[Closed] Should I buy a 1972 MGB GT?

If you like it, want it and can afford it - buy it.

Do it. Can't guarantee you won't regret it, bt if you've always wanted one then you won't get a better chance.

Buy it or regret it for the rest of your life.

I think I am possibly being encouraged by the impractical car thread, oh I want it!

Pre face lift/US regulation bumpers and wire wheels what's not to love.

Buy it and chisel off that stupid front spoiler.

Clearly with the 37 year old 1.8l engine it needs the downforce.

Go for it. In your situation i had any number o total impractical cars as my means of transport; Spitfires, Midgets, various kits...

A lot nicer than the rubber bumper ones....do it

Bought one in 2003 still got it though garaged at the moment.
Used it to commute up the M25,M1, 60 miles each way for six months no problem. Very cheap to maintain and parts are very easy to obtain.

Have you bought it yet?

Where is it? How much? (Might fancy it myself)

Lucky bum!

I'm going to view, drive and possibly buy on Sunday. Anyone want a reliable but boring Nissan Almera?

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Don't worry I live in Hampshire and have 13 polo ponies at my work, I can join the Toffs club.

Seriously call me gay and all but why not a MX5? ultra reliable and usable all year round. You can even put a bike rack on it.

I can't get insurance on it, I only have 1 1/2 year no claims that's the problem with being a student.

I was looking at one.

okay. Hora, you are gay.

MX5 is great therefore boring and uncool, ask Clarkson for explanation. MG is waaay nicer. One day I'll have a Stag or a Spitfire or an MGB GT. One day...

No no no no just awful, unless it has been cherished it will be rotten in all sorts of places. I helped fix one and it was just shite.

Should I buy a 1972 MGB GT?

No.

Lotus Elan circa 1965 is far, far cooler.

Yes and far far more expensive in every way.

we've got a midget, lots and lots of fun, get a roadster and buy a hardtop if you must. Then yuve got the option of some toppless fun in the summer. The handling wont suffer as they were rubbish to start with. The GT was suposed to handle better but only because of the extra weight.

Dont get hung up on wire wheels (they make the handling worse and take a lot of polishing) an chrome bumpers (they cant cope with speed bumps).

things to look out for:
usual engine, gearbox, drivetrain noises and problems, all parts are available and theyr fairly easy to work on with th eright tools.

Rust, everywhere, usualy in places you cant see, check everywhere you can see, then check the do/body gap, you should be able to run a poud coin down it with consistent clearence the whole way, if not the chassis has sagged as the sills rotted away. if you can find oe get a re-shelled one, its as close to uying anew car as you'll get. Just beware a £4000 re shelled car may not be as reliable as a £4000 car with a rotten chassis but a new engine.

Have a ood look at 5 or 6 to get an idea what the money gets you, a wreck for £500 and a concours winner for £15K will look very similar form a distance.

If your a student I'd wait till you have space, a garage, tools and the time to work on one. i've already got 1st dibs on the midget when it comes up for sale 🙂

alwyn, on a 1.6? How about you insure it on your parents address? 🙄

Regarding the rust, there is a little bit. But apparently it isn't too bad. Can this easily be fixed? Or is a right off problem. Anything out to look out for, it has had new rear springs, fuel pump, master cylinder and rear axle.

alwyn, as insurance cost is an issue I'd walk away from a MGB for now. Classic cars really need cover from all weathers and regular TLC- for anyone who says not necessarily I say assume the worse is a safe bet. I see a classic car like an Alfa. You need to put aside money for the 'just incase' big repair and sundries. I admire your passion though. I'd love a 50/60's Alfa Spyder (coupe version)- you can buy them cheapish but you can't run it as your only car.

I say walk away for now and comeback to one in a years time. 🙂

Regarding the rust, there is a little bit.

Means there's alot more underneath. Unless you are getting it for a song/a few hundred pounds certainly not more than a bag of sand then walk away.

Owning a classic car should be a pleasure, if you are not handy with filler/spanners then buy the best one you can possibly afford.

Good luck 🙂

i had a '66 roadster for 3 or 4 years...

the plus: sold it for more than i paid for it.

the negative: always had a little niggle somewhere (starter motor sticking, dynamo burning out, getting hot in a traffic jam and just stopping) and until you drive an old car you don't realise how much you take modern cars for granted (decent brakes, heaters that work and demisters that clear windows).

also bear in mind that if you have a crash the car will disintegrate.

as has been posted already, DO NOT buy the first one you see. look at as many as you can, the variations in price/quality are huge.

definitely get the car into an mg specialist for a checkover before you buy, there are certain bits (sills, floor, rear shock mounts on the chassis) that can costs 000's to sort.

Oh, and join the club, cheap insurance, and any number of [s]mugs[/s]willing volunteers that will help you fix the thing

If you get a dodgy one it can be a pain in the arse. My dad picked up a 'project' car that all it really needed was a new fuel pump. one new fuel pump later, and this, and that, and wiring and it still dosent run. Most of all its rotted away quickly to show cracks in the 'respray', basically alot of filler. It was a duff one bought of ebay for a couple of hundred, but check it all carefully as although they are easy to work on they are tedious little cars.

Not my cup of tea but go for it. Old cars are great, but as many have said, make sure you can afford to get whatever repairs it will need.

v8 one might be worth a look at, wouldn't entertain a 1.8 morris marina engine - gutless.

Pah, Im getting old.

Id prefer the Berlingo on the drive over the road.

Do it, do it, do it...

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all the hassle and expense of a proper sportscar, but without the handling, speed, and safety features.
sorry. non.

The guy on the left looks like a 'tached Neil Morrisey.

Just don't ok.

loads of rust,time,hassle,money
Little performance, reliability, class or beauty (imho)

bargain, not.

Never that keen on them in 72, my opinion hasn't changed.

I've got a MG Midget in the garage. Was highly unreliable, cost a lot in constant maintenance, not comfy, terrible brakes, only good for shopping if you were buying 2 tins of beans, a struggle to get out of, noisy, freezing in the winter, roasting in the summer, prone to rust and felt highly dangerous on the road.

Most fun car I have ever driven.

Do it.

alwyn, my deatils here, if of any use to you

www.peterflynnclassiccars.com

Alwyn, dunno if you're still looking at the thread, but only do it if you have a lot of money to spend on upkeep and/or are great with car maintenance yourself. My parents had a 1968 MGB GT and it got to a stage where the rust would never completely go (along the back "wings") and had to be treated annually.
Also, have you driven one? The only thing I remember about driving it was it was horrendously slow for a 1800cc engine (I had a Triumph 2000 that positively FLEW in comparison) and the steering was really heavy (my mum had the biggest biceps of any woman).
Beautiful to look at though eh? (the car, not my mum)
🙂

I've had two. Best point: the looks
Worst point: everything else.

Still, if you want one, you'll probably get one. Watch out for rust everywhere, smoky engines, whiny axle, overdrive that doesn't, trim (expensive, wheel spokes. The webasto fabric sunroof is a nice thing to have.

Basically, you have to be prepared to get your hands dirty. Parts are easily obtained and relatively cheap. Join the MG Owners club (but don't go to any meetings!)

Yes, yes, and yes again....

Had a Midget that I rebuilt a few years back, yes it was impractical, it leaked, and was incredibly unreliable but I loved it, could help but grin from ear to ear every time I got into it.

Used to love working on the engine and spending whole weekends polishing and cleaning it.... sigh

Go for it

The chrome bumper are far sweeter than the latter USA enforces rubber monstrosities.

Knowing a decent welder, or if you can do it yourself will help.

More of a weekend/summer car, than a practical daily use motor.

as mentioned parts are cheap, can be a mountain of work to keep on the road, my Austin Sprite was never ending with things that needed to be done to squeeze it through its yearly MOT.

Great in the middle of the summer, roof down on a evening trip to the pub, not so much fun when the thing breaks down and overheats on the motorway in the middle of winter, with your preggi Mrs giving you the deaths 😉

Oww, here it was on a good day 😉

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If you are looking to use it as cheap everyday transport do not do it as it will not be cheap and will be very unreliable. The cheap insurance will also be limited to very low milage as it is assumed they will be sunny day only cars.

If you are looking for driving pleaure and performance, a 3-4 year old Ford Focus will give more of both

If you are looking to treasure and spend time caring for a classic and have a garage to keep it in then buy it. If it is this option, then buy the convertible instead as you get the real experience

I have had both in my time. The Midget/Sprite was faster and handled better and therefore more enjoyable overall

"The Midget/Sprite was faster and handled better and therefore more enjoyable overall "

we're talking about the same midget here? the one that cocks a wheel on anything more than a gentle bend, and is outdone to 60 by transit vans?

They can be reliable, it's like bikes, they take up your time in maintenance and give it back in reliability. Ours had a blown alternator, so ran out of sparks on the second day of work. Tow home, fitted a new one, never missed a beat since.

But thats not to say it didnt need more maintenance, it also needed dif oil changeing, brakes bleeding, coolant flushing, entire new set of coolant pipes, prop shaft, tires, fuel cap, instrument bulbs, switch gear, fuel pump, several throttle cables, and the paintwork needed polishing once a week as its not the same quality as modern paintwork (its covered in little blemishes/scratches and doesnt dry like modern paint meaning you have to chamy it).

And that was for 6 weeks comuting! For every hour it was on the road it took a good 15 minutes of maintenance!

You will fall in love with it though and spend £000's maintaining it.

Just don't ok.

loads of rust,time,hassle,money
Little performance, reliability, class or beauty (imho)

bargain, not.

I feel sorry for people that "just don't undertsand"
🙂

My '72 VW bus cost me a fortune, drank fuel and handled like a barge (But was very comfy) and made me happy and smiley whenever I started it up.
I still want another. Modern cars are souless, efficiant and boring.

Do it. Get the MG. If you really want it, you'll never regret it.

BUY IT!

The chrome ones are classics and, as they are tax exempt, they make sense in these straightened times.

So what if it breaks down... You can spend many happy hours fixing it with about three spanners. That's part of the fun. Then there are the MG Car Club rallies. The MG Car Club clothing that you can buy.

And, more importantly... You can now own a flying jacket and a pipe without feeling self concious.

TINAS - yes we are talking about the same Midget/Sprite. I agree it's rubbish by modern standards, but still better than the MGB. In my youf I sold my B reg MGB roadster for an H reg Sprite and appreciated the better handling and performance

PP - lots of people, including me, "understand". However if someone is looking for a reliable, low maintenance, fun car, then look elsewhere.

Completely wrong to say all modern cars are soulless, efficient and boring. In the days of MGB's and Midgets, "character" was often defined by their deficiences like rubbish handling, unreliability and letting in water. Most cars of that era were soulless and boring as well - Marina, Allegro, standard Escort etc? Nowadays, try a Golf GTi/R32, Maxda MX5, Honda S2000, Focus ST/RS etc. Just because it has 4 seats, is comfortable and reliable does not mean it is not fun or does not have soul

lol, even by 60's standards the MG handling was bad,

very ballanced though, understeers then a bit of throttle and all is right in the world.

Thank you very much for the advice. woodsman I feel I might be needing your services.

I love fixing things with one spanner and a car with a bit of character is better than a jap box. The soft tops are very expensive so I will be looking at a roof. It will only be a year and if I love it and decided to keep it I will put a V8 Turbo rover engine in it (as seen on the internet).

Looking on Sunday with intent to buy 🙂

I had a nice 72 BGT. They can be quite a practical car if your handy. Everythings available for them even comfy mods like electric window kits.

Be sure you don't buy a pile of newspaper and bodyfiller shaped like an MG with a nice paint job.
I built mine from an 'honest' old car.

Which reminds me, I had a nice Spitfire DID'NT I MR NICK-NO-BALANCE. With the emphsis on 'had' apparently they don't hold up so well when piroueted through fields DO THEY NICK-NO-BALANCE.

it will all end in tears .....................................

if your after a V8, just buy one? no more speed though as they are hideously under powered and the small increace in power is offset against the weight.

and you'll need hundreds of spanners, as half the bolts are imperial and half metric!

For gods sake take an expert with you (look on the MG forums, they'r everywhere) as unless you know where to look a well pollished turd is indesinguishable form a very good one. and the rust is mainly going to be internal, i.e your looking for structural problems rather than a bit of bubbled paintwork. Get a rust free one, waxoyl it, underseal it, then get plastic liners fitted in the wings. Then at least you'll stand a chance.

How much are they asking?

And if your on a budget, rubber bumper midgets are cheeper, and open top.

I've done classic and modern kit. Austin Sprite and Westfield.

Whilst the kit was infinitely better, theres still something special and unforgettable about a classic..
My Sprite was a 1275 A-series with twin SU's increased compression etc.. so had a pretty useful throttle for a 17 year old 🙂 Quicker than the MGB boat anchor I suspect.

Sold both now but if I 'had' to have another pointlessly fun car then the best way to have the best of both worlds would be a 1972 RWA Midget with a RX7 rotary engine... classic with guts 🙂

Classic cars is an experience that I highly enjoyed, and would always recommend them... as long as you know what you are potentially getting into.. and that you could quite easily be buying someone else's bodged cover up.. so... unless its cheap.. check out the restoration quality!

Ski - was yours an Austin Sprite? AAN10. quite rare don't you know.

Sorry, for me an MGB was crap in the 70's and hasn't improved with age. I don't consider it a classic, it's just old.
Slow, dodgy suspension, naff handling, rust etc etc. Can't see a reason to own one.

the B's are t a clasic argument brings back memories 🙂

Housemate, MGB's are hideous, so are midgets, why would you buy one as a classic when the same period alfa were bringig out jaw dropingly beutyful cars.

Me, becasue theyr identical,

HM, what?

Me, MG sold them the tooling :p

I had a 72 GT for a few years - only car and daily driver all year round, including 400 mile round trips up and down the A9 to see my girlfriend at weekends. I paid quite a lot for mine but I needed to rely on it as I was driving it 7 days a week.

Its true that parts and insurance are cheap, but rust is just a slippery slope and you can't stop it happening, even to a really well prepared car (mine came with £10k worth of bare-metal rebuild receipts and two albums of photos documenting a very thorough job) but a year or so on the road will un-restore it pretty quick.

If you are buying cheap, don't aim to keep it for too long and live with the rust, so long as you can be confident that its not catastrophically rusty where it matters. Money spent on improving a car is money down the drain (unless you find the process amusing), and to a similar extent so is money spent on a top notch model if you are actually going to use it. But buy a serviceable car and sell it as a serviceable car you should do OK though, and no matter how bad you let it get someone will buy it off you. Reliability wise unlike modern cars that either work or don't, old cars have many shades of grey in between - they can be in and out of tune. Mostly out.

MGB engine are very robust, overdrives can be a fanny about but without one you'll not be wanting to get off the b roads, shock absorbers are £12 but you need to wait for parts - order them yourself, wait for delivery and then take them to your mechanic, a lot of items are exchange too, so you need to send your old part back to get the cheap prices. Modern cars have never been so dangerous to crash into, you couldn't honestly expect to live through any encounter with a faux by four. Locks and security are a joke. Getting out of an MG when you are parked by a high kerb makes you look like a foal being born. Steering is heavy, you'll never, ever be warm in winter. In the dark every one's lights are in your eyes and your own lights are so dim cars behind you cast a shadow in your field of view and salt cooks onto the lights in minutes.

When I bought mine I was living in the highlands and it was ideal. The noise and novelty soon wears thin on long motorway trips. Driving a car with your arse on the back wheel arch and the front bumper some way out in the distance and everyone else's wheelarches at ear level isn't much fun in cities either. But on a nice A road theres no better way to travel really.

" Getting out of an MG when you are parked by a high kerb makes you look like a foal being born."

2footed swivel is the way foreward, (hand on gearbox tunnel, hand on door frame, and swing your legs up and under the steering wheel.

giving lifts to girls in miniskirts is just fun 🙂

alwyn. do it.

i'm in my final year, had a lot of money saved to pay off my student loan in full (worked partime/fulltime in holidays) to do so. f*ck it. why not. if you have the opportunity.

as a result i'm buying a 240z for restoration to give it a g-nose conversion so i can get it looking like this.

doable with a not infinite amount of money either.

can't say the mgb tickles me looks wise, i'd be more inclined to get a classic ford or something.

I'm still trying to restore my 94 Passat. Why? Cos I am a weirdo.

Oh my god why mrgibbons that is beautifull!

I just need something with classic with a small engine, I had a look at fords and they are all big engined. I love the MGBs, I spoke to the owners club today and they were very helpful.

Can't wait untill Sunday, it's like christmas again. I just hope it's not a let down.

here's a story that will put you off

my dad crashed one,

the other car drove away, the MG was in so may pices humpty dumpty sued for copyright. The front wheel ended up in the passenger foot well and gave my mums legs nasty friction burn as it came to a halt (thankfully my mum has short legs). And the force through the steering colum was enough to bend the wheel into a figure of 8 (Dad clearly had a stong grip).

thanks alwyn - i'll keep you updated. picking one up thats been in california all its life for about £2k next week. i might even start a blog or whatever. i'm timetabling for a full body restoration inside of 6 weeks with 3 mates roped in for help every evening for 3 of those weeks all paid with a keg each 🙂 £300 for 3 peoples labour...for 21 days...bargain. they're certainly stoked about it as a project as am I. LSD for the rear and *potentially* an RB26 lump for the front. although that entirely depends on insurance issues - still getting quotes. going to be lovely to take it drifting. (queue the 'you supermarket carpark chav'...ironic being i live down the road from a disused airfield..)

certainly a little different. looked for an old C110 skyline like this http://cornerbalance.wordpress.com/2009/01/16/kpgc-10-for-sale-at-bingo-sports/ but lets be honest. they're rarer than hens teeth...balanced on a needle in the middle of a hay barn.

email me - geo5jhs AT leeds DOT ac DOT uk if you want any info about the datsun or some direction for rust free examples of an MG 🙂

Ok. Buy an MG if you own a:
Garage
Another car for day to day duties and long distance
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.
.
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Moneypit to me, labour of love is such a crock of s**t term. If you need to learn a life's lesson buy a motorbike.

I have a motorbike.