1967 MG MGB

This is a sorted, turn-key reliable, tight, fun, lovely, quintessential British roadster...with the quintessential scratches, chips, blemishes, squeaks, and leaks! It has been loved, and driven, and loved, and driven, and loved some more! I can't think of a more fun car for under $20k, particularly if with a well-dressed passenger!


THE GOOD
- I'm the second owner of this car. The original owner was a professional British car mechanic who bought it new in 1968 and drove it 140k miles. I purchased it from his estate when he passed away. I have records back to 1968. It has lived in Los Angeles its whole life.

- The car starts with no issues, hot or cold, at sea level or a mile high. Every fluid and wear item on the car has been replaced, and I've put thousands of miles on it in the last few years, including a trip up the coast to Monterey Car Week. For the last few years it has seen about 100 miles a month, 80% of them in mountains and canyons.

- The car has never been hit. The chassis is straight.

- There is no rust. Even the surface rust on the exhaust and the random fastener is mild.

- The car will need continued maintenance, but nothing major on the horizon. I did just about everything the first year I had the car. Wheels are true, tires are good, fluids are fresh, plugs are new, carbs need nothing, distributor, ignition coil, and wires are recent.

- I replaced the rear suspension with the Bill Guzman's Classic Conversions 4-link coilover rear. The ride quality is better than stock, and motion control is significantly improved.

- I rebuilt the front suspension with soft-but-strong SuperFlex bushings, rebuilt dampers (Peter Caldwell), new ball joints and tie rods, as well as Timkin wheel bearings, king pins, everything.

- The car drives straight and smooth at 90mph. It steers predictably. It is a real joy on 40-60mph twisties.

- Overdrive shifts confidently and reliably. Shifter feel is great.

- The car never overheats, whether stuck in 100°F traffic, or driving up a mountain on a hot day.

- To my knowledge, the engine and gearbox have never been out of the car.

- All lights work.

- Tires are 4-5 years old with 6k miles on them: Yokohama Avid Touring-S

- The starter, alternator (negative ground), and oil filter have been upgraded to modern stuff.

- The car is largely original, and I have almost everything I took off the car (including the old filter housing, starter, generator, seatbelts, and steering wheel...which is chipped). If you act fast, I even have the rear leaf springs rusting on the side of my house...

- There is a secret bluetooth stereo in the ash tray with an amp under the seat.

- There is a secret USB charger in the passenger footwell.


THE BAD
- The brakes stop the car straight (they will lock up the wheels if you get on them), but they're on the soft side.


THE UGLY
- It leaks oil! The whole engine and drivetrain are wet, and drops will drip whenever the car is driven. When cold, the dripping stops. I usually add a quart every 1,000 miles or so (Brad Penn 20w50 semi-synthetic with lots of ZDDP). The gearbox seems to need a quart every 2,000-3,000 miles.

- The steering rack is wet, but doesn't seem to lose much. Steering is smooth.

- The car was repainted by the original owner in a slightly darker and mossier green than original. There are plenty of scratches and blemishes on the car, but it still shines up.

- The interior has plenty of "patina", including torn seats and chips on the dash. I think it's rather lovely.


The car is registered and insured in my name with a clean and clear California title, and is currently in my personal garage in Hollywood.