If you are a British car enthusiast, then you know who Peter Egan is. A long time, but recently semi-retired, writer for Road and Track, Egan has a weakness for British cars, and has restored a number of them. After these restorations, he usually takes them on a very long trip and writes a great article on the adventure. Most of these trips end up with a few forced stops along the path because, after all, they are British cars. To be fair, he has broken down in cars from other countries as well. One of my favorite articles, B-ing There, describes a trip to the SCCA Runoffs at Road Atlanta in a freshly restored 1973 MGB. Amazingly, he suffered not one break down on the trip, defying all British car logic. His story brainwashed me into wanting to add an MGB to my garage, and this 1968 MG for sale on Craigslist for $3000 looks to be a candidate. Given that its location in Athens, Georgia is close to my current location, I am hoping one of you will swoop in and snatch up this wire wheeled temptation before I have to sell my blood again to feed the need.
Mr. Egan purchased his MGB from another Road and Track staffer, and proceeded with a rather costly restoration after taking it apart one night. If I remember correctly, a few Guinness ales helped. When he finished restoring it, he had a very nice MGB for what he could have purchased a restored one for in the first place. I think part of his appeal to enthusiasts was that he always came across as one of us, and the previous sentence can be taken as evidence of that fact. Whenever he purchased a car, we heard about it in his monthly column, Side Glances, and, by the time he was finished, he had a way of making it seem like it was our project too. I got to meet him at the Amelia Island Concours, and he was as nice in person as he is in print. We talked about his Lotus Elan project, which he was struggling with. I got the impression that it was a grail car for him, and my guess is that it about broke him of wanting to restore a British car before it was all over. Lotuses are known to do that. I should have asked him why he didn’t keep the reliable and pleasant MGB, but, like all of us, I think he had his sights set on his next project before he even finished it.
At any rate, that story lit a fire in me that I have yet to extinguish. In one part, he described taking the back roads through the North Georgia mountains under a flood of fall colors on the way to Road Atlanta. That vivid account has haunted me ever since, and only an MGB will do in my quest to recreate it. While all of my collector cars are American, this little Brit is very appealing. Described as a carport find that sat for twenty years, but hadn’t been started in ten years, the current owner states that it is a good project car or daily driver. In the good to know department, he further states that he has owned five MGBs previously, and that he is knowledgeable on the marque. This fellow is working on getting it running, and claims that it is showing 50 PSI of oil pressure when cranking it. If that is true, then chances are pretty good that it is mechanically sound. When you look at the pictures above, you see that the top and interior seem to be in good shape as well.
It would be nice to know more about the engine and transmission combination. The ad lists the car as having just 75,000 miles, and that figure is believable given the condition of the car. However, there is no mention as to whether or not the car is equipped with an overdrive transmission. MGBs are rather low geared, and an overdrive unit certainly helps you avoid gas stations and hearing aids in your travels. To be fair to unsuspecting purchasers, getting this one back into regular service will consist of more than checking the oil, filling up the tank, and spraying some ether into the carburetors. Plan on rehabbing the fuel system, rebuilding the brakes, and doing at least some exorcism work with the electrical system. You’ve heard of Lucas electrical systems, haven’t you? The Prince of Darkness?
Inside the trunk rests the air filter assembly, what looks like a tonneau cover, and a wire wheel wrench. The wrench points to one of the most appealing features of this car, which is the wire wheels. These ravishing relics of a bygone era are a pain in the rear to deal with, and will likely need truing. Truing is the process of tuning the spokes to adjust the wheel into a perfect circle, often requiring the replacement of some of those beautiful spokes. This is not a job for the gorillas down at your local tire store. You’ll need an expert, and they don’t come cheap. You can, however, change them over to steel wheels, called Rostyles. These wheels were used on MGBs from 1970 through the end of production of the cars in 1980, and are plentiful. Rostyles are nice, but MGBs are perfect only when they have wire wheels. Its like making Elizabeth Hurley wear a burlap sack. She’ll still be pretty, but the choice isn’t going to enhance her natural beauty much.
