The MGB ran for 18 consecutive years, from its debut at the Earls
Court Motor Show in September 1962 through its final year in 1980,
and in that time it became the best-selling British sports car of
all time with over 500,000 units produced. British Leyland chose to
announce the closure of the Abingdon factory, where every MGB had
been built, during the week the plant was celebrating its 50th
anniversary of production. It was not a graceful exit for one of
the most beloved sports cars in history, and the MGB deserved
better. This 1980 example is finished in Pageant Blue with grey
stripes down the side and MGB lettering, a black convertible top, a
luggage rack on the rear, and tan leather inside, and it is a
clean, honest survivor of the final year of a car that earned its
legendary status the old-fashioned way.
Under the hood is the 1.8 liter inline four backed by a four-speed
manual transmission. The BMC B-series engine that powered the MGB
stayed in production from 1954 all the way through 1986, powering
everything from Hindustan Ambassadors to Nash Metropolitans along
the way. It is simple, proven, and has been kept running in MGBs
around the world for decades without complaint, which is exactly
the kind of durability that defines what MG was about. The rack and
pinion steering, front disc brakes, and lightweight body give the
car a connected, alive feel at low speeds that heavier, more
powerful cars cannot replicate.
Inside, the tan leather interior is clean and well matched to the
Pageant Blue exterior. The MGB's cockpit was always designed around
two people and nothing else, and this one reflects that intention
completely. The luggage rack gives you a practical option for a
weekend trip in a car that was made for exactly that kind of
use.
Despite the fact that the MGB was by 1980 one of the oldest active
designs in production anywhere in the world, it found 14,315 buyers
in its final year. People kept buying it because nothing else
offered the same combination of style, simplicity, and British
character at anywhere near the price. Over 40 years later that
appeal has not diminished. Parts are plentiful, the community of
owners is large and active, and a clean Pageant Blue example from
the final year of production is exactly the kind of car that brings
a smile every single time you put the top down.
Please call or email us today for more information.
Gr Auto Gallery, LLC and our sister company, Wheelz Sales and
Leasing Inc. makes every effort to represent each vehicle
accurately and with integrity. We also welcome third party
inspections when necessary. Although we try to do our very best to
be accurate in our description writing we are human and do make
mistakes. Unless noted in our description, we only have one key for
the vehicle. It is the responsibility of the buyer to either
inspect the vehicle personally or via a 3rd party, to ensure
satisfaction to the condition and value, prior to purchase. Unless
otherwise noted, All vehicles are sold AS IS, No Warranty Expressed
or Implied. All sales final. If you want verification on any items
working please ask. GR Auto Gallery and all its affiliates reserve
the right to charge a 3.5% processing fee on any credit card sales
of over $2,500.
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