1967 MG B GT MKI

Our GT is a desirable Mark 1 and was built in the February and registered in the April of 1967, a good year for these cars if you appreciate styling purity, period-correct wire wheels and the delicately evocative appeal of features like the thin-rimmed MG steering wheel.

This particular example is a fine tribute not only to the rightness of the original design but also to the skills of Britain’s restoration specialists. A BMI Heritage Trust factory record in the history file shows that it was originally Mineral Blue. Not too long ago it was put through a stripdown and repaint process. The shade of silver chosen for that could put James Bond fans in mind of the DB5’s first appearance in Goldfinger. Despite the huge price difference between these two iconic Brits, or maybe because of it, it’s actually not that crazy a stretch to characterise this GT as a thinking man’s Aston Martin....

It’s certainly the sensible man’s Aston. Owner John uses his cars. Having previously owned Ferraris that were too precious to bring out of the garage, he now has zero interest in over-cossetted classics. For him, that’s just car storage. He bought the MG for the all too familiar reason that a lot of us buy classics: he saw it, felt his inner 007, thought he would enjoy driving it, and had to have it. All perfectly logical. It probably helped that he already owned (and still owns) three Roadsters, so he knew his Bs.

‘Patina’ is an important word for a certain type of classic car buyer. You’ll see it on The Market’s headed notepaper too. These days, you can pay a lot of money to have patina added. John’s GT has naturally matured to a delicious mix of everyday usability and non-depreciation.

So, why is he selling the GT now? We have to admit that it’s partly our fault. All right, it’s mainly our fault. We advertised a lovely Mercedes 230CE, and John was smitten by that ‘have to have it’ feeling again. He won the Merc and life changed overnight for the MG. ‘I found that all the journeys I would previously have done in the GT I was now doing in the CE, so the MG just isn’t getting used any more. It’s a shame, because it’s really nice to drive.’ - something our brief test drives would appear to confirm - the engine pulls well, combined with a sweet gear change and working overdrive, sharp steering and brakes.

Generally speaking the paint finish is very good with a strong shine. However, up close there are a number of imperfections (see the Gallery for full details). Examples include a couple of areas where the paint has lifted slightly and a couple of tiny creases to the front valance. We note some filler here and there to front and rear wings and in the door shuts, but then most restorations of a UK car require a touch of the stuff. If it mattered to you, it’s all fixable, of course, but we are not sure that's necessary. It's not a £12,000 perfect car, it's one for driving and enjoying, good looking but not something to be precious about.

Other than that, it presents really well. As you’d expect from a resprayed car you’ll struggle to find flaws with the doors, sills, or window seals. Gratifyingly, the brightwork lives up to its name. The bumpers are unpocked and straight, and the painted wire wheels are nick-free. The period AA badge on the grille will be left in situ.

It’s used, in the best sense of the word. Although the crackle-black dash is a little faded, the headlining has some areas of very light discolouration, and some of the knobs have understandably lost their factory sheen after over half a century, we consider this to be honest wear and tear and a positive contributor to the car’s Sixties ambience.

Opening the doors, you’ll admire the unmarked cards before lifting the excellent and hole-free carpets to reveal very solid flooring. The beautifully worn-in leather seats are not the original black with blue piping items, but they are in the correct 1960s MG style. 

It’s hard not to smile at the octagon speaker below the dash, given that there’s no radio to power it. Then again, why would you displace that lovely MG dash badge? How would you add a modern head unit without ruining the 1960s vibe? And why would you need anything more than the distinctive burble of the B-series exhaust bouncing off the stone walls of a quiet country village? That’s John’s view on the matter, and we’re inclined to agree.

MGB engine bays were never paragons of neatness even when they were new. 

Wires and hoses just went where they pleased, or where they fitted. It’s no different here, but the general appearance of this car’s underbonnet area is clean and workmanlike. The soundproofing materials are all in place and intact.

The boot seems as solid as the rest of the car, with just the odd tinges of brown showing through the paint here and there.

The engine was reconditioned in 2000 and has done very few miles since. The MOT tester for the car’s last MOT in February 2019 noted some slight wetness from the K&N-filtered B-Series engine and gearbox, but we think he may simply have been flagging up non-perfect areas for John’s information because the garage floor underneath this MG has so far remained resolutely drip-free. 

Any on-ramp examination you’d care to make of the floors and suspension will be an equally sanitary exercise. It’s very clean indeed and looks to have had a thorough application of underseal. The only insignificant bits of corrosion on display are on the leaf springs and a couple of bracket fasteners. The exhaust system and brake pipes appear to be sound.

Our test drive demonstrated a 'sweeter-than-average' engine that is very keen to rev and very competent steering, brakes, suspension, gearbox (with working overdrive). Overall we were impressed with the brief test drive.

The history file for this car is very good. On top of the nice selection of routine service bills there are specific invoices for a new alternator in 1997, for Waxoyling in 1998, and for the car’s purchase by a previous owner for £4800 in (we think) 2002.

The current MOT expires in February 2020, with nothing of major concern being identified in the online MOT history.

The speedo reads just over 10,000 miles. Obviously you’ll be adding an extra number to the front of that, but the sheaf of MOT certificates indicates that this number is more likely to be a ‘1’ than anything else.

Of those 125,000 GTs built between 1965 and 1980 – even the newest ones are nearly 40 years old – it’s remarkable to note that nearly 9000 are still registered here in the UK. That number has been slowly rising year on year from a low point of fewer than 8000 in 2012.

Such a relatively plentiful supply of cars means that buyers can be picky. Nobody has to settle for a grotty old rust bucket or be stung for silly money on a car that’s had too much spent on it.

This is not a concours car, but it has had a lot of restorative attention paid to it. For enthusiasts who prefer to drive as well as polish cars, John’s GT represents a very happy medium: something you’d be proud to walk up to with the keys in your hand, and something whose keys you’d also be happy to use.

Having said all that stuff about affordability, here’s a salutary tale to end with. Another GT was offered here at The Market in July 2019. With an unwarranted but entirely believable mileage of 21,000, that car was valued at £18,000 by the MG Owners Club – and concours GT Mk1's can go for even more. John’s GT clearly has the potential to scratch any MG-fancier’s itch for a very tempting four-figure sum, which we estimate will end up somewhere between £7,000 - £10,000. 

We always encourage viewings. This MG is located here at The Market HQ in Abingdon. Just click the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing to arrange an appointment. Ahead of that, or at any time during the process, you’re more than welcome to ask any questions or jot down observations in the comments section below. You won’t be shocked to hear that our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ section will answer general questions that are frequently asked about how The Market works.

Also please note that we have a network of trusted suppliers with whom we work regularly and successfully: Classic & Sportscar Finance for purchase-financing, Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car, AnyVan for transporting it, and Footman James for classic car insurance.

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.

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.