You could do a lot worse than this car as far as MGBs go. I cannot see any significant rust, especially in the critical area just behind the doors at the body seam. If you see an MGB with rust there, leave as if Godzilla has appeared on the horizon. Like so many cars of this era, they rust as if it were a full time job. Carport living must have been good to this one, because the beautiful cream colored paint would give away any damage. In all, this appears to be a car that stands out for many reasons. The condition, color, and completeness make it very appealing. It also has the coveted chrome bumpers and wire wheels that collectors look for. If you can read between the lines, you already know that I want this one. The only thing holding me back from the Peter Egan experience that I yearn for is my usual enemy: poverty. If you buy it, at least write us a story about your adventures. Pete would want it that way.
‘compelling write-up…
Nice car, but it’s one year too new to be a REALLY nice car
Nice car these won’t be cheap forever snap it up.
It’s funny that Peter Egan is the only person that has probably ever happened to, the lack of a breakdown.
His articles in R&T and the motorcycle magazines are the first thing I read. Talented, and realistic, unlike British cars.
If you listen hard & long enough, you can hear them rust.
If I wasn’t in the middle of trying to get ready to move I would be very tempted. It isn’t that far from me at all. I’ve had an Austin H.and a MGB and I’ve had the pleasure of rewiring an XKE. This looks like it could be a very good deal!
One of the (many) main rusty bits is by the bulkhead and under the front wings; there’s a gap where wet gunk can pile up. Hand straight up behind the front wheel and have a feel. Fun cars to drive though. Don’t think it’s an overdrive car; is the switch not on the top of the gearknob?
This model year would have the OD on the right-side stalk on the column. The switch on the top of the shifter is only on the later rubber-bumpered cars.
Really, the best way to tell (besides asking the seller) is to look at the transmission directly as even the non-OD cars have the wiring for it in the steering column.
I’m thinking the OD switch is on the right stalk but best to crawl under for a look.
This MGB looks nice, but the lack of a rear seam showing on the rocker worries me. The seats have red piping which indicates red exterior, but the pale primrose exterior is one of my favorites, and the seat covers may not be original, either. 1968 was a very nice MGB.
New wire wheels are available from Motor Wheel Service near Heathrow, and not expensive. Buy them with new rubber already mounted.
I, too, met Peter at Amelia – the year we had two classes of MG’s on the field. He was our judge that year and he was interested in buying a TC project…. but he has been a judge most other years, too. His stories were the best part of R&T for years.
Speaking of Amelia, if you’re an MG enthusiast, we have a class of pre-war OHC MG’s at Amelia next March – both 4 cyl and 6 cyl, some blown.
Peter’s stories in R/T were also the first thing I read. When R/T flushed him, I flushed R/T.
I don’t think R&T flushed Peter. He retired from writing for both magazines, R&T and CW
Love the primrose yellow and love this B. I can say with confidence that driving an MGB on twisty backroads during a southern autumn is a wonderful experience. I inherited my father’s ’72 MGB and it has given me thousands of trouble-free miles just as it did with him with only minor fiddling needed–I’ve daily driven it in the warm months. It has never been off the road (other than winter naps) since he bought it circa 1982. I’m very biased, but these are great affordable driver’s cars.
Had a ’68 B for ten years, put about 1k miles on it in that time. I think I put the top up twice. Had a factory hard top (in fact 2, white & black) & that made it cozy in the winter. It was reliable & never failed me. When I sold it I never looked back- for all the cache the MG name brings it was a boring car.
Missing Title.
I can see that I’m not the only fan here of Peter Egan’s writing. One of the best writers in the business.
I know this entry is about an MGB but someone mentioned the Elan that he restored. He wrote an article about it for R&T that involved driving it from his home base in Wisconsin to somewhere in the South. I remember him describing things like windshield wipers falling off it—in the rain, IIRC—which made the trip more…’exciting’. He still does the occasional piece for R&T but I really miss his monthly columns.
After Peter Egan and Paul Frere Road and Track was never the same.
I would add a few more names to the list as Innes Ireland, Phil Hill, Dan Gurney, Thomas L. Bryant, and so many more.
It could be a fun car, but I’ve had one British sports car – never again unless given to me and even then I’m not sure I’d take it.
Good luck to whoever gets this one.
I have an MG,& feel the same way about Vettes.
I love Triumphs, but MGBs have one of the nicest shifters ever put in a car. Just in the right place (falls easily to hand), and oh so smooth.
