The 1980 model year marked the end of the line for the venerable MGB. This was a model that was initially designed with a production life of 5-years. However, it soldiered on for an incredible 18-years in 4-cylinder form. This MGB is from that final year of production, and it has been sitting in storage for around 23-years. Barn Finder Mitchell G spotted this British classic for us, so thank you for that Mitchell. It is located in West Chester, Pennsylvania, and has been listed for sale here on craigslist. The MG can be yours for $2,500.
At first glance, this British Racing Green MG shows some great promise. However, this photo does cause me some concern. There’s rust visible in the driver’s side front fender, and it is a worry. The rust at the bottom of the fender is not that unusual, because this is an area that can trap mud and water. But the area just above the rubbing strip does seem a bit odd. This is what leaves me torn with this little classic. That visible rust suggests the potential for some real problems, but it is also the only rust to be found in the limited photos that the owner supplies. I am willing to admit that the images aren’t the greatest, so this is a car that I would probably want to inspect personally to ascertain whether there are any other issues. The panels appear to be straight, and the convertible top looks like it might present well with a decent clean. The windows in the top look like they could potentially be cloudy, so these might need to be replaced. What can be seen of the trim and chrome shows promise, while the luggage rack is in good condition.
The owner provides a single interior photo of the MG, and it’s not that great. It does appear as though the dash, door trims, and the console are in quite reasonable condition. The driver’s seat is showing some sagging and stretching, and there are the beginnings of a split showing on the cover. I believe that a new set of seat foam and covers might be in order. Replacement foam for both seats costs approximately $200, with a set of the correct covers selling for $600. It isn’t clear what sort of condition the carpet is in, but if that also needs replacing, then the buyer will need to add $520 to their restoration budget. There are no engine photos supplied, and no indication of the vehicle’s mechanical condition. What we should find hiding under the hood is the 1,799cc BMC 4-cylinder engine, which produced 62hp. A manual transmission with overdrive backs this. With such a low horsepower figure, the MGB was not what you would consider being a particularly fast car. In a healthy example, the trip from 0-60mph takes 17.3 seconds, while the ¼-mile journey is over in 20.4 seconds. Give the MGB enough room, and it will eventually wind itself out to a top speed of 91mph. None of those figures are particularly impressive, but the MG will cruise at 70mph in overdrive quite happily. The storage environment looks to have been pretty close to ideal, so if luck is running our way, there is a chance that it won’t take a lot of work to get the MG at least running again. These B-Series engines are quite robust, with a decades-old design that is pretty bulletproof. One of their more endearing qualities is the fact that performing a rebuild is surprisingly simple. That means that there is the potential for the next owner to be able to breathe new life into a tired engine. That is the tip of the iceberg because if the car has been sitting for a while, there will probably be other mechanical aspects that will require attention before the MG could be considered to be roadworthy.
When the MGB was introduced in the 1963 model year, the company envisaged that it would remain in production for 5-years. The last MGB rolled off the production line on October 22nd, 1980. By that point, 523,836 people had chosen to drive out of the showroom in an MGB. That made it the most successful model in the marque’s history. So beloved was the MGB that its basic shape was revived in 1992 for the limited edition Rover RV8. The popularity of the MGB has not wained over the years, and there are plenty of enthusiasts who love the wind-in-the-hair experience that comes with owning a classic British sports car. In many respects, this 1980 MGB is an unknown quantity. However, it is potentially a cheap project car. Is it cheap enough for you to want to take a closer look?
Any guy that likes Modelo is OK by me.
Pass. The underside will be in poor condition. When they rust as shown, the stubs for the unibody front end take a hit and the rear isn’t far behind. A shame, the steam has fizzled on British cars that need a lot of work, as nice ones can be had for not much more. I put almost a quarter million miles on mine, had the most fun of any car I had, a hefty claim, as I had a few cars in my time.
I dragged home a practically rust-free 1980 MGB for $600 a couple years ago but it didn’t have OD. This one has rust in the usual places PLUS areas I’ve never seen rusty like above the side marker lights on the front fender. The price only makes sense if its overdrive tranny is rebuildable or okay as is, and then only to strip that out and resell adding restoration funds for other cars in my stable. In a good market, one could possibly resell the OD gearbox for half of this vehicle’s asking price.
Wow, either this is a dream that will never happen, or my 1977 MGB is worth about $5000. My car has no rust. It needs paint, and lots of prep to paint. I have Miata seats in it, but the originals are still here. Lot’s of spares. DGV replaced the ZS, and a set of HIFs (need throttle shafts) sitting in the wings. I think the orignal combination manifold is still around here as well. Oh, and the engine runs well. I don’t have the overdrive.
I would think I could get $3000 for mine. This thing doesn’t even say if the engine runs, turns over, can be moved. $1000 max, and that would just be the transmission.
That’s Brookands Green, btw, not BRG.
I’ve trudged through many pig farms, barns, scrapyards and people’s backyards to look at, and in some cases purchase, rubber bumper MGBs and Midgets. Sometimes I don’t even have to actively search as people will simply contact me to go look at cars. $3000-$5000 for a running roadster sounds about average in my area. I’ve bought multiple ones for $300-650 and a friend purchased an MGB-GT with rubber bumpers for $5600 and drove it over 1000 trouble free miles home last March. The subject vehicle, if on the road 23 years ago, will need everything. Parting it out will garner the most cash — they equal more than the sum of the whole (hole?).
I have 2 B’s, and have never seen one with rust like that about the beltline. Can’t imagine what the underside looks like, maybe as bad as my ’76!
We bought a 1980 in perfect condition and only 12k mi on the odometer. Gladly paid $12,500 for the privilege. They are quintessential sports cars!
Quintessential maybe by 1980 standards, but many have come before and after the B that have that honor and wear it well. T series MG, Lotus Elan, Triumph TR and Spitfire, A-H 3000, Jag number series, Porsche, Fiat, Datsun, Sunbeam etc etc. But in 1980, the MGB roadster surely gave one some “sports car” feel for very little outlay.