1964 MG B Convertible

Originally exported to the United States of America in Old English White, this charming MGB Roadster is now right-hand-drive and finished in Tartan Red with a black vinyl interior.

Re-imported in 2000 and sold the same year with an overhauled engine, ONW 443B was kept in the north of England to be used by its owner when he was in the area. However, he travelled a lot and lived elsewhere for most of the time, so the MGB ended up not being used that much.

Some recent titivation saw the front suspension removed and painted before being reinstalled with upgraded Polybushes (“I recommend this to everyone. It’s improved the handling by 50%"). At the same time, the fuel tank and wheels were also removed and painted, the chromework and interior brightwork was refinished and replaced where necessary, and the seats were restuffed with new foam.

These cars have two batteries and both have been renewed 

We are told that the MGB “drives beautifully and presents well” but because the paintwork is now 23 years old it now offers the new owner the choice of maintaining its patina and continuing to let it age gracefully, stripping it all down and treating it to a full respray, or conserving and touching in as necessary.

Which is very much a #firstworldproblem, eh?

The Tartan Red paintwork might be getting on for a quarter of a century old, but it still presents very well overall and looks good from a few feet away.

Of course, a large part of that is down to the quality of the underlying panels, which are straight and true and nicely aligned. They’re free of dents and dinks too, and when you peer into its MoT history you’ll see it’s barely been used over the years, which helps.

The refurbished and refinished chromework sparkles. The original chrome bumpers have been re chromed to keep the cars originality and fit.  The original over riders have also had the same attention - so they match. A number of interior and exterior chrome fittings have been replaced too.

As we mentioned earlier, the 14-inch wire wheels have been blasted and painted too, so they look terrific and it’s nice to see painted wire wheels too, especially when the knock-off chromed hubs are in such good shape.

They are also fitted with a matching set of Dunlop SP7 tyres, all of which still have good tread on them.

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. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

The hood fits well and is in a decent condition for its age notwithstanding it is still on the original frame, which really needs fettling and painting. 

But it still rises and falls as it should, so the only urgent problem is the tear to the nearside rear above the (slightly opaque) rear window. However, the damage is on a seam, so getting it repaired, even on a temporary basis, should be possible.

As for the rest, the paintwork on the leading edge of the bonnet is chipped and starting to rust, there are plenty of scratches, cracks, and swirl marks plus some bubbles here and there. 

Nothing is catastrophic and you should have a while to assess it and decide the direction you want to take before Father Time forces your hand. 

The seats, which are finished in black vinyl and piped in red to match the coachwork, are very good indeed. Now firm and plump and very comfortable as a result of being rebuilt with new foam, they’ve clearly seen little use since being replaced or refurbished with new covers all those years ago.

The door cards have been trimmed with a matching colour scheme and they too are very good.

The sporting theme continues with a black leather Mota-Lita steering wheel and some very good chrome sill covers and matching trim around the handbrake and gear lever, the latter of which is new.

The black carpets are clean and in a decent condition and they look like they should scrub up well with little more than elbow grease and a decent hoover.

The dashboard and instrument cluster is undamaged and showing nothing other than a light patina, so could easily be left as they are.

There’s a Smiths heater installed too, and the well-presented boot is home to a matching wire spare wheel, albeit fitted with a non-matching Nankang tyre. 

As for work to do, lifting the carpets shows some corrosion in the footwells, so that’ll need treating sooner rather than later to prevent it turning into an even bigger problem. 

Other than that, we think you could continue to run and enjoy it just as it is.

As you can in the video, the four-cylinder engine fired straight up despite the appalling weather and quickly settled down to a steady idle. It’s also showing good oil pressure on the gauge and revs beautifully.

A new battery has been fitted and we are told the MGB “is an absolute pleasure to drive”. 

The engine bay is a real treat being clean and nicely presented with both the inner wings and engine/ancillaries being well painted and finished with period-appropriate labels and stickers.

The vendor also sings the praises of the upgraded suspension, telling us there are “no knocks or bangs” and it has “very direct steering”. 

The underside is also very nicely presented and bears witness to recent expenditure by way of that Polybushed and painted suspension and a shiny exhaust.

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… 

As is the case with so many imported cars, the MGB’s history file is sparse and contains only a British Motor Industry Heritage Trust certificate confirming its build specification, a V5 registration document, and some old tax paperwork and an expired MoT certificate.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear bar the marker for being an imported car.

The range of cars we get offered here is vast, spanning barn-find basketcases all the way through to quarter-of-a-million-pound Ferraris – and everything in between.

And a significant percentage of the cars that pass through our hands are MGBs. A stalwart of the classic car scene for decades, few cars are as ubiquitous and for good reason; they’re a great place for any enthusiast to start while still being interesting enough to hold the attention of long-timers like us.

The MGBs we see also span a vast range from heavily modified cars through to restoration projects, which means that older restorations like this tend to fade into the background a little.

Which is a shame because while it isn’t at all flashy, it’s a well presented and solid example that we are told runs and drives well and would be ideal as a daily driver you can park without worrying too much about it – and you really can’t ask for more when you’re only looking at spending between £8,000 and £12,000, can you?

And, it’s being offered with no reserve, so is going to sell no matter how derisory the bidding.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located with the vendor in Pangbourne, South Oxfordshire. 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’.