SEVEN questions with A ’b GT owner

Phil Mcneil’s MG is his ideal car for long-distance drives

How did you come to 1 buy your GT?

Back in 2005 I was attempting to buy a Triumph Vitesse on ebay and the seller refused my bid because he thought that I was a tyre kicker. But I really wanted a classic car and, when I saw this MGB GT, I bid on that instead – I didn’t even look at any other cars. I got the winning bid and, 14 years later, we’re still together.

What was your first 2 drive like?

Rather disappointing, because I was expecting the car to feel sportier to drive; the problem was that everything was rather tired. Fitting a fresh set of suspension bushes and dropping the ride height by an inch made a really big difference to how the car performed.

How reliable has it 3 been?

Apart from one wiring problem when the overdrive loom short-circuited, so far, the ’B has needed only routine servicing, which I do myself as it’s so easy. By keeping on top of routine maintenance and using the car regularly, my B has proved utterly dependable.

What is the car used 4 for?

As I currently run the Bromsgrove & District branch of the MG Owners’ Club

(bdmgoc.co.uk), the car gets used a lot for a mixture of local and national events. But it has also been over to Europe on numerous occasions and the car is absolutely in its element with such trips. It can comfortably accommodate two people with their luggage on a long weekend or even a full week away from home.

What is it like to live 5 with every day?

Extremely easy because it’s so cheap to run, yet it’s a lot of fun. Parts are easy to find and I average 40mpg. Also, while it’s not open, like a roadster, I get the benefit ofhatchback practicality. Also, the full-length sunroof provides plenty of fresh air so I get to enjoy the best of both worlds.

Have you improved 6 your ’B at all?

Aside from the suspension upgrades it’s also got electronic ignition, but what makes it so much more usable on long journeys is the MG ZT seats. I fitted the outer coverings and foam to the B’s frames as the originals were just too bulky to fit.

What would you do 7 differently?

I would join an owners’ club before buying and get involved in the local scene, getting to know other owners. That is the best way of finding a good car as well as establishing what to look for before actually handing over any money.