1966 MG B Roadster

Lot details
Registration No: FEC140D
Chassis No: GHN37265
Mot Expiry: Oct 2007

Replacement for the much loved and still competitive MGA, the 1962 launched MGB took the concept a stage further by adding a degree of comfort and refinement to the good performance and handling characteristics which had made the MGA so popular. Of unitary construction unlike its predecessor, the MGB was powered by the 1798cc B-series unit producing 95 bhp giving very spritely performance of 0-60 in around 11.5 seconds and a top speed of around 100 mph. Also featuring front disc brakes and such luxuries as wind-up windows the MGB now came close to matching the comfort offered by its major market competitor, the Sunbeam Alpine, whilst offering much stronger performance and better handling characteristics. One anomaly however was that a heater was still an optional extra at about £6 and would remain so until the end of the decade. Early development of the car saw the introduction of a much more robust 5 bearing engine and standard oil cooler in September 1964 and a larger 12gallon fuel tank in March 1965 and the MGB was to go on to be one of the most successful sportscars ever with an 18 year production run.

The 1966 Roadster with overdrive for sale here today is finished in red with a black leather interior and is believed by the vendor but not guaranteed to have covered 76,000 miles from new. We are told that the car was re-built in the mid-1990s using a new Heritage shell whilst retaining the original alloy bonnet. New parts fitted included a full new interior, chromework, hood and wire wheels. Finished to resemble a works rally MGB the car has a white hardtop plus Sebring headlamp cowls, halogen driving lamps, electronic ignition, K&N filters, alarm and period radio with clock. The vendor states that a re-conditioned engine able to run on unleaded was fitted 1,600 miles ago and is now 'nicely run-in'. With current MOT until the end of October 2007 the vendor describes the electrics, transmission and chassis as 'perfect', the interior as 'mint' and the paintwork has a 'nice patina' with 'not a scratch or stone chip'.