Let’s be honest here. I doubt that you will find a complete MGB project car that looks as good as this one does for the asking price. There is some rust visible in a few spots around the car, but none of it actually looks to be too severe. Barn Finder Peter R spotted the MGB for us, so thank you for that Peter. It is located in Hamden, Connecticut, and is listed for sale here on Craigslist. The asking price for the MG has been set at a cool $1,000.
Finished in the traditional British Racing Green, the white hardtop is an interesting addition to the car. This looks like it is in quite nice condition, and given the fact that it is hard to find a hardtop for under $1,000 these days, it is also a pretty nice little score with this car. There is rust visible in the car in a few spots such as the lower fenders, so it is definitely possible that there might also be some present in the floors. The real bonus with an MGB is that they are very easy to work on, and the majority of the restoration work required on this one could probably be undertaken by a competent person in a home workshop. I will qualify this though because that is really dependent on whether the frame is in reasonable condition. If that is in need of repair, then this should be tackled by a suitably qualified professional.
Powering the MGB is the 1,799cc 4-cylinder engine, which produced 98hp. The transmission is a manual, but it isn’t clear whether this is the standard 4-speed unit, or whether the car is fitted with the electric overdrive. The little British classic has now been parked for more than 30-years, so it should be no surprise to learn that the car doesn’t currently run to the seller’s knowledge. Once again, the mechanical components in an MGB are elegantly simple, so even overhauling all of the mechanical components is usually pretty straightforward, and also not particularly expensive.
The interior of the MG is also in surprisingly good condition. The dash pad is cracked, and the carpet will need to find its way to the nearest skip, but the rest of the interior looks like it would come up quite nicely with a decent clean. One real bonus is the fact that the interior does appear to be completely original, with no aftermarket additions visible.
I really can’t see how any potential buyer could lose out financially on this 1968 MGB. Even if someone bought it and then chose to part it out, it would have to be worth more than the asking price in parts. The fact that we get no information on the state of the floors or frame is a blow, but even without this information, this is a little British classic that would seem to be worth rolling the dice on.
With a unit construction chassis I’d like to see underneath. Either way, price will get you something you can do something with.
No frame on these, Adam…
If not rotted, a great deal and not one you’d need to over-restore to enjoy.
If I didn’t have to drive 10 hours both ways, I’d be all over this like white on rice. A grand for what looks to be an all original unmolested chrome bumper car with hardtop? Yikes. Normally you’d see rust in the rockers and around the doors, as well as in the lower fenders. It really looks like minor rust issues. Drat and double drat.
I did not realize that MGBs were classic cars. ( I have 2, a B roadster and a GT)
Wow, I guess my “status” is now a classic car owner. If you have more than one classic car, does that make you a collector? I also have 2 Fox body Mustangs. What does that make me? A Hoarder? (sp?)
Is that a smog pump still attached to this thing after all these years?
Yes.
With the straight shifter those were all Overdrive.
Factory hardtop worth a grand ?! & I didn’t take that one off the B at Woody’s here in town recently ! Hardtop seals the deal. Car becomes toasty warm to drive in the wintertime.
On Craigslist it is advertised as a 6 cylinder engine, which of course it isn’t. As for the overdrive query, I stand to be corrected but I seem to remember the switch being on the top of the gearshift knob.
Only in the ’77 – ’80 cars. The early ones were activated by pulling the wiper level on the right-hand side of the steering column – so you can’t tell without looking underneath.
If you see a ‘little bit’ of surface rust on these, chances are they are swiss cheese inside the rockers, which are important structural elements of these unibody cars.
It’s been taken down now, but even with rust, $1k is a great price for a Northeast car. I have 2, a ’76 and a ’66. The ’76 is pretty rusty and is having some carb issues (needs a rebuild). The ’66 is a long-term resto project.
I bet these are a hoot to chuck around!
Once described as a “Two-door Morris Oxford” by I believe, A TR4 owner. Never the less; Fun to drive.
TR owners are just jealous because their cars have tractor engines…! ;-)
Damn, how come these deals never show up near me? Probably because Chicago winters have eaten them up by now. But come on, a Grand? Should of sold the first day.
Hardtop is grotesque IMO but It could be resold.
MGBs are fun cars, and with O/D can keep up with any traffic. A friend and I drove one from CT to Dover DE back in the day going 110 most of the way. It was late at night…
The 6 cylinder MGs (which this is not) we’re MGCs and had some peculiar features, one of which was overheating, but there are remedies for that. Having formed and run an MG Club for years I encourage MG owners to join an MG club and/or a British car club; the fellowship is fun and many owners have knowledge to help members. Parts for MGBs are plentiful and sometimes you can find bargains or sales. As for the OD, the switch was on a stock out of the steering column till the late 70s when they went to the top of the great shift knob.