Is it costly to run and maintain an MGb Classic Car?
Discussion
So i got a good price on a condition 3 mgb gt car (condition 3 out of the 5 from mgb owners club website) which states this
Condition 3
Everything is in good working order with minor blemishes but no unsightly areas or mechanical problems. Likely to pass an MOT in 12 months time.
I went to check the car out while it was def best condition i seen at this price range between 2.5k-3k i did find a minor rust spot on the drivers door. parts of chassis had rust spots and was one bit looking little questionable , Im guessing the sill..... it basically looked like a staircase of metal beams on top of one another....either way they were quite rusted on surface.... the rest of the car looked good, under the hood was extremely clean motor as well as interior and arches etc all looking very good as well, new bonnet was put on he told me recently.
my two reservations before buying is cost to run and maintain this sort of motor....and reliablity...also worried about rust that is on it getting out of hand....he told me it was fully restored back in early 2000s, other issue is no garage at moment but hoping to be renting one before the winter comes but im guessing leaving it out during the winter with no garage would be fatal for a car this age as well?
thoughts and opinions
Condition 3
Everything is in good working order with minor blemishes but no unsightly areas or mechanical problems. Likely to pass an MOT in 12 months time.
I went to check the car out while it was def best condition i seen at this price range between 2.5k-3k i did find a minor rust spot on the drivers door. parts of chassis had rust spots and was one bit looking little questionable , Im guessing the sill..... it basically looked like a staircase of metal beams on top of one another....either way they were quite rusted on surface.... the rest of the car looked good, under the hood was extremely clean motor as well as interior and arches etc all looking very good as well, new bonnet was put on he told me recently.
my two reservations before buying is cost to run and maintain this sort of motor....and reliablity...also worried about rust that is on it getting out of hand....he told me it was fully restored back in early 2000s, other issue is no garage at moment but hoping to be renting one before the winter comes but im guessing leaving it out during the winter with no garage would be fatal for a car this age as well?
thoughts and opinions
How long is a piece of string.
With my Spitfire I work on the basis that I'm likely to spend £500 per year keeping it sound. Some years I has been more but often a fair bi less. I you drive it a reasonable amount that is generally better for the car than driving very rarely.
Other than that insurance and road tax are cheap (o maybe free if the car is old enough).
I've found that once I've got a classic in decent order it is pretty low cost. But you have to be prepare for occasional big costs (new gearbox maybe).
If a daily driver you will find jobs pretty regularly on a car like you describe.
With my Spitfire I work on the basis that I'm likely to spend £500 per year keeping it sound. Some years I has been more but often a fair bi less. I you drive it a reasonable amount that is generally better for the car than driving very rarely.
Other than that insurance and road tax are cheap (o maybe free if the car is old enough).
I've found that once I've got a classic in decent order it is pretty low cost. But you have to be prepare for occasional big costs (new gearbox maybe).
If a daily driver you will find jobs pretty regularly on a car like you describe.
It’s not something you should go into with your eyes closed or expectations to be able to use it daily without constant fettling.
Rust can be a big issue along with the usual 70s car stuff like dodgy electrics etc.
Having said that, I own a high mileage 986 Boxster S so clearly have no understanding of running costs / liabilities.
Rust can be a big issue along with the usual 70s car stuff like dodgy electrics etc.
Having said that, I own a high mileage 986 Boxster S so clearly have no understanding of running costs / liabilities.
Edited by Toaster Pilot on Thursday 5th July 20:15
jamesters said:
are MGB known to be quite unreliable then?
It’s an old BL heap that wasn’t exactly the pinnacle of reliability when new....That said, not to say it wouldn’t be a decent ownership experience.
Hope you know one end of a spanner from the other though else it could be quite expensive
An MGB is very cheap to maintain, with one huge caveat - it must not be allowed to rust. Anything with visible rust is to be avoided like the plague unless you are willing to go into full-resto mode within a couple of years.
Buy a truly clean one, if not already treated, treat everywhere for rust prevention, and enjoy.
Eminently home-spannerable and as simple as a sewing machine.
When done, sell and get your money back.
Buy a truly clean one, if not already treated, treat everywhere for rust prevention, and enjoy.
Eminently home-spannerable and as simple as a sewing machine.
When done, sell and get your money back.
yeah thats main concern what i already knew about them is rust side of things, was a rust spot on the door and under the car well lets just say i wish had been underseal at least was def corrison i seen a lot worse in same price bracket but it wasnt rust free...he also let slip that the bonnet had recently been replaced because of rust...rest of the car did look clean however but were some wierd marks near windscreen where wing meets with main body of the car was...wasnt rust but looked like either bubbling or been painted over :/
Agree with above.
Just about every single part is available (or was last time I checked) to the point where you can basically build a whole new one. Few of the parts are expensive. But regular maintenance is a must (you'll be wanting a grease gun for the suspension and a feeler gauge for the points, for a start).
You should be able to sell it on for what you paid, too, in a year or three.
BUT: do consider, restored in 2001 means it's now 17 years since the work was done... a lot of these cars never got that old the first time around, and rust was the main cause of that. So do check very carefully what you're buying!
Just about every single part is available (or was last time I checked) to the point where you can basically build a whole new one. Few of the parts are expensive. But regular maintenance is a must (you'll be wanting a grease gun for the suspension and a feeler gauge for the points, for a start).
