1971 MGB GT $24,000 Re

1971 MGB GT
$24,000
Re-Build History
Serial # GHD5UB232465-G
Commission # G23D 033331Z
Owner: Ken and Bonnie Boyd, Qualicum
Member OBECC, Nanaimo B.C.
History: I am the second owner of this car purchased on Sept. 09,
1983 from The Vancouver Mercedes Benz dealer for $5,000. The
car was originally imported and sold through Fred Deeley Motors
in Vancouver. I drove the car for 12 years and removed it from
the road in 1995, and sadly watched it rust away in my carport
at my home in North Vancouver.
Dec. 2004 restoration began.
At the start of the restoration it was my intent to try to do most of
the work myself, but after pulling the motor and transmission and
seeing the extent of the body damage I realized my limitations
and decided it would be best to get the body work done by an
expert, and I would look after rebuilding or replacing all the
mechanical and wiring items
Bodywork
The car was completely stripped down to the bare frame, sand
blasted and repainted. All the fenders door skins, floor panels
and rocker panels are new. The bodywork took 21 months to
complete and the reassembly of all my mechanical and wiring
began. “Jeff Pritchard of Mutlly’s Motorcycle Works” did the
bodywork and painting. [Tragically Jeff was killed in a
motorcycle accident in Sept. 2006
Mechanical
I had the engine rebuilt in Vancouver, which included a new
camshaft; I replaced the old transmission with a rebuilt overdrive
1971 MGB transmission. Shock absorbers, front-end suspension,
brakes, and heater, all were rebuilt at my home. A new gas tank
was required as the old one had rusted to badly to fix. I rebuilt
the carburetors and found what happens to a fuel system when
you let it sit for 10 years. The problem with waiting for 21 months
for Jeff to complete the bodywork was that I had plenty of time
to think about rebuilding or purchasing all components and
indulge in having a few more items chromed that I would not
have originally. [Door striker plates, hood spring latch, some fuel
piping, air filter covers]. This extra time gave me plenty of time to
purchase most replacement parts new, gas tank, front coil
springs, rear leaf springs, gas pump, brake master cylinder, oil
cooler, brake lines all electrical wiring harnesses, all new bolts
&nuts and screws, halogen head lights, new exhaust dual tipped
chrome ends, the list goes on.
In October 2006, I decided that I had to complete the
restoration. So I had all the mechanical, restoration painting and
installation completed by “Allan Petrie of Sussex Motors” in
Parksville, B.C. Canda [phone 250-3893] it took another 10
months with Allan, working on the car in his shop part time. [ex
British Jag Rolls,Triumph and MG car mechanic]
Interior and Trim
My original intent was to fix up, clean and reuse my old
upholstery, but I decided to replace all the interior upholstery
and trim. I purchased all new biscuit colored upholstery and
“Suffolk” leather seats. The seats did not match the upholstery
they were sent from England, so we sent them back and
purchased black upholstery and “Suffolk” leather seats for the
front and rear bench seat from “Victoria British. I have sub
sequentially had the original front seats redone in black, but not
installed. [they are part of this car package] The vinyl of my
original dash had cracked so we had a vinyl expert come to the
shop and fix it, you cannot tell there was any damage]
All major components were purchased from, “Ruth Burgess at
ABC Motors” in Vancouver. The only difference from the original
purchases of this car; is it now has maybe a few more chrome
bits and sounds nicer.
Restoration took 31/2 years and was completed in late 2007.
As of Dec. 2013 I have put on 1,800 miles. The car has never
been driven in the rain and each month it is taken for a short run.
Total Restoration Costs:
Parts and labour $69,000 approximately $35,000 parts and
$35,000 labor.
All details of replacement parts and costs can be seen in the
attached spreadsheet.
Ken Boyd - Qualicum Beach B.C. Canada
email:[email protected] – PH: 250-752-3036