1968 MGB ROADSTER
ENGINE 1798cc/4-cyl/OHV POWER 95bhp@4750rpm TORQUE 110lb ft@3000rpm MAXIMUM SPEED 106mph 0-60MPH 13sec FUEL CONSUMPTION 24-28mpg TRANSMISSION RWD, four-speed manual o/d MoT 12 months on sale ODOMETER 5320 miles WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?
This four-owner ‘B fires easily and settles to a regular idle once it’s warmed up, with no tappet noises or signs of misbehaviour. The oil gauge gives a fairly consistent 50psi readout on the move and the B-Series is generally well behaved, although it does seem a little more hesitant than it should be over 2500rpm – the unit was rebuilt 1000 miles ago and hasn’t run much since, so check this out carefully and give it a chance to warm up fully if you test drive it. The steering is pleasingly weighted with no sign of play or slop, and while the ride is fairly firm there are no bangs or shudders over bumps and potholes.
BODYWORK CHECK
The Tartan Red paintwork is in good condition with an even finish, but there are a couple of cosmetic blemishes, including a scratch about an inch long near the hood assembly on the nearside, a small area of bubbling paintwork where the roof meets the bodywork and a small stone chip on the leading edge of the bonnet. However, there’s no corrosion in the sills, waistline or where the A-pillars meet the bodywork. The tyres are a mixture of different brands but are legal and devoid of any cracks or bulges and the 14-inch wire wheels have clearly been well maintained.
HOW’S THE INTERIOR?
It’s all been well looked after. The vinyl on both seats is free from any rips, marks or discolouration and the carpets are dry, suggesting that the roof – which has a small tape repair on the driver’s side but is in otherwise good condition – isn’t letting water in. All the dials and switches work correctly and the dashboard is in good order but there are small vertical scratches in both the driver and passenger windows. A previous
owner has fitted a three-spoke Moto-Lita steering wheel, more modern seatbelts and a battery cut-off switch behind the driver’s seat.
UNDER THE BONNET
It’s no surprise that everything under this ‘B’s bonnet looks clean and trouble-free, given that the engine was rebuilt so recently. There are no signs of oil seeping out from beneath the rocker cover gasket, the recently replaced radiator appears to be in good condition and there’s a general grime-free appearance to the engine block, which is in the same shade of red with which it would have left the Abingdon factory 52 years ago. There isn’t much in the way of paperwork, but a series of older MoT certificates show that it’s likely to have been ‘around the clock’.
THE CCW VIEW
There are a couple of little cosmetic jobs to do on this ‘B, but we suspect that it just needs some sympathetic driving to get the best out of its rebuilt engine – otherwise we think this one’s well worth a closer look.