MGB & GT Forum

Hello All!

I am new to the forum and considering a purchase and would like to get some info from the experts here.
I have been looking at MGBs for a while and just haven't found one that interested me enough to actually take a much closer look until now.
I have found a 1973 MGB that "appears" to be in good shape. I am going to take a much closer look at it tomorrow and would like some advice on what to look for.
It has a hardtop and convertible top. The hard top has two small round windows (sort of a quarter window) that I have never seen that style of top before. Also it has a luggage rack and while I have seen several with luggage racks this one seems much taller than the others.
The car has overdrive also and has a "tourer" logo on the trunk lid. Once again I am not familiar with that model.
The body seems solid but I plan to really get into it tomorrow and see what is under there.
It has the knockoff style wheels too which I believe all the 73s had.
This car will be a restoration project for me and I am no stranger to higher maintenance vehicles. Air cooled VWs and Triumph Motorcycles just to name a couple.
Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Dave
P.S. I will take some pics tomorrow while looking at it and post them here if anyone is interested in seeing it.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014-10-01 11:08 PM by dk pony.

looking forward to the pictures. pay close attention to rust along the sills. (rocker panels)

Thanks.
I see you are in Danville. Just a short trip from me.

To quote my friend Steve Magnante, "fill your library before you fill your garage". Anders Clausager's book "Original MGB" is the bible. Lindsay Porter's book on MGB restoration is also quite good, especially on rust repair.

Overdrive is a big plus.

The factory considered all MGB convertibles "Tourers" though I don't think the factory ever applied such a badge.

Open and close each door slowly. If you encounter any interference closing, you may think the door is misaligned. More likely, the sills (rocker panels) are rusted, and lacking a frame, the car is beginning to sag.

Every year, bolt-on steel wheels were standard, knockoff-style wire wheels were optional. Lots of arguing which is better, all part of the fun.

Welcome, and good luck. There is a Brit Car parts specialist in Knoxville, he has lots off parts on ebay, decently priced.

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to paraphrase Mark Twain:

. . . . . "I never learned anything when I was typing! . . . . .

Thanks for the info.

Good to hear of a parts place fairly close to me. Only about an hour and a half drive.
It definitely has the knockoff wire wheels. Are they aluminum? If they are chrome they are in a sad state but aluminum can be polished.
After some research I believe the top came from Custom Tops in Long Beach CA who also make the Snugtops..I think?
Thanks for the reading suggestions.
As for the sills I plan on getting acquainted with the car tomorrow. Gonna head out with a flashlight and magnet and piece of carpet to roll around under it. And my camera to take some pics.
Thanks again

Be sure to post the pic's! Guys here will see stuff you don't. Wheels are just painted (steel?) And shouldn't look shiny. When you start it watch the oil pressure gauge and report what you see. (50-75psi normal?) Good luck and welcome!

First inspection should be to pull back the floor board carpet or mats and have a look at the bare floor boards. Their condition should begin to tell you the state of the entire structure if not restored. As your first car you really do not want to go down the road of serious rust repair. A great year car and worthy of even expensive mechanical repair if necessary. Hopefully it will still have the original twin SU carbs, if they have been replaced with the single Weber dont let him talk you into believing it is an improvement. Just take the SUs with you if you buy it.

Thanks everyone for all the great info.

I have some experience with rust (remember the aircooled VW's mentioned in a previous post) and I do not want to go down that road again.
I plan to add a jack to my tools to take with me today when I check it out. If the owner won't let me jack it up and look underneath I will walk away as well as if the rust is too much.
I had been looking for a chrome bumper car and found that they are harder to find than the rubber bumper cars. Which is one reason I haven't purchased anything yet. I have been keeping an eye out for one for a few years and I admit I hadn't researched the car much except to find out basically the year(s) I would be interested in.
The only other experience I have had with an MG was a friend of my fathers had a rubber bumper car..76 or 77 I think and I used to adjust the valves for him every few months. After the VW's you definitely develop the feel for adjusting valves.
Thanks again and I will report back as soon as I find out the condition of the car.

Bring your magnet to search for evidence of filler in the usual places (dog legs, sills, rear wheel arches) X2 on the recommendation to look under the floor mats. Rust is the most expensive repair, and if you find any, plan on there being perhaps 3 times as much when the truth is known.

Wire wheels were painted silver from the factory. The spokes are steel. There are after market wires available in chrome, though the current offerings all have stainless spokes I believe. Any doubt on the material can again be cleared up with a magnet. Stainless (300 series anyway) is only slightly magnetic compared with steel.

Steve

Thanks for the info on the wheels too.

I was just curious if those were supposed to be shiny or polished or whatever. They have a dull greyish color and I was just wondering if that is normal or more work or expense to fix. It would appear it is pretty normal.

Hi David,

Just wanted to give you a heads up about two British cars clubs that I am in that are near you in case you are not aware of them. No ownership requirements, just an interest in British cars. The first one is very near you in Kingsport, TN. The second one is in Morristown, TN & is a one hour drive for me.

http://www.britcars.net/

http://www.etmgdc.org/

I know of a solid 1973 MGB with 64K miles that needs some TLC. Neighbor of mine recently acquired it, not sure that he plans to keep it.

Best of luck on your search.

Thanks SO much for the info.
If this one doesn't work out maybe I will get some more info on your neighbors car.
I had no idea there was a club in Kingsport but I had heard of the one in Morristown.
I've always been a fan of British cars and Motorcycles.

If you don't mind a rubber bumper MGB, a local club member has a '77 for sale. Not sure how finished a car you are looking for.

http://tricities.craigslist.org/cto/4641159359.html

Well here we go.
I don't know where I came up with the "Tourer" logo..it says "Continental". I was maybe a little excited.lol
The car runs but only after we put some fuel in a can and bypassed the fuel tank.
The convertible top is crammed into the passenger seat.
The hardtop is a Dyna Plastics and has a few cracks and terrible looking seals. The only door rubbing I could find is against the top.
The sills and floors are shot. Some of the pics are at strange angles because of the way I had to hold the camera.











































Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2014-10-02 10:34 AM by dk pony.

oops. oh well. (rusted out spring hangers are very difficult to fix)