Me too, Dan, but I have a soft spot for Bs. Especially with Triumph steering wheels (why?).
I just purchased a ’67 TR4A w/ 49,000 miles… Just spent over $6,000 on a “so-called” Triumph in excellent condition?? (Major running gear and new leather interior)… Back in the shop on the Lucas wiring and running lights… The Prince of Darkness…
Tha’ts a beautiful color . But as always…lol….the devil is in the details…..er dashboard… :)
That’s a beautiful color . But as always…lol….the devil is in the details…..er dashboard… :)
My first car when I was in High School was a ’67 MGB. Paid $450 for it and loved it like I’ve never loved another car since. ’68 is better, had synchro on first gear.
…and worse. That ugly think on the passenger side of the dash, the beginnings of some EPA stuff, etc…
68 a better car than a 67? Eyes of the Beholder, I guess. Yes, more advanced, got the full syncrho gear box, but also got: padded “pillow” (think Detroit) dash, ugh; back up lights, rocker switches instead of the all too-cool toggle switches, side marker lights, lost the cool door panels . . . just not as “sports-car ish”. My 2 cents, and I think more pollution stuff added as well
I’m also interested in this B, looks like it’s not rusted where we (in the Mid-West) find most local cars. It looks good enough to work with, and I have a spare Laycock De Normanville unit at the ready. I live just across the creek from Pete, and have been on many short and long trips for the mag, have enjoyed them all.
Might you be the guy who owned the foreign car repair shop Peter used to write about (and work there if I recall)?
Yupp, We did a lot of stuff together over these many decades, still do.
I have one and love it. Simple tech and easy to adjust. Lucas problem is usually grounding issues
I just made an offer for the B, am awaiting a response …
For me, there are two classes of automotive journalists. Tom McCahill/Peter Egan, and “other”. And for me, Peter Egan’s most memorable article was about driving a Model A Ford from Iola Wisconsin to L.A. California. It taught me that it’s the troubles encountered on the way that expose us to the wonders of human nature; the greatest friends; and the greatest memories.
That said, as a passionate MG guy over 33 years, I could write paragraphs, maybe a book, about the disgusting misrepresentations of the marque in the opening paragraphs of this article – starting with all the cliches about British cars spread by those who’ve never owned one. I can tell a Lucas joke as well as anybody, but when people get to forming opinions based on them, I start to get upset.
If you’re going to criticize MGBs, criticize them for their dependence on 1930s technology. But remember, that is technology that survived for 30-40 years. Somebody must have been doing something right! There are American counterparts: Chrysler flatheads, Chevy stove-bolt sixes (on which the MGB/Austin engines are based). Cutting edge performance, these cars did not offer. Reliability, they offered in spades.
The myths got started by the fact that all MGs, certainly including MGBs, were directed at the bottom entry-level market – the folks who could barely afford the car at all, let alone MAINTAIN one. Amazingly, many of these cars survived as much as 5-10 years of abuse at the hands of their original owners – that in itself is a major tribute. The die had been cast; used ones became readily available at dirt-cheap prices. They became a target for college students who would buy them for a few hundred dollars max, and drive them over the summer until the poor cars just quit. How many of these owners even bothered to check the oil? When the cars died, they walked away. To this day, these owners and their stories have become the source MGBs tarnished reputation. You don’t hear these old stories from modern MGB owners who choose to rely on these cars for daily transport. We are not fanatics about maintenance; we change the oil annually, torque the head studs and adjust the valves every couple years, and we leave the carbs alone for decades. Every 40 years, we clean and/or replace the electrical “bullet” connectors.
I have a friend that used his as a daily driver until a jackwagon hit him the last week in July. A 67, it wasa real beauty and dead on reliable. I’ve owned several.My favorite was a 67 GT that served me well for many years. Finally the family size doubled and it had to leave. I sold it to a fella that has been driving it over 30 years and still loves it. Currently we have a 74 rdstr and a 63 that I race. It wouldn’t bother me to drive our 74 cross country without reservation. Simple cars and easy to maintain.Just keep the oil and electrical grounds clean.
Actually we drove the Model A from my shop in Madison through Texas and across the dessert to Newport beach, where R&T used to have it’s offices.
I wrote in my log, “11 days on the road and we’re still in the same time zone.”
also, … “a bird just passed us, going the same direction.” That was a wonderful trip.
Hi Allen. Thank you for injecting some truth into the rubbish talk re British cars breaking down regularly. I have owned maybe 200 British cars from Austin Sevens, Healey’s, TR’s, Morris 8’s, etc. plus several MG’s from a TD to B gt and Roadsters and not one of them EVER left me at the side of the road for more than 20 minutes or so. Normally due to a broken fan belt, leading to overheating on the South African roads, or the Lucas fuel pump points or ground wire. I have also owned many American cars and have had the same kind of reliability from them. The main difference I found between the British and USA cars is of course, the level of comfort offered by the American land yachts and the power. British or American, I have enjoyed them all immensley. One point about MG B’s is that if you can see slight bubbling of the paint between where the front wing joins the bulkhead then, rest assured, there is major, major rust underneath!
@Allen. Well said. I have just Googled Peter Egan and the writer says that he loved to exaggerate the foibles of British cars. I have had many British, and lots of American/Continental/Japanese cars, and they all had some sort of problem over time. The only real difference between British and American cars is the size. If I have had a particular trouble with a Brit car then I have had a similar trouble with all the cars. As for the Lucas electrics Allen is correct, the very first thing to check is the Ground/Earth connection. A good ground equals few problems.
I too, and a big fan of Peter Egan. It was the first article I turned to in R&T and Cycle World. I started with British cars at 15 years old with a 1965 Mini-Cooper, then an A-H 100.4 at 16. Then the TR-4A and an MGB. Finally a ’67 XK-E. Every car was a non running project when I bought it and running fine when I sold them.
I never met Mr. Egan although I nearly did when on an around the world ride on my R69S I stopped by a bar in Madison and met the other members of the Slimey Cruds. I was made an honorary member that night. Still wish I had met him.
Sounds like a neat collection of vehicles to me. I still have a 100-4, an old Mini and am hoping to get this MG-B, still awaiting a response. I had a 67 E-type that I never rebuilt. I stop by Madison often, owned a car repair shop (FCS) for many years …
This is a pic of our most recent trip-story, anyone out there guess the car ?
You must be the Chris Beebe I’ve read so much about in Peter’s columns and books.
I had a 64, a 67, and a 70 GT. I never had an issue with any of them. They were very reliable cars. I did learn to carry some #600 sand paper to “polish” the little point things in the fuel pump. I loved the “spokes” in the original B steering wheel, but I loved not getting wet in the rain in the BGT, even more (but it’s steering wheel was ugly. I miss the Bs and I would welcome any one of them back. I still have my Unisyn and my tiny little SU jet wrench (eight flats down from full lock). Why does progress always leave so many wonderful things behind? Bs are simply magical.
8 flats from ‘bottomed’, you’re right ! I call those the ‘SU Tool’, (sootool)
ChipsBee,
I knew there was another guy on that trip. What an honor to “meet” you here! You and Peter really inspired me. I wanted similar adventures in my MGs. Back in 2003 I drove my ’57 MG Magnette from our previous home near Roanoke Virginia to Portland Oregon. Later, in 2007 I drove my ’73 B/GT from our new home in Harbor Beach Michigan to Rohnert Park California – driving solo across Nevada on US 50 – “the loneliest road in America”, then up the West Coast to Whistler British Columbia and back home to Michigan. A few weeks later we were back on the road to Roanoke Virginia, then up to Amherst Massachusetts and home again. In 2011, we drove to Reno Nevada and return in the same B/GT. I’ve owned that car since 1986 and it now shows 248,000 miles.
Also: with the SU HS4 carbs, we always started from where the jets are flush with the “bridge” – then turning down SiX flats… FWIW…
‘ Neglected to mention – those two trips in 2007 contributed to an 11,000-mile driving season. Regularly driving these cars is the way to keep ’em reliable.
Knowing that Peter Egan was invited to attend the Sports Car Hall of Fame Induction ceremony at Moss in June, I brought along a copy of Side Glances in the hopes I might ask him to sign it. After the ceremony, I went to the podium and met Peter. I told him I eagerly awaited each column he wrote on the E-type coupe restoration as my restoration was in about the same stage as he was on the same series car. He asked me what I did with the car and I told him I sold it and paid off my house. He signed my book and later I opened the cover and he had written “We should have kept the E-types and sold the house!”.
I suspect that like me many of you are also a motorcycle enthusiasts. Peter Egan also wrote a monthly column for cycle world magazine. Those columns are available in three books, Leanings 1, 2, and 3. I highly recommend them.
Nice to ‘meet’ you guys this way, all positive views of Brit cars, and why not ?
My oldest MG is a TB, and it has quite a history before me. The July issue (R&T) had yet another of our trips in it, just for fun …
I totally love ’66 and ’67 British cars. I have bought 2 from the UK, 2 on the East Coast and 1 in L A and driven to Mary Tyler Moore Land. The other 2 from Left Coast -a Saab Sonnet 2 & KG Cabrio. The Saab & Ghia let me down in Vegas – water pump & fuel pump…But all of the Brits only had a bolt fall off the generator on my Moggie DHC. The cars XK-E 4.2, Lotus Super 7, AM DB 6, and Morris Mini Cooper 1275 S. Didn’t miss a beat. I also drove the Moggie and my Austin Mini MOKE out to the Golden state to sell…Also no problems. I also bought a new last gen MGB that had been sitting at the port in Tampa for about 6 months and of course after a few months the rust devil reared his ugly head just astern of the door. Peter Egan my nominee for Auto Sainthood . BTW drove smart forTwo Passion a total of 4,600 mi over 6 1/2 days. 40 mpg easy 80-85 mph cruising
I know that I sound like a broken record here. But I also would turn to Mr. Egans page first. I guess I have the British car disease also. I must have caught it from reading Road & Track. I have a 1976 that now has chrome bumpers. ( if I knew what that really took to do that job. It would have the Sebring kit and not chrome). We were late to our sports car club tour. So we ran 80 mph for about 45 minutes trying to catch the group. But not having Overdrive earned us motor oil dripping out of the air cleaner. The car now has a Cologne V6 with a T5 5 speed. I also just acquired a GT in a package deal. It has not rot and the engine turns over by hand easily with the plugs out. The plugs looked to be burning correctly. So I expect the car to run well. I am not sure what I will do with it as I have several other projects going at this time. Maybe I will sell it.
I lived a couple miles from Peter Egan in southern Wisconsin. He lived on a
very private piece of land on a small river. At the time I was collecting old motorcycles and once in a while would ride one over to his place. Always cordial and knowledgeable about anything I road. Nice guy.
I loved driving both my Super 7 and Morgan DHC to Elkhart Lake and got to drive my Golden Mink DB 6 around the track among the TransAms at the noontime club circuit of the track in ’76. Also bought a very rough Lotus 18 FJ around Mad City in the Early 80’s ….Rule Britannia
Jean-Pierre Audin, Might I know you ? Madison, Lotus S7, F 18 and all ? I still have my ol S-7 from the racing days.
Even on-and-on might be someone I know. I worked w/Pete this morning on his Morgan, coming right along.
I am now roosting on the left coast of Florida. The last thing I left in Mad City @ Yellow Jersey was my beloved Moulton 4 speed with F&R wicker baskets painted postal blue.
Where now ? I always wanted to meet Peter, and if he still frequents Amelia in ’18 the possibility exists. After the green smart I still want to collect a ’94 Ford Probe SE or GT. A really great car. Too many collectors {?} only motivated by $$$
Mountainwoodie,
I have the same concern with my ’69 C/GT. That Abingdon Pillow has got to go. They are interchangeable with the ’72-76 dashes that will accommodate all the original gauges and switches but include face vents (for those of us who like our A/C) and a glove box. Problem is that these dashes look rather like a mistake. Ideal is to switch to an earlier metal dash – requiring a “longer” (deeper) scuttle. The real stumper is that the metal dash is incompatible with the later steering column. I’m working on another solution – not yet ready for prime time…
Allen………….when I was in college my roommate freshman year had a MGCGT . It had two glass panels in the roof. Have you in your MG travels ever seen such a thing? This was 1973 so as my memory fails me it could have been any year model from a 69 to a ’73. He was from San Paolo Brazil so maybe it was imported? It was light blue as I recall.
…ok, as long as we’re remembering things, how many remember Marion at MG Mitten?
