Full disclosure: I love this car. Every timeI return from a blast into town or through the back roads I ask myself again: Why am I selling this???? In truth it's purely practical. Recent events have necessitated that my family move from the East Coast out West and I'm faced with the difficultchoice of whether to store or ship, oth at great price and inconvenience to our situation. So thebest case scenario is to try and turn this little beast over to someone who can properly care for it. I've done the critical and safety required fixes....the rest is up to you.
What is it? Pure analog driving excitement. A custom steel "barchetta" body coversa stock 1.8L MG power plant. That engine aloneis no big deal, ut considering that maximum lightness has been added, he power-to-excitement ratiois well up there. Couple thatwith the Weber carb and short, rivers-side exit Magnaflow 2" custom straightpipe, nd at nightand you're likely to see flames popping from the exhaust. Top it all off withthe glorious burbles, ops and braaaaaaaps on aggressive gear changes and you'll soon picture yourself on the final run from Roma to Brescia rather than the reality of Safeway to Lowes.
Truth: I tailed a 911 GT3 around the back roads near me last week. He tapped his throttle andlaunchedaway,disappearing along the leaf-stewnblacktop. I mashed the gas and took up chase, howling roar rocketing off the trees as I touched the redline with every gear change.He allowed me to catch up before taking off again, ndthere I was, n hot pursuit, ate braking, eel-toe downshifting, lipping the throttle and making the car snort and spit before late apexing corner after corner and trying to contain a safe amount of drift. In 10 minutes it was over and we were back to the main road where he flicked a wave and disappeared. The BEST PART? I don't think I cracked 60 mph the whole time and by the end, y heart was pounding, y ears ringing, nd my eyes stinging. For his part I'm fairly sure he spent the whole time driving with one handwhile tuning his Sirius radio and checking his Facebook status with the other. Sure his car cost six figures more than mine, ut who experiencedmore pure driving excitement?
In closing, hiscar isn't perfect, et. Someone can make this a wonderful winter project while still being able to drive it as the weather permits. But if you're a little mechanically able or know someone who is, his one-of-a-kind machine is your ticket to driving bliss. 1977 MGB, tock drivetrain: 1.8L engine with 4 speed transmission (no O/D). Lowered to pre-1974 height. Brand new front brake pads and rear shoes. Competition gutted interior, agnaflow 2" straightpipe with driver's side exit exhaust. Weber carb, ustom machined dash, ircraft seats, pt harnesses driver and passenger. Brooklands windscreens. Relocated Monza-type fuel filler cap. No top or tonneau, ut holes for tonneau pins are present. Custom drivers side cowl. Trimmed over door tops, ear tire recessed in trunk cutout, xtended fins.4 brand new Kumhos. Hood pins with leather tie down strap. Paint has a good patina. Wiring could use tidying up and reverse gear can take some time and finesse to find. All emissions equipment has been removed but the car is street licensed as an antique in the state of Virginia. Leaks the usual bit of oil but has never left me stranded and fires up every time I activate the push-button start. Gobs of character and draws instant crowds and smiles when parked.