1970 MG 1300 (ADO16) |

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1970 MG 1300 (ADO16)

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

Sold Price

£4,600

Mileage~4,502 on clock
TransmissionManual
Engine1.3L
LocationRoehampton

SOLD

1970 MG 1300 (ADO16)

I WANT ONE

Introduction

Darren Rungasamy

Consigner and Editor

The MG 1300 offers a brisk, compact, practical and comfortable option into MG ownership.

Demonstrating Sir Alec Issogonis talented breadth of engineering principles, the family-sized series of BMC 1100 and 1300 became the choice of the small family car in 1960s Britain. Crisply styled by Pininfarina, the model, known internally as the ADO16, was designed around the durable BMC A-Series engine. Mounted transversely and driving the front wheels, it established a class-leading interior package which was to become the template for the modern car. However, it was its innovative interconnected hydrolastic suspension and its controllability and ride comfort on all road surfaces, that helped place the ADO16 as one of the BMC all-time greats. When the larger 1.3-litre engine was added to the MK II models in 1967, demand initially outpaced supply during the vehicle's first two years of release. The MG 1300 was sold with a twin-carburettor ~65BHP set-up, much like the Mini Cooper S unit. Adopting a plusher interior with the veneer dashboard from the luxury Riley variant and ventilated pressed steel wheels, promotional films of the era portrayed the MG 1300 as a suitable club racing car that could also cater for the week's shopping.

Coming to market after just over ~8 years with our vendor this well-preserved 1970 MG 1300 in "Smoke Grey" is complemented by a blue vinyl interior and has seen just 4 former keepers. Benefiting from regular maintenance, it comes with a file of invoices dating back to the early 90s and has seen almost ~£6,000 worth of maintenance in the last ~7 years. It is tax and MOT-exempt and comes with two keys.

This listing was written from information supplied by Darren after meeting Graham 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

When I’m out and about, the MG gets more attention than my Rolls-Royce!

Grahams has an impressive motoring past, having competed as a professional race driver in the late 60’s and 70’s. With his racing days behind him, he now prefers the sedate pace of classic luxury cars, yet the MG 1300 offers enough driving thrill to satisfy.

He bought the MG just over ~8 years ago, as he owned one when they first came out. Used on an occasional basis, he has decided to sell the MG to focus on his other cars. Graham will be happy to answer any questions about the car in the comments section below.

Graham

Vehicle Owner

Graham saved £0,720* when they
sold their MG with us.

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EXTERIOR VIDEO

Exterior

Solid and neatly presented, the 1300 was styled by Pininfarina.

Wheels and Tyres

There are mild signs of age on the steel wheels, but they are generally confined to light marks on the outer rim.

The Rotalla branded tyres are all dated from 2016. They’re in good shape with plenty of even tread.

Bodywork

Externally the car presents well, only the lower extremities of the bottom edge of the rear and front valance as well as the wheel arch lips show signs of age. Both outer sills and surrounding areas have blemishes but Graham has told us they are solid. A few corrosion spots were noted on the off-side wing close to the wing mirror and the side trim, but overall the car has survived well with no dents. The panel fit is flush and show acceptable panel gaps. All doors open and close without any problems.

The engine bay appears solid, with signs of mild surface rust in places. The front subframe looks good and the inner wheel wells are solid. A cursory inspection of the front bulkhead suggests it's okay - we didn’t notice any recent water build-up in the cabin. The floor pan is generally solid, although the prescribed areas on the outer sections close to the sills have corroded. These have been outlined in yellow chalk by Graham's Mechanic. The boot floor looks decent, with no immediate suggestions of damage on the rear subframe.

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

Paint

The paint has decent coverage and shine. The panel colours match with some mild swirls noted on the finish and the lustre is patchy on the boot and areas around the passenger door handles. There are a few surface scuffs and marks in places. The nose of the car, outer sills, bottom of the A-pillar and the scuttle have a few minor paint cracks.

The images are taken from a few different angles to show off the car as you would see it if you were standing there for yourselves. So please take the time to fully assess these high-resolution images and videos of the car, for you to make up your own minds about the condition of the paint.

Glass and Trim

The glass is all in good shape, with good seals. The headlamp glass is decent although the rear lenses show signs of age. The chrome trim is neatly presented, along with the excellent bumpers and grill.

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INTERIOR VIDEO

Interior

Plushly furnished with veneer, the interior is light and airy; a pleasure to be in.

