1972 MG B Roadster

This chrome bumper Old English White car comes to us courtesy of a vendor with whom we’re very familiar – a man who knows his way around the classic car market and has an expert understanding of the world of top-end restoration and modification.

How has he amassed such expertise, knowledge and access to the best MGB upgrade components in the business? Because he works for Frontline, who are universally acknowledged as the firm that sets the benchmark for the ultimate in MGB enhancement and re-imagining.

First registered in Cardiff in September 1972, when it was originally Harvest Gold with a black hood, this example was purchased by the vendor’s grandfather in March 2018.

As his grandfather’s working life was dedicated mostly to the development of underbody protection and wax oils for classic vehicles, it should come as no surprise to learn that the undersides of this car are entirely solid, sound, protected and beyond reproach, as is the car’s original bodyshell.

The vendor took over the curation of the car when his grandparents decided that getting in and out of a low-slung sports car was becoming a little less comfortable than it used to be, resulting in a two year hiatus in their garage.

Impressed with the condition and originality of the car, the vendor embarked upon a programme of sensitive and appropriate improvements, enhancements and upgrades to the car’s mechanicals, interior and bodywork, on a mission to create the most usable version of this iconic sports car.

Naturally, he turned to his friends and colleagues, the revered MGB whisperers at Frontline, who were more than happy to work on the car as an internal project over the course of 2024.

The result is a truly exceptional vehicle that starts, goes, handles and stops as well as it looks – and it looks fabulous.

The upgrades and improvements made to it have been done in the service of creating a vehicle that can be relied upon for trans-continental trips, as a daily driver, or just for nipping down to the Dog & Duck when the sun is shining, the roads are dry and the dusty heat of summer fills the air.

Consequently, the car today has the kind of performance, driving characteristics and handling that take the hard work out of driving a classic car and replace it with pure, unadulterated motoring pleasure.

The car presents superbly from every angle and is reassuringly free of any significant dents, creases, folds or dinks that we can see.

The shut-lines and panel gaps are consistent and even (possibly more so than when they left the factory in Abingdon), and the doors close with plenty of accuracy and certainty.

As you would hope and expect of a respray that’s only 1000 miles old, the Old English White paint looks very fine and has plenty of shine and depth of lustre.

No stranger to what often lies beneath, it was decided that a pair of chrome sill protectors were to be removed on the vendor’s acquisition, which as expected, revealed some less than perfect panels beneath. Once they’d stripped everything back and realised that the sills, partial rear quarter panels and the passenger door skin would need replacing with Heritage items, it was decided that the car would need a full exterior respray to ensure the painting of new panels was not a cause of colour mismatching. The vendor states that ‘typically exterior fabrication and painting of this calibre would amount to no less than £7,500’.

At this time the iconic Frontline ‘anti-lift’ front valance was also installed and painted, which hints that this example has more to it than first meets the eye. All exterior brightwork has been replaced with new - including front and rear bumpers, side-strips, Frontline mirrors, grilles and light assemblies. The renewal of these exterior components perfectly compliment the fresh paintwork.

The 14” MWS chromed wire wheels are beyond reproach and the four matching Falken tyres look to have plenty of life left in them.

Faults are very few and far between on the exterior of this car (even the usual stone chips are more notable for their absence than their presence), but it’s our job to find them and point them out, no matter how minor they may be.

So, here goes.

There is a thin line of rippling in the paint on a short section of the leading edge of the bonnet and there are a couple of thin cracks to the paint on the bodywork between the bonnet and the windscreen on the nearside.

We noticed a couple of tiny holes/scuffs at the o/s/f section of the otherwise excellent and entirely functional black hood, which is a fairly new replacement and fits perfectly on all fasteners.

We also spotted a couple of patches of nascent delamination at the corners of the windscreen, which is believed to be the original.

All lights, lenses, badging and other exterior fixtures and fittings are in first-class condition.

The headlight bulbs have been changed to 200% brighter-than-original OSRAM items.

The interior is a joy to behold and a fine place in which to spend some quality time.

Anyone who’s familiar with Frontline interiors will recognise their signature quality and attention to detail in numerous places.

Their exemplary custom trim work is in evidence everywhere from the dash-top, crash rail, door cappings, sills and wheel arches to the gear gaiter, handbrake and gaiter, rear rail, binnacle, wheel arches, and even an Alcantara steering cowl. Bespoke trim work doesn’t come cheap and as such, the above items would leave a Frontline customer no change from £2,000, the vendor claims.

Everything is hand crafted in supple black leather with body-coloured stitching and is a considerable upgrade from the standard equipment, even more so in the flesh than in the photos.

The interior is equipped with three sheets of Dynamat sound insulation, which is good enough to enable seamless use of the hands-free Bluetooth connectivity, even with the roof down and travelling at speed.

