High Res Photos of a stock 80 MGB

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Nov 18, 2009 15:00:43
GordyM

I am new to this group and I was hoping someone could point me in the direction of some high res photos. I am thinking about buying a 1980 MGB that is totally stock and never been painted. Would anyone have a source to some high resolution pictures of a 1980 MGB engine compartment? Or of the whole car? I think it has been repainted but I need an original car to compare to.

The car I have found has 19,000 miles on it (it is not an LE) and is in really great shape. It is in the upper Midwest (USA) and currently in storage.

What is a ballpark figure as to what it is worth?

Thanks,
Gordy

Nov 18, 2009 15:24:39
BobG

Welcome! Don't know about worth, but here's a recent thread that includes a pristine '80 engine bay....

http://www.mgexperience.net/phorum/read.php?1,1277753,1277753#msg-1277753





Nov 18, 2009 15:32:46
James74

Hi Gordy and welcome to the group. If you want a B as a driver then I would stay away from those original Bs. Buy a car that has been heavily restored with receipts! remember low miles does not always mean good condition The MGB LE's caracteristiques is the silver stripes, wheels, and steering wheel. Other than that and maybe a dash emblem it still an MGB.

Any B with low miles expect to pay more money the real collector years is the chrome bumper cars 1962-67 and then 68-74. Ask yourself what is your intention driver keeper, resale and make a profit.. etc? The member at MGE will be here to help you will more questions.

Nov 18, 2009 19:04:08
mowog1

You might also check with Paul Hanley, Concours Coordinator for NAMGBR. The "Top Point MG" of Concours competition at MG2009 went to a 1980 MGB LE.

Paul checks in here periodically.

Nov 18, 2009 23:13:16
rlich8

Hope you plan on keeping that 1980 w/ 19k on it stock, very few of them left like that. Of course to each their own but that car will do nothing but appreciate in value and it's nice to have an original specimen! Good luck and I'm very jealous!

Nov 19, 2009 05:05:52
ddibiase

Hi, Gordy, welcome to the group...

Just FYI, because of the storage (obviously, it's been in storage for quite a while) you should plan on replacing all of the rubber parts - belt, hoses, brake lines, tires, etc - and expect some engine leaks from the various seals as well. A low mileage, 30-year-old car will have issues of it's own, just as a high-mileage-car will.

Good luck, and be sure to post some pictures when (if) you purchase the car!

Dan D

Nov 19, 2009 07:32:50
wa6rxm

Sounds interesting. Only one low res engine bay pic here, but Moss Motors has detailed diagrams of the bays of the newer B's in their FREE catalogs showing alll of the smog stuff.

I agree that a car stored for that long will require some mechanical re-furb to get it back into running condition - could be considerable.

For example, my recently purchased 1979 B had been nicely restored cosmetically, but had not been driven much in recent years, and cost me about $2000 in mechanical repairs to get it running well again. Included was an exhaust valve replacement (four valves) plus a head re-surfacing and gasket.

I don't know what smog requirements your state has, but in California the later B's (1976 and up) are still required to pass smog. This can also involve some expense, too, re-fitting the car with newer cat. converters.

Also, on these cars, your ability to convert them to better carbueration systems (e.g. twin SU's) is limited, again because of the smog requirements.

I'd be inclined to 1.) Negotiate a price for it which takes all of this into account, or 2.) as has been suggested, look for another car (perhaps with more milage) with documented repairs to it.

Overall, I think little use is worse for a car than the opposite plus regular maintenance...

Nov 19, 2009 11:30:47
Chicago Ray

Here is mine.
It is a 79 not 80, but that should not matter.
She is all original, unrestored and has 28,400 rain free miles.







Nov 19, 2009 11:41:16
Chicago Ray

Couple more.







Nov 19, 2009 12:37:49
ddibiase

Dang, Ray, where did you find that pearl??

Dan D

Nov 19, 2009 12:42:30
Chicago Ray

Dan, I am the original owner. I bought the car brand new in June, 1979.
Here it is one day old with 13 miles on the clock!

Nov 19, 2009 13:09:26
GordyM

Ray,

Thank you for the photo's.... exactly what I was looking for. Seeing yours has never been repainted I can see the fender bolts under the hood come painted from the factory. I also see the hood latch "socket" (and bolts) come painted from the factory.

It seems the car I am looking at is truly a low mileage original.

The current owner has been driving it for the past year and has placed at least 2,000 miles on it. So it seems like a real "diamond in the rough".....

I tried doing a "CarFax" on the VIN and it came back with an error.... "The VIN you supplied is not 17 digits, please retype your VIN". I have yet to see a 17 digit VIN on an MGB.

I will be going to look at the car this weekend and make my decision. Here are a couple of pictures I have so far.

Thanks,
Gordy

Nov 19, 2009 13:10:17
GordyM

And a 2nd picture under the hood.

Nov 19, 2009 13:20:12
Chicago Ray

Looks great Gordy! Good luck!!
Post some more picts when you get them.

Nov 19, 2009 13:24:11
rlich8

Not a bad car Gordy!

Nov 19, 2009 13:30:22
Cinimod

Wow Ray! What a beautiful B!

Nov 19, 2009 18:05:17
wa6rxm

That DOES look nice, Gordy!

Ray's story and pic have some resonance with me - I bought a new one ('79) in 1981. Kept it for about six years and then sold it. It (unlike my current car) had O/D - wish my present one did!

I must have misunderstood your original post - now understand that the car HAS been driven recently, which is better, I think, than not having been driven...

Nov 20, 2009 05:09:14
ddibiase

Boy, hard to believe these original low-mileage cars, they are really nice. What a great resource for those of us whose cars have been DPO'd half to death!

Dan D

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