Just how much pain could a cheap MGB GT Be?

[Felly Magic]

If you can find the series an MG Is Born by Mark Evans, he buys a very, very shagged roadster, and not much of the old bodywork is left

[eddyramrod]

I drove a mate's chrome-bumper GT some years ago.  Acceleration adequate, considering its age; handling, I didn't really get to test.  What would really put me off is the steering which is horribly heavy; even more so than a Hillman Hunter or a Lada.  At least with those you sit high enough to get in and out, a B is a long way down!

OTOH it is a BMC B-series, which is pretty damn simple to fix.  Even I could probably cope with most of the oily bits.

[Rusty Pelican]

My cousin bought a roadster cheap years ago , only needed a pair of front wings by the looks of it , removed front wings and found more rust than car  , by the time the grot was cut out we were near the rear light .

These really know how to rust .

Verdict , horrible boring cars owned by horrible boring people who think they are the best thing on wheels.

[anonymous user]

Wasn't it Seth who had the blue one a few years ago? Whatever you do, don't buy this one.

[RichardMoss]

  On 13/02/2014 at 01:21, Conrad D. Conelrad said:

So long as you find one with decent bodywork, what could go wrong? They are less complicated than the average toaster.

 

Sadly the prices crept up a bit while I wasn't paying attention. I was previously content that whatever happened, five minutes strumming almost recognisable bars of Let It Be in the town centre would earn me enough loose change to buy an OrangeRed rubber bumper with baggy orange upholstery. 

 

But they're still pretty cheap, look, this one's got a year's MOT and is up for £1750 offers invited. 

 

 

This ^^^^^

[michael1703]

  On 13/02/2014 at 17:45, guest said:

Wasn't it Seth who had the blue one a few years ago? Whatever you do, don't buy this one.

I'd forgotten about that shit tv series, I wonder if the endless complaints prevented it getting recommissioned?

[Station]

I'd rather have an Austin Healey Sprite.

Are these just MG Midgets?

 

 

If I found a roadworthy one with MOT for 500 quid I'd have it for the 'experience'.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Whilst a very early MGB Roadster has a sort of appeal for a sunny day, the thought of a GT (Gruesome Turd) makes me shudder. They really are fucking horrible. Yes I've driven one, a Brooklands green T reg thing. A Marina Coupe is, in every way, a superior vehicle. So is an MX5 and they are worth around 56 pence.

[HMC]

I had one for a few months a few years back....

UGT (I liked the plate) was originally purple tulip but was resprayed when young to a more anonymous black which I quite liked.

 

As has been mentioned, there exists a kind of stereotype of an owner/ club type and the obviousness of the car as a choice that totally put me off ever having one. I was ready to be underwhelmed and dislike it. The thing is, I liked it despite all that. It helped that nobody had chucked a fake walnut dash at it and the various other things they seem to attract.The burble of the B series, the neat cohesive styling, The basic simplicity of the underpinnings, they all managed to work their way into my affections in the end. As a piece of nostalgia theyve got their place, but the MX5 I had was half the price and twice the fun.

 

[EssDeeWon]

The MGB is abit like 'The One Show' of the classic car world. Its always on, loads of people watch it but its never that interesting and your never more than 23 hours from the next episode!!

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

  On 13/02/2014 at 18:15, Station said:

I'd rather have an Austin Healey Sprite.

Are these just MG Midgets?

 

 

If I found a roadworthy one with MOT for 500 quid I'd have it for the 'experience'.

Someone offered me £500 for mine last week. I LOL'd. Despite not being anything near as nice as the one in the photo it sold for £1800, and I don't know you'd get any MOT'd one for much less.

 

You might get a rough rubber bumper 1500 for under a grand.

 

They're seriously wonderful cars though, amazing fun to drive and very easy to own.

[Junkman]

This one should be relatively inexpensive:

 

 

Also saves you from being seen in it anywhen soon.

[mouseflakes]

The more time that passes since these were on every other page of every classic car magazine, the more I like them. I've seen quite a few that just look like old hacks, which suits them well.

[Junkman]

I always liked them, I just wouldn't want to be associated with the typical 'vintage' MG owners.

They are the main reason why I avoid classic car meetings altogether like the plague, what with their stories in the minutest details of how it took them 28 years to get the rear bumper rechromed, and how they rebuilt their gearbox with nothing but their teeth.

Why aren't the owners of other makes such slowpokes?

 

Oh, and make mine a rubber bumper V8, please.

