Harry's Thoughts
THE ESSENTIALS
This is a fabulous motorcar! Being a Southern California car since new with one owner for 39 years, this is nearly rust and accident free. Mechanically this motorcar is fully sorted and feels tight and spry. Everything works as it should and is ready to enjoy as is or it can be cosmetically improved for show.
Barbara purchased this Mk III GT on June 9, 1972 and took delivery on June 12, 1972 (she had fitted an oil cooler, bumper over-riders and other accessories). She lives in Cerritos (Los Angeles suburb) and sold the car late last year, after 39 years of ownership. In July of 1990 she turned 100,000 miles on the odometer and by the mid-1990’s she stored the car as she was getting more elderly. The GT now has 155,000 miles from new but is mechanically fabulous.
The chrome and stainless are in very nice condition and there is almost no rust issues as one would expect from a Southern California motorcar. Recent mechanical re-commissioning includes:
- Rebuilt carbs,
- full new and complete brakes systems,
- heater valve,
- complete tune-up,
- radials,
- new fuel lines,
- boiled gas tank, and
- various other improvements.
All the work was completed by the engineers at British Service in the Long Beach area.
This GT is complete with the original owners manual and, incredibly, a fastidiously maintained log book that documents every fuel fill-up, oil change, service, battery replacement, tune-up, tire replacement, etc. from January 1976 through 1991. It details the cost of the fuel and even the average miles per gallon for every single tank of gasoline!! For example, on May 26, 1976, Barbara filled up her GT with 9.9 gallons and logged an average of 26.87 mpg!!
This GT was originally delivered in Forest Green and years ago Barbara changed the color to its present red. The paint has crazing and could benefit from a quality repaint (MG’s were delivered new with poor quality paint). The body is in overall excellent condition. There are two small areas of surface rust on the passenger’s side and it has a very small area with 1/8 inch of filler in the passenger’s side rocker panel (see video for details). Overall this is an exceptional body for a chrome bumper GT.
The tan interior is completely original and is in overall nice condition (for being original). There are two tears in the driver’s seat cover and discoloration in some of the carpeting, but overall the interior is quite nice and projects a wonderful patina.
All of the instrumentation performs well and the oil pressure and temperature operate exactly as a well performing MGB GT should. With 78.5 hp on a 91 inch wheelbase these GT’s perform well.
Chrome bumper MGB GT’s are very desirable. Southern California, one owner motorcars are the most desirable of any. Although this has patina cosmetically, the mechanics are excellent. The value guide has the GT’s at No 1 $14,000, No 2 $9,800 and No 3 at $6,300. This is an excellent motorcar for enjoyment and will likely prove to be a solid investment. Please call Harry at 602.245.7200 with any questions or email us at harry@classicpromenade.com.
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