9600 Miles? 1980 MGB Limited Edition
Surprisingly, there are several low-mileage 1980 Limited Edition MGBs for sale online right now (most of them at consignment dealers); however, if its advertisement is correct, this might be the only one with under 10,000 miles. MG wanted to give fans something special as MGB sales drew to a close after nearly two decades on the market, and although the rubber-bumpered MGB seems to be a love-it-or-hate-it affair, more than a couple people socked them away for safe keeping when new.
The seller of this MG has made sure to show the odometer: 9,689 miles. While there’s always the chance that the clock has rolled, it’s extremely plausible that it hasn’t. Considering the other well-preserved examples for sale, the percentage of cars that were put away when new seems to be anecdotally high. It’s almost as if the MGB LE is the British equivalent of the ’76 Eldorado convertible.
One question I have about this example is the “MGB” font within the Limited Edition striping; the other versions I’ve found have a “Union Jack” background, so perhaps the marque experts can give us some insight on the difference in the comments. The paint and bodywork look straight and shiny in pictures, and the complementary wheels still look good 44 years later.
The trusty old 1.8-liter four cylinder was still holding court under the hood in 1980, although the horsepower rating had slipped below 70. Still, the MGB could keep up with traffic, and it was sure to be a lot of fun with the top down on a crisp autumn day; at least that hadn’t changed over the years. There were more emissions hoses under the hood of the 1980 model than there were in 1962, for sure, but at least you can see things to work on them.
The seller describes the MG as a “perfect condition car,” and the interior supports that argument. It has new tires, a new starter, a new top, new ignition (that’s a bit vague). It “runs like new.”
MG sold over 500,000 MGBs in its nearly two decades on the market, and that popularity when new has translated into easy ownership by collector car standards. Parts are readily available, and a lot of people continue to have fun with their MGBs year after year. This example from the final year of production is currently for sale on Craigslist in Pennsylvania with an asking price of $15,000, which is roughly in line with the others I found for sale. Thanks again to Mitchell G., who has been coming up with scores of great finds.
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Comments
where is the MGB located, and can you verify that these are original miles? I see on Craigslist that some repairs have been made, that it has a convertible top, and new tire. Have any major repairs been done to the engine, trans, etc,
oil pressure readings, top speed, HP? etc. Is a history available of repairs?
Looks like a nice model and condition.
regards
GAJ
Hey Geoff,
I have one of these in Sacramento area I have owned for 30 years. I am thinking of selling if you are looking for a survivor car. 33,000 miles
Fun cars
Ralph
Click on the link above, near the bottom of the article, to the Craigslist ad, and ask the seller those questions.
Weber conversion, new starter… I doubt the mileage is accurate.
The Weber conversion may have been to avoid an engine fire like my sister-in-laws MGB LE did at 17K miles.
I have an NOS Canon manifold for the conversion available.
I assume the starter was Lucas?
Sorry little MG. My ’95 Miata has spoiled me. It starts every time and (unless I leave a light on) never leaves me stranded, anywhere, cursing the Lord of Darkness, but praising the multiport FI.
In 23 years of ownership, the closest I’ve been to stranded is when I ran it out of gas. I was close enough to home to let the fuel pump scavenge fuel for a while drive a half mile and repeat.
I won’t say there weren’t other times it tried. But simple repairs in things I should have taken care of in the first place and I was back on the road.
Even drove it home when the starter stuck on my son and it chewed up the gear ring. Easy bump start.
From my experience of owning a very low mileage (12K) 1978 model MGB, the mileage could be correct and the number of repairs could be just because it’s an MGB. I had to do about all of the same repairs and/or replacements as have been done on this one before mine reached 20K miles. It was a fun car to drive when it was drivable but I don’t advise having one as your primary transportation.
The museum where I volunteer has an identical one also with low miles. It is perfect and priced at $8250 and has not sold. That makes this one seem overpriced.
https://www.camcarsales.com/details/used-1980-mg-b/106399538
My first reaction, seeing these “MGB” stripes was that this was a “faux” LE. But wait a minute – the LE was nothing more than a black MGB, coming from Abingdon with a kit of goodies for the dealer to add on. If it has the steering wheel, the glovebox badge, the LE wheels and the side stripes, it’s an LE, right? What difference does it make whether the goodies were added by the dealer or a subsequent owner?
These sidestripes are wrong. They look like perhaps the car has been repainted along the line and somebody, not knowing they could be replaced from Moss Motors, tried to duplicate them as closely as possible with whatever could be found at the local Walmart.
Yes a downdraft Weber was a pretty good replacement for the original Zenith-Stromberg, but on a practically new car with less than 10,000 miles on it? Well… maybe if the car sat for 30 years and the Weber was part of an effort to get it running again. It also seems a bit strange that the smog pump could get lost in such a brief mileage accumulation. The alternator is elevated from its correct position – looks like it’s sitting atop an A/C compressor, maybe? But we see no corroboration from the only interior picture supplied in the ad. But that picture does reveal that the car does not have overdrive. If I were going to pay $15,000 for an ’80 MGB, I would want overdrive.
The mileage? Frankly, I’m not sure I care. If oil pressure and compression are good; if the car doesn’t overheat, the low mileage – while nice – is not really important on an MGB. These are sturdy, reliable cars. Buyers should not be misled by comments implying otherwise. I have 254,000 miles on my ’73 MGB/GT daily driver and it shows no sign of giving up yet. And yes, for three seasons yearly, it is my “Primary Transportation”. Yes it does require more maintenance than your modern SUV. You do have to pay attention. As far as I am concerned, that’s just a part of being responsible.
Agree on the stripes. I own a 1980 LE and there should be a a Union Jack at the MGB logo plus the stripes are too wide. Also any black LE I’ve seen, my own included had a tan interior but maybe that was an option?
Maryann’s LE had black interior and she bought it new.
Were there 1980 MGBs that weren’t LE?
The strips are definitely wrong. I would suspect repaint. It does look pretty good.
As to the air pump, I removed it at my earliest convenience.
You can see a hose coming out on the left side and the condenser for the A/C in front of the radiator.
Why do I have it stuck in my head the the LE wheels were dark grey paint not black? I’m going to have to pull out some books
In the Craig’s List pictures I do see A/C outlets on either side below the dash. So it is correct to say that A/C was added to this car at some time. That’s not to say it works now.
Also, I see that the electric fan in front of the radiator is not original. Why would the two originals be replaced in less than 10,000 miles?
For the air con. It would be in the way of the 2 small pushers.
Paul, I think you’re right about the LE wheels: dark grey. ‘Can’t remember where I learned it but your recallection is familiar. The answer is probably in Clausager. Also, your answer about the twin fans fouling on the A/C condenser makes sense to me. Thanks!
Rallye, only the black ‘79s and ’80s were LE. Some had black interior trim, some tan. There were non-LEs, of all the other body colors usually expected also.