[Pillock]

See, anywhere else the rubberised ones get rejected, or converted. I think I'm with junkman..... Much better looking!

[Junkman]

Here, this scores not too unhigh on my want scale actually:

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1981-MG-B-GT-YELLOW-/271397704925

 

 

Needs a proper engine, a real gearbox, and the pedal count reduced to a tolerable level, though.

Hence I'd rather buy a Scimitar after all.

[Junkman]

However, there is also this, unfortunately:

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AGR-649S-/231155957248

 

Things aren't as easy as they appear at first glance...

[Junkman]

Here

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1976-MG-B-GT-BLUE-/171239244976

 

Just needs a vinyl roof added and the interior swapped for the one in 50 shades of brown,

that all those MG deadheads are ripping out.

[Junkman]

Here, now some talkage can be had.

 

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MGB-GT-ORIGINAL-SEAT-COVERS-/261391326952

 

Lovely!

[Junkman]

This is seriously tempting.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1976-MG-B-GT-YELLOW-/301096869022

[Guest Breadvan72]

  On 16/02/2014 at 00:47, Junkman said:

This is seriously tempting.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1976-MG-B-GT-YELLOW-/301096869022

 

 

I would have the suspension looked at as the car is listing badly to one side.  Good grippy tyres, though. 

[xtriple]

When I had to cut down on my (motor) biking, I bought a fully restored MG B roadster. Rubber bumper and re-shelled with a Heritage shell. It was perfect bodily and had a 2 litre 'B' series with Weber 45 bought from Osselli and quite powerful.

I hated it!

Didn't handle, didn't brake, was endlessly unreliable and drank fuel. Obviously your expectations are very different when you fork out LOADS of dosh on a car than if it costs pennies. But to be honest, if it had cost £500 I'd still have hated it.

Sold it (made a couple of quid as well - prices had increased in the year I had it!) and bought a MK1 MX5. It was dull (paintwok wise) and looked unloved but was actually well cared for, T cut and polish and it shone, no rust (!) and I adored the thing. It was everything the MG wasn't - fun.

Just bought a mk3 MX, love it just as much.

[Junkman]

Holy threat resurrection, Batman.

 

Craptical Plastics saw fit to launch a new magazine catering exclusively to Britain's favourite* motorcar.

 

 

A collectible limited edition signed by someone who actually admits to be responsible for its design* is available here:

 

http://www.greatmagazines.co.uk/store/displayitem.asp?sid=7526&id=78107

[Guest Breadvan72]

  On 13/02/2014 at 20:07, Junkman said:

Here, this scores not too unhigh on my want scale actually:

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1981-MG-B-GT-YELLOW-/271397704925

 

 

Needs a proper engine, a real gearbox, and the pedal count reduced to a tolerable level, though.

Hence I'd rather buy a Scimitar after all.

 

 

 

I came that close to buying an autobox Scimitar sight unseen a year or two ago.  I still wake up at night screaming in terror until I remember that I didn't buy it.  

[Junkman]

This is the ex-Junkman one:

 

 

 

Now up for grabs again, since its current owner committed suicide.

Has antediluvian gearbox and too many pedals, though.

[Guest Breadvan72]

The one I saw was also silver, and was a very late SE whatever it is.  My mate who is a total Scimitar spod told me that the earlier ones were better, and then while dithering I ran out of money, so I survived to tell the tale. 

[Guest Breadvan72]

My mate might want to buy that one, though. I know feck all about Essexes and other Ford V6 shiteboxes.  What type does that one have, as my mate is very snobby about such nonsense. 

[gadgetgricey]

Possibly a bit left field, but have you considered and old shape Saab 900.

Looks a bit similar (through a thick fog, maybe) and should be plenty well within your budget.

 

Had the pleasure of owning both, and would happily have another Saab but would never touch an MGB even if you paid me.

 

Saabs can also have their weaknesses, gearboxes, especially on the Turbo's,  but to my mind are a much better car.

 

Give one a try.

 

- Dave -

[Junkman]

  On 10/03/2014 at 19:05, Breadvan72 said:

The one I saw was also silver, and was a very late SE whatever it is.  My mate who is a total Scimitar spod told me that the earlier ones were better, and then while dithering I ran out of money, so I survived to tell the tale. 

 

The ex-mine isn't silver, it's Glacier Green Metallic, a very rare colour. It also has the rare electric windows.

[Guest Breadvan72]

Where is it, what drives it, how much?  My pal Simon may want to know.