Thinking about MGB ownership
Discussion
Currently toying with the idea of buying an MGB GT, can anyone suggest a good forum , books or other sources of info
I fancy something to toy with and tinker as well as enjoy weekend drives in, it will be a second or possibly third car .
Since I'm over 50 with facial hair and enjoy real ale I guess one fits the bill
I fancy something to toy with and tinker as well as enjoy weekend drives in, it will be a second or possibly third car .
Since I'm over 50 with facial hair and enjoy real ale I guess one fits the bill
Probably driven more 'B' s than any other car over the years and have a soft spot for the pre BL cars.
Something like this: https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1259912
Something like this: https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1259912
Have you driven one yet?
Are you any good with spanners, hammers and P40?
What do you drive at the moment?
There are a lot of other cars about that are better than an MGB.
I owned one (a 1972 Roadster) in the mid 70's. At the time it was a more relaxing, spacious and faster car then the MG Midgets I'd owned previously. I sold it when the overdrive unit broke and bought a V6 Ford Consul (Granada with a 2.5V6) which was faster, more comfortable, better built, better designed despite being only a year younger (1973).
Are you any good with spanners, hammers and P40?
What do you drive at the moment?
There are a lot of other cars about that are better than an MGB.
I owned one (a 1972 Roadster) in the mid 70's. At the time it was a more relaxing, spacious and faster car then the MG Midgets I'd owned previously. I sold it when the overdrive unit broke and bought a V6 Ford Consul (Granada with a 2.5V6) which was faster, more comfortable, better built, better designed despite being only a year younger (1973).
I had a late rubber bumper GT as an only car for a few years around 2000 -2004; my thoughts are:
GTs are generally cheaper and have a surprising amount of luggage space. A lot of them have a Webasto sunroof which is nice if you don't mind the wind noise (even when shut)j
Get one with overdrive
Be prepared to get your hands dirty- but they are simple and cheap to repair if you DIY.
They WILL rust.
Rubber bumper cars are cheaper and don't look as good- but they are good if it has to live on the street as those rubber bumpers are really solid.
Even if you buy a 1980 model, it's a car designed in the early 60s using an engine from the 50s and drives nothing like its contemporaries- whether a Fiat X1/9 or a Golf GTI- try driving one and if you like the feel you will love it; otherwise it's just not for you.
Join the owners club!
If you do decide it's for you, you can have fun at legal speeds which is perhaps more relevant now than 20 years ago (Although the last time I was stopped by a real live copper for speeding was in the MG!)
GTs are generally cheaper and have a surprising amount of luggage space. A lot of them have a Webasto sunroof which is nice if you don't mind the wind noise (even when shut)j
Get one with overdrive
Be prepared to get your hands dirty- but they are simple and cheap to repair if you DIY.
They WILL rust.
Rubber bumper cars are cheaper and don't look as good- but they are good if it has to live on the street as those rubber bumpers are really solid.
Even if you buy a 1980 model, it's a car designed in the early 60s using an engine from the 50s and drives nothing like its contemporaries- whether a Fiat X1/9 or a Golf GTI- try driving one and if you like the feel you will love it; otherwise it's just not for you.
Join the owners club!
If you do decide it's for you, you can have fun at legal speeds which is perhaps more relevant now than 20 years ago (Although the last time I was stopped by a real live copper for speeding was in the MG!)
neutral 3 said:
I have a 1974 Roadster, last of the chrome bumper cars, in the very scarce Tundra colour for sale.
As do I except it is 1978 but has been given the chrome bumper etc. treatment and has an Osselli tuned engine, only 3000 miles approx. since full restoration by MG Mecca in black with red canvas roof; only selling because we are moving and will lose my garage. Skyedriver said:
Have you driven one yet?
Are you any good with spanners, hammers and P40?
What do you drive at the moment?
There are a lot of other cars about that are better than an MGB.
I owned one (a 1972 Roadster) in the mid 70's. At the time it was a more relaxing, spacious and faster car then the MG Midgets I'd owned previously. I sold it when the overdrive unit broke and bought a V6 Ford Consul (Granada with a 2.5V6) which was faster, more comfortable, better built, better designed despite being only a year younger (1973).
Nope never driven one but have driven a midget and spitfire in the past , my current fleet is in my garage Are you any good with spanners, hammers and P40?
What do you drive at the moment?
There are a lot of other cars about that are better than an MGB.
I owned one (a 1972 Roadster) in the mid 70's. At the time it was a more relaxing, spacious and faster car then the MG Midgets I'd owned previously. I sold it when the overdrive unit broke and bought a V6 Ford Consul (Granada with a 2.5V6) which was faster, more comfortable, better built, better designed despite being only a year younger (1973).
, I'm one of the few that bothers filling it out. I would say I am far more skilled than most people, have done most jobs on cars and bikes and have a garage and plenty of tools .
Won't be buying a rusty one and know what to look for in that respect
Prefer the look of the GT to the roadster and the practicality will mean its used more but still very much at the consideration stage, also don't hate the rubber bumper models think the interior looks nicer on those.
Yes i know the mx5 is better in every way but fancy something with character, I'm a little bored with really fast cars fancy something that's fun to drive at sensible speeds.
liner33 said:
Nope never driven one but have driven a midget and spitfire in the past , my current fleet is in my garage
, I'm one of the few that bothers filling it out. I would say I am far more skilled than most people, have done most jobs on cars and bikes and have a garage and plenty of tools .
