montythemole
New Member
Model: MGB GT
Variant: 1.8 4 speed manual
Year: 1968
Mileage: Speedo reads 16k, so expect is 116k
Tax: 11 months (Exempt)
MOT: None at present but will stick 12 months on
Location: Milton Keynes, Bedfordshire
Price: £3500 or swap
Sadly I think it's time to sell the MG. I just don't drive it enough (ditto for the Rover I'm also selling). Probably driven it 5 times in 18 months!
It's an early MGB GT, with the chrome bumpers and with the original steel wheels rather than wires or minilites like all the others!
I bought this from a mate who had it laid up in his workshop for years having bought it from someone who had spent a lot of time and money restoring it. Sadly a bad hip and pressures of running a business meant he seldom used it.
I've had it about 18 months, checked it over and put through it's first MOT in a few years which it passed without even an advisory. MOT now expired but will re-MOT for the buyer.
The restorer spent a lot of time and money on the car and it is in very good order. Sadly all history is lost so other than what I can gather from looking at it and the MOT I have no history.
Engine - 1.8 engine in very good cosmetic order, looks like it's been rebuilt and starts easily and runs great. It's got the early 4 speed non overdrive gearbox. I believe the engine mounts may need looking at as it's a little shakey in the cabin but I'm more used to my Prius so maybe I'm being unfair.
Bodywork - GT coupe in that orangey colour they do. It's had a full respray of fairly good quality in the past. There is the odd stone chip, a rust spot on the roof and the rear qtr seams show signs of bubbling and bottom edge of boot is crusty when you open it but otherwise good. It's good enough to polish up and take to shows but wouldn't win any show and shines.
Interior - Good generally. The seats have lovely patina red leather but the drivers has split so previous owner fitted a full set of black leather (or leather look not sure) covers. If I could have found a decent matching front seat I would have removed the covers.
Head lining is very worn and needs replacing to be honest, but I'm more of a nuts and bolts than fabric guy.
Has original magnetic fixed belts in front and a single inertia reel in back for kids seat (managed to fit my 1 years old in car seat in back).
Stereo - Fitted with a retro style MP3 SD/USB head unit running through two small speakers installed in the centre speaker mount. Aerial is run under the dash to avoid having it ruin the lines of the car. Sound is good enough to keep you entertained.
Dash - all dials work with exception of rev counter. It was reading 2x the actual rpm so I disconnected and fitted an auxiliary small tacho as shown until I found a working example of the original.
Driving - It's fun to drive and makes you feel like Austin Powers. It's not especially fast or nippy (they never were) but makes you smile.
Mods - Since owning it I've tried to sympathetically update the car:
Battery isolator switch behind drivers seat
Changed to single 12v from two 6v batteries
Fitted Porsche style retro mirrors
Removed front and rear overriders (rear plate now illuminated with light up number plate bolts).
Replaced corroded front bumper with good example (rear is a little pitted and could do with swapping but is presentable)
Stereo upgrade as stated
Small tacho as stated
New hoses throughout engine bay
Flushed and filled coolant
Greased kingpins
Good points -
presentable original chrome bumpered classic with only minor rust in places
tax exempt
cheap classic insurance
evidence of engine rebuild
starts great even when laid up for months
nice interior needing only headlining to complete.
Bad points -
minor rust on rear qtr seam and on bottom of boot when opened
no history
odd chip as you would expect for the age
Offered for sale or may swap for something interesting, really got the track day bug so after a Westfield style car or similar. Or anything suited to track days.
Price is hard to judge as they seem to go for such a range of prices depending on condition. Pitching at £3500 which I think is fair.
Engine (pre dusting off!):
Headlining:
Rubbish shot of the tacho, switches have better labels on now as well!
Stereo and speakers (pre tacho install)
Original red leather visible under covers:
Speakers in console:
Seatbelts:
Paint bubble on roof:
Variant: 1.8 4 speed manual
Year: 1968
Mileage: Speedo reads 16k, so expect is 116k
Tax: 11 months (Exempt)
MOT: None at present but will stick 12 months on
Location: Milton Keynes, Bedfordshire
Price: £3500 or swap
Sadly I think it's time to sell the MG. I just don't drive it enough (ditto for the Rover I'm also selling). Probably driven it 5 times in 18 months!
It's an early MGB GT, with the chrome bumpers and with the original steel wheels rather than wires or minilites like all the others!
I bought this from a mate who had it laid up in his workshop for years having bought it from someone who had spent a lot of time and money restoring it. Sadly a bad hip and pressures of running a business meant he seldom used it.
I've had it about 18 months, checked it over and put through it's first MOT in a few years which it passed without even an advisory. MOT now expired but will re-MOT for the buyer.
The restorer spent a lot of time and money on the car and it is in very good order. Sadly all history is lost so other than what I can gather from looking at it and the MOT I have no history.
Engine - 1.8 engine in very good cosmetic order, looks like it's been rebuilt and starts easily and runs great. It's got the early 4 speed non overdrive gearbox. I believe the engine mounts may need looking at as it's a little shakey in the cabin but I'm more used to my Prius so maybe I'm being unfair.
Bodywork - GT coupe in that orangey colour they do. It's had a full respray of fairly good quality in the past. There is the odd stone chip, a rust spot on the roof and the rear qtr seams show signs of bubbling and bottom edge of boot is crusty when you open it but otherwise good. It's good enough to polish up and take to shows but wouldn't win any show and shines.
Interior - Good generally. The seats have lovely patina red leather but the drivers has split so previous owner fitted a full set of black leather (or leather look not sure) covers. If I could have found a decent matching front seat I would have removed the covers.
Head lining is very worn and needs replacing to be honest, but I'm more of a nuts and bolts than fabric guy.
Has original magnetic fixed belts in front and a single inertia reel in back for kids seat (managed to fit my 1 years old in car seat in back).
Stereo - Fitted with a retro style MP3 SD/USB head unit running through two small speakers installed in the centre speaker mount. Aerial is run under the dash to avoid having it ruin the lines of the car. Sound is good enough to keep you entertained.
Dash - all dials work with exception of rev counter. It was reading 2x the actual rpm so I disconnected and fitted an auxiliary small tacho as shown until I found a working example of the original.
Driving - It's fun to drive and makes you feel like Austin Powers. It's not especially fast or nippy (they never were) but makes you smile.
Mods - Since owning it I've tried to sympathetically update the car:
Battery isolator switch behind drivers seat
Changed to single 12v from two 6v batteries
Fitted Porsche style retro mirrors
Removed front and rear overriders (rear plate now illuminated with light up number plate bolts).
Replaced corroded front bumper with good example (rear is a little pitted and could do with swapping but is presentable)
Stereo upgrade as stated
Small tacho as stated
New hoses throughout engine bay
Flushed and filled coolant
Greased kingpins
Good points -
presentable original chrome bumpered classic with only minor rust in places
tax exempt
cheap classic insurance
evidence of engine rebuild
starts great even when laid up for months
nice interior needing only headlining to complete.
Bad points -
minor rust on rear qtr seam and on bottom of boot when opened
no history
odd chip as you would expect for the age
Offered for sale or may swap for something interesting, really got the track day bug so after a Westfield style car or similar. Or anything suited to track days.
Price is hard to judge as they seem to go for such a range of prices depending on condition. Pitching at £3500 which I think is fair.
Engine (pre dusting off!):
Headlining:
Rubbish shot of the tacho, switches have better labels on now as well!
Stereo and speakers (pre tacho install)
Original red leather visible under covers:
Speakers in console:
Seatbelts:
Paint bubble on roof: