Note: This craigslist listing for the MGB has been replaced with one for a Toyota and I can’t explain that one – maybe it was too good to be true. JO
Former Vice-President Thomas Marshall (1913-1921) famously declared, “What this country needs is a good five-cent cigar!” In today’s world, I might be inclined to change it to, “What this country needs is a good five-cent anything”. Taking it a step further, how about, “What we need is a good $2,500 collectible car!” OK, I got one for you, a 1974 MGB roadster for $2,500 and it runs! Now, is it a “good collectible car”? Maybe, maybe not, but let’s examine this Eufaula, Oklahoma resident and see if it makes the cut. Chuck F found this two-seater for us and it’s available, here on craigslist.
One of this car’s better features, according to the seller, is the presence of its steel bumpers, the last model year so endowed before the fugly, huge black rubber pieces were utilized to comply with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards requiring five MPH impact bumpers. The requirement was in place for front bumpers in ’73 and then rear bumpers in ’74. This car is wearing rubber-tipped overidders on both ends and I guess that only got MG so far before they had to adopt stricter measures. This roadster wears them well and I don’t think they detract from the overall presentation. The listing is very light on details, and the paucity of images doesn’t help either, but the finish and body of this “B” shows well. The devil’s always in the details, so a close-up inspection for signs of rust would be warranted. No picture is provided but a removable hardtop is included in the sale.
We’re told that this MG, with its 78 net HP, 1.8 liter, in-line, four-cylinder engine, “Runs and drives” – but that’s it for details. The mileage isn’t realistically disclosed so there’s no way to estimate how well this car may still run and drive or much life it might still possess – another item for inquiry and physical inspection. As best as can be determined, the engine at least looks complete. A four-speed manual transmission is in place and it’s assisted by a working electronically assisted overdrive unit.
The lack of detail continues with the interior – there’s just one image and it’s in the shadows so its condition is difficult to discern. There is nothing obviously problematic showing and it displays as a standard “B”, black vinyl upholstered interior. That said, dust abounds, probably as a result of being stored in wide open condition. I’m pretty sure that I spy a folding top, it would be helpful to put it up and leave it that way, at least when parked.
So, there you have it – $2,500 and it can be yours! Just one parting thought, when something seems too good to be true, it probably is, right?
The eBay link goes to a 2012 Camry. If this MG is anything nicer than a Flintstone-mobile, the price is too good to be true.
It’s gone, I can’t explain that one.
JO
I sold one as nice as this for $1500 in 1978!
I want the 2012 Toyota for 2500 that comes up on the craigslist ad.Forget the MG.Just a scam craigslist ad.
MGB with a hardtop, overdrive, and engine that runs for 2500 says scam. I say run Forest run.
Bait and switch??
We reached out to the seller and they said it sold. Strange technique to use the listing for another car though.
Re. bumpers: There was a waiver in the law, that allowed 2-door hardtops to not comply with the bumper mandate until model-year 1975.
IIRC, American Motors lobbied for it – they had the Jaguar, and planned to discontinue it after the 1974 model year for other reasons. Emissions-related performance issues, probably. But it was selling, and AMC needed every nickel it could scarf up, so they lobbied, successfully, for a one-year carve-out.
Since a manufacturer wasn’t named – that might have been illegal, giving a named party license not to comply – these MGs also squeezed by, for one year.
I believe they still had to comply with the 1973 bumper standards, though, which was why those hard rubber blocks.
Javelin, not Jaguar.
Low blood sugar before lunch, maybe?
Engine has been painted, hopefully during a rebuild. It should be painted by black.
If the bumpers are original, it’s an early 74. Later ’74 1/2′ had Sabrina overrides.
Lots of rust on the passenger floor. And looks like the inner sill on that side has rust, so the sills are probably shot.
Missing chrome, I kind of like that.
Trunk looks good
Just a way to get you to look at his crappy Toyota