Back in the early 90's I used to do 20k+ PA in my 76 GT and in one year I did 44k. On top of that in 25 years of ownership and numerous trip to the continent including France, Germany, Poland, Denmark, Italy, and most recently Corsica where alone I did over 2000 miles in 7 days !

To date I have yet to suffer a breakdown which necessitated outside assistance. So in answer to the question yes, an MGB can make a very practical and reliable daily driver !

The cherry on the cake is that even driving enthusiastically I can I get up to 36mpg out of it too.

The car is now in France where I live and has 305,000 miles on it's original engine it having had just one 20 thou rebore plus cam and valve gear etc. some 200,000 miles ago. The crank is still standard size but still produces 70lbs of pressure when hot even in a 40deg French summer.

The gearbox and OD are completely untouched although the 1st motion shaft bearing is getting a bit noisy and the OD has recently started to grumble a little but both are both scheduled for attention over the Winter.

I have had 5 BGTs over the years, all used as everyday cars. Provided they get good maintenance they are very reliable. I never bothered with electronic ignition, as long as quality parts are fitted the points system is fine. One thing I always found with Bs though, they do seem to be sensitive to battery charge and condition. If the battery wasn't charged enough to spin the engine over fast they would just sit there churning over and never start.

B's don't like standing. They need to be used. A B used daily is far more reliable than one that only gets driven occasionally. They really are a pleasure to drive when in healthy condition.

The other great enemy is of course rust! They all need the sills doing at some point and the base of the screen pillars is usually bubbly! I have yet to see an MGB GT that is dry inside!

I'd have another one tomorrow!

I run my BGT as a daily driver (10k classic fully comp with Flux Direct (£230 inc breakdown)).
And so does Al who's the editor of C&SC (same building).


I'd echo what's been said here.
Battery needs to be in good nick. Keep servicing and greasing and everything seems to run tickity-boo.
Today I found out how good Rubber Bumpers are after someone gave me a good shunt up the backside at some lights on the way home, not a scratch or scuff. Very pleased.

I look at them as part good look (matching webasto ofc) and part London Parking Defence System.
I picked up a dirt cheap 79' for just over a grand (unusual) but there are good ones out there for not too much cash.

And they scrub up well.

I'd say me and Al would say Do it you'll enjoy it.

there's a few things I'd say to receptively replace if they've not been done before.
Clutch/brake Hydraulics being my main bit of advice.


ETA: I get 14-17mpg on my stop start London commute.
But as much as 40mpg on a motorway run.

And I'm quite a fan of Moss as they're just round the corner for parts. Though lots of consumables are easy to get hold of in most shops.

obviously you'd have to check with a good few other B owners but that sounds very low, after a full service a visit to Peter Burgess for his excellent cost and value rolling road tune-up would probably end up saving you fuel money and have the engine running better -

http://www.mgcars.org.uk/peterburgess/

does the car use up oil too?

that's too small a sample his car may also be out of tune and possibly not fully serviced

I might be wrong as I've not had a BGT for many years but I think I'd be very upset with 17mpg let alone 14mpg


perhaps suggests Al's does too, and note like all cars they like clean air filters


that's good


that may not be, if it was both or none that would be more understandable, there was a thread which included all suggestions for damper oil to use

how you checked matching the pistons, here's a John Twist video on it - 41 Matching SU Air Pistons - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfU47Oqq9wA

and carb tuning - 147 MG Carburetter Tuning - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nvGLgO6pj0&fea...

and - 35 Tuning HIF Carburetters - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASeMfXfjNpw&fea...


this cold snap and more so the next will show up starting and battery problems and battery stocks will drop but you could check your battery and connections first, even if you get a new battery it will still need good cables and connections

take the battery out and check the electrode level out on each cell and fully charge over as long as possible, clean the battery posts, the cable clamps and the battery earth lead connection, then check the cables are not corroded under the sleeving - check also at starter solenoid end and that the connection is clean, secure and protected

when you put your existing (or new) battery back in again check all connections are clean, secure an protected

poor starting can also be because of poor condition or connection of the engine/g/box earth strap so again check the connections are clean, secure and protected

a good habit to get into for any car but especially a classic is to reduce your unnecessary battery power consumption and to get into the routines of switching off all electrical items before the engine and to start the engine before turning on any electrical items