1970 MG B Roadster

This example has a very appealing, gently-used patina, and is in good shape mechanically – ready for summer. It comes with a long MoT to November and has clearly had a gentle life with all its needs taken care of.

The car lacks an overdrive, but has much else going for it. For one thing, it arguably dates from a sweet-spot era – after the gearbox became fully synchromesh, but before the rubber bumper changes.

It’s impressively original and possibly has its original engine and gearbox, although we can’t confirm this. Unfortunately the current owner hasn’t had much opportunity to bond with the car, which has spent most of his ownership sat patiently on a ramp in his garage waiting for Covid to blow over. But what the MG lacks in anecdotal history it makes up for with a very comprehensive history file which goes back more than 30 years, describing a great deal of routine maintenance and rust treatment, including a respray in the Noughties.

The seller describes it as ‘not a trailer queen but a good, useable car,’ and one which drives well, starts reliably and selects gear cleanly.

This is a very tidy and presentable MG, although we’d be dishonest if said it was perfect.

The Old English White paintwork overall is very good indeed, but close scrutiny will reveal some orange peel in places, and on the off-side front wing there’s a tiny patch of very slight surface rust under the chrome trim, about 3cm long. The nearside wheel arch also has a few scabby patches around the lip – it doesn’t look too bad, but it’s something to keep an eye on and refurbish before it gets severe.

We have noticed a few tiny dents on the top of the bonnet, but again, nothing too bad. Our photos also show tiny imperfections such as a minor crack in the paint next to the rear nearside light unit – very minor indeed.

We’ve taken plenty of close-up photos of the roof to show it in operation, so you can see that both the frame and the material itself are in fine fettle, without much staining or sun bleaching at all.

Although far from shabby, you will find some of the chrome finish peeling away slightly on the off-side corner of front bumper. The rear bumper, however, is in lovely condition. A luggage rack always makes a pleasing addition to the boot of a roadster, and we can confirm that this one is in very good shape; both the wood and metal are strong and presentable.

As for the 14in wire wheels, they’re in good, undamaged condition, but would benefit from a good polish as there are some minor areas of oxidisation. It’s a similar story with the 185/65 tyres – there’s nothing really wrong with them (they certainly have plenty of tread) but they’re starting to show some cracks from old age.

The interior is a clean and pleasant place to be – smartly presented and free from garish modifications. The seats have some gentle signs of use but nothing that stands out; just a few scuffs and creases. The leather around the steering wheel is showing its age, with a few stitches missing, and if you zoom into our photos you’ll also see some surface corrosion around its centre, and also some pitting around the instrument bezels – but it’s far from scruffy.

The dash is in excellent condition, and houses a delightfully old-school Motorola stereo (there’s also a spare in the boot). As far as we know, all the electrics are in good working order. No switch for an overdrive though, sadly – a feature which the car does without.

At the top of the footwells you’ll find a bit of rust – worth paying attending to and investigating further, but we don’t believe it’s beyond salvaging before any welding becomes required. Carpets and door cards look very fresh, and the wooden cappings at the tops of the doors have no signs of rot, just gentle surface wear. The polished MG-branded treadplates are impressively tidy, and the door seals also look more recent than they are (they’re mentioned in the history).

In the boot you’ll find a full-sized spare wire-spoked wheel, which appears new. The carpet is again fresh and there are no structural concerns in here, but look up and you’ll see a tiny patch of surface rust under the nearside corner of the boot lid; worth treating with paint or even a little clear wax.

Underseal has been liberally applied to the underside of the car, so although it’s not exactly pretty, it does at least look well cared for, and the engine subframe and structural members of the monocoque shell look particularly solid – as you might expect from the history (more on that later).

The gaiters are in good condition, as are the front coils, and we’re pleased to see that the rear leaf springs have also been greased – mucky, but it’s the best way to preserve them and prevent rust creeping between them and spoiling their suppleness.

Although the exhaust is not stainless, it does appear perfectly solid, and there’s a small welded patch on the rear silencer. The rear of the differential casing has the usual smear of oil seepage (seemingly coming from the fill plug rather than the drain plug) but there are no severe leaks to worry about. We’re not aware of any problems with any of the brake or handbrake components.

Under the bonnet, which has some fresh-looking insulation, we find a tidy engine bay with a pleasing patina. No fancy Kenlowe fan, performance air filter or silicone hoses here – aside from a 12v conversion, it’s all pretty traditional fare.

The black paint on the head and rocker cover is starting to peel, revealing red beneath (it’s actually quite attractive – entirely subjective of course!). But for the most part, flaking paint and a little surface corrosion – such as on the vacuum unit on the distributor – are the only signs of age.

The owner reports that the car didn’t leave any puddles despite being in his garage for most of 2020. Although we’re not aware of any leaks from the brake and clutch fluid reservoirs, they are showing their age, so replacing or refurbishing them might make a rewarding project for the winter of 2021.

We’re particular impressed with this MGB’s history file, which details a huge array of receipts for sundry parts and labour going back to the 1980s. New sills were fitted by an MG specialists in 1990, along with lower wing sections, and photos dated 1999 illustrate some work done to the front of the rear wheelarches for its MoT.

Many of the smarter elements of the car today (dash top, door seals, thresh plates, suspension springs, chrome sections…) date from a mostly cosmetic overhaul in 2006. That work included a complete respray, pictured in the history file, and the receipt also itemises some new bodywork items: half rear wings, front valance, left-hand door, flexi wings and mud guard.

Do take a moment to browse the history yourself – it’s a big read.

Although the car has hardly been anywhere for many years, it’s reassuring to note from the MoT history that it has been given a valid ticket every single year at least as far back as 2005. There aren’t many advisories or failures over this period (certainly nothing troubling) and, impressively, there’s zero mention of corrosion.

With the weather improving and lockdown restrictions easing, this summer we’re probably going to see a huge rush on pretty roadsters. This lovely down-to-earth example is ready to go, and offers a great opportunity for a buyer who enjoys maintaining and improving their vehicle to keep it in top shape. ‘A rolling project’ you might call it, although that possibly does it an injustice.

A few obvious improvements could be made to its long-haul usability (stereo upgrade, three-point seat belts and overdrive, for example) but there’s also much to be said for staying true to the car’s current simplicity and keeping it as-is.

Clearly it has been very nicely preserved since its overhaul in the late Noughties, so hopefully the next owner will be able to treat it as kindly, and enjoy putting some miles on it too. Our estimate of £7000-£10,000 places this car at the more attainable end of the roadworthy MGB spectrum these days, so there’s great value for money to be had here.

Viewing is always encouraged (within Govt. guidelines of course), and this particular car is located with us 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’.