Sensible Secondhand Classics: 1981 MGB Roadster - Lloyd Vehicle Consulting

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Welcome to Sensible Secondhand Classics, the series where we take a sensible classic car worth between £1000 and £5000 and put it through its paces in a very straightforward manner! This time, as we test a 1981 MGB Roadster, we get very excited about a relatively easy driving experience, discuss different types of bumpers, experience lots of wind noise and generally experience very little of any consequence at all. Nothing untoward then!
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As an independent vehicle consultant, I take potential buyers through the whole car buying process from choosing a make and model to a vehicle handover and road tax. In addition to information on this service, I also have a selection of written and video reviews of cars that I have owned, hired, borrowed or have somehow come into my possession. Please use the Contact Me page on my website to get in touch, visit my Facebook page for latest updates and share this video if you like it! Thank you for watching.
Website: www.lloydvehicleconsulting.co.uk
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[@seancooke7332]

I salute you Sir, you have finally driven my dream car. A late Rubber Bumper MGB Roadster. What an engine and gearbox, absolutely perfect together. The soft top is child's play. Simply reach over your shoulder and pull it forward, then secure the two clamps on top of the windscreen. Front legroom is massive with a little shelf behind the seats for your picnic basket. I really hope that you enjoyed it more than the little MG Midget. Excellent

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Sir, we did enjoy ourselves... The car that Joanna Lumley drove in the first series of The New Avengers was a similar colour to this, but not exactly the same. Much better than the Midget, I must admit.

[@rockall66]

Anyone else get a Duel/Jeepers Creepers vibe from that white van driving behind Joseph, that got closer and closer?

[@mattw8332]

Also there was black Audi getting close in the VW Scirocco review that eventually overtakes. My eye is often drawn to how the vehicle behind is driving.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

It's always a lot worse when driving a car like this as there is no bodywork behind the driver. I did see him in the mirror, of course. Duel is terrifying...

[@carlfishe7860]

I've owned my 78 since the early 80s.Its like having new car every spring

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Thank you very much indeed for watching and commenting! I did enjoy this one.

[@focusrssteve]

I will say, if I ever wanted to buy a mgb, it would be a gt and as this roadster it would have the rubber bumpers, I personally prefer the look, thank you to you and the owner for sharing this lovely car.

[@mattw8332]

Same here. The rubber bumper models were always around in my lifetime so I am used to them.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Went for another Slightly Shambolic Shuffle today and saw more rubber bumper MGBs at a show in Berkshire, including one for sale. I think the facelift was genuinely quite successful.

[@mervwhitney7229]

You are spoiling us lately Mr Lloyd. That is indeed a nice example and you clearly enjoyed the experience.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Sir, I did enjoy this more than I expected. I was surprised that, for a car originally designed in the early 1960s, how relatively modern it felt to drive.

[@mervwhitney7229]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting I have never driven an open top car as, being 6'4" I sit too high. That MGB was in exceptional condition and you had fun. What's not to like about that?

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@mervwhitney7229 , it's going to be for sale soon, sir.

[@mervwhitney7229]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting I think you mentioned it in the 'rambling' discussion that it was for sale. While I would enjoy fiddling with the car, I don't need a sports car. I have two you may like to drive and I shall ask youwhen I have had the wheels refurbished on one of them next month.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@mervwhitney7229, you know my e-mail address, sir!

[@teamJJontour]

Good Afternoon Sir, I must say the colour is one of the best I have seen on a roadster. Great review

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Sir, glad you enjoyed the video!

[@scottishcarenthusiastsandtrain]

Beautifal looking MGB and a most excellent review in a nice sunny location. On the subject of a MG RV8 i spotted one at a cars and coffee i attended today BRG with a beige leather interior.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Sir, I also found an MG RV8 at the Yattendon Classic Vehicle Day this afternoon too, also green with a beige leather interior...

[@alaricbragg7843]

Thank you for this video! These cars are still extremely popular in New Zealand classic car circles. Like in Britain, there are occasional MG club rallies across New Zealand. Where's your Steed costume?

