Proudly topping the list of the most popular British sports cars of the 1960s, MG's "B" Roadster, launched in 1962, was built for 18 years and sold over 365,000 times to happy customers all over the globe. A pure-bred member of Her Majesty's empire, the MGB is coveted to this day by countless fun-lovers, young at heart, who enjoy top-down motoring in a classic sports car that won't cost an arm and a leg to own.
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Due to excellent spare parts availability, there are still many MGBs on the road, even 29 years after the last one was manufactured. To find one that has--on average--travelled less than 1,000 miles per year and presents itself in amazingly fine, original condition, free of rust, is another story altogether.
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Consequently, you can imagine our excitement when we were able to pry away this particularly attractive, Inca Yellow example from its original owner, right here in Ventura.
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Assembled in August 1979, VIN *GVVDJ2AG504733* is the 3,733rd 1980 model MGB of 22,000 made in this, the last year of production. The car was purchased new on October 26, 1979 at Reedman Automobiles, Inc. in Langhorn, Penna. by its first--and only--owner, a Financial Advisor from Delaware, who subsequently moved to California. |
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Amazingly, and of utmost importance to the serious collector, the car comes with complete documentation establishing mileage and provenance. The works-issued, Royal Blue vinyl folder contains:
- Factory Window Sticker - MSRP $8,275.00 including the optional wire wheels
- Dealer inspection card - dated 10/26/79
- Driver's Handbook incl. Addendum
- MG "Passport to Service" - dealer stamped - 8 inspections performed
- Original insurance application
- Certicard imprint
- MG Consumer Information brochure
- Radio manual and warranty folder
- Owner questionnaire
- MG Club flier
- Service records - totalling $1,354.14
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We begin our visual inspection with the B's engine compartment. The 110 cubic inch 4-cylinder power plant resides in a toothbrush clean, unmolested original environment.
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Religiously serviced every 3,000 miles during all of the car's life, the little motor sounds as healthy as it looks. Over the decades, very few items needed replacement, among them water pump, thermostat, fan switch, belts, hoses, tune-up parts, wiper blades, battery, and exhaust. Additionally, we've had the Stromberg carb rebuilt and the gas tank removed for reconditioning.
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Turning our attention to the car's exterior, we are amazed to find that it still proudly shows off its factory-applied Inca Yellow finish. There is no rust anywhere. Sure, there are some age or storage-induced dings and a couple of spots that were touched up, however, as the old saying goes, they are original only once, and this is one of the few original paint, Inca Yellow 1980 MGBs in existence. Glass, brightwork and chrome items, as well as the car's signature rubber bumpers, are in excellent condition throughout.
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Roadster details, left to right:
- Original black convertible top - free of any damage
- Full tonneau cover with zipper down the middle - very practical
- Snap-on top boot - fits perfectly
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Top up or down: the MGB is an iconic sports car and looks attractive from any angle, its presence vastly enhanced by the original painted spoke wheels with center knockoffs. Let's look inside now, shall we?
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MG's cockpit, though carefully modernized during three decades of production to comply with various safety requirements, retains many of the traditional elements of a classic British Roadster.
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Apart from the very nice wooden shift knob, everything is 100% bone stock here, from the unblemished steering wheel to the fully intact dash top and fascia. Usually quite vulnerable, here it presents itself stunningly beautiful, free of any hairline cracks or warpage. Door and side panels as well as the black carpeting are all in a superb state of preservation, certainly confirming the car's low mileage.
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Incredibly perhaps, all gauges, lights, and switches work, even the clock, the heater blower, and the original, dealer-installed KRACO AM/FM/Cassette stereo. The 29,370 miles shown on the odometer are real, actual, and documented!
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Original, black basket weave vinyl bucket seats with separate head rests are very comfy and, like the remainder of the interior, free of any damage. Seat backs are adjustable; as two-seaters go, the MGB is actually a very spacious automobile that provides plenty of leg and headroom, even for a 6-foot-5 tall pilot and his passenger.
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Ready for the test drive?
Sure, but before we go, let's closely examine trunk and undercarriage.
Note dings on trunk lid.
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Factory spare, tools, and jacking equipment, including the big spanner for the wheels' center lock nut, dwell in the official black bag inside a clean and rust free luggage compartment.
And, yes, the trunk light works, too!
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Stunningly pristine, untouched undercarriage shows off all its authentic factory finishes. There's zero rust to be found. Nothing is hidden by Ziebarting or undercoating applied "after the fact." This B clearly was never left exposed to the harsher elements or--God forbid!--driven on salty roads; consequently, it has never needed any rust repair.
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Friday, January 16, is another warm winter day here in paradise. Within a minute, the top is lowered. Turning the ignition key, MGB's engine starts instantly, and away we go.
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Driving an MGB is an exhilarating experience. It's hard to describe to the uninitiated the pure joy you feel when putting this vintage sports car through its paces. The direct connection between "man and machine" the MG delivers is just not palpable anymore with today's drive-by-wire gizmo-cars.
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The light car sticks to the road like glue. Being an almost half-century-old design, we are pleasantly surprised by its excellent handling characteristics. No wonder MGBs have won their share of long distance Rallyes and road races and are still very popular in SCCA racing.
Note, this B is still equipped with genuine MICHELIN 165 SR 14 radials all around.
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The car sounds marvellous, with a slightly raspy, burbling exhaust note and the smooth-revving engine responds eagerly to the driver's input. Brakes, steering, and suspension are faultless, fulfilling the promise only a low-mileage car can hold. Oil pressure is great, and the car runs cool; there are no annoying fluid leaks, either.
Wherever you go, heads turn at the sight and sound of the attractive yellow Roadster.
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Only through a lucky confluence of circumstances could this last-year MGB survive in its astonishing original condition: it was a cherished summer car in its early life and had been in dry storage ever since coming to California a decade ago. It features all matching numbers and has never been in an accident or suffered from corrosion.
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Here's a fun, inexpensive open-air car that's a true classic, one that you can drive forever while it appreciates in value.
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Remember, at the end of the day, only the most original, unmolested examples of a species will stand head and shoulders above their more mundane brethren. Here's one that has all the attributes of a bona fide heirloom "keeper."
Economical fun and exceptional collectibility, all rolled into one beautiful package: can it get any better?
Addendum:
We sold this last year, one-owner, low-mileage MGB in February 2009 to New Jersey.
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