1974 MG MGB

Convertible

4 - Cyl.

Manual

GHN5UE344099 G

Gasoline

Our multi-thousand dollar loss on this car can be your gain!Here's the last, and most handsome MGB from the SCM stable. 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. This is not a project car, it is a driver. 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 almost always 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 (new seat cushions), to drive right (new springs, complete tuneup, and carb adjustment) and for everything to work (heater, fan, wipers, blinkers, stereo and more). I have spent a few thousand dollars on this car and have all the receipts, which are available. 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: thermostat replaced; new brake master cylinder; new pedal box seals; brake lines bled and adjusted; replaced rear springs, bushings, plates, lower A arm bushings and upper trunion bushings; new driveline, u-joints; front end aligned and balanced; replaced radiator, water pump, belt, radiator hoses, and heater hoses; windshield leak repaired, windshield re-sealed; white lines repainted on heater control knobs; washer pump replaced; electrical repairs; new cushions; replaced rear bumper; new sun visors; repaired hood prop rod; carb adjustment; wheels balanced.We have receipts for a recently-replaced alternator, and the ignition was upgraded to an electronic one. The seat cushions have been replaced (you'd bee surprised what a difference that makes in driving pleasure), and it has new sun visors. It has good tires, good spare, and jack. The CD stereo works fine. The seat belts work well. 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. 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.The car does drip a little oil, but nothing unusual. You can see some wetness on the undercarraige in the photos. The clutch pedal engages a little close to the floor, but we never experienced any slippage or problems shifting. There is a very slight vibration through the steering wheel at around 65 mph, but it disappears above and below that speed. This has turned out to be a sound car, but it has needed many, many things taken care of. We have nearly $9,000 invested in this MGB (with receipts), but as this is the third MGB of our trio we have sold, we have set the reserve realistically. But I think you will be hard-pressed to find an MGB that is set up as well as this one in the same price range. The National 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'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 easily. The seats are firm and comfortable and in generally good condition. Door panels and carpets are in good shape. Driver’s interior door pull is loose. All interior plastic components are in good condition. Glove box door snaps closed easily.The odometer reading is irrelevant, I can't say whether or not this is the original component or if the odometer has never been around, or been around one or multiple times.BONUS: Included with car car are a pair of "soon-to-be-collectible" metal water bottles, emblazoned with the Road-to-Reno logo! How can you resist. See the picture below. 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.