Table of Contents
Key Takeaways
Expect to pay between £6,500 - £11,500 for a roadster in average condition
Parts are readily available, rust is the main issue of concern though
With over 500,000 MGB's sold and it being one of Britain's most popular classics, they can't all be wrong
Personally, the MGA Roadster has always had my heart. The reality is if you asked someone to name a reliable, easy to maintain, affordable, good looking classic - they'd say the MGB.
Produced between 1962 and 1980, the MGB was available in multiple variants.
MGB Roadster (1962 - 1980)
MGB GT - 2+2 Coupe (1965 - 1980)
MGB GT V8 - 2+2 Coupe (1973 - 1976)
The MGA, especially in its earlier iterations, often got critiqued for a lack of power. The MGB looked to solve that by taking the 1,622cc MGA engine and enlarging that to 1,798cc. This engine powers both the roadster and MGB GT. The GT V8 uses an Rover eight-cylinder, 3,532cc engine.
If you're looking for to do some motorway miles, look for a car with overdrive - available as an option from 1963 - it'll help reduce fuel consumption and wear.
The earlier cars with the chrome, rather than rubber bumpers, are the preferred visual for the majority. If you're looking for a chrome bumpered car, you'll be after a car built in 1974 or earlier. During 1974, MG swapped from chrome bumpers to rubber bumpers, initially due to compliance in the US market with changing safety legislation and then globally not long after.
Watch out though, it's not uncommon for cars that were originally rubber-bumper cars to be converted to be converted to chrome bumpers. One one hand - these conversions can have corners cut so make sure it's done properly. If has been done properly, they trade at a lower premium than original chrome-bumper cars so you could be in for some value.
Production Numbers
How many MGB's did they make?
512,243 MGB's were produced between the roadster and the GT. If you include the MGC, that number rises to 523,836.
386,961 roadsters and 125,282 GTs were produced.
How many MGB's are there in the UK?
According to DVLA data, analysed by The Classic Valuer here, there are 38,279 MGB's remaining in the UK.
Of those, 25,353 are licensed and on the roads.
The remaining 12,296 cars are SORNd and off the roads.
The DVLA doesn't provide the data on how many of those are roadsters but it does state that 18,420 of the 38,279 cars are MGB GT's and 972 of the 38,279 are MGB GT V8's.
Value
How much is a MGB GT worth?
Earlier vehicles will be on the upper-end of these ranges, later vehicles will be on the lower-end of these ranges.
Vehicles in below average condition, either in need of restoration or very rough cars, will trade between £1,000 - £4,500.
Vehicles in average condition, the daily drivers of the world, will trade between £4,500 - £9,000.
Vehicles in excellent condition, those where its difficult to spot imperfections but not impossible, will trade between £9,000 and £14,500.
Those vehicles in concours condition will start at £14,500 with the world record for a MGB GT sitting at £26,388.
How much is a MGB Roadster worth?
As above, earlier vehicles will be on the upper-end of these ranges, later vehicles will be on the lower-end of these ranges.
Vehicles in below average condition, either in need of restoration or very rough cars, will trade between £1,000 - £6,500.
Vehicles in average condition, the daily drivers of the world, will trade between £6,500 - £11,500.
Vehicles in excellent condition, those where its difficult to spot imperfections but not impossible, will trade between £11,500 and £16,000.
Those vehicles in concours condition will start at £16,000 with the world record for a MGB Roadster sitting at £35,396. Abingdon Edition roadsters will trade c. £65,000.
How much was a MGB Roadster new?
A MGB Roadster when released in 1962 was £950 (£690 base price plus £260 car tax). This was very favourably priced against the base price Triumph TR4 at £750 and £695 for the Sunbeam Alpine.
Adjusting for inflation, that £950 is £16,876 in today's money.
How have prices of MGB Roadster's changed?
MGB Roadster prices are up 58% in the past 5 years and are continuing to rise.
MGB GT prices have seen a more interesting trend, the short story is prices are pretty much where they were 5 years ago. The long story is prices rose 5 years ago by 50+%, peaked in 2021 before falling back to levels we see today.
What are common problems with the MGB?
Engine
Replacement engines start at £2,000 plus labour so that's as bad as it can get.
Misfires and other rough running issues are most commonly down to a worn distributor - a replacement will set you back a mere £100.
Check oil pressure, it should be 15 - 25 psi at idle and at over 50psi at 50mph.
Check for any smoke on startup, if it's blue do a cylinder leakage test.
A tappet rattle is not uncommon and you should expect some noise at the top of the engine. They're easy to adjust but don't expect them to be entirely silent at idle.
Transmission
The gearbox was available either in its rarer three-speed automatic and the more common four-speed manual.
When taking the car for a test drive, you'll easily uncover any synchromesh and bearings that are not what they once were. Don't be alarmed by any crunches on pre-1967 cars, there was no synchromesh on first so you might get the odd crunch in first / second.
A gearbox rebuild and overhauls are reasonable and will cost you in the three figure range depending on the work undertaken so don't be put off but price it in.
If overdrive is fitted, make sure it slips in and out smoothly. Poor electrical connections or a low oil level are the most likely causes for non-operation.
Brakes
Nothing major to worry about when it comes to brakes, look for seized callipers and any worn / corroded parts.
Suspension
Suspension is a fairly simple arrangement out of the box for these beauties, check the springs, dampers, mounting points and wishbone bushes.
If you find a problem, again, don't fret. Parts are readily available and reconditioned dampers cost around £40 apiece.
