1974 MGB GT
Highlights
- Incredible condition
- Recent interior overhaul
- Useable classic
- Much loved part of the family
- Tax and MOT exempt
The Background
An icon of British motoring the MGB entered the design phase in 1962 but would take a further three years to enter production. The first car would roll down the Abingdon production line in 1965, as a two-seat, soft top, four-cylinder offering. The MGB would last until the 1980s in its original form, however, the name was revived in 1992 for three years but it wouldn’t live up to the original MGB.
Originally designed as a 2-seater sports car the hard-top option was introduced in 1965 to an enthusiastic crowd of motoring press. The GT version would be slightly heavier than its roadster brother but with its superior aerodynamics, it would be able to achieve just over 100mph. The MGB would end up selling roughly half a million units, with the GT accounting for 150,000 of the cars sold.
The MGB is now one of the most recognisable classic cars on the roads of the UK today, with its simple mechanics and everyday functionality it was a car well ahead of its time.
The History
The story of this MGB GT starts off in what was possibly the most turbulent time for British automakers, during the 1970s, where union strikes were forever disrupting production lines and would ultimately spell the end of the British car industry. This MGB GT made its way down the production line in 1974 and would be first registered for the road on the 6th of August 1974.
The first part of its life is hard to document switching between a few different owners until it finally settled with a family of doctors in Holmfirth, West Yorkshire. It would stay with this family for 25 years going through its yearly MOT and any servicing work that was needed to keep her firing on all cylinders. It is possible that it received a bit of restoration work through this period as there are old photos showing the front wings and doors off the car to presumably fix rust issues.
The current owner picked this car up in 2012 after the family of doctors had decided to part ways with their beloved MGB GT. Sparking up an instant love affair with the car the current owner has doted over this MGB GT which shows in the way it is present today with near-perfectly work, a lovingly crafter brown leather interior, and 5 refurbished alloys, yes, they even refurbished the spare wheel that is hidden under the boot. It’s this remarkable attention to detail that has preserved this car for the next owner.
Since moving down from Derbyshire to Lowestoft they have not been able to use it due to summer tourist traffic and poor road conditions, instead of watching her sit they have decided that it is time for the next owner to enjoy her quirks. We hope the next owner will devote as much love and attention to her as the previous owners have.
The Paperwork
With the current owner being fastidious with their record-keeping there is a good amount of paperwork that will come with this car, with a mix of modern invoices and MOT certificates that date to the early 80s.
An easy way to establish how a car has been looked after is to look at the invoices that come with the car. With this car, you get the usual big invoices that evidence body and mechanical work that has been carried out but there are also a few invoices for things like 2 door handle gaskets or 1 rocker cover gasket both costing just over £1. These small invoices prove that it has been someone’s pride and joy as most people would overlook small details like these.
In the current ownership, this car has been through some work to keep her in tip-top condition. Some of these works include a new clutch slave cylinder in 2019, a new brown leather interior in 2015, and x5 wheel refurbishment in 2013. It must be said that both the interior and wheels both look like they were only finished yesterday.
With the current owner being a member of the MG Car Club, they have been able to obtain catalogues full of parts from approved MG specialists. These catalogues will come with the car should the next owner need to buy parts in the future.
The new owner can spend some time looking over these invoices to work out the level of care that it has received over the past 48 years.
The Interior
As has been previously mentioned the interior of this MGB GT is in near perfect condition, with a major overhaul taking place in 2015. It now sits in glorious brown leather which looks amazing in person, complimenting the white exterior perfectly.
With this being the GT version of MGB there is far more space on the interior than its roofless brother. Its two front seats are in great condition showing no signs of use at all, this is then mirrored by the rear bench condition too. The only slight issues with the interior are that the passenger seat moves slightly under acceleration and braking, this could be as simple as tightening one bolt though, or maybe the lever to adjust the seat had not returned itself to lock it in place, and because the leather interior is still relatively new it makes a tell tail squeak, but after some more use this will be silent and comfortable, this is true nit-picking, but it should not detract from the overall condition of the interior which is otherwise perfect.
It is crazy to think that when this car was produced in 1974, we were still a decade away from seatbelts being mandatory in the front of cars. At some point in the past, this MGB has been fitted with more modern 3-point seatbelts a must if you are tackling modern roads.
Along with the perfect seats and headlining even all of the black plastic centre console is in great condition. Housing an auto-rewind cassette player, clock, and a few other vital dials/controls it is a view that sends you straight back to the 70s. Another great part of this plastic dash is that it is not cracked at all, a small but important detail on the interior of a classic car.