The vendor’s grandfather wisely installed far more supportive and comfortable seats from MGOC when he purchased the car, and these come with the very real added benefits of head restraints and adjustable back rests.

It’s all in very fine fettle – door cards, roof lining, carpets, mats and dashboard – and the vendor tells us that absolutely everything does what it’s supposed to, without delay or argument.

Touch points such as the wood-rimmed Moto-Lita steering wheel are a delight, as is the rather special wooden gear knob, which is a sympathetically restored item made of beech, believed to have been originally fitted to an earlier circa 1940’s MG.

The lighting for the dashboard instruments has been upgraded to much brighter L.E.D bulbs, as ordinarily, MGB instruments are unreadable in the dark.

There are a couple of slight scuffs at the base of the glove compartment door and there’s a tiny bit of slightly ragged trim where the folding roof mechanism has been rubbing just behind the passenger door.

The vendor tells us the car has been converted to run a 12v battery and also benefits from a battery isolator switch which is a great security feature, as well as protecting the battery if not in sue for a prolonged period. The engine (with an unleaded cylinder head) and 4-speed overdrive gearbox are particularly good examples, and in his capacity as a Frontline employee, he’ll have encountered rather more MGB engines and gearboxes than we have, so he should know.

Either way, the engine bay looks fine to us, and everything appears to be clean, dry and in its right and proper place.
The most notable mechanical servicing and upgrades completed in 2024 are as follows:
• ¾ ARB kit with polybushes
• Full front suspension polybush set
• Castor correction kit
• 350lb street springs
• Frontline front suspension kit
• Frontline 4-pot alloy brake kit with ventilated cross-drilled discs
• Braided brake lines
• 2.3:1 brake servo
• Adjustable electronic power steering kit
• Frontline panhard rod kit
• Frontline rear suspension kit
• Revotec electronic fan
• Electronic ignition with performance coil and leads
• New spark plugs, engine oil, gearbox oil, axle oil, coolant
• New heater valve
• Adjusted tappets
• New rocker cover with gasket
• New thermostat and heater valve.
With the above ingredients, the front suspension, power steering and braking components are the very same specification as the halo Factory Edition cars offered by Frontline, such as the sold-out LE50 and Abingdon Editions.

The suspension offers easy damping/rebound adjustment, ensuring it can be suited to all drive styles and use cases. The clever power steering is also adjustable from inside the car, giving the option to lighten it up for slow manoeuvres and city work, or dial it right back to a more traditional weight. Fifth Gears very own Tiff Needell describes the Frontline suspension and steering as ‘A beautifully balanced chassis, with nicely weighted steering and great feel’.

At the rear, modern adjustable dampers replace the dated lever-arm systems, and a Panhard rod is fitted in it’s place to better locate the rear axle. This provides a safer and more confidence inspiring sports car, far superior to the original.

The engine and ancillaries have been thoroughly gone through, with new ignition system, plugs and fluids, ensuring the car is on the button, hot or cold. A Revotec fan and new thermostat ensure the B-Series is not phased by summer days or standstill traffic, taking the anxiety out of the ownership.

Much like the power steering system, the Frontline brake servo is a premium upgrade over the original, providing a more modern, easier to push pedal, but with a high-quality, consistent feel. Additionally, the braided brake lines ensure that there is no vagueness between the driver and the calliper.

Given that the vendor’s grandfather spent his career developing underbody protection, it’s not surprising that the undersides of the car look wholly untroubled by the passage of time and are in excellent condition.

The earlier history of the car got lost when its ownership transitioned from grandfather to grandson, but we really don’t think that matters very much.

It is every bit as good as it appears to be, and even the briefest consideration of its condition, provenance and quality will only serve to underpin our opinion that this is an exceptionally good example of both the marque and the model.

The car comes with a Heritage trust certificate, clear HPI report, two full sets of keys, a user manual, some itemised lists (with internal costs) of the work done by Frontline, and an MoT certificate, that’s valid until 30th October 2025.

So, to be absolutely clear, this is not a Frontline car, but it is a car that’s been worked on by Frontline people using Frontline components and now incorporates all the headline handling and dynamic upgrades that led the late Don Hayter, the original Chief Engineer of the MGB, to say of Frontline’s creations, "These are the cars we always wanted to build."

The vendor says, “The car attracts love and attention absolutely everywhere you drive it, receiving the utmost respect from other road users. It puts a smile on everyone’s face, in or out of the car.”

That seems to us to be an entirely fair, believable and reasonable claim.

One thing’s for sure - you’ll be a very long time waiting for a better one to come along.

We are happy to offer this car for auction with an estimate in the range of £17,000 - £22,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays 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’.