What follows is a detailed explanation of exactly how MGB for-sale listings are categorized for Current Listings. Remember that Current Listings does not create or modify for-sale listings, rather we compile, then thoroughly analyze and categorize existing for-sale listings so that buyers can easily sift through the chaff and find the MGB that will best suit them.
If you are a buyer, it is useful to know how we categorize listings so that you may better quantify exactly what you are looking for in order to find the MGB that is right for you. If you are a seller, it is useful to know how we categorize listings so that you can understand which details potential buyers are most concerned with and so that you can supply those critical details using the appropriate MGB-specific terms (e.g. "Rostyle wheels", "rubber bumpers", etc.).
Listing Type
A car will be listed as "running" if - as best we can determine from the listing text and pictures - the engine can run as-is. A "project" is a car that requires something to be fixed, installed, or otherwise changed before it can run and move. A car is considered a project car if it is basically complete (no significant missing parts) and can be (in theory) made roadworthy again. A "parts" car is generally an incomplete or unrestorable car. Parts cars often do not have titles. A body shell without engine and transmission is considered a parts car (even if it has a title) because it is not complete.
Model
MGB refers to convertible "roadster" coupes. MGB-GT refers to the non-convertible "Grand Touring" coupes.
Year
MGBs were manufactured from 1962 to 1980. In 1974, federal regulations in the United States forced a change to "5 MPH" bumpers - black rubber bumpers. Early 1974 model year cars were fitted with the chrome bumpers that had been fitted since the start of production (see example below). Later 1974 model year cars were fitted with the new rubber bumpers (and other modifications) (see example below). The "rubber bumper" 1974 cars are referred to here as having a model year of 1974.5. If a year cannot be determined but the bumper type can be determined then one can generally assume that a chrome bumper is found on a 1974 or earlier car and a rubber bumper is found on a 1974 or later car. Note that occasionally you may see a later car that has been converted to chrome bumpers for appearance. We have even seen one chrome bumper car converted to rubber bumpers. So, bumper type is generally a reliable indicator, but it is not 100% indicative of whether a car is an earlier or later model.
From 1962-1969, MGBs were fitted with an all-chrome grille (see example below). From 1970-1972, MGBs were fitted with a flat-black recessed grille with chrome trim (see example below). In 1973 and 1974, the original non-recessed grille style returned, but with a twist: flat black "honeycomb" plastic inserts (see example below). In the second half of 1974, the grille was incorporated into the new black rubber bumper (see example below).
Price
The Price listed is usually US dollars, but is sometimes Canadian dollars. Because the context of the word "dollars" is different for different sellers and because sellers do not always make it clear whether they are talking about US or Canadian dollars, we cannot always determine for certain which currency the seller has in mind. Fortunately the difference, generally speaking, is a moot point considering the present exchange rates.
As of the last update of this paragraph (June 2008), the currency exchange rate according to XE.com was 1 CAD = 0.981627 USD. That translates to, as an example, 6,000.00 CAD = 5,889.76 USD. In our opinion, that difference (less than 2%) has little practical significance - especially considering that there is usually a much larger difference than that between asking price and the final selling price. If the exchange ratio becomes wider in the future, we will convert prices and/or list the currencies separately.
For eBay auctions we list the "Buy It Now" price when one is available. This is comparable to the asking price found in other listings in Current Listings. Only a portion of eBay auction use the "Buy It Now" option. Where there is no Buy It Now price, "Current Listings" shows the highest bid as of the last update time. When doing a search in Current Listings, you always have the option to exclude eBay auctions if you wish.
Miles
The distance a car or engine has driven is shown in Current Listings as miles. To keep numbers in one consistent format, whenever a listing quotes kilometers, we convert that number to miles.
If you look at the full text of a listing or go directly to the listing source, you will see the original format (miles or kilometers).
Exterior Color
To make searches and categorization more effective, exterior colors are lumped into nine groups based on standardized color references. Please see the Exterior Colors Reference page for a full explanation (requires login to Current Listings).
Interior Color
To make searches and categorization more effective, interior colors are lumped into three groups: black/blue, tan/brown, and red. "Black/blue" includes black, blue, navy and anything similar. "Tan/brown" includes autumn leaf, beige, ochre (1973-only), mushroom (rare), biscuit (non-stock) and anything similar. If the interior is "mixed" or modified from stock, we look at whatever appears to be stock - the seats, the door panels, the door rail caps, etc. - to determine the color. Aftermarket slip-on seat covers are generally not considered when determining interior color.
