1981 MG B Roadster LE

This very low mileage example (24,700miles) has spent the last two years of its life in the classic-friendly climate of Cornwall, garaged and diligently cared for by an MG Owners Club member. As such, it has only seen light summer use - shows and the odd jaunt, and indeed won its class at the Cornish Classic Car competition. Only 420 metallic bronze MGB LE roadsters were produced at the very end of MGB production, this being number 200 (there’s a plaque on the dashboard to say so), manufactured in 1980.

Further enhancing its condition, the car was ‘Waxoyled’ from new, the treatment being refreshed in 2020. The car has a also had a ‘Fuel Catalyst’ fitted in the fuel tank, which enables it to run on unleaded fuel ( rather than constantly using an additive). This system is guaranteed for 100,000 miles.

Despite it remaining a very good-looking car, the rather meticulous owner decided some stone chips on the nearside flank warranted a comprehensive respray, and so the MG was despatched to a professional coach painter for a repaint (at a cost of some £4500) in the original MG bronze that was reserved exclusively for this last edition.

In August of this year, the car was brought back to Yorkshire (in a covered trailer) and given an extensive refettling; a comprehensive service including new brakes, carburettor re-balance and

cleaning, and a general light recommissioning.

Alongside the set of brand new ‘Stag’-style allows (as per the original), new tyres and a new battery - oh; and a new stainless steel exhaust - of the previous year, the complete package gives the new owner little to worry about save for where to drive it next summer.

The roadster presents very well with that respray looking as good as (actually probably better than) the original factory pain. The finish is very consistent across the car, retaining a deep glossy shine. There are no sings of corrosion and certainly no ‘orange-peel’ inconsistencies anywhere on the bodywork. It isn’t only the paint itself which is excellent, but how the decals and trim have been reapplied; those Union Jacks and stripes down the flanks are very smooth. The brightwork too is in excellent shape; there’s no hint of a blueish bloom anywhere on the chrome, nor any pitting from absorbed moisture. Door handles, mirrors, quarterlights and headlights show no dents or scratches, and are all firmly mounted. (By the way, those headlights are Lucas H4 halogens - so brighter than on your standard MGB). The window trims, sit on very healthy-looking rubber mounts and seals (areas often overlooked or neglected on lesser examples.). The bumpers too retain their deep black colour and show no scuffs or cracks. Even that deep chin spoiler has stayed fresh.

I would venture to say that the overall panel fit of this example is better than usual. An MG roadster ‘feature’ can often be the slightly proud fitting of the boot lid, but this one fits very snugly, as do the doors and bonnet. Those chrome coach lines lines up nicely with the ones on the next panel down the flanks and shut lines are consistently narrow.

All in all, a very good-looking example - and definitely one to consider if shows are your thing.

As we’ve said of this ‘Deck Chair’ interior in the past, it’s so redolent(and vivid) in it’s archetypal Seventiesness. And as nostalgia for that period grows even stronger, great examples of its…erm… taste… are going to be more sort after. And this is a very good example. It’s in near perfect condition; not many have made it this far in this state. There are no tears or worn patches in the cloth - certainly no fading - and it is perfectly stitched to the black vinyl surrounding it. The seat cushion foams have actually been refreshed, but you will see no sign of that - other than their as-new stance - in the stitching or consistency of shape. The vinyl retains a deep gloss finish both on the seats and on the door panels (which are new).

Winders and handles work smoothly and are firmly mounted - you might notice that there are chrome embelishers fitted on the window winder surrounds and also on the gear stick. The latter has suffered no scratches from finger nails, and the arm rest behind it retains its shape and colour. The same goes for all controls and trim - everything clean, correct and in the right place. The only exceptions being a rather smart DAB radio and an even smarter Motolita steering wheel. (The original comes with the car, should you wish to swap back).

Also original - and remaining in excellent shape - is the MG’s roof, which operates on the original frame. A new, stout-looking tonneau is also supplied. It can act as a full cover, or be zipped half open to the leave the driver’s seat open. It’s a versatile addition to your driving options, and, like everything else around the cabin, is in excellent condition.

Lastly, the cabin - and boot - are finished off with a fine set of new black carpets and MG-logo’d rubber mats, which show no signs of wear.

This MG looks very solid underneath. Remember, it was Waxoyled from new, with the treatment reapplied this year. The underside of the body looks very healthy, showing no sighs of damage or degradation, and the chassis cross-members are sturdy.

In the main suspension parts look to be in excellent shape; free-moving, accessible and servicable, though there is some surface corrosion on the coil springs and some suspension parts on the off-side front. Rubber gaiters look to be in good shape. The new stainless steel exhaust retains a good shine and is firmly mounted to its brackets.

The five-spoke alloys are new - and look it (the red MG bosses are a nice touch), and the tyres have only done 300 miles since fitting.

The engine bay is in keeping with the rest of the car, very neat, the paint here (and in the boot) looking very tidy. It is rust-free - save for the slight brush stroke to the odd bolt - and there are no signs of leaks or indeed accumulated grime in corners or crevices. That goes for door cavities and hinges too. There is the slight accumulation of Waxoyl in the odd crevice, but I’m not sure that’s a bad thing.

The four-cylinder and its ancillaries should prove a delight to originality enthusiasts and mechanics alike. Everything is present, original and correct (including the ‘spare’ key attached to the bulkhead) and everything looks eminently robust, clean and servicable. This extends to hoses, belts and wiring - the latter having not perished nor accumulated oxidation on the contacts.

You’d certainly be happy to sit with the bonnet up at any classic show, and if you were/are of that mind, it surely wouldn’t be the hardest job to to bring it up to concours condition.

Although the car is obviously a low-mileage example - that’s corroborated by the MOT history - it’s still reassuring to see the owner keeping on top of the servicing. It also nice to see that a lot of those jobs are quite recent. The receipts for all the interior trim parts/work are retained, as is that for the new battery (and housing) from 2019.

There was a a fair bit of mechanical furtling and fettling in 2020. A general check-over led to new bulbs here and there, a new fuel pump and carburettor cleaning, balancing and set-up. There was also a thorough brake overhaul. The Waxoyl certificate is stamped and up to date and the MG carries an MOT until September 2021.

Surely one of the best available, this MG roadster scores highly on all points; provenance, comparative rarity (okay, it’s an MG roadster) and, of course, condition. Yes, there are a lot of ‘B’s out there, but this is that little bit more special in most every respect. It’s quite a period piece.

The mileage, although low, isn’t prohibitive of the next owner going out and enjoying it… ‘sensibly’ while still retaining all of the car’s value. That, we estimate to be between £12,000 - £16,000.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with the seller in Yorkshire; 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.