SOTW: MGB GT

Shed of the Week is not, by its nature, a feature given to strict rules, but we do try to stick to a few. And one of those rules is that the car must be road-legal, however shed-like it seems. Still, what's the point of rules if you don't break them occasionally? Hence we bring you this week's Shed: a tax-less, ticket-less MGB.

This orange 1971 MGB GT isn't exactly a gleaming example of the breed, either; it needs a little fettling after 18 years of dry storage. Work that apparently needs doing includes a replacement rear wing and new door skins, while the vendor also admits that the engine "looks ok but not been run". The eagle-eyed among you will also notice the tow hook - we can't imagine this would have made the ideal tow car.

What gives this long-neglected MG such shed-cred is its price; the seller wants �700, but is prepared to accept offers on that. Assuming the car is basically solid (a reasonably large assumption, we know), that's a bargain price for a car that would be worth at least �2.5k with tax, MOT and the bodywork issues sorted out.

The car itself should also be a somewhat less controversial choice than the MGF we spotted a few weeks back. Back in the 1960s, the MGB was often touted as an Aston Martin for the chap on a budget - scaled-down GT looks, an elegant interior, and oodles of British charm made sure of that.

This particular example manages to carry off the pint-sized GT thing pretty well, despite the handicap of that oh-so-seventies colour. It misses out on the full chrome-grille treatment of some MGBs, too, but has at least been spared the god-awful rubber bumpers that came in a couple of years later as a sop to US safety regulations.

With 95bhp on tap from the 1.8-litre twin SU carb-fed motor, the MGB GT never got tarmac-ripping performance, but a top speed of 104mph and 0-60mph in 12.9 seconds was respectable enough. Mind you, you wouldn't want to put too much more power through that leaf-sprung rear axle.

As Sheds go we'll freely admit that this MGB GT is more of a punt than most, but if you want a slice of British sports car history, it's got to be pretty tempting. If nothing else, that numberplate has got to be worth a bit of cash...

Advert is reproduced below:

1971 mgb gt, �700

nice little barn find, 1971 MGB GT in orange, been dry stored for 18 years. Solid all round apart from needs door skins and nearside rear lower wing. Engine looks ok but not been run and engine bay tidy. All floors good, boot good, interior worn but dry. I am away at sea for three weeks but contact on 398-M3@a.dii.mod.uk plate is nice and car will make a cracker. Open to offers etc. When Im back im on 07866115827

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