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1965 MG MGB Roadster

This vehicle has now been sold - click ‘Register Similar’ below to get notified when we consign a similar vehicle.

Sold Price

£15,420

  • Mileage~97,274 on clock
  • TransmissionManual
  • Engine1.8-litre
  • LocationBristol

SOLD

1965 MG MGB Roadster

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Introduction

Jacob Boodrie
Professional Consigner

A true British motoring icon, the MGB Roadster combines timeless styling, simple engineering, and pure open-top driving enjoyment.

Introduced in 1962, the MG MGB Roadster quickly became one of Britain’s most successful and recognisable sports cars. Replacing the MGA, it brought a more modern design with monocoque construction, improved comfort, and greater practicality while retaining the lightweight, engaging driving character that MG enthusiasts loved. Powered by the durable 1.8-litre B-Series four-cylinder engine, the MGB offered an enjoyable balance of performance, reliability, and affordability, making it a popular choice for both everyday use and weekend touring.

By 1965, the MGB had established itself as a true British motoring icon, combining elegant styling, simple mechanicals, and classic open-top appeal. Early chrome-bumper examples such as this are particularly sought after for their purity of design, featuring the original styling details that define the model. With its timeless proportions, accessible driving experience, and strong enthusiast following, the MGB Roadster remains one of the most celebrated British sports cars ever produced.

Jerry has cherished this MGB Roadster for over ~15 years, carrying out an extensive restoration himself. As a professional panel beater and paint sprayer, he has carefully restored the car to a high standard while retaining as much originality as possible.

This listing was written from information supplied by Jacob after meeting Jerry the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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Secure Auctions

We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Meet the owner

A long-term ownership restoration project, carefully rebuilt with an incredible attention to detail and a focus on retaining originality.

Jerry first purchased the car as a restoration project, although it was some time before he officially registered it in his name in 2011. The car holds a special sentimental value for Jerry, as it was first registered in the UK on his father’s birthday. He trained early in his career as a professional panel beater and paint sprayer and now teaches these skills at college. With access to modern equipment, technology, and tools, he has been able to restore the car to the standard you see today.

Throughout his ownership, Jerry has carefully restored and maintained the MGB while showcasing it at numerous MG events and shows. He is now turning his attention to his next classic project, and rebuilding a Rover V8, so has made the difficult decision to part with his beloved MGB Roadster to create space and help fund the next stage of his project.

Jerry will be on hand in the comments below to answer any questions you may have about the car.

Jerry
Vehicle Owner

Jerry saved £2,700* when they
sold their MG with us.

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Exterior

Finished in classic 'Tartan Red' with chrome detailing and elegant proportions, this MGB perfectly captures the charm of 1960s British sports car design.

Wheels and Tyres

This example was fitted with five new wire wheels during the restoration, complete with matching MG spinners, which present in great overall condition.

The wheels are fitted with Pirelli Cinturato tyres all round, which appear to be in great visual condition, with a good amount of remaining tread and no visible cracking on the sidewalls.

Please take time to review the photos and videos for a detailed view of the exterior, wheels, and tyres so you can make your own assessment of their condition. Tyres are a key safety item, and you should consider replacing any that are cracked, perished, unevenly worn, or over 10 years old.

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Bodywork

The body restoration was completed to OEM specification, including new old stock rear wings, floor pans, sills, jacking points, castle rails, and new old stock chassis legs. The shell was fully blasted, treated with Bilt Hamber Hydrate 80 anti-corrosion protection, and painted inside and out. The original front wings and aluminium bonnet have been retained, while attention to detail includes factory-style spot welding, anti-corrosion protection between panels, and strengthened door plates to prevent the common MGB cracking issues.

To give an idea of the attention to detail paid during this restoration, Jerry tells us: "For all this work to be carried out, the bodyshell was braced and mounted to a Chief EZ liner jig, and all datum points were correctly measured so all new panels were replaced to manufacturer's specifications, using the correct joining techniques as specified by the manufacturer. Some modern tech was used when spotwelding to promote corrosion protection: this included copper spray between mating surfaces."

The bodywork presents in great overall condition, with panel gaps aligning visually well around the car. The bonnet, boot, and doors all close and latch correctly, reflecting the quality of the restoration.

There are, however, some very minor age-related points to note, including light ageing around the front windscreen brightwork and the original MG front grille.

We've provided more detailed observations through our high-resolution images and videos. Please take the time to look through all the media files for a detailed view of what’s on offer and to assess the condition of the car for yourselves.

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Paint

Finished in its original colour a lovely 'Tartan Red', the paintwork presents in great condition with even colour and coverage across all panels.

Once again, we've captured high-resolution images and videos of the car for you to assess the condition of the paintwork for yourselves.

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Glass and Trim

The glass is in good condition for the car’s age, and during our visit we did not notice any obvious cracks or discolouration.

The window seals appear to be in good condition and are consistent with the overall quality of the restoration.

The door handles and window surrounds also present well, along with the soft-top convertible roof.

Further restoration improvements include triple-chromed bumpers.

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Interior

A beautifully presented cabin combining traditional materials, thoughtful refinements, and the unmistakable character of the original MGB interior.

Seats and Carpets

Inside, the car retains its original patinated seats, trim details, and refurbished dashboard. A Moto-Lita steering wheel is fitted, with the original wheel accompanying the car. The tonneau and hood bar bags have been recreated using authentic materials, while the boot retains its original fittings with new Dunlop retaining straps. The hood frame and tonneau bars have also been refurbished in their original grey finish.

The black leather seats have retained their shape well over the years; however, they are beginning to show their age with visible signs of patina. We did note a larger tear to the passenger seat. Jerry has fitted seat covers, which are normally kept on the car and improve the overall presentation of the cabin.

