1967 MGB With Rare “Ashley” Top

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When MG felt it was on to something, they tended to stick with it. That’s why the MGB is one of the top-selling sports cars of all time – it’s the quintessential LBC (Little British Car). Since it looked so right and they made so many, you can usually find a reasonably-priced B if you’re looking. This one is near the top of the pricing column, but it’s been fully restored and has a rare “Ashley” top. Yeah, I didn’t know either.

Ashley Auto Improvements Ltd. set up its last shop in Hertfordshire in the early 1960s before closing its doors in 1972. During that time, they manufactured nice-looking detachable fiberglass hardtops for popular sports cars such as the MGB. According to the seller, the swap takes 15 minutes to accomplish, so if you’d rather drive the roadster on a sunny Saturday, that can be arranged.

Removing the hardtop seems to open things up nicely in here, doesn’t it? Neat hardtop aside, this is a nice MGB that was treated to a restoration about 10 years ago. The white and red combo looks good on almost everything, and this one has the desirable overdrive and wire wheels.

The seller has included a bundle of pictures showing the car close up, including several of the undercarriage. This one looks like it’s sporting a header, so it probably has a throaty rasp that is appropriate for a British sports car. If any rust repair has been done, it’s been done well (and that’s certainly possible on a car that’s located in New England).

The rockers are susceptible to rust on, well, just about any car, so the seller includes some pictures of those, too.

The seller will include a British Heritage certificate showing that this is a numbers-matching MGB, which is nice if originality is your thing. As an aside, I’ve never had the opportunity to work on a car with SU carburetors, but it’s one of my goals in life. I already have a Uni-Syn; therefore, all I need now is the car, but you can’t buy everything.

A chrome-bumpered MGB with the original grille design is a beautiful thing, and this one has a party trick that most don’t. If you think this is as cool as I do, it’s currently on Craigslist in New Hampshire with an asking price of $22,000. Thanks to Clarke Taylor for finding it.

Auctions Ending Soon

Comments

  1. Terrry

    It appears the trunk lid is part of the hard top, so if you remove the top does it leave a hole where the stock trunk lid would be? There are no pictures of the entire car with the top removed.

    Like 3
    • CCFisher

      I mean, it leaves a hole over the interior, so would a hole over the trunk really be that bad?

      Like 3
  2. jeffschevelle

    Click the link to see the entire sale ad. There are more pics of the car including the whole thing with the top off, and decklid in place.

    The brochure is also pictured, but is difficult to read. But it looks like you have to remove the car decklid before installing the Ashley top, if you want to be able to use the trunk while the top is on.

    Like 5
  3. Dave

    I’ve never seen one before. It transforms the rear and side views of the car in a good way.

    Like 6
  4. Slomoogee

    I’ve seen a lot of Bs but this is one I would really like to see up close. I love the way the top looks integrated into the overall lines of the car. I never knew they made an extended one like this Ashley. Aside from that what’s not to like here? 67, overdrive, nice color combo, wires, extremely clean underside and solid floors, even at the asking price I find it tempting.

    Like 8
  5. Harry

    Excellent well cared for car, I am not British car fan. From the side looks like a baby Aston martin. It looks different than most thats why it cool. I wonder what it looks like parked next to an f 150
    Enjoy the ride!! Good luck to buyer and seller

    Like 2
    • Steve

      Harry, That’s how the MGB/GTs initially were advertised, as a “poor man’s” Aston Martin.

      Like 0
  6. gippy

    Saw one for sale with another odd top- this one had sail panels and T roofs- was that something Ashley offered as well?

    Like 1
  7. Joe Hahn

    “This one looks like it’s sporting a header”. Actually, that is the stock head pipe that attaches to the stock dual outlet cast iron exhaust manifold.

    Like 5
    • Arfeeto

      Correct, Joe. I should know: I’ve had five of ’em.

      Like 1
      • Aaron TothAuthor

        Thank you for the correction – I don’t have any experience working on these (just looking them over when I see them).

        Like 0
  8. Martin Horrocks

    This is a good quality hardtop and was expensive in its day. They are a bit of a psin to change over and store, so became redundant when factory produced the MGB GT but a nice talking point at a Britcar meet.

    Like 3
  9. Charles Jenkins

    Maybe it’s just me, but I find this car really unattractive. I had an MGC GT (actually two) for couple years, and I loved them. I will admit that this car appears to be in excellent shape, and if one can deal with the hassles of an older English car and either likes, or at least can live with the conversion, then this would make for a nice Sunday driver.

    Like 8
  10. Elbert Hubbard

    Looks like a beautiful MGB and the Ashley top is an interesting part of its history . . . asking price is very reasonable considering its condition and that a Mazda Miata is pricier . . . now everyone has a Miata versus how many have the pleasure of a MGB with Ashley top.

    Like 4
  11. wardww

    Lovely car but ugly add-on. Why not just buy an MGB GT and be done with it. Way better looking.

    Like 4
  12. John D Bellmore

    I work for a company that imports Ashley tops for MGB and MG Midgets. It takes much more than 15 minutes to install or remove one from the cars. We currently have an Ashley Midget top at the shop. Yes the top costs a fair price. It also costs quite a bit to import them from England and ship them where you want them to end up. They are shipped in white gel coat and need final finishing to match color of your vehicle. You do remove the rear deck lid to fit them to the cars. Christhopher John LTD, Holly Hill Florida. We also sell Caterham and Morgan vehicles.

    Like 5
  13. LMK

    I think it is the most unattractive thing I’ve ever seen done to an MGB…Nah, not for me. But different strokes , right…?

    Like 1
  14. Laurence

    The Ashley top does nothing for me. It gives the MGB a weird sort of TVR profile and it looks out of place. That’s just my opinion, as to each his own, and beauty is in the eye of the you-know-who.

    Like 1
  15. Richard Martin

    Each to their own I guess but that top does nothing for me, in fact I think it’s downright ugly as well as being hopelessly impractical.
    There have been a large array of after-market hardtops available for these most of which are far nicer than this, If you want an MGB with a fixed roof and a high degree of practicability then look for an MGB GT.

    Like 1
  16. Joey Mec

    I am partial to the MGB-GT as it was my first driver 50+ years and I am restoring another pre 70 driver now. The Ashley top is certainly a different look for an MGB. This car is in nice shape for someone who likes it and will spend $22K. It’s not worth that to me as I can do one myself in the $5-7 range. I will always stick with a BGT as it is still a better value than a standard B. It all depends on what you are looking for.

    Like 0

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