The term “time capsule” can jar with some classic car enthusiasts, but it is one that the owner of this 1978 MGB uses with some justification. It is one of the tidiest original and unrestored examples that you are likely to see in today’s market, and it appears to need nothing beyond a new owner who will continue lavishing care and attention on this sweet little British sports car. If you want to let it into your life, you will find it located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and listed for sale here on Craigslist. It can become your next new toy by handing the owner $25,000. I have to say a huge thank you to Barn Finder Rick H for spotting this gem for us.
The MGB might be a small car, but it makes a bold statement finished in its original shade of Inca Yellow. The owner claims that the vehicle is original and unrestored, which makes its overall condition pretty impressive. He says that there are some flaws in that Yellow, but you have to search hard to find them. The panels are laser straight, and thanks to the decision to undercoat the MG when new, it remains completely rust-free. That is an achievement worth noting because it is common to find unloved examples being slowly consumed by rust. The Black soft-top is wrinkled, but I suspect that those problems would disappear pretty quickly if left raised with the vehicle parked under a warm sun. The top itself has no rips or issues, and the rear window is crystal clear. The bumpers can be prone to UV deterioration, but these appear to be immaculate. The later MGs aren’t as warmly received as earlier versions because many see the rubber bumpers as disturbing the overall styling. However, I have seen a couple of owners retrofit the chrome items, which enormously transform the appearance. The original Rostyle wheels have a couple of minor marks, but there’s no evidence of staining or corrosion. The trim and chrome, including the luggage rack, seem to be spotless. The same is true of the glass, meaning that this MGB makes a positive first impression.
Classic British sports cars are renowned for featuring low-capacity engines with modest power outputs, and the MGB is no exception. Its engine bay is occupied by its numbers-matching 1,799cc four-cylinder engine that churns out 62hp. Bolted to its original four-speed manual transmission, the car should be capable of covering the ¼ mile in 20.6 seconds. With the pedal held firmly to the metal, that little four will run out of breath with the needle nudging 91mph. This is the moment where we probably reach this classic’s strongest selling point. It is a numbers-matching two-owner vehicle that is in excellent mechanical health. It might be forty-three years old, but it has only accumulated 6,848 miles on its odometer in its lifetime. It is no idle boast because it is fully documented. The owner also retains the original Window Sticker and includes this in the sale. The engine maintains strong compression readings, and the recent service performed by the owner included a complete fluid flush. So far, it bodes well, but the proof comes when we hit the road. The owner says that it starts, runs, and drives as it did when new. That makes it a turn-key classic that the next owner can enjoy immediately.
There’s not much to say about this MG’s interior because apart from some slight stretching on the driver’s seat, it seems to be perfect. There are no rips or tears and no visible wear on any of the upholstered surfaces. The carpet is in as-new condition, while the dash has avoided the type of deterioration that can occur through time and UV exposure. The original owner chose to have a dealer-fitted radio/cassette player installed prior to initial delivery, but it is otherwise unmolested. Once again, this is an aspect of this classic that would seem to need nothing.
This 1978 MGB leaves me feeling torn. There’s no question that it presents well, and these low-powered sports cars can be rewarding if the owner puts some effort in behind the wheel. It seems to need nothing, and its ownership history and odometer reading place it in elite company. However, the asking price is right at the very top end of what a buyer might expect to pay for a perfect example. The owner admits that the car has a few tiny flaws, but I’m unsure whether the originality and mileage are enough to offset these faults. What do you think?
It will be interesting to see if this sells, I’ve been trying to sell my two owner TR7 convertible with now just over 10k original miles, having just completed a 3400 mile trip, and it is as new as it comes, last year of production, only year with fuel injection, awesome very rare color-Oporto Red, and BaT couldn’t sell it for more than 12 or 14k if I remember right…it was over a year ago and they fell flat so decided to keep it myself but with that said, I haven’t driven it since the big trip a year ago….someone should just buy it and put me out of my misery…a truly beautiful car but I’m not using it and that isn’t fair to these things……
send me some pictures, jjvahey1@verizon.net
Sorry for the delay. Just sent you a bunch of pictures.
Hi. Do you have pictures of your vehicle? Information too please. Thanks.
Faith
Yes, check out the Craigslist ad in the article. I have many more pictures, please send me an email address.
