MGB Roadster MkII

Click Here for Full Screen Image - Click Here to Download Image

The MGB went through a significant number of changes during its lifecycle, perhaps the most significant taking place when the MkII was introduced in 1967.

By then, the original 3-bearing engine was long gone, the '18GB' unit gaining 5 main bearings as early as 1964. The MkII added a full synchromesh gearbox, which required a fair number of changes to the floorpan and gearbox tunnel. Rubery Owen ‘Rostyle’ wheels replaced the usual standard steel items, while on the inside numerous minor changes to the trim and interior updated the design.

By late 1965, the elegant Roadster had been joined by the pretty Pininfarina-styled GT, both cars remaining extremely popular with over 523,000 finding buyers before production came to an end in 1980.

As the accompanying Heritage Cerificate confirms, this 1968 MkII Roadster left the Abingdon factory on 7th November 1968 destined for Jersey. Sold new through St Helier-based dealers Cleveland Garages, it was repatriated to the mainland in 1974 at which point it gained its first UK registration number, PAD 445M (a 1974 issue). There are 15 old MOTs on file, indicating that in 1995 the car was re-registered with the more appropriate age-related registration number SCY 133F, its current V5C showing that it is correctly registered as a Historic Vehicle (tax exempt).

The vendors purchased the car 12 years ago and have covered no more than 10,000 miles in it since. When they acquired it, they organised for the recently rebuilt engine and overdrive gearbox from their existing MGB to be fitted, the components now in the car having covered fewer than 15,000 miles since their reconditioning.

More recent expenditure has included the fitting of a new fuel pump, starter motor, and five new tyres. A single 12-volt battery conversion was added which has proved highly satisfactory and a new clutch was fitted last year. MGBs of this period are among the nicest of the breed, retaining the elegance of the MkI with the benefits of the more robust gearbox from the later models.

MOTd until October 2016, the vendor reports that this car has been extremely reliable, is very pleasant to drive and is only being sold due to an “embarrassment” of vehicles in the garage – a ‘problem’ familiar to many of you, we are sure!