1976 MG MGB

MGB Convertible

4 - Cyl.

Manual

GHN5UG393845G

Gasoline

Up for bid is a '76 B convertible, in Terrific shape and offered at a pleasingly low price! For those of you who have owned vintage British Sports Cars, you may wish to skip this section and move forward to the item description and 24 photos. For those somewhat unfamiliar with these great little cars, I am providing the following with the intent of informing and sharing my knowledge gained to date. Essentially, I just wish to address some common myths regarding the breed and their ownership. Here we go: "MG's are poorly designed/built and therefore unreliable." Let me first say that I hear this from time to time and can tell you with certainty that this is not even close to the truth. The MG Car Company, formed in the early 1920's, cranked out some of the most innovative designs and concepts in automotive history. The "B" model was produced for 18 years and was their best in both function and beauty. Keep in mind that these cars were on the drawing board in the 50's and first hit the roads in 1962, so yes, we are dealing with early technology; no question. But, they are simple, rugged and surpassed the public's expectations for FUN and affordable top down driving evidenced by record sales and the production of some 500,000 cars during the period. "I can save lots of money by finding an MGB with a little rust and fix it up myself." Well, actually, no. A cheap MG is an expensive MG. Here's why. The B chassis is "uni-body". There is no frame as with many other cars. This simply means that if the body deteriorates from rust, so does the structural integrity and consequently, safety. In a convertible, this is compounded by the absence of top bracing. So, sure; you can save money on a used B purchase, if it's rusty, but corrosion in these cars is persistent, often hidden and invasive. What you actually "see" is always the tip of the iceberg as they tend to rust from the bottom and interior steel panels, all of which hold the car together! Repairs are costly as replacement panels themselves are rarely the remedy. Structural rails and sills, practically invisible, as they are beneath the "skin", are almost always involved. Floors and interior steel are commonly corroded due to owners having left the top down in the rain (who hasn't done this!) and then allowing the soaked carpets to sit on the floors. Of course, if you happen to live anywhere where roads are treated with salt in the winter months, you know how this chemical can damage any car's underside. On MGB's salt quickly penetrates the tiny openings and seams in panels and then becomes difficult and often impossible to remove. A few years of this type of stress is all it takes to begin the destruction of these cars. You would almost have to have seen my first 1971 model, which I bought in 1979 as a project car. I found it in NY. After only eight years from new, the road was visible through the floors and I could push my hand through the outer rocker and into the interior foot well on both sides of the car. Ironically, the car ran great, even though it was about to fold in half! The real project turned into determining how to explain to my wife that "anyone" could have made the same costly mistake. The car was well beyond repair. In short, rust doesn't reverse itself; proper repairs are costly and can't be neglected for any length of time. "MG's came with the worst electrical systems and components in the industry". Nope. No, Sir. Your B's wiring, along with associated electric features such as wiper motors, alternators, heater fans, lights, etc, are very likely original to your car, with the likely exception of the alternator (or generator). So, consider that the youngest MGB is turning 31 this year and it's ability to produce and sustain the electrical power required is reliant on aging and too often neglected components. Despite this, the "electrics" in these cars are simple and will perform nicely if given the chance. Some basic items need to be looked after: battery, fuse connections, corrosion sensitive junctions, main ground points, etc. Nothing elaborate or mysterious. It's a 12volt negative ground standard circuit design, from the '60s. No computer chips, printed circuit boards, thermal fuses, etc. to confound the average owner. Can't disagree more on this one! The simple facts are that folks tend to make "apples to oranges" comparisons between vintage classic cars and modern road rockets. It's natural. But, seriously, if you're seeking a car that you can drive one-handed, which will scoot up to 90 mph on the highway in 7 seconds, while you participate in an international conference call on your Blue Tooth gadget, I would respectfully direct you to the nearest Acura dealer. BUT, if you're looking for that fun ride, in a car that leans through the curves at 45, and shifts like a vintage racer, without the encumbrances of a roof over your head, you already know that these B's are the answer. They provide an unmistakably unique driving experience and you'll find yourself energized every time you hit the throttle. If you have any concerns about "quality", stop and think of when it was that you last saw a 1976 Toyota, Datsun or even domestic car, cruising by you. If you have, it was likely to have been restored or showing the normal toll of wear and tear, which can be excessive over that amount of time. Maybe it's my frame of reference, but I see these roadsters much more often than other cars of their age. Still, a solid and affordable example is a challenge to find! This particular 1976 B (manufactured and stamped as "12/75" by the factory), was in the hands of the first owner's son for the past 6 years here in Georgia. He kept it garaged and drove it occassionally. It lived previously in Arizona. Having owned almost 20 B's, some show cars and some "not", I can assure you that this car was looked after carefully. I'm selling to free up space, although I had been vowing to keep this little MG for a good long time. The following will give you an idea of the car's condition, as will the photos: Matching Engine/Chassis Numbers Detailed Engine Bay Excellent Glass and W/S Seal (you don't want to replace a B's windshield) Body is straight and clean...no dents, and no rust (Arizona!) Alloy Rims fitted and matching set of tires with 90% tread Exhaust System in great shape As an MG fan for years, I've made great