Description

1977 MGB Roadster

Nut-and-bolt restoration to award-winning condition some years ago; only 53,000 miles showing; a really cracking example all round

This must be one of the best presented rubber bumper MGs that we have seen. After all, it should be having been an award-winner after a complete ground-up restoration.

Bought new in 1977, the first owner from Hampshire is understood to have used the car very lightly, keeping it garaged and using it in fair weather only. Staying in his hands until 2010 it had only covered 45,000 miles during this time (recorded in the accompanying original service booklet) before being sold to the second owner who embarked on a full restoration.

The file accompanying the car does not include invoices for the significant restoration, although does show photographs of the work and lists the jobs that were completed. This included the engine being stripped down and rebuilt, the ignition, braking, suspension, cooling and transmission systems all being overhauled and the bodywork being totally stripped down with a bare metal respray. Two Heritage wings were fitted, a new hood, seals all round, miscellaneous chrome details were replaced where necessary and the result was an exceptional example of one of the last rubber bumper roadsters to be produced. Some photographs here document some of the work that was carried out.

Three years after the considerable restoration was started, the car was sold on to Clayton Classics in Coventry and they quickly re-sold it in the same year to the fourth owner in Lancashire. Only a month after the purchase, paperwork on file shows awards from the annual Aberdeen MG Owners Club Show and a completed concours judging form from the Harrogate MG Club, scoring an impressive 150 points out of a possible 175. Regularly maintained over the next few years and clocking up only few miles according to the annual MOTs, PTF 160R was then bought by our vendor in 2017.

With just over the 50,000 miles showing, the current owner treated it to a full service in 2018, including stripping and rebuilding the carbs, rebuild of the rear suspension, new hi-torque starter motor and other little improvements to produce the car you see today. The final invoice on file shows some fresh plugs, new oil, slave cylinder and wiper blades have all been fitted in August 2020.

This car has had few owners who have all enjoyed and looked after it, driven it regularly but not too much, maintained what needs to be maintained and it is only reluctantly offered for sale due to ill health. Altogether a most attractive example of a very usable classic car which will turn heads wherever it goes.

Further information - toby.service@brightwells.com