Why is it so hard to get rid of a $2,000 MGB?-Page 2: $2012 Classifieds forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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Oct. 19, 2011 9:15 p.m. Apis_Mellifera New Reader

As an FYI, a guy I work with bought a '72 'BGT today for $1200. It looks about the same as this one, but it runs and drives and has new MCs on the clutch and brakes.

I bought my '74 'BGT for $500. It also looks about the same, but it needed a new gas tank and tires.

I'd offer $500 for this car. If I actually wanted it, I might pay $750. I would fix it and sell it for $2000 OBO. I've been building MGs for over 25 years and while the car has a lot going for it, I'd be surprised if it sold for $2K in the current state. The person that would buy it in this condition would either have no idea what they're in for or someone experienced that would need to buy it cheap in order to have room for the repairs.

Your best bet is to fix it.
Oct. 20, 2011 6:08 p.m. irish44j Dork

For all the talk here, the real question that I have is how both the clutch and brake system could fail at the exact same time? It's not like they're connectred or related at all. Only way I can think of both going dead at once is if someone somehow cut the lines coming out of the M/C's somehow....
Oct. 20, 2011 6:13 p.m. Datsun1500 SuperDork

Brake system lost fluid. I have not looked where it went. Clutch M/C has fluid. If it's nice this weekend I will get a better look at it. I changed the ad to be more basic, if it's not gone in a week or so foxtrapper gets it..
Oct. 21, 2011 1:05 p.m. paulmpetrun Reader

Datsun1500 wrote: if it's not gone in a week or so foxtrapper gets it..

How about starting a donation to help get a future GRM'r started? I would gladly pitch in ten bucks! Get enough of us and Datsun1500 could get something for the B without haveing to deal with CL idiots, and the next generation would get a head start! GRM could even do a story about it??? Helping keep the hobby/passion alive. You could set up a donation site through paypal, that way they don't skim anything off for fees and such.

Just a thought Paul
Oct. 21, 2011 2:16 p.m. Basil Exposition Reader

Your ad sounds like it is a project. Rubber bumper B's are not sought after as major projects or restoration projects. The guessing at what might be wrong with one thing or another is a big turn off. I agree with those that say it would be worth your while to get it running properly and then sell it. People will buy a rubber bumper B if they think they can drive it right away and maybe do maintenance and cosmetic stuff as they enjoy it. If it were a chrome bumper car then you might rope someone in that wants to fully restore a car and the mechanical problems aren't much of a hurdle.

And, yes, you are asking too much for a non-running rubber bumper B. Get it running, though, and $3500 to $4500 depending on the condition of the rest of the car would not be out of line.

(I own 3 MG's, BTW, though no B's).
Oct. 23, 2011 10:44 p.m. Fit_Is_Slo Reader

Good luck tho!
Oct. 25, 2011 4:48 a.m. foxtrapper SuperDork

So was that you Saturday? Someone came by in a red MGB tootling the horn and waving. If so, I'm glad you got it running and driving.
Oct. 25, 2011 6:25 a.m. Klayfish HalfDork

Datsun1500 wrote:

I changed the ad to be more basic, if it's not gone in a week or so foxtrapper gets it..

Heck, if you decided to do that, I'll stand in line behind Foxtrapper. I've been on the look out for a fun project to work on. I had a pair of '76 Fiat Spiders in the spring that I started to get into. They were my first project cars ever, I was teaching myself how to work on cars. I sold them over the summer for a car on CL I couldn't resist. I terribly regret selling them, and have been looking for another 70's roadster (Fiat, MG) since, as I found the Fiats incredibly simple to work on. My boys are younger, ages 7 and 4, but they were having fun with me on those Fiats.
Oct. 25, 2011 8:43 a.m. Datsun1500 SuperDork

foxtrapper wrote:

So was that you Saturday? Someone came by in a red MGB tootling the horn and waving. If so, I'm glad you got it running and driving.

Wasn't me. I got the clutch fixed figuring that was the deal killer. I have a guy that looked at it 2 weeks ago who emailed me on Sunday asking if it was still available. He is supposed to come by tonight, but you know how that goes...
Oct. 29, 2011 12:19 a.m. jtwilson

Well, if you cant sell it, I just happen to be a young kid who would love to get a free MG! (19 y/o college kid in baltimore area) I hope you can find a buyer though! good luck
Oct. 29, 2011 12:59 a.m. donalson SuperDork

looks like the new add is much better... I think it's a GRMer thing where we want to give as much info as possible about the car... the good... bad... ugly... and that scares people from even calling... I've found in selling that in the beginning I give to much info and as I remove info I get more people who at least contact me...

as mentioned we are coming up on prime NON top down season... although here in FL I do have fond memories of driving to visit my now wife at college in a friends MGB top down (the car not the wife) in the middle of Dec. lol (not quite the same as up that way I suppose lol)

good to hear you got the big issue fix (clutch)... brakes while possibly a PITA are pretty straight forward to most people that would consider a mild project car
Nov. 1, 2011 9:12 p.m. foxtrapper SuperDork

I see the listing is still up on craigslist. I take it that guy who called you back still didn't buy?

The snow over the weekend sure didn't help you.