£13,000
Introduced in 1979 to celebrate the 50th year milestone of production at Abingdon, these were the last models built at the factory before its closure in 1980. There were 1000 cars made with 480 roadsters and 520 GTs.
The MGB is a definitive British sports car, sparking interest and enthusiasm from people all over the world, it was a stroke of genius from British manufacturer MG and several hundred thousand being made.
Introduced in 1979 to celebrate the 50th year milestone of production at Abingdon, these were the last models built at the factory before its closure in 1980. There were 1000 cars made with 480 roadsters and 520 GTs.
The MGB is a definitive British sports car, sparking interest and enthusiasm from people all over the world, it was a stroke of genius from British manufacturer MG and several hundred thousand being made.
The car presented here for auction has had quite an easy life, it’s an extremely low mileage example at 24,885 miles and has spent the years few years of its life being pampered by keepers who are enthusiasts of the brand and who have treated the car with respect and diligent care. The MG has only done just under 200 miles in the year that the current owner has had the car due to health issues, but the previous keeper had spared little expense to give the MG another lease of life.
The current owner has enjoyed the car a little taking it out on summer evenings for a drive round the local roads, but they have also had the car looked over thoroughly for mechanical or bodywork issues in which non were found.
The previous keeper kept the car garaged during their time with the car, and they were also part of the MG Owners club with access to parts, knowledge and a community dedicated to keeping these sports cars in fantastic condition. The previous owner also took the car to shows and events with the car winning competitions, besting all others in its class in the Cornish Classic Car competition for example.
In August of last year, the car was taken to Yorkshire in a covered trailer and given a thorough recommissioning. New brakes were fitted along with a carburettor rebalance, new Stag style alloys as per the original wheels, tyres, battery and a stainless-steel exhaust system along with some cleaning and other light restoration work.
The MG has been well cared for and the exterior presentation is evidence of that. The MG Bronze paintwork isn’t very old with the previous owner spending in the region of £4500 on a full respray after deeming that some stone chips on the driver’s side were reason enough to respray the whole thing.
Rust is not an issue around the body with the shell being in very good condition with no signs of any oxidation appearing at any of the known trouble areas or anywhere for that matter. There is a slight patch of surface rust just above the steering column where we suspect some of the corrosive brake fluid has spilled upon filling the master cylinder up, this would be an easy fix for a body shop to remedy however and does not look structural.
In addition to the paintwork, the fit and finish of the MG is very much above the standard one, with panel gaps, chrome trim and bumpers all fitting well. The chrome and rubber trim are also in great condition with no pitting or degradation of the chrome and the rubber still having its deep black lustre to it. Things that are usually overlooked on other examples such as window trims, mirrors, door handles, quarter lights and headlights, have all been seen to on this car, with all of them being in good condition, the passenger side headlight bezel does have some oxidation coming through but would be fixed by a quick polish. The headlights were also upgraded by the previous owner to Lucas H4 halogens which should give the new owner a much better chance of seeing in the dark.
The Stag style alloys still look brand new and only being two years old and having only seen just under 200 miles its unsurprising that they should look as good as new. The hood also looks to be in fantastic condition with all windows and joins around the leather looking good as new, and the car comes with a tonneau cover that is still in its original packaging.
The interior of the MG is in fantastic condition and is certainly a highlight of the car with the ‘deck chair’ style seat design in bright orange to match the exterior paintwork. The leather trim inside the car is in amazing, time warp condition with no scratches, rips, tears or cracking at all to be seen. The dashboard looks as though its brand new with the steering wheel and gear-lever looking to be in the same brilliant condition. All dials, switches and buttons work smoothly and have a satisfying click, the overdrive also work from the button on the gear lever with the plaque stating this is the 200th MGB LE to come out of the factory shining away next to the glovebox.
There is a radio in the car that looks to be a modern unit style in a period design, which gives the new owner the best of both worlds, connected to the speakers in the cabin it gives the driver the option to listen to music, should they ever tire of hearing the exhaust note and the intake noise from the carburettors. There is a slight mark on the passenger side seat back rest, but this looks to be dirt or oil of some sort which should be relatively easy to remove should you be heading off to a concourse event at your local car show.
Inside the boot, the carpet is near new, and the spare wheel is covered with the same plush black carpet as the rest of the car and the alloy and tyre look in great condition also, ready should an unfortunate circumstance arise. The previous owner also saw fit to keep the original steering wheel, provide the car with a full cover and the tonneau cover along with some spare trim pieces.
The underside of the MG is solid thanks to waxoyling from new and then having the waxoyle reapplied last year. During the reapplication process, the chassis and body were checked for rust and any damage with none being found, this means that the shell and chassis of this MG should last for another 40 years.
All suspension components are in great condition also with any rubber components looking to have lots of life left as well as tightening up the ride a huge amount. There is some oxidation on the brake disc covers and springs but again this is largely cosmetic, but if you did want to take this car to win concourse events then a wire brush and a lick of paint would do wonders.
Having not travelled far since the minor recommissioning, the underside of the MG is just as good as it looked once the work had been finished. The stainless-steel exhaust still looks brand new and all lines and wires underneath the body look to have no issues as well. With all the recommissioning and efforts to preserve the shell and chassis, the new owner doesn’t have to worry about anything underneath the car for a very long time.
In the engine bay everything looks good too, with the B series looking healthy and all ancillaries presenting well too. The newly rebalanced carbs look to be going strong and the stainless rocker cover sits pride of place on the four-cylinder engine. All rubber hoses look in great condition if not nearly new, all the wires are clean and show no signs of cracking or fraying and the heater box looks to be a new item as well.
The current and previous keepers of the car were both fastidious and meticulous in their record keeping of the work and invoices relating to the car. The MOT history confirms the mileage, and the history shows regular maintenance and servicing and the Waxoyl certificate is up to date and confirms the treatment. There is a very comprehensive stack of history, invoices and receipts, some of the major work is listed below,
Rocker cover, steering wheel and boss – 20/09/2018 – Moss
Brake refurb – 11/09/2018 – Moss
Exhaust system, suspension check, brake service – 21/09/2018 – Atlas Mill Motors
The mileage is also documented, throughout the owners as well see summary below,
1st Keeper,
02/03/1981 to 25/02/1993 - Mileage 0 to 19286
2nd Keeper
25/02/1993 to 19/08/2014 - Mileage 19286 to 22709 having been SORN for 14 years
3rd Keeper
19/08/2014 to 01/08/2018 - Mileage 22709 to 24667
4th Keeper
01/08/2018 to 01/09/2020 - Mileage 24667 to 24767
5th Keeper
01/09/2020 to present - Mileage 24767 to 24866
This MG B roadster has been enjoyed by the few enthusiasts that have cared for the car over its time and as such it remains in fantastic condition with very few issues to sort to make it a concourse winning example. The MG B as a marque has enjoyed years of enthusiast attention and cult following, it really is the original British sports car and had a recipe which other manufactures simulated with fantastic success.
This example has had all the key areas of concern addressed and continues to be a strong example of the last limited editions to come out of the Abingdon factory before its closure. Along with its renewed longevity, its value will only continue to rise should it be kept in such good condition, although I’m sure taking it out for a spin frequently will be much more appealing.
Our estimate for this car is £12,000 - £16,000.
Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; 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’.
