The the world of automobiles that are named with repeating initials, there are few cooler than the MG MGB GT. It combines the sweet smells of classic British two-seat motoring with a hardtop and set of vestigial rear seats. They are surprisingly affordable, probably because they are slow and were poorly built by drunks, but they exude the basic charm of an Irish priest. This next one looks to be a fantastic deal for someone mechanically inclined and willing to take a gamble -- find this 1972 MG MGB GT offered for $3,500 in San Luis Obispo, CA via craigslist. Tip from Kaibeezy..jpg)
San Luis Obispo is a college town (with a well preserved original California Fr Serra mission located in the middle of downtown) that balances precariously between the nose in the air consumerism of So Cal and the nose in the air environmentalism of Nor Cal. It is a beautiful little town set in the foothills of the Diablo Mountain Range and a good place for a hardtop with convertible roots because the weather can by nasty during the winter and afternoons are always windy. This would be the perfect car for a professor at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, giving him the space for his briefcase in the back but cool enough to keep the Nor Cal and So Cal contingents happy.
Under the hood is a 1.8 liter B-series inline-4 rated at 78 horsepower and 94 ft-lbs of torque. The engine bay is a total mess, but the engine features an aluminum cylinder head and a modified Weber carburetor. The only problem with the car is the electronic overdrive portion of the transmission is giving the seller grief.
The interior is much better shape than you would expect from any $3500 car, even if the steering wheel needs rebuilding. The best part about the MGB is that a multitude of parts (from the transmission to the door handle) are available from various internet sellers like moss motors.
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beige - why does it have to be beige? - throw a stripe on that thing!
ReplyDeleteanyhoo, can't see one of these without that Richard Thompson song running through my head - which song? - why, "MGB-GT" of course - click here for video - lyrics follow...
Oh I've got a little car and she might go far
She's the mistress of my heart now
She's a '65 with an overdrive
And I fixed her in every part now
Two in the front and two in the back
110 on the old Hog's Back
My MGB-GT, she's a runner now
MGB-GT
Oh my MGB-GT, she's a runner now
Oh I welded the sills and the old floor pan
Cut the rust with the torch and the hacksaw
Took the Rostyles off, put the spoked wheels on
Got a brand new Salisbury axle
When I come to town the girls all smile
They say "Here's the man with the retro style"
My MGB-GT, she's a runner now
MGB-GT
Oh my MGB-GT, she's a runner now
Lockheed discs and twin SUs
Original chrome on the grille now
She looks like a dream in her racing green
Competition's standing still now
I sprayed up her body, I strengthened the frame
I stripped her right down and I built her up again
Now an Alpine's fine if you've got the time
And a Healey'll set you back some
And a TR4 costs a little bit more
But it don't have the same attraction
Hard top handy, in case of the weather
I don't care if it rains forever
In my MGB-GT, she's a runner now
MGB-GT
In my MGB-GT, she's a runner now
MGB-GT
In my MGB-GT, she's a runner now
For that engine bay, I'll need a vat of Purple Power and an open weekend before I start with everything else. Yikes.
ReplyDeleteOD and reverse gear are both out.
ReplyDeleteFunny, I had this one up most of the day yesterday. There's a beige one with interesting bumpers . on SoCal CL, and a green one as well.
There's one north of $5k, you guessed it, in beige.
Always been a fan of the 'B-GT. Still looking for an MGC-GT though. Or an MGB GT V8.
Here's a 'C-GT. At a dealer, and needs (at least) cosmetic work, but doesn't look too bad.
Deletehttp://britishsportscars.com/inventory/details.php?id=13882343