1979 MG MGB

Description

You can't honestly say there are no more bargains in the automotive world when there are cars like this 1979 MGB running around. Two seats, a top that goes down, a snarky 4-cylinder engine and a slick-shifting manual gear box all make it one of the biggest bangs for the buck anywhere.

1979 was the end of the line for the MGB in the US, but over the decades our appreciation for them has only grown. Cars like this clean burgundy roadster are a fantastic way to enjoy a traditional British sports car for little more than pocket change. You need one that's lived a good life like this example, which has probably never seen temperatures below about 50 degrees. What that means is no problems hiding underneath, although the paint itself is starting to show some age (a professional buff job might just wake it up, though). For a British car, this MG is also quite well assembled, and you'll note that the doors fit well, the hood snugs down tightly, and there are no signs of botched body repairs in any of the panels. A trunk rack out back looks suitably sporty. Everyone loves the MGB and this one looks like it should cost a lot more than it does.

Despite that small size, the cockpit is comfortable for most adults, and delivers the true British sports car experience. The bucket seats are wrapped in brand new textured tan leather that helps keep you cool on warm days and wears like iron. Fresh door panels are simple, the floors are covered in new tan carpets with protective floor mats and the vinyl-clad dash is probably a lot easier to maintain than the old wood ones. Speaking of dashboards, the MGB also includes a full set of instruments with bold, simple faces and a traditional British look. MGs are not big on creature comforts, but it does carry a great-rounding AM/FM radio and it originally came with factory A/C (needs to be connected and serviced). The black vinyl top can be raised and lowered from the driver's seat once you master the technique, and this car also offers a matching boot that gives it a tidy, finished look. There's even a reasonably-sized trunk with a full-sized spare and jack assembly.

MGs were never about brute horsepower, and instead deliver a unique driving experience by virtue of a gutsy four-cylinder engine with a lot of heart. With just 1798 cc to work with, performance is still quite good given the car's light weight, and that's entirely the point. Dual carbs and a long list of recent service items give it easy road manners without losing any of the baritone soundtrack. Other new parts include a new timing belt, fuel tank, a full tune-up, clutch slave cylinder, valve cover gasket, transmission seals, and fresh motor mounts. Combined with the light-shifting 4-speed manual gearbox, it's a delight to run it up and down through the gears, and you can explore the limits of the car's capabilities without endangering everyone else. There's a certain visceral thrill in running this MGB hard, and it rewards with agile handling and a sporting exhaust note from the fresh exhaust system. Unique styled steel wheels look great and wear relatively large blackwall radials.

Fun and nicely documented, this MGB puts you into some very distinguished company all at a very affordable price. Call today!