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Not wearing it today, I am afraid, it's a bit cumbersome...

[@alaricbragg7843]

ACTUALLY...There was ONE version of this convertible made with a Rover engine in 1980, just as the production was ending, and used as the personal transport of Chief Engineer Don Hayter. I remember it well because I nearly bought a Vanguards model of it once. It was Brooklands Green, I believe.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

I am sure that you are right, sir.

[@Max-gz7ik]

I'm glad you enjoyed driving the car Mr Lloyd, and thanks again for letting have a drive in your lovely Volvo on the day!

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Sir, we did enjoy ourselves very much indeed! Thank you ever so much indeed.

[@adamsfamilydottwo]

My boss who owned a Ford RS Dealership had two MGB roadster limited editions brand new never registered, one was in the show room and Fords were not best pleased.I am told he also had two RS 2000 also not registered don't know if he still has them.He ran around for a long time in Hannu Mikkolla,s Escort FEV1H that won the London to Mexico rally and Ford lent to him, and also he had Duncan Hamiltons GT40 road car which I often went in and stood in the showroom next to the MGB I think I preffered the MGB how the other half live!

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

That's interesting your boss decided to keep these in the showroom whilst being a Ford RS dealership. Those RS 2000s will be worth a fortune too! Thank you for watching and commenting.

[@richardhowlett9424]

Lovely review of a lovely car in a lovely place with lovely weather. Thank you Mr Lloyd.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Glad you enjoyed it, sir! Finally managed to get one of these review.

[@mattw8332]

Looks nice in yellow. I vaguely recall the owner of our local chip shop having a GT in the 1980s. Also, I was also a passenger in a left hand drive GT for a brief moment briefly ("Hey Matt, you like cars, don't you?") 20-25 years ago but I knew very little about MGBs at the time. Couldn't remember which engine it had.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, the yellow suits a car of around this era, and I do think the rubber bumpers worked quite well for the late ones of these. The MGB from back in the day would have probably used the B-Series like this one.

[@roygardiner2229]

Well, I think that is a lovely car. Good-looking, a pleasing, unusual colour, and seemingly simple to maintain. The body looks to be in astonishingly good condition. I guess it must have been pampered and garaged for decades.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

The car was indeed under cover for decades. It needed some mechanical work, but the body was very good. The colour is absolutely typical of the era, and does suit one with rubber bumpers.

[@Max-gz7ik]

Surprisingly not pampered more just a case of being unused, but definitely garaged. The chap we bought it from purchased it for his wife, but she didn't get along with it so it spent 90% of it's time sat. The overdrive had seized on which killed the gearbox, so that was an engine out job and it progressed from there etc. Mechanical stuff is easy to fix though. The key thing with this car is the body work, it's in exceptional condition for a car that's never been restored! A good polish and it came up as you see it in this video!

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, I think one of the reasons why so many of these have lasted so long is that they are so easy to work on for the mechanical side of things. Fixing rust on them seems to be another matter, though.

[@lewis72]

Not really much saying that the MGB GT was designed (styled) by Pinin Farina. He only had the roof to do.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

It's one the most successful adaptations of an open top car to a coupé I have ever seen regardless.

[@alaricbragg7843]

Joanna Lumley also drove a yellow Triumph TR7 in the New Avengers. She didn't like the TR7, wanting a Stag instead, but BL's product placement drive in that show (They did the same thing in The New Saint with the Jaguar.) overruled her.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, I know The New Avengers probably better than the majority of people watching this channel, and have visited most of the locations used in it. There were actually two TR7s used.

[@alaricbragg7843]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting Thanks for the information! 🙂 Would you like to get the opportunity to drive an XJ-S like the 1970s Saint? That would be a triple car triumph!

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@alaricbragg7843 , been after an XJ-S for years, sir.

[@lascm5237]

Nice review - the later Home Market MGB’s actually have 97bhp. Cheers 👍

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Thank you very much indeed, probably why this one felt a bit nippier than I was expecting!