Bought the exact car for a grand… 70k miles drove her 4 weeks before the electric monsters got her
Wow, 6,848 miles. Mine was more reliable
This one is very reliable, just not driven much. Very well cared for, serviced regularly, owner just has several cars and doesn’t drive them very much.
25k for a rubber bumper B is insane, regardless of mileage.
he will get it, there is a group of enthusiasts that love the rubber bumper B
What days do they let them out of the asylum?
I’m one of them. But 25k is insane.
Owner is open to offers.
The only problem with the rubber bumpered MGBs was the handling due to ride height. Had a rubber bumpered BGT that I lowered an inch and a half which improved the handling immensely.
This is one of the lame old wise tales that I’m sick of seeing.
We start with a car from the 60s with a 50s suspension under it and biased ply tires.
Now, in 1974 1/2 they raised up the ride height and removed the front sway bar, because BL gave the the engineers 25p and a new piece of chalk to address the problem.
Come 1977 and they added front and rear sway bars back onto the car. Note, pre 1977 there was no rear sway bar.
So while a 1974 1/2 to 1976 will handle worse, that’s not true of the 1977 on.
And we are still talking about 50s suspension technology.
That said, this is too much money for a museum piece. It’s a shame it never got to be a car.
The TR7 referenced in comments sounds like a much better deal.
Thanks Paul for the clarification for everyone. This car has polyurethane bushings on the sway bars, so the handling stays precise for extended time, not subject to the rubber bushings deteriorating rapidly.
I owned 2 1971 MGB s that were a hoot to drive. Top speed was never a concern just a truly fun to drive car with top up or down! It always made the driver think that they were still 16 years old!
76 year old Jim
Couldn’t agree with you more. They are fun to drive, handle very well. Mine had overdrive which helped a lot on the highway. It wasn’t fun listening to the engine scream without overdrive.
STEVE AND JIM……U want fun to drive but faster and roomier than the MG and a MUCH better price?
Buy a Pontiac SOLSTICE.
the 2.4 ecotech is about 175hp and u can find them in GOOD condition for less than $7,000!
I owned a Red 2007 manual loaded one with only 56,000 miles last year, should have kept it but needed a truck. Paid $6,800 for it and sold it 6 months later to a local Honda dealer for $8,500……car looked brand new!!
If u want fast the 2.0 motor is Turbo charged and about 260hp, they only weigh about 2,900 lbs.
Steve, Many thanks for the tip re handling, considering one currently, drove it and found her scary re. Hard high speed cornering (40-60mph), compared to a 356 Widebody kit I built for collection. Thanks again.
Ken Johnson – You’re welcome. It’s an easy fix and it truly helps the handling. I wish I had done it sooner. The kit is available at Moss Motors.
Low mileage on an MG isn’t always a good thing. This car looks like new!
No, not always a good thing, but this one looks, runs, steers, corners, sounds, and stops like new. Just had oil, coolant, brake and clutch fluids changed. Ready for the road.
I had one exactly like this…now I am going to cry all afternoon thinking about the good times I had and could have still been having. This is one I let go and shouldn’t have. I also had a Midget which I equally loved, but the MGB topped it in all categories. Warning: British Sports cars are habit forming. Thanks for the memories.
Hey Gordon. Let’s get together and put you in this one and then you can relive all of those memories.
“What’s that color, sort of a cross between piss yellow and puke green ain’t it?” Bob Falfa. God, what a ugly color on this car. Change the bumpers and grille, paint it any other color and drive it. A guy I went to school with had a B and a Midget, red head, 6’4″. Was interesting watching him get in the Midget, he’d step over the doors, set on the seat back and slide down into it. He took me for a ride in the B which had a 327 Chevy, two 4bbl’s 4spd trans, narrowed to stock MG width 9″ Ford rear end. Extremely fast and very scary.
It’s Inca Yellow. Looks better in person than in the pictures, not sure why that is.
mine had low miles too because it spent most of its time over heating on the side of the road or was in the shop but it was fun when everything worked
Don’t know about the first owner/family who had it from 1978 to 1996, but the current owner of 24 years has not had reliability issues with this one. He’s driven it on several of our local rallies, and back and forth from Baton Rouge to our car club’s annual show in New Orleans.