Wheels
To make searches and categorization more effective, wheels are grouped into the six types most commonly fitted to MGBs:
wire - wire wheels with a single center "knockoff" or wheel nut per wheel fitted to MGBs throughout production (see example below).
Rostyle - stamped steels wheels with a "mag wheel" appearance fitted to 1970-1980 MGBs. (see example below)
LE - alloy wheels originally fitted to the 1979-1980 "Limited Edition" MGBs. (see example below)
disc - steels wheels with plain chrome hubcaps fitted to 1962-1969 MGBs. (see example below)
Minilite Minator Panasport - popular contemporary aftermarket or dealer-installed wheels. See the Minilite company's website or the Panasport company's website for examples. Minilite, Minator and Panasport wheels are similar in appearance and for our purposes, all the terms are interchangeable. (see example below)
V8/Jubilee - composite alloy/steel wheels originally fitted to the 1975 home market "Jubilee" models and the later MGB-GT V8 models. Note that only one single North American Specification MGB (the so-called "millionth" car built at Abingdon) was ever fitted with these wheels at the factory. Additionally, there were only seven NA Spec MGB-GT V8s ever made (1972 and '73 models - produced before these wheels were designed), so there is only one possibile NA Spec MGB you could ever see that was originally fitted with these wheels. We include this wheel type in our categorization because MGB-GT V8 and Jubilee models specified for other countries can be, and occasionally are, found in North America. (see example below)
non-stock - any other wheel type.
Bumpers
MGBs were fitted with chrome bumpers from the beginning of production in 1962 to the middle of 1974. The first rubber bumper cars were produced in the second half of the 1974 model year (commonly referred to as "1974 1/2" or "1974.5") and continued through the end of production in 1980.
When we find a listing that indicates it is a "1974" MGB but has no picture or text to verify the type of bumpers on the car, we leave the "bumpers" field blank. If we can determine that it is a chrome bumpered 1974 model, we will indicate that in the "year" and "bumpers" fields. Likewise, if we can determine that it is a rubber bumpered 1974.5 model, we will indicate that in the "year" and "bumpers" fields.
Occasionally you may see a listing for a later model car that has been converted to the earlier chrome bumpers. In these cases, the correct model year of manufacture will be indicated in the "year" field and "chrome" will be indicated in the "bumpers" field.
Optional Equipment
It may be helpful to note a few small things about optional equipment on MGBs: According to Clausager's Original MGB (page 114), air conditioning was never a factory-fitted option. Likewise, sunroofs (on MGB-GTs) were never factory-fitted. Dealers were in a position to install special items or bits of trim and this might explain some claims of items being "factory-fitted".
Factory-fitted automatic transmissions are very rare in MGBs for any country specification. There were only three ever made for North America: one 1968 MGB for Canada, one 1970 MGB-GT for the U.S. and one 1971 MGB for the U.S. We have seen at least one MGB-GT in our listings with an automatic transmission that appeared to be factory installed. Sadly, we did not think at the time to contact the owner for more information.
Restored, repainted, rebuilt, redone
Some buyers may be looking for cars with new paint or a rebuilt engine or a new interior. Other buyers may be looking for a car that is in original, unmodified, "un-updated" condition.
A listing will be flagged as - variously - restored, rebuilt, repainted or redone when 1) a seller indicates this in the text of the listing, or 2) when we can determine this by looking at the listing's pictures. Our main purpose in using these flags is not to let you know whether something "looks nice" or not - it is to let you know that something has been changed from the original. That change may or may not be a positive change.
A car that was restored 20 years ago might, arguably, not still be in "restored" condition. But the fact that the car has been - at some point in its life - restored, and is therefore unoriginal is important to some buyers. With this in mind, we impose no time limits or mileage limits when determining what is flagged as having been redone.
For example, when a listing's text says that the engine was rebuilt - whether it was 100 miles ago or 100,000 miles ago, we will flag that listing as "rebuilt engine". Similarly, we will flag a listing as "redone interior" whether the interior has been properly restored or simply torn out (or anything in between, of course). A listing will be flagged as "redone interior" even if only the carpeting has been changed. This is because the seats and other parts need to be removed to change the carpeting and things don't always get put back together correctly or completely.
Whether a car is "restored", "rebuilt", "repainted", or "redone" is not necessarily a good thing or a bad thing. It all depends on what the buyer is looking for.
Email: naspecmgb@naspecmgb.com
Telephone: (Toll-Free in North America) 877-397-5386 / (outside North America) 00+1-919-321-2395
All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. NA Spec MGB is not liable
for any typographical errors and is not responsible for the information contained in third-party data sources.
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