1981 MG B LE Roadster

MG announced in 1981 that the final version of the MGB would be called the LE, or Limited Edition. With only 1,000 ever built, the MGB LE achieved iconic status from day one, which ensured that more than a few were tucked away by owners who kept a keen eye on their future investment potential.

This appears to be one of those cars. With only 41,000 miles on the odometer, the vendor reports that it has never been restored or welded and is offered in original condition with the standard metallic Pewter Bronze paintwork still in fine fettle. With the chassis number 522773, the owner has identified it as being the 228th from last car built, which means MG had got its eye in by the time it came to build this one…

And, as if that didn’t make it rare enough, this one is a Roadster, the rarer of the two variants with only 420 examples ever having been offered. 

Its first owner kept the car for 16 years, after which its pace of life slowed down even further; remarkably, it has covered fewer than 2,000 miles in the last ten years. Yet, despite this, the owner took it on a golfing holiday last year, during which he tells us that it performed faultlessly. Offered at No Reserve.

Ziebart rust-proofed from new, the bodywork of this MGB LE is remarkably well preserved. It looks to be utterly original, with the sort of tight, even shut lines and ripple-free flanks that are enough to convince us that this has never even been titivated to take advantage of a rising market, much less involved in a shunt.

The inside of the door shuts are looking fabulous, as are the rubber bumpers, body length chrome trim pieces, and factory MGB decals along the flanks: that most unscientific of tests, that it just sits right too, applies in this case, too doesn’t it?

Even the underside is looking sharp, the vendor reports that the floors are solid, the professionally applied underseal is still intact and appears in need of nothing by way of touching up.

The original alloy wheels are in excellent condition, and are shod with matching new tyres. We think that new & matching tyres are, as regular readers will know by now, an infallible indicator of a sympathetic and discerning owner. The sort of chap, in other words, that you want you buy a car like this from.

Problems appear to be limited to slightly worn front and rear MGB badges, in which an enthusiastic previous owner has managed to polish away some of the backing colour. Truly a #FirstWorldProblem, eh?

The original orange-striped seats were seen as being a bit bright even in-period, which means many owners did what’s been done here and fitted black replacements. They’re in fine shape and completely free of anything as vulgar as rips and tears.

The door cards are in very good shape but have been fitted with aftermarket speakers. This won’t bother the non-enthusiast, but originality buffs will be pleased to hear that replacements are both cheap to buy and easy to fit.

The carpets look to be very good, as does the wood-rimmed steering wheel and crackle-finish dashboard. It all looks, in fact, exactly as you might expect a pampered car with such a low mileage to look. The original steering wheel is included.

The roof and tonneau cover are both to be in very good condition, as is the boot area, which has clean carpets and rust-free metal. 

As you can see and hear in the videos the MGB starts and runs cleanly well and on our test drive we can only report that it ran well, but the engine will probably benefit some good running to clear its throat given its low recent mileage. The running gear appears to be free of the leaks that can plague older British cars, and the underbonnet area itself is very clean and neatly presented. 

Problems appear to be limited to a section of underbonnet soundproofing that has come adrift and will need replacing. That’s not bad, is it?

The vendor uses a lead additive to the petrol.

The online MOT history shows nothing of concern whatsoever and helps confirm the car’s low mileage. The car also comes with a number of expired MOT certificates from prior to DVLA computer records and the current MOT runs until July 2021. There are also a smattering of invoices, but the car's careful curation has precluded the need for any major works along the way.

Supplied with a V5 registration document and a British Motor Industry Heritage Trust build certificate, this car’s provenance is beyond reproach, something that both the enthusiast and keen investor will appreciate.

This is a delightful MGB, in a rather rare spec and ready to enjoy a summer of post-lockdown touring.  It is exactly the sort of car that will double up as both a usable classic sportscar as well as a rock-solid investment.

Cheap too, because we think this one will sell for between £7,000 to £10,000, which is astonishing value, especially given that the market values low-mileage originals cars above all else. Of course it is offered without reserve.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this car can be seen 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’.