MGB Roadster

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For the first twelve years of its life the MGB rolled out of Abingdon equipped with the classic chrome bumper look, leather seats and mellow hues such as Mineral Blue, Primrose Yellow and Old English White.

By 1974 the MGB was well into its stride but needed updating to suit the more flamboyant buyer of the 1970s, the update being only hastened when the US Federal government decreed that all new cars had to be modified to meet impending crash protection laws.

As a result Marleyfoam rubber bumpers replaced the original items and although it is now common wisdom that this was a retrograde step, at the time they looked funky and modern compared to the old fashioned chrome (and they were styled by Allegro designer Harris Mann, don’t forget).

Other chassis changes included new stiffer springs and a deletion of the anti-roll bars – moves that seriously affected the MG’s handling. Small wonder, then, that the ‘mods’ were quickly revised only two years later for ’77 year cars. Admittedly, the lofty ride height remained, as did the big bumpers, but new anti-roll bars and a revised steering rack mostly returned the MGB back to its former standards.

Dating from the last year of production, this February 1980 registered Roadster has had just two Shropshire owners from new, being in the current lady ownership since 1983. About 10 years ago the car was sent to a local garage for a full restoration but unfortunately this was never completed. As you can see the car is partially dismantled and we are told that the engine was rebuilt after it was taken out, this being one of the first jobs on the list, but there is no proof of this.

With much work still to do and lacking any documents, it is being sold here at no reserve and strictly ‘as viewed’. If the new third owner gets their skates on, they could have it back on the road in time for summer!