Up for sale is this absolutely lovely MGB GT from early 1970. This is a car that I would genuinely love to be able to justify keeping - in my eyes this really is the ultimate spec for a B. A very late mk1.5 car, in the ever-beautiful Tartan red, this has all the usual appointments of the earlier models, but of course has the stronger 5 main bearing engine, as well as an Overdrive gearbox. In addition to this, it is on wire wheels, and has been fitted with a Webasto style Britax sunroof. A car that could genuinely be used all year round, yet still have the benefit of roof-down motoring in the summer months. It is of course also MOT and tax exempt, (as well as ULEZ compliant), although the car appears to be totally rock solid underneath.

This particular example is a very pretty car that has clearly had a lot of care over the years, but sits very nicely in the ‘useable daily’ bracket of classic cars. The paintwork isn’t perfect, and the interior is certainly patinated, but it’s a car that could be used just as it is very happily, without worrying about getting the odd carpark ding or it being used in the wet. The car was first registered in February 1970, so I’d imagine it was probably built at the end of ‘69. As such, it does have a couple of nice ‘crossover’ features as they started gearing towards the mk2 cars. Most notably, the main beam switch is on the stalk, rather than on the floor (MUCH nicer to use!), but the car still has all the lovely early details, including the prettier rear lights, boot badge, chrome grill and earlier style dashboard.

Bodily, the car presents very nicely, as you can see in the pictures. It appears to have been an older restoration, and whilst the paintwork isn’t without fault (there is some micro blistering and small bubbles here and there, and a couple of cracks in the paint), it still shines up beautifully, and I don’t think I would be in a rush to get anything done to it. Whilst there is a little blistering around the top of the front wings, the rear wing tops are perfect, as are the other usual MGB rot spots. If there were to be any money spent on the car in the near future, I’d say that spending a couple of hundred pounds at a body shop having the front wing tops ground back and blown in would be quite transformational, and would definitely add more value to the car than it would cost. I have included photos of every panel below, so please do have a look, as these tell the story better than words can!

The underside seems to be totally rock solid, with nothing that I can see under there being any cause for concern at all. The interior is very comfortable, and the black leather seats feel like they may well have been treated to new foams or diaphragms not so long ago. The covers themselves have a lovely patina to them - I was in two minds as to whether or not I should recolour the black areas of the seats that have lost their colour a little. If the car were my own, I would be leaving them exactly as is, and I know that there are plenty of people that value the original patinated look as much as I do, although they could be easily and cheaply recoloured to get them looking much smarter. There are some small tears that have been patched up (not a professional job..) but are more than good enough for me! The headlining has been glued up in place too, and isn’t bad, (and you may not even notice it) but it would be remiss of me not to mention that it is far more of a functional fix than a factory one. As with the bodywork niggles above, I’m quite sure that any money spent improving the interior would more than add its value to the car - early chrome bumper GTs are now nudging the £9/10k mark, especially with wires and a Webasto, and I’m sure this car could be up there with them with a little fettling.

Mechanically, it drives wonderfully, and starts eagerly. Once it’s warmed up, it pulls very nicely through the rev range, all without overheating, and keeps good oil pressure too. It also feels very ‘together’ on the road, without the multitude of clonks, squeaks and rattles that accompany so many of these cars. The front was a little bouncy when it arrived, so I have topped up the front shocks, which has made a big improvement, although may be something to keep an eye on in the future. The overdrive clicks in and out just as it should, and the brakes stop the car cleanly and sharply. The stainless exhaust sounds lovely too! The engine bay is tidy, but could do with a good detailing, if you so desired, and all the inner wings are lovely and solid.

All in all, this seems to be a fabulous little thing, for not a lot of money in the scheme of things. It could be improved upon by the new owner if they wished, but it could also be used just as it is very happily. We tend to be seeing far fewer of these mk1.5 cars than the later mk2 versions, and they do tend to come up for sale much less frequently. Nice too to find one that hasn’t been overly restored, and is instead ripe for simply enjoying! I really do think you’d be hard pushed to find a better one at this price point.

The car is located in Halifax, although nationwide delivery is available at incredibly reasonable prices, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch for a quote. I would be very happy to give any prospective buyer a video call to show them around the car if it would help, and there are plenty of photos below. That said, whilst I feel I have described and photographed the car as accurately and honestly as I can and in good conscience, the description must be treated only as my opinion, there is of course no substitute for seeing the car in the flesh. One person’s full restoration project can easily be another person’s charming daily driver, and of course, my idea of what may be acceptable flaws in a classic vehicle may be different to yours. As such, I would always prefer the car to be fully inspected first before any money changing hands, to ensure that you are totally happy. The car is of course sold as seen, with no warranty implied or given; As with any classic car, these are not perfect examples, and every one that we sell will have imperfections, quirks, and will present different challenges as time goes on. Whilst we are as honest as we possibly can be, with the best will in the world, we must expect the unexpected, and routine maintenance and troubleshooting will always be something that comes as part of the enjoyment of classic ownership! 

We are always looking for good quality classics, so part exchanges are always welcome!

Please note - we are not affiliated with West Riding Morris Minors! 

Please get in touch with any questions or queries you may have, or to arrange a viewing.

Either email info@westyorkshireclassiccars.com, or ring on 07846584193.

Cash on collection or bank transfer only, and the car MUST be paid for in full before leaving our premises!