Thoughts On This £12K MGB

[Parabola]

My friend is considering an MGB, he's asked me to help with the buying process. He wants an chrome bumper Roadster in BRG.
He's not owned a classic before. His budget is around £10K.

He's considering this, it's up for £11,995. I had no idea non FIA MGBs went for this sort of money. I've bought a few MGBs, but never for over £3K. I'd image this is a pretty safe place to put £10K+? This history folder sounds pretty promising.

Can't help thinking he'd be better off with a £8K MGB and a few quid in the fighting fund. If it was my £12K, I'd be looking at a TR6 or a Lotus, the MGB is a perfect 'starter classic' though. Maybe I just can't get my head round spending £12K on an MGB!

http://www.classiccarbluebutts.co.uk/car80.html

Loads more photos on the link.

[na]

if you're interested I could send you my buying advice notes to pass on

but is he sure he wants a classic, has he even driven a MGB does he know all the regular servicing and maintenance required - does he want a classic just to have one or one to actually drive and use (i.ee. more than 1,500-3,000 miles/year)

I agree with you about £8k and fighting fund for a MGB, forget a Lotus or TR6 at that price

that car was restored 16 years ago and has done only an average of 625 miles/year both usually mean future problems if the car is actually used much

if your friend is serious about buying a MGB he should invest £8 and buy and read a copy of the oeners (Driver's) Handbook as this will let him know about how primity the cars are and the full regular servicing schedule - http://www.mgocshop.co.uk/catalog/Online_Catalogue...

or you could let him borrow your copy

Edited by na on Tuesday 14th August 15:58

[jagracer]

Parabola said:

M
He's considering this, it's up for £11,995. I had no idea non FIA MGBs went for this sort of money. I've bought a few MGBs, but never for over £3K. I'd image this is a pretty safe place to put £10K+? This history folder sounds pretty promising.

It's 1965 that's why it's so pricey, if it were put into FIA spec it's be around double that price and it doesn't look a lot better than my 1969 B that I paid £3.5K for earlier this year. I think you're correct with the idea of paying less and having spare cash to play with. There's plenty of excellent examples for good prices if you keep looking.

[v8250]

na said:

I agree with you about £8k and fighting fund for a MGB, forget a Lotus or TR6 at that price

This. Not wishing to detract from the vendor but that's a mighty price for what appears an 'OK' MGB. Have taken a look at the dealers website, there's nothing special about this car and frankly that engine bay is a mess. If I was looking to spend £12k on any B' I'd expect all electricals and mechanicals to be spotless.

One can buy a VERY good chrome bumper for £8k with near perfect body, interior, and mechanicals. There are plenty for sale. Your friend should look here as there are always many for sale

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/list/32/mgb+roadste...

Other notes on this car...
1. the electrical wiring is appauling
2. that's not the place to install a filter king
3. brake & clutch cylinders will need re-building at some stage
4. oil cooler pipes should not be held together with cable ties!
5. be very wary of any MGB that's has 'black' paint over the sill areas

[Parabola]

na said:

But is he sure he wants a classic, has he even driven a MGB does he know all the regular servicing and maintenance required - does he want a classic just to have one or one to actually drive and use (i.ee. more than 1,500-3,000 miles/year)


that car was restored 16 years ago and has done only an average of 625 miles/year both usually mean futureproblems if the car is actually used much

if your friend is serious about buying a MGB he should invest £8 and buy and read a copy of the oeners (Driver's) Handbook as this will let him know about how primity the cars are and the full regular servicing schedule - http://www.mgocshop.co.uk/catalog/Online_Catalogue...

or you could let him borrow your copy

All good points. I've offered him a drive of my MGB GT & my fathers BRG 67 Roadster (also with a 1950 head!)
I have a folder with £7K of invoices I've paid, for my car. I'm going to take him through that.

It sounds like it will be a 'sunshine car', Pub trips and picnics, rather than a 120 mile a day commute and Le Mans trip holiday car (Like mine was!)

Good point about the milage low yearly use. All the problems in my MGB have been when it's not used as much.
I have a spare driver's handbook, so I'll give him that to read.

v8250 said:

This. Not wishing to detract from the vendor but that's a mighty price for what appears an 'OK' MGB. Have taken a look at the dealers website, there's nothing special about this car and frankly that engine bay is a mess. If I was looking to spend £12k on any B' I'd expect all electricals and mechanicals to be spotless.

