MGB GT MkII

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As English as picnics, warm beer and long shadows on a cricket pitch, the MGB was a defining car for the Abingdon marque and during its 18-year production life it became the world’s best-selling sportscar, epitomising a sense of Britishness to motoring enthusiasts across the globe.

Even today there are few cars more likely to raise a cheery wave and a nod of affection than this charismatic little charmer. Not just a crowd pleaser, it was also a joy to own, being well mannered, discreetly handsome and decently fast when provoked. Just like a true Brit should be. It was also designed by a man called Syd, and you can’t get much more British than that!

At first only available as a Roadster, a GT version was available from 1965 onwards, the fastback roof styled by Pininfarina (well, we’ve always been a tolerant bunch) and giving even more rigidity to an already competent chassis. Powered by a lusty 97bhp 1.8-litre B Series engine that was as reliable as Big Ben, it could hit the magic ton and tank along for years with minimal maintenance. Apart from gaining rubber bumpers in late 1974, it remained fundamentally the same car right up until its demise in October 1980.

First registered in November 1972, we are told that this smart little GT MkII comes with a very large history file from new including the fitment of a new MGB engine and ancillaries in 2006 by Jacob Engineering Historic Sports & Racing Car Specialists at a cost of £1,650. We are further informed that the indicated mileage of around 43,000 is believed to be genuine although, not having seen the file ourselves yet, we cannot warrant this.

Sitting on an attractive set of Minilite-style alloys and said to be in very good condition throughout with good paint and a smart black leather interior, it is due to have a fresh MOT in time for the sale and certainly looks like a cracker in the photos.