MGB Roadster MkII 1969
Total restoration to concours condition just completed.
Sorry, Sold. Please check with us for similar models.
Location: Australia, Gold Coast, Qld
Price: Negotiable on offers over $A35,000
Price: Negotiable on offers over $A35,000
NOTE that this car has just completed a two year meticulous restoration.
All receipts, details and photos are available to a prospective purchaser.
All receipts, details and photos are available to a prospective purchaser.
The MGB was around for many years, from 1962 to 1980, with a combined total of over half a million cars built. Most MG enthusiasts agree that this model, the MkII, was the best of the entire range. With its 5-bearing crankshaft, MGC heavy duty gearbox, Laycock overdrive, negative earth and chromed bumpers it was almost the last of the "real" MGB's before being downgraded to meet emission regulations and the new American safety rules.
This particular car was assembled in Australia, at BMC's Zetland plant in Sydney, one of only a few thousand assembled there before the plant closed..
The number of owners is unknown, and probably immaterial given the fact that it's almost 50 years old. The current owner purchased it from a deceased estate. The previous owner had it for several years and during that time gradually upgraded it mechanically. The engine and gearbox were overhauled, as were the front and rear suspension and steering. No receipts were available from the Estate so part of the restoration included dismantling these parts stripping to check their condition. It can be confirmed that all this work had been done, but extra work was undertaken to improve the standard specification. These mechanical improvements included:
• Reconditioned cylinder head with hardened valve seats to run on unleaded petrol.
• New clutch assembly as an oil leak had contaminated the old one
• New oil cooler assembly – the cause of the oil leak where the inlet hose met the engine
• Installing twin thermostatic fans to aid cooling in Australian summers
The car was totally stripped, the engine, gearbox and rear axle removed, the front and rear sub frames dropped out and the interior gutted, leaving just the body shell. The paint was stripped to bare metal and a close inspection was made of the metalwork. It was found to be in excellent condition, having been in Australia all its life. The sills, doors and boot were close to perfect and needed little attention. The only defects were in the footwells which were starting to show signs of rust and perforation, so a pair of complete new floors were obtained and installed.
Once the body was totally rust free it was given about thirty coats of primer, two-pack and clear to give the stunning finish that can be seen from the photos.
The engine was reputed to have been overhauled by the previous owner but no receipts were available, so the head was lifted off by a qualified mechanic to check. The cylinders were found to be bored .030" over sized and were still quite shiny, indicating that the overhaul was quite recent. While the head was off it was sent to a specialist to have hardened valve seats installed, allowing it to run on modern unleaded petrol.
The following is a brief summary of the work undertaken:
Engine & Drive Train:
Engine & gearbox removed
Cylinder head removed and reconditioned
Bores found to be .030” over sized and within tolerances
Crankshaft measured and found to be within tolerances
New clutch assembly installed
New rocker shaft assembly installed
Engine & gearbox repainted and re-installed with new mounts
Suspension/Brakes:
Front and rear sub frames removed. All bushes and parts found to be already replaced
Sub frames cleaned, repainted and re-installed using new mounts
All brakes renewed with new parts
Rear brake drums radius ground
All hydraulics replaced or reconditioned
All wheel bearings and mounts replaced
Exterior:
Body shell stripped to bare metal.
Rust found in the footwells on both sides, so complete new floor pans were installed
Minor corrosion in the left sill which was cut out and replaced with new metal.
Complete body etch primed, primed and painted in two-pack black (approximately thirty coats of paint).
Re-assembly:
Full trim kit imported from England including leather seat covers, trim panels and carpets
Windscreen frame chrome plated
All body rubbers replaced
Tachometer calibrated
The old fuel tank was showing signs of corrosion so a new fuel tank complete with pump and sender unit were fitted as a safety precaution.
As finishing touches:
A new wood rim "Moto Lita" steering wheel and boss were imported and fitted.
A new soft top and tonneau cover were also imported and installed.
As a final touch, a set of new chromed wire wheels and spinners were imported from England and fitted with Pirelli tyres.
The end result is a car that is arguably one of the very best MGB's for sale in Australia. The listed price is only a fraction of it's overall cost. It would be almost impossible to buy a car and restore it to this standard for the same money.
It represents and outstanding investment that is sure to increase in value, while at the same time giving the owner the joy of owning such a beautiful car.