Overall, the interior of this MGB GT is in great condition and will be the perfect place to sit as you take this car on road trips across the country.
The Exterior
Like the interior condition, the exterior of this MGB GT is present in near-perfect condition as well. The most important feature on the exterior of this MG are the chrome bumpers that sit proudly at the front and the back of that car, these are extremely important in the world of MGB GTs So, it is great to see that these are in remarkable condition with no signs of pitting. Another sign that this car has been looked after by a true enthusiast are the MG Car Club and AA badges that sit atop the front chrome bumper.
During its spell with the previous owners that car had been through some incorrect paintwork resulting in a miss-match of whites, the current owner has gone through and made sure that all of the panels are now colour matching.
Along with work completed to the bodywork the current owner also went through and got all five wheels refurbished, these wheels still look like new with no signs of any scrapes with curbs. The four Falken tires that are on the car all match, another little insight into the care and attention that has been lavished over this car during its current ownership period. Other small details like the chrome window surrounds, chrome flashes down the exterior and light lenses are all in great condition too, presented in like-new condition.
As you have probably worked out by now this car looks great in all lights with no nasty surprise lurking behind the wings or other potential rust areas. The only small area of rust is found on the nearside front where the bumper meets the wing, this appears to only be surface rust and does not affect any structural parts of the car.
With its effortless beauty, the MGB GT has a huge following amongst classic car lovers. As this car is presented in great condition it may even have the potential to win ‘best in show’ at classic car events over the summer.
The Mechanics
If you pop your head under the sweeping bonnet, you will be greeted with the well-known BMC B-series engine which was in so many British cars of the period. Its 1.8l 4-cylinder engine would produce around 100 hp which is ample for a car of its size.
With the additional aerodynamic benefits of the GT body, the MGB GT could achieve a top speed of just over 100mph, further cementing its sports car status. From the factory, this car only came with a 4-speed gearbox, but with the addition of the overdrive function it allows you to cruise are higher speeds with the added benefit of better fuel economy.
The engine and gearbox on this MGB GT feel to be in great condition, starting up with a little bit of choke she idles smoothly with a throaty tone out the exhaust. Out on the road the gearbox works perfectly switching between gears with no audible crunching, the overdrive feature also works perfectly, becoming available in top gear at around 50mph. Under braking, there is a judder through the steering wheel which may be down to a warped disc on the front axle.
There is an invoice from 2021 that references that the rear brakes have had some work to diagnose an imbalance, but maybe the fronts could now do with a change. With this being a true classic car, DIY work is easy on the drive and even the most amateur mechanic could have the brakes replaced in a day.
The MGB GT is a joy to drive, it always puts a smile on the face of anyone who has the fortune of being in it. With this GT having received years of love and attention it is in great mechanical condition, ready for the next owner to take her on long adventures.
The Appeal
The MGB GT is an icon classic British sports car and whether you had one of these from new or you are just getting started in classic cars, the MGB GT offers you a great platform to enjoy the lifestyle at a fraction of the price of many other classics.
With this GT being in such great condition could be one of the best on the market currently, the current owner has loved this car for the past decade and we hope that the next owner will cherish her as much as they have. A great addition to anyone’s collection this is one classic you cannot afford to miss.
Notice to bidders
Although every care is taken to ensure this listing is as factual and transparent as possible, all details within the listing are subject to the information provided to us by the seller. Car & Classic does not take responsibility for any information missing from the listing. Please ensure you are satisfied with the vehicle description and all information provided before placing a bid.
As is normal for most auctions, this vehicle is sold as seen, and therefore the Sale of Goods Act 1979 does not apply. All bids are legally binding once placed. Any winning bidder who withdraws from a sale, is subject to our bidders fee charge. Please see our FAQs and T&C's for further information. Viewings of vehicles are encouraged, but entirely at the seller's discretion.
Vehicle specification
- Year 1974
- Make MG
- Model MGB GT
- Colour White
- Odometer 76,113 Miles
- Engine size 1798
Auction Details
- Seller Type Private
- Town Lowestoft
- Location Suffolk
- Country United Kingdom
15
bids
from 9
bidders
- du•••• £7,500 14/04/22
- ma•••• £6,800 14/04/22
- du•••• £6,700 14/04/22
- ch•••• £6,600 14/04/22
- du•••• £6,500 14/04/22
- Ad•••• £6,350 14/04/22
- du•••• £6,250 14/04/22
- Ad•••• £6,150 14/04/22
- da•••• £6,050 13/04/22
- Ad•••• £5,800 13/04/22
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