Digestible Collectible: 1967 MGB

Early December is a lousy time to be selling an LBC. I think quibbling about a few thousand here and there on a car like this is silly. Just buy the best one you can find and afford, and call it a day. You can't make an average one nice for what a nice one costs, other than inflated auction prices. If you are selling in the spring, start high. I'd want $10K to start if I was ever to sell my Spitfire (which is rather more breathed on than your MGB). All it takes is one nut who really wants it. Or two if it is an auction!

Not really the last good year. Really aren't major changes in performance or features till 73, when the compression ratios started to fall of a cliff. The emission smog pumps (starting 68) cost maybe 5hp, and are easy enough to remove. The metal dash is prettier, as is the lack of marker lights. But fundamentally what wrecked them was the weight of the sabrinas, later rubber bumpers, lowered compression and smaller carbs, and raised ride height. All of which were done in 73-74.

@tylermattikow You don't want a BL built car, which was 69+.

Eh, not quite. A Miata is lower-stress (and possibly lower-cost) than the old Brits, but "better" is not a 1:1 equation. An older car will involve you in operating and owning in ways a modern car likely never will. Not everyone knows in advance what it is they really want. A reliable, efficient, accessible daily companion? Miata. A talisman of a bygone time, with unusual (for today) sounds and smells? MGB. They're both inexpensive enough, why not one of each, at least once, in your car-owning career? (Disclosure: I've never even sat in a B, but owned a series of raggedy Spridgets in the early 90s. No regerts, but not going back, either. Once was enough for those, for me. Never owned a Miata either, but long since lost count of the ones I've driven, ridden in and worked on. Perhaps the time is coming, I like the new ones quite a bit.)

Miata's were released in almost 30 years after MGB so improvements should be expected. However MGB's are much prettier than Miata, have more cabin space and a bigger trunk. I find the Miata a bit claustrophobic. But it comes down to whichever makes you happiest on the occasions you drive them. The Elan was a different creature, much more exotic than an MGB and priced like an E-type. Most have been rebuilt, just like an e-type, to a much higher standard than they came from the factory.

@Corey Lewis The MG Abington factory escaped the worst of the BL downfall. They didn't have the labor unrest and kept quality much higher than other BL cars. They were shocked when they were shut down in favor of Longbridge. Very early ones 62-65 are bit neat, but ultimately any chrome bumper MG is great. Sadly the steel dash came without synchromesh on first, so your choice is easier with an ugly padded dash 68-70, a slightly less ugly one with a glove box in 71-73 or the much prettier metal dash up to 67. The values of all chrome bumper cars are pretty close with only a slight bump for pre 67 cars. For instance a 71 overdrive model is going to fetch more than 66 without. Buy the one that has the features you want and in condition you want.