Won't be buying a rusty one and know what to look for in that respect
Prefer the look of the GT to the roadster and the practicality will mean its used more but still very much at the consideration stage, also don't hate the rubber bumper models think the interior looks nicer on those.
Yes i know the mx5 is better in every way but fancy something with character, I'm a little bored with really fast cars fancy something that's fun to drive at sensible speeds.
Back in the late 70s a mate of mine sold his MK3 Cortina GT to buy an MGB GT and soon realised that his Cortina was quicker, handled better and stopped better - he discovered that last attribute when he rear-ended someone in his MGB!, I'm one of the few that bothers filling it out. I would say I am far more skilled than most people, have done most jobs on cars and bikes and have a garage and plenty of tools .
Won't be buying a rusty one and know what to look for in that respect
Prefer the look of the GT to the roadster and the practicality will mean its used more but still very much at the consideration stage, also don't hate the rubber bumper models think the interior looks nicer on those.
Yes i know the mx5 is better in every way but fancy something with character, I'm a little bored with really fast cars fancy something that's fun to drive at sensible speeds.
I never liked the MGs back in the day - they just seemed so archaic compared to Italian offerings like Alfa GTVs and Spyders, Fiat 124 Coupes and Spyders, etc. but the Italian options are in a different price bracket these days.
From what I have read the MX5 does have something in common with the MGB - rust!
If you prefer the GT to the roadster might a GT6 be an option? I've always preferred Coupes to Roadsters and I think the GT6 looks great.
Or perhaps a Capri - I can't see their values ever dropping.
I’ve both MGB and Midget, the website previously mentioned is good and the MG club are another source of information.
These are are now at least 40 years old and can be up to 60. Rust is a big issue so buy the best you can, mechanicals are basic and bits are fairly cheap. Having said that many will have had heritage body shells which make a good buy, my B has and cost £6k (needs tidying).
There is a massive club scene so you are nether far away from the local owners club and sprint, hillclimb and racing is very active.
These are are now at least 40 years old and can be up to 60. Rust is a big issue so buy the best you can, mechanicals are basic and bits are fairly cheap. Having said that many will have had heritage body shells which make a good buy, my B has and cost £6k (needs tidying).
There is a massive club scene so you are nether far away from the local owners club and sprint, hillclimb and racing is very active.
liner33 said:
Currently toying with the idea of buying an MGB GT, can anyone suggest a good forum , books or other sources of info
I fancy something to toy with and tinker as well as enjoy weekend drives in, it will be a second or possibly third car .
Since I'm over 50 with facial hair and enjoy real ale I guess one fits the bill
An MGB is a classic car for people who do not really like cars. Buying an MGB puts quite a few people off classic cars, because they wrongly assume that all classic cars must be utter sI fancy something to toy with and tinker as well as enjoy weekend drives in, it will be a second or possibly third car .
Since I'm over 50 with facial hair and enjoy real ale I guess one fits the bill
tboxes, as MGBs are, and they then sell the heap and go back to modern driving. There are zillions of fun and interesting old cars that you can buy for less money than an MGB.Midgets are fun, by the way. But Spitfires are as much fun or more, and look better.
My MG roadster has been in the family for 20 years, it’s a 1980 so 40 years old this year. I used it as my Daily driver from 2000 to 2004 when I was made redundant and my new job came with a company car.
It has never been restored. it was zeibarted from new and all that has been done body wise to it is the outer cills replaced one jacking point replaced and a small patch on an inner wings.
I converted it to a rover V8 when I first got it the spec is lowered to chrome bumper spec, rubber bumpers changed to chrome, spas and parabolic son the back, front brakes to V8 spec, rover V8 3.5 engine LT77 box and a few more bits I probably forgot.
I love driving it it feels just right with the V8 sounds great, and Handles pretty well on a decent road bit of bump steer on rough roads nothing too disastrous, I was thinking of looking at the suspension now I’ve retired see if I can improve it.
It has never been restored. it was zeibarted from new and all that has been done body wise to it is the outer cills replaced one jacking point replaced and a small patch on an inner wings.
I converted it to a rover V8 when I first got it the spec is lowered to chrome bumper spec, rubber bumpers changed to chrome, spas and parabolic son the back, front brakes to V8 spec, rover V8 3.5 engine LT77 box and a few more bits I probably forgot.
I love driving it it feels just right with the V8 sounds great, and Handles pretty well on a decent road bit of bump steer on rough roads nothing too disastrous, I was thinking of looking at the suspension now I’ve retired see if I can improve it.
Mr Tidy said:
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I never liked the MGs back in the day - they just seemed so archaic compared to Italian offerings like Alfa GTVs and Spyders, Fiat 124 Coupes and Spyders, etc. but the Italian options are in a different price bracket these days.
...
They were indeed archaic compared with the cars offered by Italian makers, and even by Triumph, let alone by Lotus and TVR. My point about MGBs is: why buy a car that was a truly awful car when it was brand new? Now it is a truly awful classic car. I never liked the MGs back in the day - they just seemed so archaic compared to Italian offerings like Alfa GTVs and Spyders, Fiat 124 Coupes and Spyders, etc. but the Italian options are in a different price bracket these days.
...
MGBs were and are popular because they were and are a sort of vanilla ice cream, and are nowadays what non car enthusiasts think of when they think of a classic car. They are therefore very over priced, given how crude, basic, and rubbish to drive they are. Alfas, Lancias, Lotuses, and TVRs cost more than MGBs (as they should), but you can get interesting Fiats and Triumphs for the same money or less money than an MGB.
I am Martin Buckley AICMFP.
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