This 1979 MGB roadster is advertised with a claim of only 13,000 original miles and three owners. It is available here on craigslist for $19,750, located in the Boston, Massachusetts area. Mitchell G found this gem for us – thanks! The seller notes that documentation is available to back up the history of the car, including the California dealer bill of sale when it found its first owner. Of course, this example is a member of the “rubber bumper” contingent, manufactured from about 1974 through the last of its breed in 1980 in response to US safety standards: bumpers had to meet a 5 mph crash test and sit at a certain height. British Motor Corporation solved those issues by designing integrated rubber appendages and raising the car’s suspension. Despite the disdain heaped upon these cars by many MG fans, the design work was actually better than most other automakers’ solutions to this problem. Think of the 70’s Mercedes or BMW “diving board” bumpers, the Datsun 260Z or any number of American cars – all uglified by the rules.
Worse sins were at work in the engine bay, where emissions controls were diminishing horsepower by the day. An early MGB generated around 95 hp, by 1974 that was down to 87, on its way down to between 70 and 85 depending on whether the car was a California-delivery vehicle or not. While these cars can be backdated to recapture a few ponies with dual carbs, recurved distributors and so forth, those bumpers add almost 100 lbs to the car’s weight, producing an instant performance demerit. Handling is another issue: early rubber bumper cars didn’t have a front sway bar, because MG didn’t try to fit one with the new higher suspension. Later cars corrected that, adding both front and rear sway bars. While handling is not as crisp as an earlier car, the rubber bumper car still provides “tossability”. Looks like we might have a Weber in here, with an aftermarket air cleaner; the car rides on new tires and the brakes have been rebuilt. The clutch and exhaust have been replaced.
The interior is excellent, with none of the typical wrinkling in the door panels and no dash cracks. The seats look great because they are new. The finishes are crisp, and someone has cared enough to vacuum the interior. Looks like a modern radio with a USB port is installed. The e-brake is too vertical – might need an adjustment.
The Rostyle wheels have been replaced with wires – not to my taste but I’m not the buyer! Out there in wild, where MGBs trade hands freely, prices have fallen over the last few years. Nice MGBs of any ilk could have cost you something in the teens a few years ago; now we see them fail to achieve five figures at all. As nice as this car is, the seller will need to reconsider his price.
Love the black bumper BL cars. They were a leap forward styling wise. They still look modern today, whereas the chrome bumper ones look like the antiques they are. Same can be said for the Alfa roadsters when they switched. I really miss my 1980 Spitfire.
$19k seems a bit optimistic, but if it’s truly mint and those are the real miles, I could see it.
thanks for your comments here. One correction, 13,500 original miles. 3 sets of tires and original rims avail. No leaks
Includes lots of extras (Tires, rime, spares etc)
I took the CA Carburetor / emissions off—you can add back on
Link for pics below
Copy below
—Link for more pics is here:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/wap4on0ce05vayvtalacq/AC9t5Y3Tk6wgiQg2qmau0Pc?rlkey=jl0c6uk1rwgx46dyvew1k2r2w&st=v9qas3nk&dl=0
Copy:
Real hear turner- 1979 MGB MINT Driver
Totally updated. clean, no leaks, all new consumables (Brakes, Clutch, Seats, Exhaust and more)–too much to list here.
Near perfect AND only 13,500 original miles.
Tonneau cover
Car Covers
All Manuals, receipts, original bill of sale from CA Dealer and more
Extra set of Newer tires on original rims
Extra set of performance tires
Basics
• Fuel Type: Gasoline
• Exterior Color: White
• Interior Color: Black
• Drivetrain: 4×2/2-wheel drive
• Transmission: Manual
• Engine: 4-cylinder
• VIN: 0000GHN5UL5007920
• Mileage: 13,000
All Features
These features are associated with this vehicle type. Contact the dealer to confirm this specific vehicle has them.
•
AM/FM Radio
• Bucket Seats
• Leather Interior
Seller’s Notes
1979 MG MGB California car 3rd owner (documents provided)Color: Old English White – original finish w/factory white undercoat still visible Wheels: 4 – 14″ Rostyle original w/chrome rims 4 – full chrome Dunlop bolt on wire wheels
Tires: 9 – new Michelin Defender 185/70R14Interior: new Suffolk Black Leather fully adjustable seats (original vinyl seats – new condition – also included)
Audio: AM/FM factory stereo radio
Original Top: black vinyl fold down w/3 windows – excellent condition (no scratches, cracks or creases)
Engine: all original drive train factory clean
Mechanical: new copper brake lines, spark plugs, ignition wires, distributor, hoses, filters, lubricants & coolants, etc.
Sweet car–needs nothing –just don’t have the time for cruising fun this summer
Price $19,750 and worth it
Top Notch auto
Please respond with your COMPLETE contact info for a response. Name, US mail address, Tel #, real email and I will get right back to you
$20 grand for a maybe $8,000 dollar car sure why not definitely A I don’t want to sell it price here
I can show you $20K in receipts
it always puzzles me how such a low milage car has so many things replaced
Sitting undriven is the worst thing for any car in many ways.
Gets driven every two weeks-like a dream
Fast and fun
Also Charles, at 13K miles why is there a Weber down draft in place of the stock Stromberg? You have to ask why…………
Weber carbs were more reliable and easier to tune than the Strombergs.
called timing out
“Near Perfect” says the CL ad, and I say BS! You can’t have a California car without any of the smog equipment and call it Near Perfect. You can’t change the intake and exhaust for aftermarket equipment and call it Near Perfect. Bolt on wire wheels are an expensive way to ruin the look of any B, especially if you are trying to call it Near Perfect. IMO, if you want a Near Perfect rubber bumper B, you keep it box stock, and change nothing. If you want to start swapping the induction system, and the wheels, and removing other stock systems, the car isn’t Near Perfect, it is modified. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t have a problem with modifying rubber bumper B’s, I’ve had bunches of them with early distributor-dual SU’s-MOWOG exhaust-and lowered suspension with thick sway bars (there was a great market for those cars in the late 90’s thru the early 10’s) but I never tried to call them Near Perfect! I applaud the seller for having a very low mileage, clean and well-kept MGB. But if he’s going to stretch credibility with Near Perfect, the prospective buyer should probably cast a very critical eye to the mileage claim as well.
This car doesn’t even have overdrive!
OK, rant over. Back to our regularly scheduled car news.
I have all the CA car parts-no problem to refit for the left coast
Another way to improve the handling (as I had done to my 74 1/2 BGT) is to lower the car an inch and a half. To improve horsepower many refit the carbs with twin SU carbs.
I am in the market for a later rubber bumper, excellent shape except for engine/tranny, for a V6 transplant.
Nice car, but waaaaaay badly overpriced.
Weber conversion, air pump missing and even the EVAP system is disconnected (big no-no). With 13K original miles, everything should be intact.
All of the items were (presumably) removed in order to increase horsepower. Near the end of production, because of US safety and emission regulations, the engines were pretty anemic.
took all the CA BS off-runs like a top less is more unless you are in CA. Have all the parts and the CA Blue plate as well
True Barn Find