You should be able to sell it on for what you paid, too, in a year or three.
BUT: do consider, restored in 2001 means it's now 17 years since the work was done... a lot of these cars never got that old the first time around, and rust was the main cause of that. So do check very carefully what you're buying!
yeh the other thing makes it a toughie is its exact same as my grandfathers mgb down to the colour but sadly his was sold and it was american import as well free of rust, tried my best to retrack it down with no luck 
going back to this car though yeah its cleanest i seen he wanted 3k but got him down to 2500 mostly over the rust issues under the car and the spot on the door which he claims is all cosmetic :/
going back to this car though yeah its cleanest i seen he wanted 3k but got him down to 2500 mostly over the rust issues under the car and the spot on the door which he claims is all cosmetic :/ I had one for a decade... maintaining an MGB is not expensive; paying someone else to maintain an MGB for you is.
They're pretty reliable if properly maintained and used enough but unlike modern cars they need tinkering to keep them at their best. How much of an issue rust poses will depend on how and where you use and store it. If you intend to use it all year round and keep it outside, it will almost certainly dissolve at an alarming rate.
They're pretty reliable if properly maintained and used enough but unlike modern cars they need tinkering to keep them at their best. How much of an issue rust poses will depend on how and where you use and store it. If you intend to use it all year round and keep it outside, it will almost certainly dissolve at an alarming rate.
Edited by kambites on Thursday 5th July 20:37
Back in the sixties car rusted through within ten years; Zibart offered a ten year guranteed anti rust treatment, guess what? they went bust around the ten, twelve year mark!
As has been said the mechanicals are robust and were used through out the MOWOG range, the B Series engine being virtually indestructable unless you try to run without oil...
When it was restored is there evidence of preventative rust proofing with photo's attached?
I would join one of the MG Owners clubs BEFORE buying and perhaps look to buy a known vehicle from within the club.
Or at the very least take some one knowledgable with you who understands all the rust traps; Castle sections, three piece sills etc. Modern cars all have drain holes in box sections for example.
As has been said the mechanicals are robust and were used through out the MOWOG range, the B Series engine being virtually indestructable unless you try to run without oil...
When it was restored is there evidence of preventative rust proofing with photo's attached?
I would join one of the MG Owners clubs BEFORE buying and perhaps look to buy a known vehicle from within the club.
Or at the very least take some one knowledgable with you who understands all the rust traps; Castle sections, three piece sills etc. Modern cars all have drain holes in box sections for example.
jamesters said:
yeah thats main concern what i already knew about them is rust side of things, was a rust spot on the door and under the car well lets just say i wish had been underseal at least was def corrison i seen a lot worse in same price bracket but it wasnt rust free...he also let slip that the bonnet had recently been replaced because of rust...rest of the car did look clean however but were some wierd marks near windscreen where wing meets with main body of the car was...wasnt rust but looked like either bubbling or been painted over :/
Run.Repairing rust properly particularly in difficult areas will make the money you are spending to buy this pale into insignificance. If that's your budget and you can't get a clean car (not surprised to be honest) then change plans. Certainly if you buy with care, an MX-5 (also known to rust, but time or lack of is on its side) will be a better buy, underseal/whatever when you buy it, and they are almost as simple, and stupidly reliable too. I have done close to nothing to my 1992 1.6 bar clutch replacement and the usual timing belts, batteries, etc. MGB, have had two, great vintage feel, but best for the home tinkerer.
on mgb owner club website it was on Condition 3 out of the 5 with 1 being the best condition of course
Condition 3
Everything in good working order with minor blemishes but no unsightly areas or mechanical problems. Likely to pass an MOT in 12 months time.
that was what mgb club condition 3 states
Condition 3
Everything in good working order with minor blemishes but no unsightly areas or mechanical problems. Likely to pass an MOT in 12 months time.
that was what mgb club condition 3 states
I have run old BL rubbish since 1985. I have run midgets, minis, triumph gt6, triumph finesse and now run a morris minor and series 2a land rover. The best advice I can give you is use it often, this will help keep everything working. Our morris minor is used as everyday transport during the summer months and is used often the rest the year. It has in the past been used as everyday car all year round. We have had it 20 years now. It takes very little work to keep it running well. The land rover is used often as well and has only had servicing for the last 3 years. They will take more work than a modern car but none of it is difficult or expensive if you can do it yourself.
thanks for the info yeah my current car quite old modern and from experience more i use the car more reliable it became once all the niggles were sorted.
just asked this chap if he got the restore paper work from the previous owner :/ will find out about the rust proofing, as i said was a tidy car apart from the odd blemish here and there and as i said more visable corrision under the car but it wasnt covered in it. without expert looking with me hard to know but compared to other two wrecks i saw this was far superior. only odd thing is he seems to be struggling to sell it, he says its because no one wants a hard top MG with a rubber bumper, for me this doesnt matter as its same as my grandfathers car
just asked this chap if he got the restore paper work from the previous owner :/ will find out about the rust proofing, as i said was a tidy car apart from the odd blemish here and there and as i said more visable corrision under the car but it wasnt covered in it. without expert looking with me hard to know but compared to other two wrecks i saw this was far superior. only odd thing is he seems to be struggling to sell it, he says its because no one wants a hard top MG with a rubber bumper, for me this doesnt matter as its same as my grandfathers car
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