mgb for sale, what should i look out for?

[mike5721947]

well i found a mgb sitting at a local used car lot (sort of worried about that) and they are selling it "for restoration" for 2000 cnd. it needs a new top (rip near the driver door, may have been stolen previously) and the trunk needs to be fixed (its not mounted correctly) as far as i can tell there is very little rust (its probly been stored for the winters) i wanting to have a small car i can drive around and have some fun with.

do you think i could talk the price down?

oh and its the black plastic model. (dont know the year yet)

[CraigFL]

Most people find that having a solid, rust-free body with a decent paint job is the best way to start. Rubber bumber cars were made from 1974.4 to 1980 so they are going to be at least 25 years old and will have a lot of the "old car" ailments unless they've been fixed such as deteriorating rubber.
If you at least have a solid body, you won't have to completely disassemble the car to restore it. Areas to watch for rust are the "doglegs"(lower panels behind the doors, floor pans, trunk pan and "sills"(area below the doors). Check with a magnet to be sure there is metal in these places.

Parts for these cars are plentiful and reasonable -- check:
http://www.victoriabritish.com/
http://www.mossmotors.com/
http://www.propermg.com/

The trunk problem sounds like the classic MGB problem-- someone tried to close it without releasing the catch and bent it. It can be repaired or replaced.
Check Ebay for prices. 2000CDN sounds like it might be a little high but so much depends on condition...

[mike5721947]

well ill be going back to the dealer and ill get some pics of it (although when i went past yesterday there was a guy looking at it with one of the salesmen.)