1981 MG MGB Roadster |

Closed Auction- Unsold

1981 MG MGB Roadster

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Mileage~77,770
TransmissionManual
Engine1.8L
LocationMalmesbury

AUCTION CLOSED

1981 MG MGB Roadster

Introduction

Jacob Boodrie

Professional Consigner

The quintessential British sports car—robust, enjoyable, and timeless. The MGB Roadster is a remarkable vehicle that delivers reliable classic motoring.

Introduced to the world in 1962 and produced until 1980, the MGB’s soft-top sports car formula remained relatively simple throughout its run. The B-series engine produced ~95 bhp at 5,400 rpm—a significant improvement over its predecessor. Its good looks, honest charm, and straightforward mechanics made it a huge success, quickly becoming Britain's best-selling sports car.

After ~4 years of ownership, this lovely example, finished in "Vermilion Red", and featuring Minator wheels and overdrive on the gearbox is coming to auction. The car was resprayed and had a complete engine rebuild by the previous owner, retro-fitted with chrome bumpers, this roadster features later mechanics with the classic good looks.

This listing was written from information supplied by Jacob after meeting Darren the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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Secure Auctions

We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Meet the owner

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my ~4 years of ownership with this classic sports car; it's always a special occasion when it comes out of the garage.

Darren always wanted to own a classic car, with a background in engineering and a passion for mechanics this MGB really drew him in. He fancied a car that required minimal work but was drivable everyday and this MGB Roadster fit the bill. He tells us that the previous owner rebuilt the engine and resprayed the original body in it's original colour of "Vermilion Red". Over Darren's ownership he's stripped the dash and resprayed it, along with recently replacing both of the engine mounts.

He was hoping to keep this example to enjoy for many years; however, due to lack of use and busy weekends Darren doesn't use the car as much as he once did. He will be on hand to answer any questions about the car in the comments below.

Darren

Vehicle Owner

Ask Questions

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Exterior
Interior
Mechanics
History
All Images

EXTERIOR VIDEO

Exterior

Britain's best-selling sports car from the sixties, finished in desirable Vermilion Red paint and adorned with classic chrome trim.

Wheels and Tyres

The 15" Minator wheels, finished in silver, look great on this example and give the car a sporty appeal. During our visit, the wheels appear well cared for, with no sign of any obvious damage to any of the spokes or centres. Darren is also selling the car with it's original Rostyle wheels from factory, all 5 would benefit from restoration as pictured.

The wheels are fitted with Rovelo RHP-778 tyres, and these also appear to be in great condition, with a good amount of tread remaining and no visible cracking or signs of age on the sidewalls, dated 2015.

Bodywork

The bodywork of this MGB looks in great condition, with all the panel gaps around the car appearing to align very well. During our visit, we didn't spot any obvious dings or dents around the bodywork. The car was restored by the previous owner, when getting really close we did notice some very small bubbling around the front offside light and the bottom of the passenger door, we also noted a small mark to the offside rear wing.

We've provided more detailed observations through our high-resolution images and videos. Please take the time to look through all the media files for a detailed view of what’s on offer and to assess the condition of the car for yourselves.

Paint

Finished in "Vermilion Red", the paint is applied with even coverage and colour across each panel. The car was resprayed as part of the restoration the previous owner completed.

Once again, we've captured high-resolution images and videos of the car for you to assess the condition of the bodywork for yourselves.

Glass and Trim

The glass on this MGB Roadster looks great and is in line with the mileage. During our visit, we didn't notice any chips, cracks, or discolouration. The window seals also look good and align with the overall condition of the car.

The bumpers were converted from rubber to the original chrome style, and window surrounds are all in great condition as well. You can see in the exterior photos that the black convertible top is in great condition with no tears or rips. Darren rarely drives the car with the top up, as he drives the car only in dry weather.

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INTERIOR VIDEO

Interior

A charming interior featuring original Smiths dials, gauges, a classic British design.

Seats and Carpets

The black vinyl seats with red piping have been restored in the past and hold their shape very well.

A similar story is told with the door cards and black carpets. For a detailed view of the cabin, please take a look at the extensive media.

