1969 MG MGB ROADSTER

In the care of the vendor for the past six years, this lovely red MGB was first registered on the 13th of August 1969. With just eight previous owners it has been maintained, refurbished and restored over the years to keep it in the condition you see today.

Only for sale because the owner has moved on to a Morgan, this is a great opportunity to get your hands on a well-sorted MGB Roadster that needs nothing other than some cosmetic fettling, all of which would be straightforward and easy - and work that also offers you the chance to add value as you go.

The bodywork is in good shape with decent panel alignment, strong and solid panels, and a decent finish to the paintwork.

Having had localized repairs made to it over the years, it was most recently tidied up in September 2019 at which point the two doors and the nearside rear panel were cleared of rust and painted. Prior to that, in May 2017, repairs were made to the offside rear quarter to sort out some corrosion, a job that included some welding. The garage also undersealed and Waxoyl’d the MGB at the same time to help ward off future problems.

The chromework is good, being straight and free of rust and damage. There is a little minor pitting here and there, as well as some fine surface scratches to some areas such as the rear bumper, but it all still looks delightful.

The folding black hood is in good shape too, being free of rips, tears and other damage. It folds up and down as it should and seals well, the plastic windows are clear, and the biggest problem we can see is some untidy stitching and the odd spot of fraying, none of which seems to affect its weatherproofing.

Of course, as with any living classic there are a few stonechips, the odd mark and micro-blister, some slight colour mismatches and other evidence that this is a much-loved member of the family that gets driven when the weather allows. We’d rate the bodywork as good, see the pictures for the details.

The 14-inch Minator Minilite-style alloy wheels are also in good shape. Free of damage and kerbing, they’re slightly stained with brake dust but that may well come off with an intensive cleaning session.

Shod with matching Continental ContiEcoContact tyres, all of which have good tread, the only point of any real note is that a couple of the small centre caps are missing.

And, 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 do give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

The glass and light lenses are all good, and the rear bulbs have been upgraded to LED for better visibility from the rear at night. Oh, and the quarterlights were refurbished in around 2016.

Problems? Well, that depends on your attitude towards a patina. With a few marks and slightly less than perfect paintwork, some might be tempted to splash out on a full respray.

On the other hand, most - and we include ourselves in this category – would just see a very usable example that could continue to be refurbished as and when the need arises, a pragmatic attitude that would free you up to just get out and enjoy using it.

The black vinyl seats are in a good condition, beautifully finished and very comfortable. More supportive than they look, while they do have the odd mark on them - and a small split on one seam on the driver’s headrest - there’s no certainly major damage or heavy wear.

The classic MGB steering wheel is in good shape, and sets the tone for the semi-vintage feel of the cockpit. So, the carpets, door cards and dashboard are all in good shape, too; not perfect, just showing the sort of patina and wear that frees you to use it without having to worry about picking up any more scuffs and marks like the ones we see on, for example, the padded door-tops.

It all seems to work as it should, and the owner pointed out that the windscreen washer pump has been upgraded to an electric item and is now operated via a switch rather than the old push/pull system.

The boot floor, like that inside the cabin, is solid. It’s home to a wheel brace and a Minilite-style spare wheel that is fitted with a new tyre.

The engine was rebuilt in 2016. Take a look at the attached list of parts used for the full details but if you’re in a hurry then it looks like it was a proper job that included a new clutch, upgraded electronic ignition, and a stainless steel exhaust.

Regularly serviced - and with the paperwork to prove it - the MGB is running well. The owner tells us that it is a “pleasure to drive, being comfortable and quiet. It starts well, and has been easy to look after and nothing much has been needed since the engine rebuild.”

He singled out the electronic ignition upgrade for praise, saying it has made the engine run “much smoother”. 

The engine bay is tidy without being excessively so, which means you’ll be free to work on it without having to spend a couple of hours detailing it after every little job.

The underside, including the jacking points, appears to be solid and neatly protected by a fresh coat of underseal to a large part of its surface. There is the odd spot of old, flaking underseal that will need wire-crushing off and touching up but that would be an easy, straightforward DIY job.

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…

Having said that, the MOT only ran out at the end of May 2019, and there is nothing in the record from 2005 until that point that would worry us at all.

The car comes with several expired MOT certificates plus invoices to confirm the work that has been done to it over the past few years. It also has the MGB Driver’s Handbook.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of this and other paperwork.

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.

NB. We know that many of you will be limiting your social exposure over the coming days and weeks, so if you’d rather not come to see the car in person, please give us a call and we can shoot a personal video of the car honing in on any areas you’d like us to concentrate on.

Or, even better, why not contact us with your mobile number and we can set up a WhatsApp video call? You get to direct us in real-time, giving you a virtual personal viewing experience while maintaining the lockdown. We like to call it ‘The Market’s 2020 Vision’…

This is a solid, well-prepared, very presentable MGB whose condition will allow you to use it to pop to the pub or shops, free of the worry that some careless oaf might put a mark on it.

And yet, that’s not to damn with faint praise because this is a well fettled example that the seller assures us runs and drives beautifully; with a freshly rebuilt engine and solid underpinnings, it probably has decades of trouble-free motoring ahead of it.

With this in mind, we think this one will sell for between £7,500 and £10,000, which seems like good value to us. Plus, of course, there is no reserve, so you might just be able to pick up a bit of a bargain in time for the summer!

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near 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: Classic & Sportscar Finance for purchase-financing, Footman James for classic car insurance Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car and AnyVan for transporting it.

BORING, but IMPORTANT: Please note that whilst we at The Market always aim to offer the most descriptive and transparent auction listings available, we cannot claim they are perfect analyses of any of the vehicles for sale. We offer far greater opportunity for bidders to view, or arrange inspections for each vehicle thoroughly prior to bidding than traditional auctions, and we never stop encouraging bidders to take advantage of this. We do take a good look at the vehicles delivered to our premises for sale, but this only results in our unbiased personal observations, not those of a qualified inspector or other professional, or the result of a long test drive.

Also, localized paint repairs are common with collectable and classic cars and if they have been professionally carried out then they may be impossible to detect, even if we see the car in person. So, unless we state otherwise, please assume that any vehicle could have had remedial bodywork at some point in its life.

Additionally, please note that most of the videos on our site have been recorded using simple cameras which often result in 'average' sound quality; in particular, engines and exhausts notes can sound a little different to how they are in reality.

Please note that this is sold as seen and that, as is normal for used goods bought at auction, the Sale of Goods Act 1979 does not apply. See our FAQs for more info, and feel free to inspect any vehicle as much as you wish.