1974 MGB GT auction purchase - first (short) drive ...

[Somerset Suffolk]

So back in July whilst eating my dinner and looking at tat and assorted crap on the " the saleroom" internet site (so far this year I've bought a sword, 3 flags,  a railway lamp and a hedge trimmer) I spotted this 1974 MGB GT with about 3 hours remaining before auction finished - current bid £1000  - just the 5 pictures below and very short description as follows - " A 1974 MGB GT registration number GLL 551N, red/orange, mileage 13,000 unable to start, V5 not present"  

The auction house is in Hampshire (I'm in Somerset) and sells antique furniture, expensive watches etc - Their also shut so I can't ask any questions like is there a set of leys ? any history ? ( probably not, as there's no V5)

Have a look at the MOT history  which and was last MOT'd in 2016 (though over 40 years old so MOT exempt)  Gut reaction is this a deceased estate sell, so do I take a punt and buy blind ? pictures look OK - know that the sills are fuck off expensive and time consuming even if you do it yourself ( and I don't want to)  but the pictures look as though the sills are good - no chrome sill covers etc - it looks pretty straight - nice spec - like the wire wheels (can be shite if the splines are worn plus inner tubes)  sunroof, 1970's blaze orange - should have overdrive but no mention in description, original cloth trim. 

Auction finishes at 20:00 so put my max bid in with about 5 minutes to go, which unbeknown to me automatically extends the auction another 30 mins - wait another 30 minutes - no else bids - auction finishes with me the highest bidder at what seems a low £1200 but no confirmation that I've won it.

THE NEXT MORNING 

Confirmation email that I've won the auction - have a quick look at the billing invoice which is a bit more than I'm expecting even allowing for fees etc - close inspection of said invoice shows I've also bought   "An 18th Century Dutch marquetry inlaid bombe bureau, the cylinder action top enclosing a fitted interior above three long drawers with brass handles raised upon bracket feet, 113cms wide, 54cms deep and 111cms tall"   sounds nice - maybe I can keep tools in it ?  thankfully Its a mistake - correct invoice shows a total of £1632.00  which doesn't seem too bad ?    Pay the invoice and phone the auctioneers - they confirm no paper work but keys with car, it is a deceased estate, and car was kept in a garage before being removed for sale and rolls easily - auctioneer says " I don't think you'll be disappointed"  - get on to Shipley to arrange a quote for delivery - best quote is £182 which is pretty good as its over a 100 miles so arrange for MG to be collected on 11th August ..........

 

[Landy Mann]

Nice find,  we seem to have serval mgbs on the forum at the moment 

[Zelandeth]

48 minutes ago, Landy Mann said:

Nice find,  we seem to have serval mgbs on the forum at the moment 

That's because they're great fun.  

If I hadn't also developed an unhealthy attraction to Rover P4s I'd absolutely have one on fleet.  I'd love one, but it would mean something else needs to go...and currently there's nothing I can bring myself to sell.

[Peter C]

Following, obviously.

Good luck.

[N Dentressangle]

That looks superb for the money. These are real bargains at the moment, I reckon - values seem to have softened up a hell of a lot recently.

Nothing gruesome in the MoT history either, and at least there is one! Look forward to updates.

[MorrisItalSLX]

Serck Number Plates!

Cassette Deck!

Winning!

[EyesWeldedShut]

1 minute ago, MorrisItalSLX said:

Serck Number Plates!

Cassette Deck!

Winning!

Webasto.....................

[Surface Rust]

Slightly disappointed there isn't going to be a roffle for a 'bombe bureau ', but the MGB looks like an excellent buy in a great colour!

[MrGTI6]

Looks like you landed on your feet with that one! 

Can't wait for the next update!

[sierraman]

Bargain that is for the money. Best colour as well and the more desirable bumper model. 

[eddyramrod]

That looks like it should be a lot of fun!  Hopefully we'll get some sunroof-open weather too.  Well bought, young man.

[Mally]

Does it run now?

Does the Oil/temp gauge work?

I only ask because mine kept breaking. I found it annoying as they aren't cheap.

I'd have another if I could still get in and out of them.

[chadders]

Looks a good buy especially as it's one of the last chrome bumper ones.

[Somerset Suffolk]

Many thanks for all the replies - much appreciated - I came across the autoshite site when a general MGB GT internet search threw up Peter C's and SiC's very entertaining blog on their GT's 

So spoiler alert ! I've still not actually driven this GT and barely had it running  - more of why to follow - Yep MGB and GT's perennial classic - loads available - cheap parts and sort of easy to work on ...  I've got a 1958 MGA roadster- had it 30 years plus - its scruffy but structurally and mechanically sound - also had a rubber bumper B roadster that I bought cheap (another deceased estate - I'm the grim reaper buyer of autoshite...) it had a rebuilt engine, again was structurally sound. I tided it up and really liked it - so I'm familiar with twin SU's and a B series engine -  pics below 

Also had a FHC TR7 with a Webasto roof - the roof on the GT is a Britax version - its drum tight water proof, opens and closes nicely - however the lining is shagged - pics to follow 

Serck number plates ! not sure if these are the original plates for the GT but have an 80's vibe about them ? my Dad a Simca 1100 with the same style plates (with the distinctive clattery valve gear )

Cassette deck and Goodmans speakers !  so back to 11th August when the GT is delivered ....