friends, however, I am always mindful of the fact that, should I ever break down in any of my cars, I will receive a certain amount of .... well, ribbing. So, my eyes are always focused on potential failure items on these cars. That's why, although there was no particular need, the following have been replaced: Battery - less than one year old Alternator - rebuilt Fuse Box - new Radiator - replaced Thermostat - new Gas tank sender and float - new Voltage Stabilizer (feeds 2 gauges) - new Carb - Replaced with New Weber "Progressive" w/Manual Choke Starter Relay - new Distributor - new OEM replacement with vacuum advance (Allison Electronic Ignition Module) All lube points have been attended to and engine, transmission and rear end oil are all new, as is coolant. There are new NGK spark plugs and the timing has been checked and adjusted, just to be sure. I have cleaned and re-attached all main ground connections, before replacing the original fuse panel. The car rides steady as can be; no shakes, wiggles or shimmies! She shifts through the gears like a champ and steers as you would expect from a sports car; you can almost feel the tires roll over the pavement. With the electronic ignition and aftermarket carb, she idles smoothly. These items increase the fun of ownership as they are typically reliable and demand almost no maintenance! A properly running 1800cc B engine is a rugged animal and this is what we have. With a pleasant growl, she fires right up and oil pressure elevates to 70lbs, settling to 45 on the hottest day at idle. Check out the upgrade to an aluminum "MG" valve cover! I don't know if this engine was ever rebuilt, but I can tell you with confidence that a B should have plenty of spunk. For a multitude of reasons, not all do, but this one certainly does. As a bonus, all cumbersome smog components had been neatly removed. ***(Noteworthy is the fact that MGB's of this vintage, were horsepower-deprived, due to the fitting of a single barrel carb and various smog related devices, as a last minute attempt to comply with U.S. standards. This B as with many, has been carefully relieved of these components and the original carb is no longer in the mix. As a result, a substantial portion of the original horsepower has been restored). The car's interior, is in beautiful condition as you can see, and the seats have new Moss coverings; a really nice presentation. All gauges work properly and light up as do all running lights, including high beams. No issues with blinkers or hazards! Folks, the original under dash panel on the passenger side is still in place (these are usually long gone). The car comes with a boot cover for top down driving, original MG jack, set of tonneau rails and spare. While the car's top is in really nice condition, there is a small "slit" on the left hand back side which I have repaired. It doesn't leak and is minor, but a testament to the fact that folding these tops up and down, requires a bit of patience....a helper is always appreciated, but not essential. As you can see, the trunk has also been detailed so no problem folding a sweater or jacket there for the Fall drives! There is a modern Sony radio/CD player and matching "hefty" speakers and it sounds great. In addition, the pre-1977 MGB's display older, more attractive chrome trimmed gauges and for utilized a standard radiator, with filler inlet, making checking coolant inside easy. Newer MGB's were rather inconvenient in this regard and used two clunky and inefficent cooling fans. You have the older, more functional set-up in this car; quite a plus in my world. I've tried to photograph the underside and body panels to indicate the actual fit and lack of any hint of rusting or other damage. The body i straight; no funky, bondo-looking waves. There are a few minor scratches and a chip or two in the paint, but minor. The "reserve" is set well below market for condition. I encourage questions, and, please don't hesitate to give me a call should you wish, as I am more than happy to speak with you. I will provide more photos and/or my contact number upon request. Understand that a 35 year old car like this, is not showroom new or very modern. You're buying a sports car from across the pond, which runs and drives as it was designed to. Please do be advised that this car is advertised locally, and I may need to pull this ad should it sell prior to the auction end, locally. Also, the responsibility of shipping the car is the buyer's, including all associated costs and arrangements. I can be flexible in timing as long as payment terms are met. A $500.00 deposit is required within 24 hours of the auction end by Paypal if not local. The car comes with a clear Georgia Title!There are no warrantees on this car. It is currently registered in GA and insured by Haggerty. You're bidding on a beautiful MG owned by a committed hobbyist. My Ebay feedback is 100% positive, and you may bid with total confidence that this B is described with integrity and care. Enjoy the bidding and thank you for your interest!! On Jul-18-11 at 18:59:03 PDT, seller added the following information: I received a question regarding gas mileage, not surprisingly. This is really difficult to answer as there are so many variables in play, but I know that a reasonable range of miles per gallon range is roughly 23 to 30. I realize that's broad. I've never checked it on my car. MGB's in good tune and driven respectfully, meaning, keeping the RPM's in a reasonable spectrum, will easily deliver more than 26 mpg. If you "drive it like you stole it", (which I don't discourage!)....expect low 20's. I will post questions from here on. Thanks!On Jul-23-11 at 08:17:32 PDT, seller added the following information: A gentleman asked about the condition of the seat hardware, in terms of being able to adjust them front to back and the rake of the backs. As I had to remove the seats anyway at one point, I cleaned and lubed the rails and adjusters. I will tell you that they were dirty as can be and likely had never been removed from the car; kind of unusual, in my opinion, after all these years. ALL original factory hardware was in place right down to the small star washers. They've been reinstalled of course, and slide well now, and the reclining features function as they should. So, If you're a 6 footer or a miniature like me, you will likely find the right position. Leg room is pretty abundant in MGB's.