

A nicely restored example that’s seen a bit of regular action since, this MGB is read and willing to provide its next owner with a consummate Sixties British Roadster experience.

It’s not concours by any means, but it is well presented and has had considerable funds spent on it during the restoration process. It comes with aftermarket seats that are supportive on longer journeys and overdrive, which also makes a big difference for road trips of any reasonable distance.

Our guide price for the car is a very reasonable £12,000 to £15,000, which is in the same ballpark as when the vendor purchased the car just under three year’s ago.

A heat wave is on the way, blue skies and sun-a-plenty. What better way to enjoy yourself than in a nice ‘B?

Of course, the reserve is set at an even lower point, so why not pop a cheeky bid in and see if you can walk away with a bargain?

Viewing is always encouraged, and this car is located at The Market’s Abingdon HQ; 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’.