1975 MG MGB

Description

There are not many better ways to enjoy a warm summer day and a twisting country road than from behind the wheel of a traditional British sports car. This 1975 MGB represents the last of the breed, a wonderful foray into a time when the cars were elemental and pure, and the driving experience wasn't measured on a clock, but by the size of the grin on your face.

The MGB is one of those cars that everyone loves, and one look at this handsome black specimen will tell you all you need to know. Its compact proportions are ideally suited to carrying two passengers, there's no extra fat to steal performance. The taut bodywork is an evolutionary design that by 1975 had grown the large rubber front bumper/grille assembly, giving it a more aggressive look that was pure 1970s cool. The black paint on this roadster looks pretty good overall and makes the little roadster look substantial despite its affordable price tag. There's no sign of major rust or other typical MGB issues, and the fit and finish is arguably better than new thanks to years of hobbyists tweaking and fixing the little stuff. The chrome trunk rack is something you'll undoubtedly find useful on your next road trip and the traditional 3-element taillight lenses remain in excellent condition.

The black interior is in beautiful condition, showing no major wear on any of the soft components. Even the driver's seat is firm and supportive, with a woven vinyl seat cover that apparently wears like stone, as it shows zero signs of use. Black carpets are deep and rich and untouched by UV fading, and the door panels remain taut. All the gauges appear original and in good working order, and this is a factory radio delete car, complete with block-off plate, which is kind of a neat feature and suggests that performance was paramount when it was new. The black convertible top looks recent and offers a clear rear window (three of them, actually), and it can be thrown open in a matter of moments, so it's easy to take advantage of open-air motoring any time the mood strikes you. There's also a matching black boot that gives it a smooth profile and the trunk is outfitted with carpets and a full-sized spare.

The thrill of a British sports car is not in its sheer power and speed, but in one's ability to use most of the car's performance envelope without worry. The MG's 1.8 liter inline-four makes reasonable power, but plenty of torque and the most wonderful sound, aggressive at idle and a fantastic tenor bellow at full throttle. It uses a Weber carburetor with electric choke to make starting easy and there's a recent alternator to keep the battery topped off. A 4-2-1 exhaust header feeds a newer exhaust system with a nice raspy exhaust note, and handling is light thanks to a well-sorted suspension and a modest curb weight. It's not detailed underneath and there's a bit of surface rust, but that's reassuring because you can see this little car has nothing to hide. Four 185/65/14 radials have been fitted to the original wheels for a timeless look.

MGB fans know how wonderful these are, and how difficult good ones are to find. This one is ready to have fun for not a lot of money. Call today!