If I ever become insane enough to go back to school for a doctorate, I think I will study metallurgy.  My doctorate would be built around research into the steels and processes used back in the day to build some of the cars we see on Barn Finds.  Specifically, Chrysler products from 1957-1974, GM cars from 1976, and, of course, MGBs like this 1970 MGB GT being sold here on craigslist for $1,950 or best offer.  While it doesn’t look too bad from the pictures, closer analysis reveals just how badly rust has damaged this neat old British sportscar.  With thanks going to faithful reader Gunter K., we can take a look at how the design of the MGB contributed to its rust issues and have put it in danger of becoming a parts car.

The first thing we have to remember is that all cars are designed for a certain service life.  That service life is usually about as long as it takes to pay off the note.  If it falls apart beforehand, the customer swears off that make for life.  If it lasts forever, the company never gets to sell you a new car unless they lure you in with styling and/or more power.  MG wanted to sell cars and make much needed money.  They weren’t thinking about what these cars would be like years down the road.

When MG made the leap from the rather dated methods of making MGAs they went all-in on a monocoque body shell.  They are also called unibodies.  Unibodies are designed with the idea that the body is the main stressed member of the car, a job usually left for the frame.  This type of construction is usually stronger as a whole, cheaper to make, and can be done with fewer resources.  For a car company trying to squeeze out every cent of profit, this can be a big draw.  Modern safety standards have also pushed automakers further and further in this direction.

The problem, as seen in the photo above, is that you have to do a really good job of getting a rust protective coating in all of the nooks and crannies of that body.  That coating also has to be pretty durable as well.  When rust sets in it weakens the structure to the point that doors no longer open and shut effortlessly and/or the car eventually becomes unsafe to drive.  Of course, all of this can be fixed with time, money, and talent.  Restorers will rebuild a valuable and/or rare car, but a common car usually heads to the great junkyard in the sky.

Considering that 523,836 MGBs were built during the long initial production run, the chances that this MGB GT will get the corrosion repair it needs are slim.  That is a shame because this car has a lot going for it.  First off, MGBs have a tremendous amount of aftermarket support in the way of parts and accessories.  They are relatively easy to work on and have the support of a number of clubs dedicated to them.  They are in the same league as Model A Fords, first-generation Mustangs, and Corvettes in that regard.

If you look past the corrosion issues, this is a fairly complete car.  The upholstery looks as if it could be re-dyed and used again.  The engine and transmission are still in the car, and the seller tells us that it fires up if you spritz gas into the carburetors and the transmission still shifts.  It doesn’t appear to have an overdrive unit though.  The big problem stated in the ad is that the brake and clutch hydraulics leaked on the car allowing corrosion to damage the right frame rail.  You can also see some corrosion in the rear part of the left front fender and in the passenger rear wheel well.

A look under the hood shows the original four-cylinder engine that had been in production since 1947.  These durable engines don’t produce pavement melting gobs of horsepower, but they are reliable and can be hopped up a bit.  The last time I checked, Moss Motors offered a supercharger that you could bolt-on.  This one is pretty far from that.  The lack of air cleaners and the fact that the original carburetors are still on the car lends us to think that fuel system issues may have been what got this car parked so long ago.

This is a car that I wish could be saved.  MG went to Pininfarina for help in designing a hardtop version of the MGB and it was money well spent.  They are neat cars, but the fact that it is not a convertible hurts its chances of being restored.  Everyone wants a drop-top.  The other drawback is that you can find solid cars for far less money than it would take to bring this one up to a comparable condition.  If the seller lowers his price, maybe someone will see this as a labor of love instead of a parts car.