Lot number | 16 |
---|---|
Hammer value | £1,500 |
Description | MGB Roadster MkI Rolling Shell |
Registration | N/A |
Year | 1965 |
Colour | Red primer |
Documents | US Certificate of Title; copy of Heritage trace; import documents |
Launched in 1962, initially in Roadster form only, the MGB is the quintessential British sportscar and remains as popular today as it was when it made its first appearance 53 years ago.
Good looking, decently quick and a doddle to restore and maintain, it has perhaps the largest parts back up of any classic car with a vast army of friendly owners and restorers only too happy to give advice and assistance to fellow enthusiasts. In the subtle pecking order of MGB ownership, the original MkI Roadster is widely considered to be the model to go for, having a nicer interior than later models and retaining pleasing features such as the ‘pull door handles’ that were lost on subsequent models.
On offer here is a rolling shell for just such a car, with the original USA Certificate of Title and a copy of a British Motor Heritage Trust production record trace stating the model year as 1965 and the original colour as black with red trim. Appearing to be in reassuringly solid condition with signs of some restoration in the past, it was imported from the USA in 1993 with Customs and Excise 386 document (pre NOVA system) proving that all duties have been paid.
A useful number of parts remain with the shell, including suspension, brakes, wire wheels, dashboard, instruments, windscreen, doors and wings. Given that remanufactured Heritage bodyshells now cost almost £9,000, this original Abingdon-made shell, with its useful ancillaries, could well prove a cost-effective way of getting a rust-eaten British car back on the road. It is being offered here at no reserve so the best bid takes it home.