1972 MG B Roadster

Built on the 3rd of October 1972, this delightful Oxford Blue Pearlescent MGB was restored with a Heritage bodyshell and a rebuilt engine in the late 1990s. Winning the Autoglym Classic Concours shortly afterwards, it’s been the subject of at least one magazine feature singing its praises.

So fulsome was this praise, in fact, that a chap in Northern Ireland tried to buy it, only to be told that it had already been sold. Clearly not one to be deterred by such a trifling detail, he managed to persuade the new owner to sell it to him, whereafter he brought it home across the Irish Sea.

Little used since then, the vendor believes he might only have driven it a couple of times before consigning it to a Carcoon and then eventually selling it to him.

Still in the sort of fabulous condition that only careful storage and curation brings, it is only very gently patinated and still a credit to those who restored it more than two decades ago.

The bulk of the restorative work was carried out by Murray Scott-Nelson in the late 1990s at a cost of well over £10,000 (or almost £20,000 at today’s rates…) – and that figure excludes the cost of the new Heritage bodyshell that was used.

The coachwork is finished in Oxford Blue Pearlescent and further fettling was carried out in 2005. As you’d expect, the panel alignment and shutlines are very good indeed, as is the paintwork.

The flanks are still free of ripples too, and the rest of the bodywork is similarly pristine and free of significant dents, dinks, and other damage. The chromework is just as good being both carefully aligned and free of rust, serious pitting and other flaws.

There are also some lovely details such as the chromed GB plates, high-security door locks, front and rear mudflaps, ‘Ian Studley Cars Ltd’ badge, and period-style grille badges. A Lucas spotlight and a foglight too, and their differing glass lenses speak more of careful consideration than any confusion.

The blue mohair hood is just as good as the rest of the vehicle, fitting well as being as easy to use and weathertight as any MGB roof we’ve seen. The plastic windows are in good shape too, and another nice touch is the ‘TRIPLEX’ decal in the windscreen.

The 15-inch chromed wire wheels do show a tiny bit of rust here and there but they’re straight and true and shod with good matching Continental tyres. However, while we can’t read the date code, we are fairly sure that these are at least eight years old and so potential bidders might want to factor in the cost of a new set if they intend to drive and use the car.

But, as we will never tire of explaining, our experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

Blemishes? Aside from a few minor stonechips and marks, there are none of any note bar the wheels, which could do with refurbishing at some point in the medium-term. The roof could also do with some attention, albeit just cleaning to remove the light mildew and generally grubbiness that spoils its finish.

Fitted with a glorious Mota-Lita steering wheel, the interior was refurbished in the late 1990s as part of its restoration. Finished in black leather and making extensive use of walnut veneer, the MGB’s interior combines the best of all worlds being both gloriously familiar as well as wonderfully presented.

The leather seats are only very gently creased and still as supportive and comfortable as they’ve ever been. The door trims are good and while the presence of a tatty pair of Pioneer door speakers might jar a little, they could be replaced easily enough.

The walnut veneer trim is free of significant wear and damage, as are the carpets and the dashboard. The minor controls, fasteners and trim are all a delight as well; the details are what separates the great cars from the good, and this MGB is very definitely in the former category.

The boot is very clean, and lifting the good carpets shows well-painted metalwork that is solid and free of rust. There’s a spare wire wheel and tyre in there too, and if you’re looking for pointers as to the quality of the restoration then please take note of the use of both plain and spring washers to secure the boot lid to the hinges…

Flaws? Well, a couple of the screws are a bit rusty, the rubber door seals have perished a touch, and the carpet behind the seats is a bit ropey but there really isn’t anything in there that couldn’t be remedied for a few pounds and an hour or so of your time.

A reconditioned 1950cc engine was fitted in 1997 at the same time as the bodywork was restored. The vendor isn’t sure whether this is the same engine that’s fitted now, but whatever is under the bonnet, there’s plenty of evidence that it’s been continuously maintained since that time as the records show.

Also fitted at the same point were a reconditioned gearbox and overdrive unit plus new hubs and a rear axle tube. There’s a Kenlowe fan in there too, plus twin performance air filters and plenty of braided hoses.

The vendor tells us that the MGB starts, runs and drives “superbly”.

The MGB doesn’t have a current MOT certificate, and while it is exempt by virtue of its age, we would strongly encourage the new owner to have the car re-MOT’d at the earliest. The cost of an MOT is a small investment when offset against the purchase and upkeep of any classic car, and it gives an independent, third-party assessment of the car’s condition, which not only provides reassurance to the owner (and any subsequent purchasers) but might also be invaluable in the event of a bump when negotiating with the police and any interested insurance companies…

The engine bay is very clean and well-presented; aside from the odd stray wire, there isn’t anything to do in there other than to continue to lavish the same degree of care on it.

The underside is good and strong, including the jacking points. There’s plenty of evidence of exchanges and maintenance under there too, including a rear telescopic damper conversion.

It has a number of expired MOT certificates and road tax discs plus a hefty sheaf of invoices and bills to confirm the work that has been done to it over the years.

It also has a British Motor Industry Heritage certificate showing its original build specification of black over navy, and two sets of keys.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of this and other paperwork to support our claim that this car has been restored and maintained to a very good standard.

If you’d like to inspect the car prior to placing a bid – something we would encourage – then please use the Contact Seller button to arrange an appointment.

Everyone loves an MGB – and a classic car only becomes as beloved as this if its ability matches its reputation, and a well-fettled MGB like this one really is a thing of joy.

Because this one is a very well-fettled example indeed; with nigh-on flawless body and interior, its mechanical specification is as impressive as its appearance. The subject of considerable expenditure over the years, it has clearly chivvied its owners into maintaining its impressive condition, leaving it one of the nicest MGBs we’ve seen for quite a while.

All of which means that it’s probably going to set its new owner back somewhere between £13,000 and £16,000, which isn’t cheap but then the true cost of car ownership can only ever be accurately calculated after you’ve sold it and cars in this condition will always command a premium compared to an average example, so it might end up being cheaper to own than you think...

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with the vendor near Lisburn, Northern Ireland; 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’.

This vehicle is not with us at The Market’s HQ, which means we have had to rely on the owner’s description of it, in conjunction with the photographs you see here, to compile the listing.

With this in mind, we would encourage potential bidders to contact the owner themselves and arrange to view the car in person, or to arrange a dedicated video call in which they can view the car virtually and ask questions.