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Lot 190 - 1963 MGB Roadster

Lot 190 - 1963 MGB Roadster

  • A very tidy and original early ’pull handle’ MGB
  • Sought after ‘narrow tunnel’ example
  • Tartan Red, black trim and wire wheels
  • Just five owners from new, father and son since 1993
  • Very solid, straight shell
  • Three bearing engine and ‘three synchro’ gearbox
  • Estimated at £8,000 to £11,000

Not Sold. Please contact us

ABOUT THIS CAR

“M.G.B. Safety Faster - and More Comfortably.” Road test of the MGB, Motor magazine, 24th October 1962

For MG, the B took up the cudgels (logically) from the A, which with its separate chassis it is fair to say had its roots in the pre-war design period. Charming though the MGA was, the B’s unitary construction moved the medium sized, reasonably priced sports car game on by some margin as far as the driving experience went and it remained the quintessential machine for the sporty driver throughout the 1960s and well into the ‘70s. Economies of scale as well as a plentiful supply of suitable mechanical components repurposed from more mainstream vehicles meant the MGB was relatively affordable, especially when compared to offerings from mainland Europe whose equivalent machines tended to be priced on a par with more exotic fare such as Jaguar’s E-Type.

Today this disparity is far more exaggerated and you can apply the ‘Law of Thirds’ (which we have just invented using a slide-rule); an Alfa Spider is a third of the price of an ‘E’ (£30,000 against £90,000) while an MGB is a third of the price of the Alfa and therefore what mathematicians call “a screaming bargain”.

This early, ‘Series 1’, MGB Roadster is from the first eighteen months of production and was registered on 15th August 1963 so it has, quite frighteningly, just celebrated its sixtieth birthday - where does the time go? According to the V5C registration document on file it has had just five owners, the last two, David and Robert Farrer, presumably being father and son with the former acquiring the MG in September 1993 before handing it down in 2005/6. During this period, it seems the B resided first near Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire and then in both Cambridgeshire and Gloucestershire.

Clearly defined by its production date and ‘GHN3’ chassis (or ‘Car’) number as a narrow tunnel (more of that later), three synchromesh gearbox (i.e. with no synchro on first gear) equipped example, the MGB features early production tell-tales such as a three bearing engine, ‘banjo’ type rear axle, a fuel tank retained by straps rather than bolts and twin six-volt battery boxes.

Overall, the MG is in very useable and more than presentable condition, looking red roadster smart in the winter sunshine. To try to give it some perspective, we’d say it wouldn’t be out of place in either a local car show or country pub car park but success in a concours competition might be slightly out of reach, the flip side of which means it will be so much more enjoyable to actually drive. As can be seen in the photo gallery, the body displays excellent panel fit and the whole car aligns well with straight flanks and ripple free boot and bonnet. The notoriously susceptible wing seams seem rust free which is great news as we know from experience how hard it is to permanently eradicate corrosion once it has taken a hold in these areas. The sill seams are all clean and sharp while there are no significant dinks or dents in the bodywork.

The Tartan Red paintwork has great shine and depth with just a few blemishes where it has lifted but these do not expose any unprotected metal; please see the photo gallery. There is some gravel rash behind the front wheels which has reached the bare metal and the resultant light surface rust could do with attention at some point in the not too distant future. Again, please have a good look at the photo gallery to evaluate this for yourselves.

In similarly very presentable condition is the chrome-work which is bright and lustrous with just some slight misting on some of the steel items and very light pitting to the susceptible pot metal light surrounds. Period accessories such as an AA badge, bullet style wing mirrors and headlamp stone guard clips are fitted.

The very attractive chrome wire wheels look to be in great condition with no discolouration or flaking of the finish and these are shod with well-treaded, correct profile 165/80 tyres, Continental ContiContacts on the front and Dunlop SP7s on the rear. The wheel spinners are also in very good condition with no unsightly hammer marks.

A cloth hood is fitted which is taut and free from any rips or unravelling stitching. Charmingly faded, it could be re-dyed but we would leave it as it is; you wouldn’t do it to your old Levi 501s. A full tonneau cover is present with a centre zip for hood down solo driving, though it does need a repair to a small tear before this gets any larger.

The leather faced seats are finished in black with white piping and they are in excellent condition with just the right amount of light creasing but no appreciable wear or damage. The carpets are in good order though there seems so be a piece of trim missing from within the driver’s footwell. The dashboard looks very smart in its correct black crackle finish with no chips or scratches though the bezels of the dials (a correct mix of Smiths and Jaeger items) could do with a polish. A leather rimmed Moto-Lita steering wheel is fitted along with a wooden gear knob while a 1960s ‘Crusader’ push button MW/LW radio and single chrome speaker grill give the cockpit an appropriate period feel. A couple of safety features are the electrical cut off switch (also a valuable security aid) and inertia reel seatbelts.

There is a painted spare wheel fitted with a Continental tyre in the boot which itself is a little bit scruffy with chipped and flaking paint. Having said that, the floor, bulkhead and inner wings all seem to be very solid. Some carpeting is present though it may not be a full boot set.

Not over-detailed, the engine bay is very honest and original aside from a pair of K&N chrome air filters. The slightly tatty rocker cover could be seen as a quick and easy win while the Tudor washer bottle is a nice original item. The Serck oil cooler correctly fitted in front of the radiator looks to be a fairly recent item and the cable drive for the Jaeger tachometer is a defining featured of the three bearing engines. The body colour paintwork is intact and might benefit from a clean and polish if that’s your thing.

Underneath the MG appears to be very solid with the sills, cross members, jacking points, floor pans and so on all apparently corrosion free. Much like the engine bay it is not especially pretty with some road grime and light surface rust to some suspension components but this is a car for using not parking over a mirror; again, please see the photo gallery. The engine sump has a few dents though the discs and callipers look to be in good order. A part stainless steel exhaust system has been fitted.

Firing easily on a cold day with a little choke, the engine ran sweetly with 55 psi showing on the oil pressure gauge at a 1,000 rpm idle and a little heat in its fluids. During our short test drive the B performed very well, slightly exceeding our expectations in terms of steering feel and braking with the especially sweet gearbox being singled out as a particular highlight. With the torquey engine making all the right noises through the uprated air filters and fruity exhaust, we were tempted to extend our run.

There is not much in the MG’s history file though the V5C Registration Document confirms its Historic Status, last two private owners and original registration date. A little online MOT checking shows how lightly it has been used since 2009.

As honest and un-messed with as they come, this very tempting MGB offers a new owner a variety of options from a quick service and lots of use as is, to a nut and bolt rebuild either to road or, given its vital pre-1965 ‘narrow tunnel’ status, full on FIA race car specification. If you don’t particularly value it, you could put something in the kitty by selling the Registration Number to a wealthy Porsche owner.

  • Registration number: YJY 959
  • Chassis Number: GHN3 16552

CONTACT THE SELLER

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COMMENTS

newest first / oldest first

BID OF £7,000.00 PLACED BY Emmgee

December 28th at 06 : 58 PM

BID OF £6,500.00 PLACED BY Rober

December 28th at 05 : 49 PM

BID OF £6,000.00 PLACED BY Emmgee

December 28th at 05 : 33 PM

BID OF £5,500.00 PLACED BY Elliott10

December 28th at 05 : 32 PM

BID OF £5,050.00 PLACED BY Rober

December 28th at 02 : 58 PM

BID OF £5,000.00 PLACED BY Emmgee

December 28th at 10 : 06 AM

BID OF £1,000.00 PLACED BY Elliott10

December 27th at 08 : 46 AM