Dashboard

The dashboard is covered in a black vinyl finish and presents five dials in front of the driver. Darren has refurbished the dashboard over his ownership, stripping and respraying it.

The dashboard in this MGB shows no signs of any major damage or scuffs, and with no warning lights displayed. The odometer showed a reading of ~77,770 miles during our visit.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

A wooden rimmed MG steering wheel is fitted. The steering wheel is in great condition, aligning with the restoration of this car, and the black gearstick with overdrive looks good too, with some light signs of wear over the years. For a closer look, check out the image gallery to see the detail.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO

Mechanics

A pleasure to drive, with power at the press of a pedal thanks to rge 1.8L B-series engine and four-speed gearbox with overdrive.

Engine and Gearbox

The 1,798cc engine delivers a factory specified ~95BHP to the rear wheels through a four-speed manual gearbox. Modest by today's standards, maybe, but this is a small car and the unit is free revving, responsive and pulls really well. On the day of our visit, we started the car from cold, and it performed well on the road, the engine pulled nicely, idled smoothly, and ran without fault.

Darren reports that the car starts from cold with no issues and drives well with its smooth manual four-speed gearbox powering the rear wheels. Take a look at the mechanical video to see the car starting from cold, driving around, and for a closer look underneath the MGB and the smart engine bay.

Suspension and Brakes

The suspension appears to be in good condition, providing a smooth journey on the sweeping roads. Darren reports the car suspension was attended to during the restoration along with drilled disc brakes fitted at the front.

During our short drive in the car, it felt just as you'd expect for a sports car from this era, coming to a stop without a fuss too.

The Drive

Darren loves how this car looks and mentions how head-turning the car is whenever he takes it out. He also loves the drive and handling this MGB has to offer, mentioning it's responsive and fast when you want it to be.

Electrics and Other

We didn’t test all the electrics during our visit, but Darren reports that, to his knowledge, all of the electrics are functional and operational, aligning with the overall condition of the car. A modern Kenwood stereo unit has been fitted, and Darren has fitted a new smiths clock during the dashboard rebuild.

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History and Paperwork

Coming to market from ~4 year ownership, this chrome-bumper-backdate has seen restoration by the previous owner, including an engine rebuild in 2015.

The car is coming out of a ~4 year ownership with Darren, is fitted with the earlier chrome bumper kit to bring back the classic style the earlier cars offered. The car comes with a new black convertible hood, 5x 15" Minator wheels, 5x 14" original Rostyle wheels. Take a look at this history and paperwork media to see the previous MOT reports, servicing and parts this MGB Roadster has received over its life and its heritage certificate.

From factory the car was fitted with Overdrive and Rostyle Wheels. The original wheels will be included within the sale along with the original jack, a new scissor jack, two tonneau covers, an inside cover and an outside cover. Darren has replaced the engine mounts and stripped the dashboard and resprayed it during his time with the car.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned a HPi check on the vehicle.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, and as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in hi-resolution detail - this has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment on the vehicle's condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time - we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming.

If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bid/s, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house.

Service History

Date	Type	Mileage
04.06.2021	MOT	77,603
27.05.2020	MOT	76,729
11.07.2019	MOT	76,428
10.05.2018	MOT	75,565
22.03.2017	MOT	73,081
09.05.2015	MOT	70,810
30.03.2015	Engine Rebuild
05.05.2012	MOT	70,789
19.03.2011	MOT	70,324
29.04.2009	MOT	69,345
16.11.2005	MOT	67,879
05.04.1995	MOT	63,657
18.04.1994	MOT	61,727
23.03.1993	MOT	57,389
03.04.1992	MOT	53,402
19.03.1991	MOT	48,400
13.03.1990	MOT	43,869
03.04.1989	MOT	40,285
19.04.1988	Service	38,315
19.04.1988	MOT	38,314
13.04.1987	MOT	36,388
16.04.1986	MOT	34,566
22.04.1985	MOT	32,470
01.04.1985	Service	32,390
01.05.1984	MOT	28,414
15.12.1983	Service	26,668
19.05.1983	Service	22,440
28.04.1983	Service	18,731
18.08.1982	Service	12,268
07.09.1981	Service	6,455
08.07.1981	Service	1,268
22.05.1981	Delivery