1977 MG B Roadster

Built between the 18th and 22nd of November 1976 and first registered in January 1977, this delightful MGB was the subject of extensive restoration work in 1997, followed by some additional significant refurbishment in 2002/03. It was then used only lightly for the next few years before ADW Automotive carried out some mechanical recommissioning work, interior retrimming and a full respray in 2012/13.

The current owner bought it from them in June 2013 to celebrate his retirement. He went on to have the car converted to ‘chrome bumper’ specification, taking the opportunity to lower the suspension to a more appropriate height at the same time. His wife also found the steering to be too heavy, leading him to have a power steering rack installed to enable her to enjoy driving the car too.

These modifications mean the car now delivers classic looks with the more modern interior and much improved drivability, bringing an added dimension to the traditional MGB aesthetics.

The recent respray means the Flame Red coachwork is in wonderful condition and because the subsequent refit included new seals and gaskets throughout, everything is weathertight and in fabulous condition; it really is the little details like this that distinguish the very best restorations out from the merely average and this one is clearly one of the former. It has started to develop a working patina having gained a couple of small nicks and the odd stonechip in the paintwork but the overall finish really is still very good.

The chromework is bright and tarnish-free and the chrome bumpers look as if they were factory fitted. A boot-mounted chrome luggage rack adds an elegant look to the lines of the car as well as making it a more practical grand tourer.

A new PVC hood was fitted in 2013 and is in almost new condition. The MGB will also be supplied with a full and half-tonneau, both of which are in good condition.

The Minilite wheels are in great condition and are shod with matching tyres, all of which have plenty of tread.

The underside of the car is just as good as the top, there is definitely no rot in this MGB and it will be offering service for many a year to come if the current care levels are maintained.

The black leather seats and door cards are trimmed with red piping as a nod to the Flame Red coachwork. They are still in fabulous condition with only minor creasing. They are all free of rips, tears and significant scuffs.

The wooden veneer is in very good condition, as are the black carpets. A modern stereo has been fitted, which works perfectly.

In this office, opinion is divided as to whether the wooden Mountney steering wheel looks in keeping, the vote to retain it was won by a split decision. The condition of the entire car speaks volumes for the quality of the work carried out and the care with which the current owner has maintained and cared for it.

The car has been regularly serviced, as can be seen from the invoices in the ‘Gallery’ section of the listing. A full service in 2013 – and only 3,000 miles ago - by ADW Automotive also showed good compression on all cylinders.

A Kenlowe Thermomatic fan keeps underbonnet temperatures to a minimum and an Acuspark electronic ignition system removes the need for those pesky points, helping both performance and reliability. A new fusebox was fitted in 2016 and a new alternator was installed in May of this year.

The engine bay is nicely detailed and beautifully clean, and a stainless steel exhaust has been fitted.

The owner has only used it sparingly, attending classic car shows and MG club outings. He tells us that it is “lovely to drive” (something our brief drives confirm) and that the engine, gearbox and overdrive are “perfect”. He confirms that it was kept garaged when it wasn’t being driven.

The online MOT history shows nothing of concern and the MOT certificates, which date back to 1993, confirm the car’s low annual mileage from that point onwards. The expired MOT certificates are included in the car’s extensive history file, as are some of its old tax discs.

The car also comes with an exceedingly thick folder of old invoices and bills, a certificate issued by the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust confirming the car’s factory build specification, and a bound reproduction of the MGB driver’s handbook. The car is also HPI clear and still has its original registration number.

Please visit the ‘Gallery’ section of this listing where you will find a huge quantity of invoices, bills and other paperwork to support our claim that this car has an impressively comprehensive service history.

Only being offered for sale due to ill health, this is a great opportunity to get your hands on a fully sorted MGB. There are a few modifications to the car, but they are all tasteful and genuinely useful to help keeping up with modern-day traffic. The power steering being a particularly good example. While the chrome bumper and suspension conversion might offend the purists, the quality of the conversion has ensured that they come together wonderfully, seamlessly combining Old School looks and more modern dynamics and comfort.

Our guide price for the car is £7-9,000, which we think is very reasonable for a car of this quality. Of course, the reserve is set at an even lower point, so why not pop a cheeky bid in and see if you can walk away with a bargain? Remember; with interest rates as low as they are, a decent MGB is as good as money in the bank and cars like this one might even show you a bit of a profit in the long-term…

Viewing is always encouraged, and this car can be seen here at Patina HQ in 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’.

If needed, please remember we have a network of trusted suppliers we work with regularly and can recommend: Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car, AnyVan for transporting it, and Footman James for classic car insurance.