Well I wrote , leaving a message and phone #, and E-Mail, but no response. I suspect the owner is making it run, maybe even drive so as to raise the sale price, as it reads in his advert …
Please look at this car, or have a knowledgeable friend check it out before you buy it. Also speak to the seller and listen carefully/critically. He scared me away.
Price began at $2000 then went up as he added value. Get specifics on that!
Finally a 1968 MGB is not a highly sought after year, kind of a transition model.
There are quite a few of these cars still around. I keep track of them on the Detroit Craigslist, as an example. $2-$3K still buys some pretty decent restoration candidates. Do look around…
I wrote the seller again this Saturday morning, a message showing my interest in this MG, and again left my phone number. Lets see what comes of this.
I suspect it is now more drive-able than earlier in the week, as claimed in the advert.
Getting a teeny bit anxious over this …
Well the seller just called me and we chatted over this ‘B’. Yay !
He will send pictures showing the fibre-glassed trunk floor and driver/passenger floors which are also glassed over. Hmmmm It has new fuel and now runs, but has no brakes, … yet.
The contribution by Owens – Corning an homage probably not to the beer guzzling folks from the Motor City, but rather the architect of so many legends from Delamare Road, Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, also not of Maranello.
I just opened a message from the seller, it simply reads, “Car is sold”
On the phone w/him he was going to send pics of the f-glass work and hold the car for me till this coming Friday. I received no photos or word until this.
Oh well …
Chips, have you ever sold a car? I sold a few. People are always acting interested and asking me this and that, more pictures, etc.. The car goes to the first person who shows me the money.
Francisco- I haven’t sold a lot of cars, but I have sold hundreds of bikes. There is a thing called ethical behavior and if you say you’re going to do something you damn well better do it if you have any regard for your reputation. Just my 2 cents.
Hey Chris, If you want a rock solid MGB GT(1969 I think.)
Let me know
allentires@att.net
Also, check out Detroit Craig’s List. If car is close to me in Port Huron area, I would be happy to inspect it for you.
Allen
@Chipsbee. The seller has no ethics and should be avoided at all costs in the future. Is it not possible to report him to e Bay? When I was a classic car dealer my word was my word and if I told a prospective buyer that I would hold the car/bike for him until an agreed date then neither hell or high water would persaude me to sell it to anybody else beforehand. There was also a downside however, and that was that the prospective buyer never turned up to view the vehicle and in the meantime I could have sold it several times. The luck of the draw I guess.
KEN TILLY, Our dealership was participating in the local annual car show/sale. We had a beautiful red LHS there which we sold on the second day. The customer indicated that he would be glad to wait for the end of the show to take delivery, although we had a process to move it out. I agreed to that since our location was past the mid-point of the show. We were pretty packed in and moving it out would require getting other dealers to move their cars. A big hassle. We were a dealership that did a lot of business on a handshake, so I wasn’t worried. The customer died 3 days later and had been divorced, so there was no one left to try to finish the deal with. Had he financed and purchased the credit life insurance, his estate would have had a free car.
Absolutely agree. I have owned over 100 cars and sold so many. Tinworm/fiberglas issues aside the seller may be toxic.
Mountainwoodie – MGCs were built from late ’67 to ’69 only. Very few of them came out in ’67 – almost all of them were ’68s and ’69s. Mine is a ’69. Total production was under 9000 cars. I don’t know of any that came with glass panels in the roof; I’d guess that those in your friend’s car were aftermarket. I suspect the answer would lie in Anders Ditlev Clausager’s authoritative book: “Original MGB”. I don’t have my copy at hand right now.
I had a 1972 MGB GT. Got It in 1976, went on a road trip to Texas in July two weeks after buying it. No over drive or air. No problems. Had a great time. Met Mr. Egan in Elkhart, A great guy. Love the stories.
I wonder how many of us are in the car hobby just because of Pete Egan. All the car clubs in the world should combine their highest awards in a singular tribute to this great and talented man. Seriously now: how many of us kept our subscriptions to Road & Track going year after year – just to read Peter Egan.
I think I kept subscribing at least an extra ten years just to read his column. Then I cancelled with regrets. Even worse was when I had to sell my collection a few years later.
Can’t be as bad as my story. I had every issue from mid 1964. Then when I moved, the moving truck tipped over and all my magazines were gone.