1970 MG MGB GT

Description

MGs are finally getting some serious attention from collectors, and this cool little 1970 MGB GT has a lot to offer the serious MG enthusiast and car lover alike. Comprehensively restored over ten years ago and then recently refreshed with loads of parts and service that make it turn-key ready today, this GT has quite a lot going for it. With a peppy 1.8L I4 under the hood, a spirited 4-speed manual transmission managing the gears, and a handsome dark blue-on-black color combination, it's the most you'll ever get out of a little British racer for this kind of cash. Take a closer look, all the hard work's been done, now it's time to turn the key and enjoy this incredibly fun MGB GT.

Known as the "poor man's Aston Martin", there's nothing poor about how much time and money it takes to get these MGB's up to snuff during a full-blown restoration. The good news is, when the builder's got a hold of this car over a decade ago, they did everything right and replaced a ton of parts – new inner and outer sills, rockers, factory floor pans, front fenders, and rear quarters. All the steel panels were set correctly, the gaps were made precise, and then several handsome layers of modern paint were applied. You'll be drawn to Royal Blue GT at first glance as its attractive finish takes you by the hand and pulls you closer. It's a nice, driver-quality paint job that still shows well enough to grab you and not let go, with only minor imperfections and bumps and bruises to speak of. And much to its credit, this British classic has successfully retained its factory look after conscientious ownership has committed to the car's wonderful originality. This is a '70 model, so it has the chrome bumpers that make it highly-coveted among collectors, because by the end of '74, those bumpers had been replaced by black plastic units, forever solidifying the chrome bumper legacy in terms of value, style and prestige. And speaking of chrome, the bumpers are brand new and all the brightwork was replaced/replated when the car was restored, so the glistening shine you see in the pictures is quite genuine even after all these years. The hatchback styling was a precursor for the 'hot-hatch' movement that arrived a decade later, and the big badging out back proudly boasts its British roots to any curious onlookers.

The interior was also restored years back with handsome black seat covers that give this MGB the ultimate British color combination. The GT's hatchback profile actually gives it a very spacious interior where it's easy to get comfortable, and with a full array of clearly marked Smiths instruments it looks like a much more expensive car than it is. Matching door panels went in at the same time and black carpets are OEM in texture and nap and are protected with new MG floor mats, and they create a neat contrast with the dark blue paint. That walnut woodrimmed steering wheel is new, and it matches the new shift knob atop the 4-speed manual, and a neat little center console was recently added for much-needed storage space inside. There's a back seat area that's probably best reserved for people you don't like, but cargo space under the hatch is commodious and it's easy to see how guys could haul their race gear to the track on Sunday and still drive the car to work on Monday. A newer Pioneer AM/FM/CD/AUX stereo has been fitted in the original radio's slot in the dash, and an A/C system was added to make the cabin a very comfortable place.

The 1800 cc inline-four is the desirable 5-main-bearing engine that's renowned for its durability. Despite being fully rebuilt back when the car was restored, it was recently refreshed with a new cam, new pistons, enlarged piston cylinders, and a shaved head, so it's running like a top. The 4-speed manual transmission shifts very smoothly and as you can tell in our photos this car is not a leaker, somewhat of an anomaly among MGs. Underneath you get a new track bar, a fresh front disc brake conversion with a new caliper set, and a rack-and-pinion style steering system that helps flicks this little hatch in and out of the corners. The chassis was undercoated when the car was first restored, and between that and the long-term storage, this is a clean little hatchback everywhere you look. It's not detailed for show, but if you want a great one to drive, this one has been comprehensively serviced and is ready to go. Even the original wire wheels are in excellent condition wearing recent Dunlop radials with plenty of tread left.

With rust being the #1 killer of MGs, this super solid GT should be at the top of any MG collector's wish list. Chrome bumper examples as clean as this are getting harder to find as their values shoot through the roof, so don't miss your chance at a super-clean one. Call today!