The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and a lovely stretch of winding country road opens out before you. Can there be many better ways of tackling it than behind the wheel of a classic British sports car? There probably are other alternatives, but very few would be as affordable as this 1967 MGB. This is a one-owner classic that isn’t perfect, but it is ready to be driven and enjoyed by one lucky buyer. The time has come for it to head to a new home, so the MG has been listed for sale here on eBay. It is located in Novi, Michigan, and while the bidding has reached $8,000, the reserve hasn’t been met.
The MG isn’t 100% original because it has received a repaint in the past in its factory Pale Primrose Yellow. I agree with the seller that this is an interesting color, and it does make a refreshing change when you consider all of the British Racing Green and Red examples that we see on our roads. The paint is showing its age, but it remains presentable. The panels are straight, and while some of the panel gaps are inconsistent, they are pretty typical of the model. Rust can be the mortal enemy of the MGB, and this car is not immune. However, its problems are very minor. It is limited to a small spot in one inner rocker, along with a spot on the passenger side floor. The car wears a new soft-top and frame, and these present superbly. The original wire wheels are in excellent condition, as are the bumpers and other trim pieces.
For potential buyers, this little MG is a turn-key proposition. It features its original 1,799cc 4-cylinder engine, backed by a 4-speed manual transmission. With a mere 96hp at its disposal, and MGB is not going to threaten many muscle cars. However, with an overall weight of a paltry 2,006lbs, it still manages to cover the ¼ mile in 17.8 seconds. While the exterior color is refreshing, the seller’s description of this car’s life is even more so. This is no garage queen with ultra-low mileage. The MGB was a car designed to be driven and enjoyed, and the owner has certainly done that. It has trekked all over the country and has even ventured into Canada. The little 4-cylinder received a rebuild in 2003, and this was a comprehensive undertaking. It included new pistons, a new camshaft, new cam bearings, and other associated components. It has only clocked 5,000 miles since this work was completed. The owner has kept meticulous records for the vehicle since day 1, and these are included in the sale. The seller says that the MG is as tight as a drum and that it is a pleasure to drive.
I guess that there had to be a down-side to the MG, and we have now reached it. The interior is original, and some parts of it are showing its age. The seats are the most obvious, and these will need new covers. The originals are leather, and if the buyer chooses to preserve the originality, it will cost them. A set of vinyl covers in the correct color will cost $400, but you can up that price to $850 if the leather is preferred. The carpet is worn and faded, and a new set will lighten the wallet by $210. The other visible fault is a crack in the wheel. This could be restored, but high-quality reproductions can be found for $280. Otherwise, the remaining trim and dash look pretty respectable for a survivor. The original radio doesn’t make noise, and the needle on the temperature gauge is stuck, but everything else inside the MG is said to work as it should.
The MGB, especially the cars produced in the 1960s, has a couple of attributes that make it an attractive proposition for enthusiasts. The first is that they are straightforward to maintain. The engineering is elegantly simple, and a competent owner can undertake most tasks in a home workshop. The second is they have managed to remain surprisingly affordable. It is not hard to find some excellent examples for well under $20,000, while even a pristine example will struggle to top $30,000. This car brings a known and documented history to the table, making it an attractive proposition for any potential buyers. There are definitely worse ways to tackle that country road than from behind the wheel of this little gem.
Having owned ’66 for a few years I can say they are comfortable, handle well, and are a lot of fun. Ours was a a daily driver, go to work car in place of our Chevy Blazer”s whopping 11 miles per gallon during the ’70s gas crisis. Always nice after a long work day to blast home in something fun.
I try to live without regrets, but one that I do still think about is not buying an all-original, black with red interior, 1967 MGB with 30k miles for 13k while in San Pedro, California less than 5 years ago.
@bobhess if I ever fill this bucket, I hope I can hit you up for pointers.
This one is pretty nice but I thought original seats did not have the white trim?
MattR… Our car had the white trim with the black seats. Glad to help if you need us.
Shows what I know. Nice car! You had fun.
I have a ’67 GT,& it’s one of the most fun to drive
cars that I’ve owned.Hoping to get it back on the road soon.
Nice pic of the car and the 3 Shastas
I have one too, and I agree. Mine is BRG, like the hood on yours.
There’s a lot of body filler in the rockers.
Nice GT, great looking cars. Had to replace some outer rocker skin on our orange car. They came equipped with rust from the factory. Easy fix with Moss parts available.
Oh my. Primrose. I’m a sucker for that colour on the right car….
I owned the exact twin to this car, sold it a couple of years back (also raced a GT-2 MGB way back in the 80s for a few years). The rockers provide a huge amount of the structural rigidity to these cars. IIRC, there is the outer, the inner, and a structural one sandwiched between the two. Not an impossible job to R&R, but look carefully at this area on these cars before you buy
Nice original example and fairly easy to put into top shape provided there are no serious rust issues. I believe the fenders have to come off in order to replace the rockers . Wire wheels look nice but can be a bit of a pain. All in all, a great survivor and should fetch good money.
I believe this car has a generator on it(not converted to an alternator.) Does it have the two six volt batteries that came with it or one 12?
An $8000+ car all day long if it had overdrive. Being a Michigan car, I would suspect major rust penetration underneath and a thorough exam before dropping anything more than the current bid.
My guru on MGBs says red, white, and blue piping was an option on the ’60s cars. I seem to be getting smarter by the day here.
I had the same car in high school, same color too. This one brings back some happy memories of better times. the engine blew on it so I had it towed to my local MG dealer where they had a low mileage wreck. They installed the engine from the wreck and it cost me 750 dollars. I loved that car but rust got the better of it so I traded it in for a 72 Firebird.
I hope to get me one this summer. The more I see them. The more I want one. The more people talk about them. The more I learn about them and know what to look for.When I do go to buy one.
I also had a ’67 (BRG) bought new in ’67… I was told by one of the folks who worked in the back of the shop that MGB did not change much in those years and the dealers were able to “re-title” any left over ’66s to be ’67s… so I’m sure of what it said on the title but no really sure when it was actually built. Also… I had to replace the valves twice… the second time I was on my way back from Fla. to Va when they went bad. Made it back to Richmond but only barely (limped back at about 35 mph all she would do). My friend at the dealer told me to trade it in as that car had a problem that could not be fixed without an entire eng. swap. So I did. Sad to see it go.
My first car in HS, only mine was white. Have owned hundreds of cars since but none has ever given me the pure joy that owning that car did.