1979 MGB Mk IV Roadster (No Reserve)

1979 MG MGB Convertible Description

1979 MGB Mk IV Roadster (No Reserve)
You’re looking at a very good condition and beloved late model MGB. This wonderful and iconic British convertible sports car has always been garaged and well taken care of all of its life with only having had three owners, I being the third. The car comes out of Tennessee originally. There is absolutely no rust, let me say that again, NO RUST! The fact of no rust is the single most important factor when buying an MGB! Body has NO dents or dings. MG parts are very plentiful and cheap, you can get absolutely everything for them. So what you want when buying an MGB is a very good car to begin with that is solid, accident free with no rust. That is what you have here in this “B”! When buying a rubber bumper MGB you also want to buy 1978-1980 cars. The reason is that they are already set up to take a larger engine like the Buick/Rover V8 without having to make modifications. That is why I bought this 79, I was going to do that several years down the road. What makes MGB’s great sports cars is that they are relatively cheap and easy to own, they hold their value and even go up a bit over time. This 79 MGB roadster is a good turn- key car with no rust with the much coveted factory overdrive. It is fully serviced and ready for the road for an underpriced low start bid price with no hidden reserve .
She is dressed in stylish British racing green, black interior and nice newer MG Mini Lite wheels and tires. She has some nice additions too like, newer CD player and radio, limited edition front spoiler, Pertronix electric ignition, tonneau cover, top boot, trunk carpet, cowl vent cover, headlamp stone guards, cup holders, electric fan, full size spare and mud flaps, etc.
I am a bit of a British car nut and when I get a new car to my collection I go through it and fix or replace with new parts any issues I can find, I only have good cars. That said, this is what has been done to the MG since I have had the car a few years now: the front end was completely rebuilt with new hub bearings, steering axle, new bushings, new wishbone arms, spring pans, steering gone through serviced and new gators. Carburetor rebuilt, new battery, new radiator, new seat pads and springs, new muffler and tail pipe, new hoses, new thermostat, new water pump, be belt, new pertronic electric ignition, new coil, and new light switch. This B is fully serviced, tuned up and all new filters and fluids replaced including trans and rear-end. So you can see a lot of the issues, repairs and maintenance that comes with old classics have already been addressed and repaired on this car. This is turn- key drive it home “B” in 3+ condition. There are cheap # 4 and less MGB’s out there, but they have rust and need many thousands in repairs, parts, bodywork and have hidden headaches once you dig into it a bit. Don’t fall for a 5k car that looks ok on the outside, but needs another 5-8 K in work. With this 79 MGB I am selling, you don’t have any of that! All the work listed above has been done at an MG/Triumph expert’s garage with 25 years’ experience and also at Eclectic Motorworks in Holland MI with also some parts and consulting from University Motors in Grand Rapids MI. All the garages are leaders in the country for British car work and restoration. Parts invoices and service records come with the car. Everything works on the car other than what I have listed below.
So I have told you all the good things about the car and all the restoration work that it has recently undergone, but with all classic cars, there is always a few things left to do or that will need to be done down the road. Here is that list to the best on my knowledge: heater cable is not connected, it’s all there but needs attached, I never messed with it because I don’t dive the cars in the winter. The window spray nozzle jets aren’t there, probably taken off at some point for not working and never replaced. The passenger’s seat belt is a bit sticky, but works. There are a few small slits in the seat covers. It has a few paint chips and tiny scratches, an easy touch up. Over all paint is good. The soft top is starting to get a bit tight and will need replaced several years from now as will the tonneau cover too (which has a seam tare), still fine and usable now though. Mileage cable is not working. The experts estimated the mileage at 85-90K based on engine wear. Eclectic Motor works fully inspected and tested the engine and noted that it should have the bottom end (bearings) replaced within the next in 12-15,000 miles. This is common to all engines of this era and age, after 100,000 miles or so they need a rebuild, but than they are like new or even better based on what level of rebuild you do. The bottom end job typically runs $900-1000.
Basically you will be getting a very good condition car that needs a few more things done and some engine service down the road after several more years of driving seasons. Maybe at that time put in the Rover V8! You can get the car this year and enjoy the rest of the season and do a few of the things mentioned during the winter and have an excellent # 2 car for the spring and ready for a car show? Value wise for this car, NADA shows the average retail at $13,000 and high retail at 26,000. NADA seems high to me; I go by true auction results and they show similar set ups going for between 9,000-12,000 thousand. Classic car Dealers would ask 15k+ for this car with all the restoration work done, additions, Mini Lite wheels and overdrive. I am not trying to make money on the car, just get close to what I have into it. That is the reason for the low opening bid of 6.9k and no reserve. I’ll be out lots of time and labor, but I don’t worry about that because I enjoy these cars and consider it a passionate hobby and joy. I want it to go to a good home, give someone a good deal and have the B continued to be used, maintained well and even improved on over time. These cars should be used and seen on the road a lot.
Why am I selling it? Well I don’t really want to, but my wife and I are moving next year and I am losing three garage stalls, so three cars out of my collection have to go, (this 79 MGB, a Triumph 1965 TR4 and a 1972 Lotus Europa Twin Cam, the latter two will be sold later this year) that and we want to start downsizing a bit in preparation for early retirement. So I am turning this very good MGB loose to some lucky bidder. The MGB is available for inspection most anytime, just contact me. I’ll post lots of photos and more if needed on request. If you’re looking for one of the best rust free MGBs out there for a bargain price, you just found it. I know I wrote a book here, but I feel more info is always better. Happy bidding, hope you get it and thanks for looking.