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.
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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.
