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While Roadster Salon has been Nationally recognized as the leading restorer of Italian convertibles in North America, our foray into British cars has only been in recent. We've discovered the following for Triumph and MG convertibles is strong, and the British crowd is even larger and just as enthusiastic as the Italian car devotees. Don't worry Italiani's---there's no shortage of love for pasta around here. But vintage British convertibles are certainly an alternative to Italian classics for some buyers, and have a unique appeal all their own.While a bit less sophisticated than their Italian counterparts, this is a plus for customers who choose to do their own repairs. There is clearly a hierarchy in British sports car fandom, with Aston Martin and Jaguar E types currently enjoying their position on the top wrung. Classics like the Austin Healy and Triumph TR6 are not far behind as more affordable options. Classic MG's are quite popular too. Early chrome bumper MGB's have a huge following. Although many of these lovely cars have fallen victim to rust devils, the few solid chassis that remain have become quite valuable. Certain model years like the 68-69 vintage are highly regarded--reflected by NADA prime values approaching $50K! See our other listings on Ebay. Roadster Salon currently has other MGB convertibles in stock ready for immediate delivery or restoration with low miles from 1968-1980. Rare overdrive versions available too! Call us and ask your salesperson for details History and Restoration Strategy This particular example was a trade-in from California that spent some time in the Midwest. Upon arrival at our shop, we replaced the exhaust system, added electronic ignition, new brakes and more. Engine tuned and carbs tweaked. Chassis is clean. Former owner appears to have detailed the undercarriage. Initially, we debated how far to take this particular car. For example, "Avanzato" level Fiat spiders represent our mid-range price approach and start at about $40K plus the cost of the chassis. The "Avanzato" restoration is the least expensive full cosmetic and mechanical rebuild in our program. Our quandry was that many customers will be satisfied with the car as it stands--fitting the very definition of a classic "driver". The problem with the restoration of any vehicle is that the number of man hours and materials needed to do the job properly can easily exceed the value of the car. For example, even at a nominal labor rate of $100 per hour, a shop can easily spend 500-600 man hours restoring a single car. High-end projects can reach double that time, with some companies charging over $150 per hour for their services. Consequently, there is always a question of time versus return that must be considered with every project. Ambitious folks who buy cars in need of restoration with the intent on doing most of the work themselves have become our best customers. It is easy to get overwhelmed by projects where expertise and resources quickly go beyond the most dedicated enthusiasts. The model year, condition and potential of this MGB made a proper restoration easy to consider. Put simply, the better the starting point---the better the outcome. The bones are solid--but in the end our final decision was to leave the car's cosmetics alone and freshen the mechanical condition. This way we could keep the price below $20K and make it accessible to a larger percentage of buyers. Mechanical and Driving Impressions Engine was dry with no leaks. Our service technicians checked compression, rebuilt the carbs and tuned the motor. Fuel delivery and tank were checked and cleaned. Wear components like brakes and suspension members were freshened. Rear end checked for leaks and re-sealed. Cooling system also checked and freshened. Budget was kept in check by limiting time with electrical system, but all gauges work and car starts without complaint or hesitation. Some electrical upgrades are available, but would be at an additional charge. The driving experience was pleasant. The character of a four cylinder British engine is very different from an Italian twin cam. We can appreciate the appeal. A vintage MGB is a fun drive. Very few classic cars can match its relative ease of upkeep. These are simple cars with huge upside if kept in top condition. During our test loop, the car was well behaved, and showed no signs of irritability. Acceleration, braking and handling exceeded our expectations. Solid Car! Cosmetic comments The nice thing about driving a professionally restored classic is not having to worry about the basics. The paint is the car's weakest point. Good from far, but far from good. In other words, presentable but not show quality. The previous respray was not well executed. Could certainly be improved with more extensive wet sanding, but we would recommend starting fresh. Interior looks original, remarkably well preserved--and ready to enjoy. If the car was fully dis-assembled and stripped prior to the re-spray in the original color, we would have at least a $30K car. Market Report The following data was taken from NADA classic car guide, which shows values in the $35-$40K range for a top quality car that is driven and shown. This does not include premium values for 100 point show cars that are transported and not driven on the street. Trends for this model are consistently higher, with 68-69 versions showing particular strength. Our asking price is below the current market for comparable 1968 MGB models
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