1973 MG B GT

First registered in 1973, this B GT is instantly recognisable thanks to its iconic silhouette and almost shooting brake-like proportions from the rear hatch, and this example also boasts some choice ‘fast road’ style upgrades, including bucket seats, an MG C bonnet with leather catches, tweaked suspension and many other upgrades, which enhance the performance and enjoyment of the car without detracting from its usability.

Purchased by the current owner in standard guise during 2017, this lovely little British hatchback became a personal project during the vendor’s retirement, being further restored and fettled to reach its ‘final form’ as seen here. Prior to being purchased, the car was given a full bare-metal respray at the cost of £4,910 including new arches, belts, weather seals and more. The vendor subsequently re-sprayed the car once again, though there is no receipt for this as the work was carried out by the vendor himself, as an experienced painter/panel beater with over 40 years of experience.

The full spec list of this example is as follows:

• Full bodywork overhaul, including new arches and a bare-metal respray prior to current ownership
• Re-spray in current ownership around 6-7 months ago
• Stainless steel sports exhaust
• Single Weber 45 carburettor conversion
• Oselli exhaust manifold
• Side-mounted fuel cap
• New fuel filler tank
• Minilite-style wheels with 185/14 tyres
• Electronic ignition conversion
• 12-volt battery conversion
• New clutch slave and master cylinders

As you can see, this has been a true labour of love for the vendor, and the car presents impressively throughout. All it needs is a new owner that will enjoy it to the fullest, could it be you..?

Resplendent in red, this MG B GT strikes a purposeful silhouette, and is certain to get people talking no matter where you take it.

The bodywork and paint present very well indeed, on account of the aforementioned restoration / remedial work carried out by the vendor and the former keeper, and gentle use since the work was carried out, with the car having been used infrequently on weekends in its current ownership, and garaged throughout.

Looking along the flanks of the vehicle, there are no signs of any damage to the bodywork, but if we’re being very particular, both doors require some light adjustment as they have dropped on their hinges, with the driver’s door in particular being a little more reluctant to close correctly.

The paintwork is also in remarkable condition throughout, with the only particular sue that we noted was a small crack on the offside rear wing below the fuel filler area, as seen in image 95, though it is difficult to see without looking for it deliberately.

Whilst we’re on the subject of being particular, we’d say that the chrome window trims would benefit from a thorough polishing or perhaps refurbishment to bring them back to their best, but this is hardly a pressing matter. We also noted that the offside rear window catch did not engage properly, and the window would ‘pop’ back off the catch.

Speaking of the windows, we noted that the side windows and windscreen would appear to be original, as they still bear the etched registration mark for the vehicle. Naturally, there are some light scratches in the glass due to its age, but this does not affect visibility in any way.

The weather seals around the rear window on the upper offside edge are slightly worn, as are the offside window rubbers, though - again - this is us showing our fastidious nature, more than being a sign of any immediately required attention.

Below the arches, all four of the Minilite-style wheels present well, with no kerb rash or major wear visible.

Inside, the good news continues unabated, as does the ‘fast road’ theme seen on the outside, with figure-hugging bucket seats in place of the unsupportive OE items, along with a set of harnesses and removal of the rear seats.

The cabin presents in fantastic condition throughout, with only some light signs of commensurate wear being visible around high-traffic areas such as the bases of the door cards, inner door plate covers, edges of the seats, steering wheel and shifter, though nothing that would detract from the overall quality and finish of this particular MG B GT.

In the rear, the carpets appear to wear traces of overspray (see images 168 and 173) but otherwise there are no signs of any issues we can see, and the spare wheel is present-and-correct, whilst the boot stays in the locked upright position without fault.

One unusual quirk of this particular example is that the oil pressure/water temperature gauge is only half-working, with the dash-mounted gauge only showing oil pressure. To remedy this, a secondary (matching) gauge has been mounted below the dashboard on the offside, which shows only water temperature.

The dashboard itself is free from any cracks or damage, and all other gauges and systems work correctly, including the heater/blower system.

Firing into life with ease whether hot or cold and settling into a characteristic, slightly raspy B-Series soundtrack, our time behind the wheel of this motorsport-inspired MG B GT was nothing short of an absolute delight. In fact, it may well be one of the best-driving four-cylinder ‘B GTs’ that we’ve had through the doors of our Abingdon HQ.

On the road, the car behaved flawlessly during our short drive to-and-from the shoot location, including an extended stint sat in traffic due to temporary roadworks. When the road opened up, we confirmed that the switchable overdrive system worked exactly as intended, and allows for laid-back cruising even at motorway speeds. The short-shift gearbox is a delight to work through, and the only VERY minor issue we could discern was a slight rubbing noise from the steering wheel on its cowl.

Under the bonnet, the B-Series engine presents very well indeed, and benefits from a full service whilst in the care of our vendor, along with a re-cored radiator.

Underneath the car, new front brake pads have been fitted, and the rear drums have been serviced. In our experience, the car brakes well and runs straight without issue.

The most recent MoT took place on 04 November 2022, resulting in a pass with the following advisory items noted:

• Offside rear tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing
• Nearside rear axle strap perished
• Offside rear axle strap perished

Included with the car is a printed spec list for the car, the V5 registered keepers document showing 9 former keepers, an extensive list of MGOC Workshop invoices for miscellaneous items, along with the recent King Pin / axle assemblies following a MoT failure in October 2022, a number of old MoT certificates, and a full HPi report.

In addition to this, there is also an MGOC Workshop invoice for new master and slave clutch cylinders, flexi hoses, brake fluid bleed/flush and a new battery terminal in July 2020 at a cost of £887. There are also numerous photographs from the bare-metal bodywork restoration and new arches being fitted.

As ever, we’ve photographed all of the documentation we’ve received, and this can be viewed towards the end of the extensive photo gallery below.

The MG B GT is a true icon of the British motoring industry, and its popularity has lead to many being restored, ‘resto-modded’ or modified for their owner’s enjoyment, and rightly so. With a few tweaks, the B GT is a capable machine within its own right, and can still keep up with modern traffic with apparent ease.

This particular 1973-registered example has been restored and lightly modified to a very high standard, and is nothing short of an absolute joy to drive and enjoy.

Presented in excellent condition throughout, we’d estimate a value in the region of £8,000 to £12,000 when the virtual hammer falls.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays 9am-5pm, 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’.