1980 MGB 1.8 Roadster

Sourced for the current owner in the 1980s by classic car stalwart, Mike Ayling, this unregistered MGB Roadster, Chassis No GVADJIAG/18012 had been purchased by its first owner as a potential investment and never registered, however the original V5/55 Application for first registration is still present together with the original handbook and Heritage Certificate.  Mike had been tasked by a good friend with finding a trio of cars to be correctly preserved until his three youngest grandchildren reached their respective 21st birthdays at which point they would receive a brand new MGB as a present. What a lovely idea. He was able to find two delivery mileage, MGB Roadsters (one black and one white) and they were immediately prepared for a long hibernation, however it took nearly six months to persuade the owner of this Snapdragon Yellow car to part with it.

In Mike's words "I collected the car myself from Gloucestershire and trailered it back to Fernhurst where it was subjected to the same deep preservation as the black and white MGBs. The fuel tank was filled with paraffin, the engine overfilled with oil and the carburretors filled with a light preservation oil. The car was then totally Waxoyled three times and then transported to my friend’s garage where my technician, Jeffrey Bull, and I laid the base of the Carcoon, placed the car on axle stands inflated the Carcoon and left it for the next 35 years. I visited the garage frequently and checked on all three  cars, turned the wheels, serviced the Carcoon fans and put them all back to bed."

The grandson who inherited the yellow MGB is a non-driver and lives in London so he has recently decided to sell the vehicle. It was removed from storage and fully recommissioned, remaining in true time-warp order with the delivery mileage of just 143 miles still showing on the speedometer! However, there was one concern. Again in Mike's words ''When I originally sold the car to Richard,  I provided my friend's personal assistant with the documentation, all of which was complete, together with two sets of keys and various documents including a brief on the history and details of what had been done to the car in terms of storage activity. Sadly, with the passage of time and my friend in his late ‘90s, some of the documents and keys were misplaced. I was then tasked with the problem of obtaining new keys, however, fortunately I remembered that MGBs were produced with a spare ignition key secured to the bulkhead, under the bonnet with a self-tapping screw. I went to look at the car, removed the Carcoon, which had provided more than 35 years exemplary service, lifted the bonnet and finally found the key. If you look now at the car, you will see the outline of the key on the bulkhead, evidenced by the shadow in the underseal! This is the key which comes with the car now. From the chassis number I was able to obtain keys for both the door and the boot."

This remarkable MGB is now resplendent once again, wide awake and ready for the next part of its journey. Your earliest inspection is welcomed and encouraged to fully appreciate this piece of MG history.