1971 MG B Roadster

Delivered to its very 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, has been treated to an extensive rebuild and also had over £4,000 spent on it in 2021.

The previous vendor's have bought the car from Bonhams|Cars Online with the original vendor selling through us having made significant improvements to the car. The current vendor has enjoyed this one, but decided to part ways to let someone else enjoy it.

The original body was in poor shape once upon a time, so a later body shell in better condition was used for the rebuild, which makes perfect sense.

The original owner who sold with us in July of 2021 bought the car from classic car specialists Arun Ltd in Pulborough, West Sussex and 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 price he paid for the car at the time, so that’s around £8,000 spent since 2020!

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

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

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

The replacement body looks to be from a later rubber bumper car, but it would take a keen eye to spot.

The condition of the paintwork now 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 is in good order.

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

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.

The interior vinyl seats are in excellent condition and unlike very early Bs, they come with head rests too.

A grippy leather steering wheel is fitted and the gear lever gaiter looks new.

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

A wind deflector has been fitted and it is effective in keeping out draughts. No excuse not to drop the top, even on a colder day.

If you are a music fan then you’ll appreciate the tidy sum spend 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 new-looking tyre.

When we drove it we noted that the speedo and some other dash instruments didn't work, but when we wiggled the fuses they did!. Such is the life of a classic car owner.

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

There is evidence of plenty of new parts and underseal has been liberally coated where one would expect.

It should be noted that the car has only travelled about 1000 miles in the last 10 years, so clearly has led a sheltered life since its restoration work.

The engine compartment bears all the hallmarks of care taken 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 & 2021. Money has been spent on the engine, suspension work, wiring, cooling system maintenance, fettling the brakes and much more.

A stainless-steel exhaust system was added, and at the same time work was done balancing the carbs and fitting new plug leads, distributor cap and rotor arm. Recently a new coil over was fitted by the current vendor.

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

The previois MoT expired on 25th January 2022. MoT records tell us that the car’s recorded mileage was 46,822 in 2012. It has since then accumulated a mere 2,000 miles or so, as the car has been mostly stored.

This lovely B has had money spent on it, which should give reassurance to the winning bidder, but that doesn't mean that it won't need the normal fettling and care you'd expect to undertake on a classic car of this vintage.

The car’s bodywork bears all the hallmarks of careful restorative work, and now it is topped off by a smart 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 own a classic British soft-top sports car, all that remains is to get bidding right away!

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at Bonhams|Cars Online 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’.