Out the box suspension is simple, but the MGB was also ripe for upgrades and modifications - ask about these when inspecting. A quick test to see if the suspension height has been altered is that you should be able to see all of the rear tyre – if not (and the car hasn’t been lowered on purpose), the spring will need replacing.
If you can get the car up in the air, the most important thing is checking the kingpins. They should be greased every 3,000 miles, rock the top and the bottom of the wheel and any play will reveal itself. Replacement parts are £50 a side.
Electrics
Given the price point, bodges and some garden-shed-style-electronic-tinkering and common place so enquire about any works done in this space.
If you uncover any electrical issues they'll most likely be caused by corroded terminals and poor connections - both easily solvable.
Bodywork & Chassis
As from above, you can see there aren't any regular areas of concern when it comes to an MGB. Rust tops the list of concerns, even then, it could be a lot worse.
When inspecting keep in mind that because of historic MGB values, repairs have often been bodged - so proceed with surgeon levels of attention to detail. Inspect every inch of the bodywork, focusing on all the usual suspects, wheel-arches, sills, wings and bonnet (from c. 1970 the bonnets were swapped from alloy to steel. You can check the sills from the inside too if you lift the carpet.
If you're seeing bubbling on the sills on a roadster it's a trickier fix than it is for a GT. If replacing the sills a roadster needs to be braced, whereas the GT doesn't, that incurs further cost.
The good news is there isn't a classic car in the world where it's easier to find parts and body panels than the MGB. If worst comes to the worst and brand new shell is between £13,000 to £15,000, but individual panels are readily available at a far lower price point.
Your best bet is start with a car in good condition that has been taken care of properly rather than playing catch up with a car where rust has set in.
Trim
Let's say you have a vehicle where the seat covers and carpets are trashed, for a full replacement set of vinyl seat covers and carpets expect to pay £750. Leather equivalents will cost you c. £1,000.
With the roadster, inspect the roof for water tightness. A replacement vinyl hood is £465 and a replacement cloth hood is £650.
Support
What specialists are available to look after my MGB?
MGB's are simple cars to work on, if you're keen to do some tinkering at home - the Haynes manual comes highly recommended.
If you're looking to get specialist help there is plentiful support available around the country, check with the Owner's Clubs below or Google your nearest recommended supplier.
How easy is it to get spare parts for MGB's?
Very. Very easy, indeed. MGOC Spares are a great starting point for all your needs - plenty other parts suppliers exist - a quick Google will reveal them.
Note: The Classic Valuer is not being paid for these references and cannot endorse the quality or service of the above organisations.
What owners clubs exist for MGB's?
There are a handful of national clubs out there such as a MG Owners' Club and the MG Car Club , plenty of local car clubs exist so check your local area for one near you.
Note: The Classic Valuer is not being paid for these references and cannot endorse the quality or service of the above organisations.
Performance and Specs
What is the top speed of a MGB Roadster?
The MGB Roadster has a top speed of 104 mph.
How much horsepower does a MGB Roadster have?
The MGB Roadster puts out 95 bhp @ 5400 rpm.
How much does a MGB Roadster weigh?
The MGB Roadster has a kerb weight of 920kg.
What engine does a MGB Roadster have?
The MGB Roadster had the 1,798cc BMC B-Series engine.
Will a MGB Roadster fit in my garage?
The MGB Roadster is 3886mm long by 1524mm wide so would squeeze into a 2m x 4m garage (just). Watch out though, if you've got a rubber-bumper car, they're c. 12cm longer at 4019mm.
Full Specifications - MGB Roadster
Production | 386,961 units between 1962 and 1980 |
Body style | Roadster |
Engine | 1798cc four-cylinder |
Power | 95 bhp @ 5400 rpm to 97 bhp @ 5500 rpm |
Torque | 105lb ft @ 2500 rpm to 110lb ft @ 3000 rpm |
Top speed | 104 mph |
0 - 60 mph | Figures vary but broadly c. 11 seconds |
Fuel consumption | 21 - 30 mpg |
Gearbox | Four-speed manual or three-speed automatic |
Wheelbase | 2312 mm |
Length | 3886 mm (4019 mm for rubber-bumper cars) |
Width | 1524 mm |
Kerb weight | 920 kg |
Predecessor |
Similar Cars To Consider
If you're looking for a slice of Italy and want something a little rarer than the regular sight of an MGB, an Series 2 Alfa Spider is worth taking a look at. It'll set you back a little more than the MGB with prices sitting at £13,000 on average.
Fiat 124 Spider
If your budget is strict and you need to keep to MGB money, the Fiat 124 Spider could be the choice for you. Providing you Italian, top-down motoring all in a Pininfarina design for the same money as a MGB Roadster. If you're after a bit more power than the 2L engine option will have an MGB covered. All cars are LHD from the factory so bear that in mind.
Article Sources:
The Classic Valuer requires articles to use primary sources to support their work. These include white papers, government data, original reporting, and interviews with industry experts. We also reference original research from other reputable publishers where appropriate.
Author Bio:
Giles Gunning
Giles is CEO of The Classic Valuer - one of the world's largest databases of sold classic cars in the world going back over 30 years covering over 11,000 models. Giles and The Classic Valuer are regularly referenced in key classic car publications including Classic & Sports Car.
Giles grew up around the iconic historic motorsport venue at Goodwood and enjoys his 1972 Alfa Romeo 1600 GT Junior around the Sussex roads. His primary car goal is to purchase back a selection of his grandfather's cars including his 1931 Riley Brooklands.
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