MGB Mk III Roadster, built in 1973, registered 1974.
After 42 years in the Fire service, on my retirement a couple of years ago I decided to invest some time and effort and the obvious expense any classic car demands in obtaining a locally built classic car to ensure I had something to do in my soon to be quiet life! (Anyone who is retired will know that there is irony in that statement.) Anyway, it is here that my second love affair commenced — you may guess the first one (excluding the obvious wife and kids stuff).
Having made the decision on what I wanted, or more appropriately could afford, I started the task of finding the right car at the right price. Having put out the word that I was in the market for an MGB roadster I was surprised to be contacted by an enthusiast who was at the very later stages of a restoration of an Mk 3 MGB Roadster and that he may well be willing to sell this to the “right buyer”. I was even more surprised that the vendor lived less than a mile away from me! So the negotiation began, and at the end of this two month task he had tears in his eyes and I had a big silly grin on my face that only an excellent classic car purchase can bring.
I have now owned my “B” since 2016, and spent some time detailing the car which was in superb condition having undergone a 10 year rolling restoration by the previous owner. What was impressive was the car has only travelled 4000 miles in the last 25 years! I also have a heritage certificate indicating that the engine and drive train etc. are original. The car has most of the now accepted upgrades to make the car more drivable: electronic ignition, drilled and slotted front brakes, telescopic suspension and some interior upgrades such as leather upholstery and walnut dash being the most obvious.
The technical bit is possibly quite well known by most classic car enthusiasts but for those who are not familiar, the MGB Mk 3 was an Abingdon/Oxford made car and is Teal Blue. It has a 1800 cc “B” series 5 bearing 4 cylinder engine with a Laycock Overdrive fitted, on a 4 speed fully synchromesh gearbox, producing 95 bhp at 5500 rpm and a top speed exceeding 100 mph. The car comes in a number of variants: the roadster, the coupe GT and a V8. The car was produced from 1962 to 1980 and sold around half a million cars worldwide.
I was fortunate to win a number of local car shows with the car last year, including at the largest MG gathering in the UK, MG Live at Silverstone, where it was judged as best MGB roadster, best MGB and best MG in show in their Pride of Ownership competition. The car, although not considered a high end pedigree car, is without doubt one of the best known British classic cars, and has a terrific following.
The picture shows the car displayed at the Practical Classics and Restoration Car Show at the NEC in March this year and also on our own Square Wheels Club stand.
David Laidlaw
Oxfordshire
