Vehicle Description
There are not many better ways to enjoy a warm summer day and a
twisting country road than from behind the wheel of a traditional
British sports car. This supercharged 1976 MG MGB represents the
last of the breed, a wonderful foray into a time when the cars were
elemental and pure, and the driving experience wasn't measured on a
clock, but by the size of the grin on your face.
The MGB is one of those cars that everyone loves, and one look at
this handsome Bracken (aka Muddy Orange) specimen will tell you all
you need to know. Its compact proportions are ideally suited to
carrying two passengers, there's no extra fat to steal performance.
The taut bodywork is an evolutionary design that by 1976 had grown
the large rubber front bumper/grille assembly, giving it a more
aggressive look that was pure 1970s cool. Sure, some people prefer
the look of the chrome bumper MG's, but when coupled with a cool
black racing stripe, we actually really love this look. The Bracken
repaint on this roadster (applied in 2005) looks pretty good
overall, showing only minor signs of use and age, and makes the
little roadster look substantial despite its affordable price tag.
There's no sign of rust or other typical MGB issues, and the fit
and finish is really in great shape, strong driver-quality through
and through. The chrome trunk rack is something you'll undoubtedly
find useful on your next road trip and the traditional 3-element
taillight lenses remain in excellent condition.
The light brown interior is in very nice condition, showing no
major wear on any of the soft components. The seats are
particularly firm and supportive, with woven vinyl inserts that
apparently wear like stone, as they show practically zero signs of
use aside from the typical comfort marks. Black carpets are deep
and rich and untouched by UV fading, the matching door panels
remain taut and clean, and although the black dash has a few
cracks, it comes protected with a carpeted pad. All the gauges were
refreshed and the set now includes a Boost gauge to keep an eye on
the supercharger, and the leather-wrapped steering wheel is
incredibly sporty, suggesting that performance was always paramount
for this little roadster. An Alpine AM/FM/CD head unit was
installed to handle the entertainment, and the center console is in
great shape, complete with the funnest part of the car - the
4-speed shifter. The black convertible top looks recent and offers
a clear rear window (three of them, actually), and it can be thrown
open in a matter of moments, so it's easy to take advantage of
open-air motoring any time the mood strikes you. There's also a
matching black boot that gives it a smooth profile and the
surprisingly spacious trunk comes loaded with a full-size spare
tire and jack set.
The thrill of a British sports car is not in its sheer power and
speed, but in one's ability to use most of the car's performance
envelope without worry. The MG's 1.8 liter inline-four (aka the
1798cc) really comes to life with the aid of the Eaton
Supercharger, especially at full bore, with plenty of torque and
the most wonderful sound, aggressive at idle and a fantastic tenor
bellow at full throttle. It uses a Weber carburetor with electric
choke to make starting easy and there's a recent alternator to keep
the battery topped off. A 4-2-1 exhaust header feeds a stock-style
exhaust system (complete with a catalytic convertor) with a nice
raspy exhaust note, and handling is light thanks to a well-sorted
suspension and a modest curb weight. It's not detailed underneath
and there's a bit of dirt and grime, but that's reassuring because
you can see this little car has nothing to hide, and power front
disc brakes and rack-and-pinion steering mean this roadster is
ready for the road today. Four 185/70/14 Michelin radials have been
fitted to the original wheels for a timeless look.
MGB fans know how wonderful these are, and how difficult good ones
are to find. This one is ready to have fun for not a lot of money.
Call today!