The door cards and carpets present in a similar manner, showing a consistent level of condition throughout the interior. For the consignment, Jerry removed the passenger door card to demonstrate how clean and well-preserved the inside of the door remains.

For a detailed view of the cabin, please take a look at the extensive media.

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Dashboard

The dashboard in this restored MGB Roadster shows no major damage or scuffs during our visit.

The odometer displayed ~97,274 miles at the time of consignment.

During our visit, the rev counter was displaying an incorrect reading. Jerry reports that he will have a friend investigate this prior to the sale.

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Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The MG 'Mota Lita' wooden steering wheel was in great condition.

The gear stick also looked in good shape too, both consistent with the restoration of the car.

For a closer look, check out the image gallery to see the detail.

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Mechanics

Extensively upgraded beneath the surface, improving reliability, comfort, and usability while preserving the authentic MGB driving experience.

Engine and Gearbox

The original engine was fully rebuilt including new pistons, rings, bearings, a +0.010” rebore, reground crankshaft, new big end bearings, unleaded cylinder head, new camshaft, followers, timing chains, oil pump, fuel lines, new prop shaft, and clutch. The engine was then finished in BMC Pageant Blue.

The SU carburettors were vapour blasted and rebuilt to factory specification, with new needles and jets, and polished dashpots.

The gearbox was also rebuilt with new bearings, and new synchromesh baulk rings on 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. The overdrive unit was inspected with no faults found, and it works perfectly.

On the day of our visit, we started the car from cold, and it performed well on the road - the engine pulled nicely, idled smoothly, and ran well.

Jerry reports that the car starts from cold with no issues and drives well with its smooth manual gearbox sending the power to the wheels. Take a look at the mechanical video to see the car starting from cold, driving around, and for a closer look underneath the MGB.

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Suspension and Brakes

Jerry reports further improvements through refurbished suspension components, powder-coated crossmembers and differential casing (the backlash was measured and found to be in spec), new wheel bearings, new kingpins, and polyurethane bushes.

The original brake components were refurbished, zinc plated, and honed - and then treated to new pipe unions, disks, and pads all round.

On the drive out, Jerry took us around some local roads. We heard no obvious knocks, bangs, or squeaks from the suspension, and overall, the car performed as expected with no observed issues.

We cover the underside of the MGB exterior in our "Mechanical" gallery section. Head over to our video section, where we've summarised our visit in more detail for you to view for yourself.

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The Drive

Jerry loves driving this MGB Roadster, mentioning how enjoyable and engaging it feels behind the wheel, with its lightweight handling and classic British sports car character.

Please have a look at the ‘On The Road’ video where Jerry takes us for a short drive.

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Electrics and Other

We didn’t test all the electrics during our visit, but Jerry reports that everything is functional and operational, aligning with the overall condition of the car. A new loom was fitted during the restoration.

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History and Paperwork

Restored by a professional panel beater and paint sprayer, this MGB Roadster showcases exceptional workmanship and a true passion for the marque.

Fully restored over the past 15+ years, Jerry has made the difficult decision to part with his MGB Roadster. With his attention now turning to his next classic restoration project, he has entrusted the sale of this example with Trade Classics.

The car comes with a British Motor Industry Heritage Trust certificate confirming it was originally produced for the UK home market in right-hand-drive specification, finished in Tartan Red with black trim and hood. Factory-fitted equipment includes overdrive, wire wheels, heater, black tonneau cover, packaway hood, MPH speedometer, and headlamp flasher switch.

Take a look at this history and paperwork media to see the previous MOT reports, and parts this MGB has received over its life.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned a history check on the vehicle - this is a professional check operated by HPI that will highlight if the car has been previously stolen, recorded as being in an accident, or have any outstanding finance - note, this does not include a mileage history check.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, and as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in hi-resolution detail - this has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment on the vehicle's condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time - we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming.

If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bid/s, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house.

Service History
Date Type Mileage
04.05.2019 MOT 95,710
11.10.2017 MOT 95,281
Key Details
  • Year1965
  • ModelMGB Roadster
  • TransmissionManual
  • Reg. Date11.10.1965
  • CC1798CC
  • Mileage~97,274 on clock
  • HistoryPresent
  • ColourTartan Red
  • Interior ColourBlack
  • Interior TrimLeather
  • Chassis #GHN3/70028
  • Engine #18GB-RU-H.24861
  • RestoredYes
  • Engine RebuildYes
  • MOT ExemptYes
  • Road Tax ExemptYes
  • HPi ClearYes - All Clear
  • Former Keepers3
  • Tyre BrandPirelli
  • LHD or RHDRHD
  • VisitedYes
  • Sale TypePrivate
  • Owned15 years +
  • Key FeatureRestoration
  • Vehicle RegistrationEBF 559C
  • Driver’s SideRight
  • Fuel TypePetrol
  • Body TypeConvertible
  • Auction ID3858







Vehicle Sold

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Ask Questions
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10 Comments
Gaz123456
Gaz123456
16 days ago

Has the car fuel lines etc been modded to accept e5 or e10 petrol? If not what do you do when filling?

Thanks

Garry

watson
watson
17 days ago

Hi. Do you now the actual mileage, is the speedometer correct. How many owners? and why is there only 3 mots recorded. Best regards.Alan

watson
watson
20 days ago

Hi do you know the actual mileage & how many owners & is there anymore information on mot Information from when it was new as there is a long gap Best Regards Alan

BenDover
BenDover
21 days ago

My friend does remapping, would this take a stage 2 engine map?

JB007FLY
JB007FLY
22 days ago

Is soft top hood available and what is condition. Thanks

JB007FLY
JB007FLY
  Jerkerabisam
21 days ago

Thanks, looks brilliant!

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Vehicle Location

Bristol

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