Nearly Original! 1969 MGB Roadster

This primrose yellow, wire-wheeled, straight-as-an-arrow 1969 MGB roadster is worth a close look. What impressed me at first glance was the panel fit, the excellent grille, the early-year all-chrome bumpers, and I like those stone guards on the headlamps. This roadster isn’t perfect, but it’s dang good. The seller describes its condition as “original”, but as we’ll see, a few changes underhood show us that we don’t know the whole story. It’s advertised here on craigslist for $10,500, and it’s located in McKinleyville, California. Thanks to Curvette for the tip!

The MGB came from the factory with BMC’s 1.8-liter four-cylinder; early cars were constructed with three main bearings, this one will have five. Output varied depending on the year of production; in 1969, the engine dished up 95 hp, while later cars – constrained by emissions equipment and single Strombergs – labored with only 65 ponies. The gearbox is a four-speed manual, with overdrive optional. Here, the engine and SU carburetors have been rebuilt, and the belts and hoses were replaced. An aluminum radiator has replaced the factory-supplied original.  The air cleaner assemblies should be black, with a “Coopers” sticker on each canister.

The interior is correct in most respects, from the delicate banjo-type steering wheel to the door fittings, shift boot, and upholstery. A trim kit has replaced the factory black vinyl around the instruments and on the console; the passenger’s side bolster upholstery appears to have a tape repair, and there’s also tape on the plastic console. Note that this car has no glovebox: its absence was designed to comply with new US safety regulations starting in 1968. Instead, we got the “Abingdon pillow” – an almost cartoonishly padded dash. BMC finally figured out how to install a “safe” glovebox again in 1971. Unfortunately, toggle switches apparently could not be made safe, so they never returned.

The seller notes that the Robbins top is new. Side marker lamps showed up in 1970 on US-delivered vehicles; the factory supplied reflectors before that, but they are rarely retained. The luggage rack is useful, but I prefer seeing a clean trunk lid. In the market, you can pay almost anything you want for an MGB, depending on condition and year. Early cars in great condition will cost $20k or more. This driver-quality ’69 roadster sold for $11,750 a couple of months ago. Rubber bumper cars from the late 1970s are gathering fans and will sell in the mid-teens. All that said, project cars can still be found for less than $5000. The MGB’s simplicity, lush supply of parts, and peppy performance have helped insulate the marque from the recent decline in British car values – all the more reason to ponder today’s example.