1970 MG B Roadster

We are delighted to be offering for sale this lovely 1971 Roadster. Delivered to its first owner on 1st August, how excited they must have been to take possession on the first day of the new registration letter and just in time to enjoy the last vestiges of summer.

The car has had many owners during its 50-year life and latterly has been treated to an extensive rebuild.

The body was in poor shape, so a later body shell in better condition was used, which makes perfect sense.

The last owner bought the car from classic car specialists Arun Ltd in Pulborough, West Sussex. He then went on to add further modifications including the installation of a digital DAB radio and the fitment of new wire wheels. He spent around £4,000 on top of the heady price he paid for the car.

The car also benefits from a new hood and a wind deflector, ideal for keeping out the draughts.

The MGB is presented in excellent condition and is now ready for exciting new summertime adventures.

Iris blue, a lovely hue! It is one of the less common shades on the MGB but makes a pleasant change.

As we have already mentioned, the car was extensively restored, and you can tell. A replacement body from a later rubber bumper car was used but it would take a keen eye to spot.

Of more interest is the condition of the paintwork now and it really is rather good.

It is our job to be picky so there are a few points we should mention. The paint on the driver’s door edge is chipped, most likely where is has been opened against a wall.

Also slightly chipped is the paint to the underside of the leading edge of the bonnet.

Also worth a quick mention is the sill area on both sides. The paint finish is not as good as the rest of the car and perhaps could be improved.

Panel fit is perhaps what you might reasonably expect from a 1970s car. It is amazing how things have improved as the years have rolled by.

The vinyl hood is quite new and appears to be in tip top order!

Chrome, and there’s lots of it, is lovely and shiny.

Atop the boot lid sits a rack, removable when not required, but ideal for extending the luggage space for a touring holiday or suchlike.

Wire wheels with chrome spinners always set off a classic sports car and we can see from the paperwork that these were a late addition. Up close you can spot a few marks on them here and there, oh and they are fitted with Woosung tyres. A quick Google search tells us that the company is now called Nexen, the name change happening in the year 2000. We’d order some new rubber.

The interior is undoubtedly one of the highlights of this car. The vinyl seats are in excellent condition and unlike very early Bs, they come with head rests too.

A lovely grippy leather steering wheel is fitted it is easy to see that money has been spent renewing parts such as the gear lever gaiter.

Carpets are in good order and are protected by substantial rubber floor mats.

A wind deflector has been fitted and it is remarkably effective in keeping out draughts. Not excuse not to drop the top, even on a colder day.

The last owner was clearly a music fan as he spent a tidy sum adding a DAB digital radio to the car. The unit looks decidedly retro so fits in nicely in the period dash. There is an aerial for this fitted to the nearside of the windscreen.

The boot area is in good order and there is a matching wire wheel spare, fitted with a brand-new tyre.

We always include plenty of photographs of a car’s underside, take a look at the high-res pictures in the gallery, it appears good to us.

There is evidence of plenty of new parts and joy of joys, underseal has been liberally coated where one would expect. We can see nothing of any concern.

It should be noted that the car has travelled less than 600 miles in the last 9 years, so clearly has led a sheltered life since it was restored.

The engine compartment bears all the hallmarks of careful maintenance and money spent and for those who like to tinker, the car comes with a Haynes workshop manual. MGBs are relatively easy cars to work on and there is a plethora of excellent parts suppliers, ready to deliver at the click of a mouse.

Oh, how we love paperwork. It takes the guesswork out of what has been done to a car and when.

Let’s start with the most recent bills from 2020. In October he owner spent almost £3,000 on suspension work, wiring, cooling system maintenance, fettling the brakes and much, much more.

The following month he spent a further £1,033 on a new stainless steel exhaust system and a good tune up. The latter included balancing the carbs and fitting new plug leads, distributor cap and rotor arm.

Further back in the annuls of time, there are bills for the fitment of the wire wheels.

The MGB was MoTed in January of this year and has travelled less than 40 miles since. MoT records tell us that the car’s recorded mileage was 46,822 in 2012.

This lovely B has been well and truly spoilt this last year by an owner keen to make sure everything was perfect. It cost him plenty, but this should give reassurance to a prospective new buyer.

The car’s bodywork bears all the hallmarks of a careful restoration and is topped off by a new hood.

We know the car will undoubtedly attract a lot of interest as good MGBs always easily find new homes. We estimate that the car will sell for between £10,000 and £14,000.

So, if you are looking to have some soft-top fun this summer, all that remains is to get biding right away!

Viewing is always encouraged, within government guidelines of course. The car is located at our Abingdon headquarters; we are open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm and to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing to make an appointment. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.