Description:
This rare University Motors Ltd supplied ‘pull handle’ roadster has the most interesting and comprehensive history.
Just one owner from new until earlier this year, it covered just over 200,000 miles until taken off the road and garaged in 1989. It has been in the garage since then and is now offered as a restoration project.
920HLY’s amazing file includes all the original U.M.Ltd sales documentation – order, acknowledgement, invoice, price list, brochure, and ‘Motor’ road test report. Options ordered were antifreeze, heater, wire wheels, tonneau cover, anti-roll bar (£2,8s 4d) and underseal. Total price was £929,14s,2d, less an allowance of £330 for the part exchanged Austin Healey Sprite!
Also included is every single MOT from new ,all the invoices from new relating to maintenance and repairs over the years, insurance documentation, goldseal engine warranty, the mgb handbook, Philips car portable radio instructions (what a radio!), and spare keys.
It is currently fitted with a gold seal engine, which was supplied and fitted new in May 1984. It has covered around 25,000 miles since then, so this engine, which does turn, should be in good order, although no attempt has been made to start it. This is the car’s third engine, as previously it had a replacement BMC unit fitted in 1971.
Some restoration work was done in 1981, and a respray undertaken in 1984. The original colour was racing green, and this can still be seen on some of the floor, but the respray was clearly a few shades too light.
So, a rare model supplied by the most famous MG garage, with a fantastic history file, a delightfully patinated original leather interior, a good hood (renewed in 1976), pretty good chrome ,wire wheels in good condition, and retaining its original valuable registration.
It does now require a fair bit of restoration. The sills are crusty, particularly at their rear ends, and there is little left of the lower rear wings. The mechanics should be straight forward as it has been so well maintained, but it will require quite a lot of bodywork and of course a respray. Currently it does not run and there are no brakes.
It would be great to see this wonderful old mgb returned to the road ready to clock up another 200,000 miles.
|