One can buy a VERY good chrome bumper for £8k with near perfect body, interior, and mechanicals. There are plenty for sale. Your friend should look here as there are always many for sale

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/list/32/mgb+roadste...

Other notes on this car...
1. the electrical wiring is appauling
2. that's not the place to install a filter king
3. brake & clutch cylinders will need re-building at some stage
4. oil cooler pipes should not be held together with cable ties!
5. be very wary of any MGB that's has 'black' paint over the sill areas

All very good points, thanks.

Is there any way of really seeing what condition the castle/sill sections are in without taking the car apart?
When I bought my MGB, I budgeted in the cost of replacements/repaint, even though there was photographic proof of them being sorted recently.
16 years is plenty of time for there to be chassis rot on an MGB, regardless of how little it's used.

Personally, I agree the car is overpriced.

If anyone sees any other BRG Roadsters, please free to post them up, even in a few weeks!

[na]

personally I'd tell your friend not to look at 1950cc or 2.0l or 2.1l engines unless he really wants fast road use and is going to drive it fast regularly

a good fully rebuilt or fully reconditioned engine that's been regularly properly serviced (not just an oil and filter change) slighly uprated or not would be a better choice

a regularly serviced and driven car will be better and more reliable sooner at probably less cost in time money and hassle if he intends to actually use it

if it's just to own and rarely drive then there are plenty of fur-coat-but-no-knickers shiney examples about at various prices and conditions because there always are

[Parabola]

na said:

personally I'd tell your friend not to look at 1950cc or 2.0l or 2.1l engines unless he really wants fast road use and is going to drive it fast regularly

a good fully rebuilt or fully reconditioned engine that's been regularly properly serviced (not just an oil and filter change) slighly uprated or not would be a better choice

a regularly serviced and driven car will be better and more reliable sooner at probably less cost in time money and hassle if he intends to actually use it

if it's just to own and rarely drive then there are plenty of fur-coat-but-no-knickers shiney examples about at various prices and conditions because there always are

Completely agree, especially as it's his first classic.

[v8250]

Parabola said:

na said:

personally I'd tell your friend not to look at 1950cc or 2.0l or 2.1l engines unless he really wants fast road use and is going to drive it fast regularly

a good fully rebuilt or fully reconditioned engine that's been regularly properly serviced (not just an oil and filter change) slighly uprated or not would be a better choice

a regularly serviced and driven car will be better and more reliable sooner at probably less cost in time money and hassle if he intends to actually use it

if it's just to own and rarely drive then there are plenty of fur-coat-but-no-knickers shiney examples about at various prices and conditions because there always are

Completely agree, especially as it's his first classic.

Good advice chaps. A good slightly upgraded unit that's clean/tidy and above all; reliable.

[na]

I know it doesn't always quite relate as the bodywork might have been protected internally but even with my bad eyes and only a very quick look the rust on the water pump pulley and bits of rust elsewhere suggest the car might have sat arond a lot

the only way I know of to check the cills without taking them off is to use one of those enderscope cameras

if he wants a sunny day car then let him know it'll still need servicing as (almost) as much, let him see the Handbook

if he's the type of chap that likes to buy the car then change the bits on it to 'improve' it (like we all did/do) then get him to buy the real improvements rather than the sexy pub talk ones
. old, hard, little used tyres regardless of tread epth
. old hard brake pads, old flexi-hoses, change brake fluid
. suspension bushes rather than dampers and springs
. new batteries (better still one battery) and main cables and earths
. replace the whole of the old worn and probably not serviced dissy not just the CB points, replace the whole dissy with something a 123 dissy for reliability and better performance
. give it a full and proper 36kmile check up/service

Peter Burgess is your man for the 123 dissy and if the car is fully serviced I'd recommend your friend have Peter set it up on his excellent value rolling road - http://www.mgcars.org.uk/peterburgess/

after all this what the betting he buys something else

[chormy]

Keep looking if you have that amounts of funds then there are nicer ones around. Even a rebuilt one with new shell is only around 15k

[pilbeam_mp62]

Black sills = knackered sills.
No-one paints wire wheels unless they are knackered.

Did I say, the sills and the wheels are likely to be knackered ?

[na]

I think the painted wheels is to distinguish them from chrome wires rather than they painted them, which they might have done

painted sills (is it with a s or c, never sure) may mean the cills have already been replaced and it was easier to paint them black or to make the car appear lower and sliker - or as you put