1974 MG MGB

convertible Convertible

4 - Cyl.

Manual

GHN5UE351783G

Clear

Gasoline

There are always a lot of MGBs listed on eBay - what sets this one apart is that it has just been driven 1,200 miles from Portland to Reno and back. I bought this car last year as a part of the Sports Car Market "B" Team - our plan was to buy three affordable classic MGs and drive them to the MG National Convention in Reno. In fact, there will be a multi-page article about this trip in the September issue of Sports Car Market, with comments by SCM writers Miles Collier, John Draneas, Donald Osborne, and Thor Thorson about their experiences driving the cars. Here's what I learned from the adventure: inexpensive MGBs will need an enormous amount of deferred maintenance taken care of in order to become reliable cars. I wanted the cars to feel right when you sat in them (so new seat cushions and sun visors), to drive right (new rear springs, complete tuneup and carb adjustment) and for everything to work (heater works, fan works, blinkers work, and more). I have spent a few thousands of dollars on this car and have all the receipts. Before embarking on the 1,200+ mile trip, the car was extensively road-tested over a number of months by the SCM staff and Harold's Auto Service, a Portland shop that specializes in vintage British cars. Work done there includes the following: new leaf springs and bushings, new rebuilt starter and relay, brake system flushed and bled, new brake line flex hoses, new throttle cable, new driver's side windshield squirters, new wipers, new grille, new visors, new gas cap, new pedal pads, new lighter assembly, new antenna. It has good tires, good spare and jack. The car was already fitted with tube shocks, a big improvement over the original lever action. It has a modern stereo with cd player that works fine. The interior is nice enough, but in an incorrect burgundy color. We put on a black dash-cap. When I bought the car, it had those goofy "Sabrina" rubber bumper guards on it. I replaced them front and back with new chrome guards from Moss, as well as a brand new front grille and badge. The top works well enough, but has a tear in it that we repaired. One of the seat belts is acting up. Also, the glove box mechanism is a little fiddly, and you may have to push it firmly to get it to latch. The car cruises easily at 65 mph. There is a very slight vibration in the steering wheel at around 60 mph but disappears above and below that speed. It burned less than a quart of oil in 1,200 miles. As you can see from the pictures of the undercarriage, there appears to be no rust anywhere underneath, and it is very straight. I no longer believe it is possible to buy an MGB for $5,000 and have it comfortable and reliable. This has turned out to be a sound car, but it has needed many many things taken care of. The MG meet took place a few weeks ago, and the car made the round-trip Portland-to-Reno-to-Portland voyage with no issues whatsoever. It was a blast to drive, and, as more than one person has commented, "It just drives happy." It's not a show car, or even a perfect car. But it now seems to be a reliable car. If you wanted to drive in and fly it home, I would say your chances were good that you would make it - but, after all, it is an old vintage car, so no promises or guarantees! As you can see in the photos, the car is in good cosmetic shape for a 40-plus-year-old car, but it is not going to win any concours. I would say it presents very well from ten feet, with normal signs of age apparent upon close examination. Please scrutinize all pictures before bidding, and ask any questions. All lights, signals, wipers, gauges, etc. work correctly. The doors open easily and click shut solidly. The seats were reupholstered before the trip and show no signs of wear and are very comfortable. Door panels and carpets are in good shape. All interior plastic components are in good condition. The gearbox shifts easily, and the clutch works properly. I’ve done the best I can to describe and document the car here, but can’t guarantee that there isn’t something I have overlooked, or that some part that has been functioning perfectly for us won't suddenly decide to misbehave. That's the way it is with old cars, and if you are bidding on this car, I assume you are already aware of just what an unpredictable adventure these cars can be. Your own inspection is the best guarantee. If you would like to talk to the shop that did all the work on the cars, please call Chris at Harold's Auto Repair in Portland, OR at 503.232.8304 and mention this listing. Car has a clear Oregon title and current tags. Good luck and happy bidding – Keith Martin, Publisher, Sports Car Market magazine The Fine Print If you are the winning bidder, a $1000 deposit must be made within two days of the end of the sale and balance within seven days. The vehicle cannot be picked up until funds have cleared. I can assist with shipping, but that will have to be ordered and paid for by the winning bidder. If you have any questions, please e-mail me before bidding and I will do everything I can to answer your questions. Thanks and good luck. PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE BIDDING: All items are sold as is. You are welcome to have the car inspected before the auction ends. However, if you are the winning bidder, you are the owner. Placing your bid on this car acknowledges that. On Jun-28-11 at 11:24:00 PDT, seller added the following information: Listing edited 6/28/11 11:15 am: added pictures of engine bay, service records and documents, and tonneau cover. On Jun-30-11 at 10:53:31 PDT, seller added the following information: 6/30/11 10:50 am: Better pictures of the engine bay have been added. The photos of the engine bay were taken with a camera that was improperly white-balanced, and those pictures are not representative. Please refer to these and do not hesitate to ask any questions.