1973 MG B MGB classic sports convertible 97k original

MGB roadster, 1973

Nice, straight, excellent driving car

Very clean MGB, 97,000 original miles (a bit over 2,100 miles per year), excellent body (I went over the body edges, rockers, quarters, etc. with a kitchen magnet...and it stuck at all places....would appear that there is no plastic filler anywhere), older but very nice maroon paint (note reflections on hood and trunk lid...'mirror finish').

Excellent interior, no rips, no wear, door panels are excellent as are carpets, seats, dash, etc. and has a nice wood dashboard. Also a new JVC stereo/CD with USB input and new quality speakers.

Top is new, has an excellent tonneau cover, no rust in the paint and nice and clean in the trunk and engine bay.

Mechanically: engine starts instantly, runs perfectly, I tested the compression....135-140 psi in every cylinder, 70 psi oil pressure when warm (owner's manual states 40-80 psi is normal), no smoke under normal running, quiet valves, no dreadful oil leaks. All in all, not that different than the day the car was first sold.

SU carbs seem properly tuned, has an oil cooler, original air cleaners, wiring looks to be in good condition and everything works electrically.

Car has had the brakes just gone over, all new splined wheel hubs and hardware, wheel bearings just cleaned and repacked, new chrome knock offs, and a good set of sandblasted and painted wire wheels, new inner tubes and new 175/65 radial tires.

Underneath looks very solid with no undercoating to hide rust or damage. Even appears to have the original factory paint underneath.

All in all, a really nice MGB of one of the best years.....early cars are attractive but quite crude with no safety equipment, ancient electricals, and single circuit brakes. 1968 to 1971 MGBs had the ugliest dash with no glove box or air vents. And after 1974 1/2, the ugly rubber bumpers and by 1977, a single Stromberg carb and a mere 62.5hp. Making the 1972-1974 MGBs among the best of all of the MGB variants.

Of course, as a 1973, stronger Mk II transmission and back axle, dual circuit brakes, negative ground electrical system with an alternator, illuminated dash switches, better cooling system, reclining seats, dash air vents (making it easy to install a/c), and in this particular car's case, no plastic filler, excellent mechanicals, and the rest can be seen in the photos.