1979 MGB Tourer - Convertible - Fun Daily Driver!

1979 MG MGB Description

Ann Arbor Sportscar is pleased to offer this 1979 MGB Tourer for sale. We bought this car in July 2012 from a local couple that performed a restoration in the early 2000’s – and it has been driven sparingly only on nice summer days – and always garage kept since we bought it. We have only driven it about 2,000 miles over the last eight years primarily for local errands. The odometer now shows about 108,000 miles.

The previous owners replaced the floor panels, both rocker panels, and lower fender patch panels with parts sourced from reputable national parts suppliers. They finished the exterior in the original Russet Brown exterior body color. The paint job was acceptable but is showing wear and some minor scratches, chips and some rust in several places. Plastic body filler was used very sparingly to level the bodywork – this is not a “bondo buggy”! Both the front and rear bumpers are in excellent condition. The main frame rails are both solid. The battery box is solid. The rear leaf spring shackles are solid and rust-free. The entire underside and substructures were professionally undercoated and remain to this day, in very good rust-free condition – structurally sound and very safe.

The real strength of this car is the condition of the interior. The carpeting kit was completely refreshed when the floor panels were replaced. The seats are both in excellent condition – very supportive and comfortable. The dash panel is excellent – it is not all sun-parched and cracked like many MGB’s of this era. The interior door panels are both in excellent condition. All the gauges work – with the exception of the clock. Additionally, both seat belts function very well – they secure and retract when released. Since we have only driven it on clear sunny days – we have not bothered to replace the convertible top material – although the top frame and bows fold and stow away easily. The buyer of this car should budget in a new convertible top – it costs $400 from most suppliers.

Other noteworthy features include a professionally-installed custom roll bar for safety. Additionally, the suspension has been upgraded with tube-shock absorber conversion kits on all four corners. This upgrade vastly improves the ride and handling of this MGB.As was standard OEM equipment with the later MGB’s, this 1979-model car is equipped with the stock rear anti-roll bar that works well combined with the modern tube shocks.

This is a well-maintained, reliable daily driver late-model MGB with the standard 4-speed manual transmission. The car has good oil pressure and there are no oil leaks. It has decent tires mounted on 60-spoke painted wire wheels. We have replaced many mechanical items in the last five years including: battery, alternator, fuel pump, brake master cylinder,brake pads and shoes, professionally-rebuilt Stromberg carburetor and water choke, radiator and cooling hoses, and the turn signal switch. We converted the distributor to electronic ignition and have installed a pair of gas-strut bonnet prop rods.

Buyer must make all shipping and transportation arrangements. We will assist the buyer in any way that we can to facilitate process. Please remind your car hauler that this is a small sportscar and therefore it has a narrower track than most contemporary vehicles so it must be moved with a flatbed trailer or a car trailer with fairly narrow wheel rails (or the car will fall between the rails). This car must be moved from our shop within 30 days from the date of this purchase.