[Somerset Suffolk]

So 11th August - GT delivered - First impressions - quick look underneath when its still on the bever tail and thank fuck  - sills and underside look really good - Also there is an overdrive gearbox (looks a bit oily though) I was pretty sure that this home market car should have had one, but auctioneers didn't know what overdrive was and other than confirming that there was some sort of switch on the right side of the dash board, I didn't know if this GT had O/D until it arrived - so a positive start ! 

[Carl1981]

Looks very good for the money! Looking forward to seeing more about it.

[Somerset Suffolk]

So have a look around (sorry I've not taken as many pictures as I could have ) looks good ! - clearly had some sort of renovation  (MOT history shows that it was off the road for nearly a year following a MOT fail for structural reasons, so guessing this was when it was done ?) some rust on the rear nearside wing but not too bad ( iceberg rust - rust doesn't look too bad on the surface but loads hidden)  really, really solid - surface rust on rear of underside (not at the front due to B series oil leaks)  engine bay very scruffy - looks like its been painted in a weird metallic pink colour ?!

However a gold coloured engine ! its a "gold seal" engine - gold seal ! think blue printed spec !😆... sort of ..maybe .. unless its just a gold painted B series engine out of a Sherpa ..... but yay ! engine tag says 48g733 so it is an gold seal 18V late MGB engine - lovely I hope !

Oil looks very clean plus a "new" looking oil filter ( I think this GT has been stood for about 8 years ) plugs out and engine turns over by hand so not seized ( plugs are Bosch but seem to be a mixture ) radiator is full of coolant - cutch master cylinder is empty of fluid as expected and banking on going through all of the braking system anyway.

Wire wheels look absolutely brand new - really unmarked (I've had them off and they mint as are the splined hubs ( tyres look new but have very old date stamps ) - I'm used to tubed tyres on my classic bikes but not really keen - but hey ! the wheels do suit the car .

Offside front bumper overrider is bent and front vallance also mangled - looks as though it was dragged out and instead of using the heavy duty bumper and toeing eye on the nearside of the front bumper- annoyingly there is also a small dent on the offside grill and bonnet -  shame but possible could have been the only option to move it. 

look in the boot and a wire wheel spare wheel is present plus the jack etc - the battery has also been moved to under the boot floor - worryingly the battery is fecking huge ! is this car a poor starter ? battery is naturally very flat  

carpets look original but a bit thread bare - 1 set of keys but boot and door locks match  - usual loose change, parking and petrol receipts for in and around Farnborough (Esso Energy unleaded 17.81 litres £22.95  - £1.28 a litre ? 3/6/2014)

 

[Somerset Suffolk]

7 hours ago, Surface Rust said:

Slightly disappointed there isn't going to be a roffle for a 'bombe bureau ', but the MGB looks like an excellent buy in a great colour!

Surface Rust - feast your eyes on this beauty ! 😆

[mk2_craig]

1 hour ago, Somerset Suffolk said:

Serck number plates ! not sure if these are the original plates for the GT

Probably not, this particular style seems to have become common around T/V reg and then fizzled out early eighties, in pressed metal form anyway. The same font on plastic plates was used by some dealers well into the 90s, but I'd have thought that the original items on a mid 70s BGT would be the type with individual plastic digits held on with star washers on the back.

[Peter C]

That looks ace and in much better condition than mine. Very well bought. 

I'm looking forward to further updates.

 

[MVX11V]

Same colour as mine was. I say was because a magazine bought it and restored it, painting it classic car show room red. It lives on. RNH 690K.

I like the inset grills on the 1970 releases. 

Congrats on the buy. 

[Somerset Suffolk]

1 hour ago, Peter C said:

That looks ace and in much better condition than mine. Very well bought. 

I'm looking forward to further updates.

 

Cheers Peter - appreciate your comment   - what I would say is though, 2 months on and my GT has not turned a wheel yet - it has been a bit shite 😐

[Somerset Suffolk]

last bit of fluffy nonsense before getting into why I've not driven the GT yet .....

Stickers indicate that the PO was a ex paratrooper, who liked wee little dogs, football and went to great lengths to stop his car being stolen...  

(Actually, judging by the business cards I found in the car, PO was a driving instructor)

[Dan302]

What a bargain! Looks really tidy and it's an ace colour too 😍

[stuboy]

looks good, what getting in and out like?

[comfortablynumb]

Well bought!

Is a bombe bureau an agency for puddings? 😁

[Dj_efk]

Oh wow, you've basically stolen it at that price - its a really high spec for one of those and was obviously cherished - also is that a stainless exhaust?

[vtec-e]

Excellent buy, and the bureau too! Good colour too. I remember my friend's dad having a 'Gold Seal' replacement engine fitted to their Maxi back in the 80's. Hopefully you've got a good one that has done a low mileage.

[Mally]

17 minutes ago, vtec-e said:

Excellent buy, and the bureau too! Good colour too. I remember my friend's dad having a 'Gold Seal' replacement engine fitted to their Maxi back in the 80's. Hopefully you've got a good one that has done a low mileage.

My dad bought a Gold seal engine for a Minor 1000, in the 60's.

Cost £50 from a main dealers, owned by Harry Ratciffe's dad iirc. (Google him if unaware).

I fitted it.

[Somerset Suffolk]

Finally made some good progress today - GT now starting and running reasonable well - tappets need adjusting but I'm  much happier than I have been - so to get to this point I went through the following ......