Advise on buying an mgb classic
Discussion
Hello. Need some advise on mgb classic found one being sold for 2k i been to look at it condition was so so body work was redone in 90s by owner and then left in storage for over 20yrs. Some bits under car still looked rusty on inspection but outter shell was ok some minor bubbling.engine outter case looked very rusty however. Mot has passed just recently. Thoughts on condition and price and history. Had 6 owners 5 during 80s. Car manufactured yr is 78
With these sort of cars 1970's / 1980's classics rust will always be the biggest issue. If you are confident with a welder or know someone who is then it sounds like a good bet. The mechanics will always be easy and cheap to fix. If it is just surface rust and you can spend a few weekends under it with some wire brushes and paint you will be able to protect it easily from further rust.
I would have said that £2k is at the lower end of the price spectrum for a rough but MOT'd rubber bumper 'GT. A roadster at this price point, even a rubber bumper, would be very suspect. Check out sills, floors, bulkhead and windscreen surrounds. If restored in the 90s expect structural remedial work sooner rather than later, especially at that price point. Bear in mind that rubber bumper GTs are not that valuable and will not repay major work.
I actually said £2k was at the lower end of the spectrum. I would be surprised if you could make a £2k car into an £8k car for £6k.
At this price point you need to buy carefully. If you do, you *could* wind up with a bargain. If you don't and miss significant issues, you could be into quickly spending more than the car is worth
At this price point you need to buy carefully. If you do, you *could* wind up with a bargain. If you don't and miss significant issues, you could be into quickly spending more than the car is worth
Having struggled with your spelling & grammar I was able to conclude that you should run away from this potential problem.
Rubber bumper MGB's GT's are the absolute bottom of the heap in the classic car world. Horrible looking & suspended as if on stilts many had tarty bright coloured fabric interiors & nasty plastics. Reliability & build quality about as bad as it got, putting the British car making industry to shame, so no wonder lots of companies providing spares, many of very poor quality. Please don't do it, you will be laughed at.
Rubber bumper MGB's GT's are the absolute bottom of the heap in the classic car world. Horrible looking & suspended as if on stilts many had tarty bright coloured fabric interiors & nasty plastics. Reliability & build quality about as bad as it got, putting the British car making industry to shame, so no wonder lots of companies providing spares, many of very poor quality. Please don't do it, you will be laughed at.
A gold seal engine was a factory rebuilt unit using all new moving parts within a reconditioned block and head. They were supplied by BL when models were current or near current and were given the same warranty as a new engine.
It would have been built and installed so long ago that it wouldn't really be material; just judge the engine based on its actual condition. On more valuable classics, the fact that it didn't have its original engine - a 'matching numbers' car - would count against it but there is so little value in a rubber bumper BGT, that no one would care.
It would have been built and installed so long ago that it wouldn't really be material; just judge the engine based on its actual condition. On more valuable classics, the fact that it didn't have its original engine - a 'matching numbers' car - would count against it but there is so little value in a rubber bumper BGT, that no one would care.
thanks for all the help, I believe he is asking a lot for condition of the car i think the big reason he struggled to sell it for the asking price is because it was restored in the 90s and even though these cars have a history of rusting its hard to know how well that restore work was done as it was just done by the owner himself in the garage not by a professional body workshop. if anything it just makes me feel very sad my grandfathers well kept mgb was sold after he passed away years ago. I will keep my eye out in the future but given the modern lifestyle these days the car is more a hobby or fun car at best and questionable how much time i have for that at this time at least
jamesters said:
thanks for all the help, I believe he is asking a lot for condition of the car i think the big reason he struggled to sell it for the asking price is because it was restored in the 90s and even though these cars have a history of rusting its hard to know how well that restore work was done as it was just done by the owner himself in the garage not by a professional body workshop. if anything it just makes me feel very sad my grandfathers well kept mgb was sold after he passed away years ago. I will keep my eye out in the future but given the modern lifestyle these days the car is more a hobby or fun car at best and questionable how much time i have for that at this time at least
cars can rust in several years... this has had twenty years to rust all over again.. Gassing Station | MG | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff