1979 MGB

(One Original Owner)

VIN: GHN5UL489321G

Remember how much you cared for your first real girlfriend back in junior high? When I was in the ninth grade, mine had the coolest Dad in the whole world! He worked as a regional rep for British Leyland and they had an MGB much like this car. He even let me drive it around the block once alone – something my father wouldn’t EVER let a 14 year-old get away with! Over the years I’ve owned many vintage British droptops and this is one of the most unique finds to come my way in a long time.

We acquired this “B” a short time ago directly from its original owner here in Seattle. He is/was a local attorney and reached a point several years ago where he could no longer drive. His younger brother (a former Seattle Seahawks player) now manages his affairs and I was pleasantly surprised with what I found when he took me down to the Condo garage for the initial viewing.

In the trunk I came across the two-inch thick binder you see in my photos (I’ve spread out just a few of the sheets in the picture). Starting with the original dealer purchase order, the factory window sticker and some 1979 sales brochures, it contains virtually EVERY receipt for ALL work done covering the MG’s entire life, neatly filed in plastic sleeves by date. Talk about a fussy owner! Yes, he was obsessive about oil changes like most of us, but also compulsive about preventive maintenance; He replaced the original clutch at only 49,000 miles, the brakes and rotors at 58K & again at 69K. The list is very impressive and goes on & on. Oil seals, manifold work, the exhaust system, a SPAX tube suspension system & front coils and most of the engine electrical components. Another clutch was done at 88,000 and a third time just 7,000 miles ago with 124K on the clock (this time including the master & slave cylinders). All work was done BEFORE things became an issue by British-American LTD here in Seattle. 17,000 miles ago the engine was removed, torn down and completely rebuilt at a documented cost of $5,800. Just a year prior, the owner spent $3,300 to have a custom aluminum head (with roller rockers and oversized valves) installed. In total, I have over $28,000 in repair/maintenance receipts to pass along to you – and that doesn’t include the cost of regular oil changes!

If you’re in the market for a nice vintage driver please give this MGB your kind attention as the time’s come to pass it along to the next caretaker! You’re welcome to contact me with questions or to discuss a sale before the end of the Ebay listing. My name is Mark Thompson and I can be reached at 206/914-1173.

CONDITION:

MGB’s came with cheap rubber floor mats when new and I’m very glad the interior’s been upgraded with black cut-pile fitted carpet throughout. Your bum will be comfortable for hours on these firm bucket seats covered with authentic British upholstery. As pictured, the door panels are original and in above average shape. I’m quite impressed with the condition of the dash gauges. They’re still as clear and bright as the day this rig left the Abingdon-on-Thames plant back in February, 1979 heading for Wray Import Motors in Shreveport, LA. It came to western Washington when the original owner began his law practice here a few years later.

All the Triplex brand glass is fine with the exception of a small crack on the left edge of the windscreen. The original exterior trim is good. It appears the hood may have been repainted sometime in the distant past, but there's no record of it and I'm sure this guy would've documented even that! Perhaps it was dealer prep work done prior to delivery back when new. The soft top is a brown Haartz fabric type with zip-down rear window; much, much nicer than the original vinyl top. All four factory wheels are wrapped with 175/SR14 Michelin radials with at least 80% plus remaining tread. The spare is mounted in the trunk and I’ll also be sure the original tonneau & boot cover are safely stored there along with the factory jack when the car ships out.

Even when cold the peppy 110 cubic-inch four cylinder fires right up with just a few pumps of the gas pedal. It was smart of the owner to retro-fit the intake manifold with dual SU Carbs (jettisoning the inferior fire-prone factory Stromberg used on these later cars). I assume he had it done when the hi-po aluminum head was added for much easier intake breathing and more horsepower. Because the car had been stored awhile I had both carbs removed and rebuilt by my mechanic and also had the gas tank drained & flushed, just to be sure. I changed out the distributor with a modern electronic ignition unit; no more points to gap! The four-speed full synchro transmission shifts smoothly, just like it should, with NO clutch slippage. This car has good speed, power and steering. It feels tight on the road! A very nice Kenwood anti-theft CD stereo has been dash-mounted in the usual spot. When the ignition key is turned off a metal faceplate automatically flips out and over the unit to discourage would-be thieves.

BID WITH CONFIDENCE and know that you are purchasing a nice vehicle from a respected Ebay Seller. My main goal is be sure you’re happy with your purchase - and your dealings with me! Because of the amount of money involved in buying a vehicle, I require that Ebay members with a feedback history of five or fewer transactions call or email before placing a bid. If we don’t have this initial contact, your bid may be cancelled. The phone number to talk directly to me, as outlined above, is 206/914-1173. Please feel free to call any time during the auction. My name is MARK THOMPSON.

A Few Additional Terms and Conditions:

Please check the photos over closely and call with any questions BEFORE you place a bid! You’re encouraged to inspect the vehicle, so make an appointment or send your representative early to be sure you don't miss this one. We reserve the right to cancel your bid if you have any negative feedback. DEALERS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME TO BID AS WELL! A nonrefundable $500 deposit is due within 48 hours of the auction’s end. The balance is due by cash or certified funds within seven days unless prior arrangements have been made with me. Please remember you are bidding to buy and I fully expect the winning bidder to fulfill their Ebay contract! You’re not bidding to hold, inspect or then come test-drive the car later as you’re more than welcome to do this before the auction ends. Along with all the records pictured I will be forwarding the buyer a free and clear Washington State Title. There are NO brands here for things like salvage history, rebuilt title, theft recovery, flood damage or any other nasty negatives to cause you concern! Please remember this is a nearly 35 year-old vehicle and will never be in like-new condition again. Though it runs and drives great, the MG is being sold "as-is, where-is".

Could the car be driven long distance just as it is? In a word; Yes, but why take the risk of a breakdown with a collector-quality vehicle just to save a few bucks! There's nothing worse than waiting for a tow truck somewhere in the great Montana flat lands because a fuel pump quit or a tire went flat during a 2,000 mile road trip home! I ship cars & trucks regularly and suggest that you get a transport bid from the service most of our buyer’s use (and that Ebay endorses): Dependable Auto Shippers (DAS). Call my designated representative, Janice, at (469) 587-5096. Give her my affiliate number (2362642) and she can pull up all of my location info for an accurate quote.

Alternatively, you might also try the U-Ship website. Transporters will bid delivery of the vehicle and you'll be able to choose who you want to use. The zip code for pick-up would be 98002 (Auburn, Washington) to get an instant on-line quote. The shipping of the vehicle and company chosen are the responsibility of the BUYER. The car can be stored free of charge at my warehouse location for up to two weeks after the auction ends assuming full payment has been received. I’ll begin charging storage at $20 per day thereafter.