Seats and Carpets

The seats are well presented, only a rip on the passenger seat distracts the appealing blue upholstery.

Some sections of the blue carpet show signs of wear but generally present well and are bone dry. The boot floor lining has some paint spillage but is in good order with the age-related usage wear.

Dashboard

There is some wear on the veneer around the main instruments, but otherwise, the dashboard is presented positively. The instruments and bezels are decent, with some age-related wear on some controls and switches. The dashboard padding and trim are in good order, with some wear on the lower parcel shelf. There’s a hole on the right side of the facia which might suggests a missing switch or light. All functions are said to work. The odometer read 4,492 miles at the time of our visit, 10 miles have been added since.

We spotted some discolouration on the rear parcel shelf but the door cards and headlining are good.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The MG motif leather covered three-spoked alloy steering wheel presents well. The gear lever also looks good with no significant wear.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO

Mechanics

Eager and a joy to drive, the MG badge means that it offers a spirited drive.

Engine and Gearbox

The engine is an instant starter, firing up without delay. Running smoothly with no undulations during the start-up process. The car idles smoothly and there were no signs of fluid seepage observed on the day. The engine has been well maintained, although some of the components show their age, it has been converted to run on unleaded petrol.

The gearbox operates smoothly free of crunches or excessive whine. The clutch operates without any issues, offering a decent biting point. Watch the video to both see and hear the car in action.

Suspension and Brakes

The hydrolastic suspension proved highly effective, no negative feedback or unwanted noises heard. The car sits level.

The brakes operate smoothly, no judders or squeals and no pulling to one side when slowing down from speed. They have been well maintained over the years.

The Drive

All of the ADO16 series of cars, particularly with the 1.3-litre engines are lively performers, agile to drive and with its safe FWD handling felt predictable to manoeuvre. The London suburbs are the ideal place to experience the car, with its mix of stop/start traffic with stretches of free runs.

The roads were ably absorbed by the car, with no issues with maintaining the pace of the traffic. We were impressed by how well the suspension dealt with the uneven roads, and along with the airy spacious and light cabin, it felt like a liberating drive. The engine pulled well, with no hesitancy and as Graham opened the car up, the combination of the recent manifold and stainless steel exhaust offered aural delight when pressed.

The steering is light and precise, with no noises heard when turning. There were no recent reports of issues regarding the engine temperature or oil pressure, having been well maintained during Graham's ownership.

Electrics and Other

Graham told us that all the electrics in the car were working, to his knowledge. The MG is fitted with halogen headlamps and has been stored in a private and well-ventilated indoor compound.

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History and Paperwork

Regularly maintained, it has seen almost ~£6,000 worth of spending over the last ~7 years, comes to market from just over an ~8 year ownership and just 4 former keepers before.

First registered in Devon in February 1970, the car appears to have remained in South West for its first 3 decades, with just 2 former keepers up until 1999. This is confirmed by two previous V5s retained in the history folder. It comes with a selection of bills back to the early 90s, mostly for engine, brake and suspension maintenance. It saw welding and new front-end panels in the late 90s. The MG also received a new clutch assembly in 1993, a water pump in 1997 and a new front and rear exhaust box in 1999. Since obtaining the car in 2018, Graham has kept on top of the maintenance and upkeep of the car with around ~£6,000 worth of spending over those ~6 years. Some of the work includes new engine mountings, driveshaft couplings, suspension knuckles, a new brake master cylinder, CV joints, new brakes and discs, a new starter motor, new manifold, dynamo, steering rack and a fuel tank overhaul. The car is MOT and Road Tax exempt, comes with two keys and its original owner's handbook.

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, 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 of 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 bids, 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
08-04-2021	New Steering Rack	4,301
31-03-2021	New Brake Master	4,234
16-03-2021	Suspension Work
23-02-2021	Suspension Work
09-07-2020	Fuel tank overhaul
20-02-2020	New Choke Cable
01-10-2018	New Engine Mountings + Suspension	3,582
06-08-2018	Tuning + check up	3,347
03-04-2018	MOT	2,860
26-03-2018	Brake work
25-09-2017	New Manifold
18-08-2017	New Dynamo + Regulator	2,799
05-05-2017	Oil Change	2,597
11-04-2017	New Starter Motor
21-03-2017	CV Joint kit + Brakes	2,143
15-03-2017	Steering + Brake + Suspension Work	2,124
22-02-2017	MOT	1,985
11-04-2000	MOT	94,972
22-03-1999	MOT	88,153
21-03-1994	Service