Oldest MGB in Motor sport

[carreraplanes]

I am going to see an MGB project car with a competition history that goes back to around 1962. I believe the car is only about 4 months into the start of production. It is pretty well shot but it might actually be the oldest one out there with period competition history. If it is I feel it would be worth doing. So question is of all the known cars which is reckoned oldest with competition history? I understand that private individuals were out there racing them before the works cars emerged....

[carreraplanes]

Thanks, if things work out I shall surely post. I understand that amateurs were racing Bs before the works. Bit of a no brainer, fancy new sports car comes out, some bright spark is bound to take it to the track within weeks especially as the regs were minimal then. This car started racing about the same time as the works cars:

http://www.dkeng.co.uk/ferrari-sales/474/Blue_Chip...

[carreraplanes]

Gave up with that supposedly early competition car as none of the race history could be verified. Now going to look at a 1964 'B, again with history that will need looking into and work to be done. This one apparently is still on its 3 bearing motor. Have spoken to a couple of specialists and one warned me to make sure that it still has the narrow transmission tunnel as it would not get app K papers if it has been re-shelled with the later 4 syncro box shell with the wider tunnel. How do I know if I'm looking at a narrow or a wide tunnel? Does anybody have any pics for comparison?? Many thanks, Keith

[carreraplanes]

Sorry for not making myself clear. I have looked at several cars of which the DK car was just one. The DK car indeed has clear and verifiable history including Goodwood in period. But is a whole heap of money. The premium has a lot to do with its future Goodwood potential for which somebody will pay handsomely but not me!! As for the pics I posted of that car it was not obvious to me whether the car had been re shelled or not. Racers 'ave an 'ard life as it were and I speak from bitter (re shelled) experience. If somebody with a good knowledge of the model is telling me that is a narrow tunnel, then great I take it as read and thank you! I am going to look at yet another car however and it would be handy to know what a wide tunnel looks like, the differences may not be that obvious to the layman. Being overly cautious as a pre '66 that had been re-shelled with a wide tunnel would not get its FIA papers and could prove a costly mistake.

Thanks in anticipation.

[carreraplanes]

simes43 said:

Are you looking for an investment that you can enter the big meetings with or a quick fia car to race regularly?

Hi Simes,

Don't have any fixed ideas in that respect, either has its advantages...

[carreraplanes]

Got to see the second car. Deffo on the original shell and has the narrow tunnel. Has club racing history mid through to late 1960s but unlike the DK car no Goodwood history or distinguished owners. The chequered history of the DK car might get it into Goodwood and that must be the reason for the 75k price tag. But I doubt that the one I'm looking at would as does not have that level of provenance. It does have entry programs which show it as entered for club races at Silverstone, Brands etc though. So I am trying to assess what it would be worth after recommissioning and a fresh HTP. I took it that a reasonable FIA 'B could be picked up for around 25k so perhaps it would ultimately be worth 30 maybe 35k for having period although obscure clubbie history.

Trouble is other than the DK car and another that also has Goodwood history and is also 75k: http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C488404 I cannot find a comparable car i.e. FIA spec with some period history upon which to base a price. As mentioned I was under the impression that mid twenties was about right for a sorted FIA car with no period history but I might be high there, just noticed this:

http://www.classic-auctions.com/Auctions/24-04-201...

And this one didn't make its 20k low estimate:

http://www.historics.co.uk/buying/auctions/2014-08...

So maybe my estimate of the car I'm looking at if I fixed it up might be as low as 25k. Has anybody seen anything similar i.e. FIA with a little period history sell in the recent past and if so what for?? Just need some idea to work out if it is worth acquiring or walking away...

[carreraplanes]

Agree WAE would be nice but it's 75k nice which puts it way out of my reach!!!

[carreraplanes]

The green car has papers but like the blue one it doesn't seem to have the works style vent in the hard top...