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What's it worth??

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69MGC

69MGC

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I have a chance to purchase a 79 B Roadster LE. The car has a 137K miles and the owner claims the car runs well. Comes with a soft and hard top. Interior looks pretty good, the seats could stand to be recovered though. It's a CA car with no rust through. The guy is asking $1750. What is your opinion on what the car is worth?

Thanks for the help.
 
grab it quick! New Seat covers are only about $600.

The hardtop is worth about $500 or so even if it need some work.
 
Only problem I can think of you should be aware of is that a lot of folks here in Kalifornia are giving up on their 76 through 80 MGBs because of emissions issues. For many it’s just too much of a bother to keep them in tune & emissions compliant.

On that note make sure the vehicle has all of the proper emissions equipment (smog pump, Cat, EGR & Single carb setup etc) is still on it, functional and hasn’t been significantly modified. Like replacing the Zenith Stromberg with an aftermarket Weber (or a set of SUs), otherwise you could be setting yourself up for some problems when you try to register it.

Good luck!
 
If it's truely rust free snap it up! I'm kinda partial to the black LE's.
 
I have to agree with Bret. Given that the car is a '79 and you are living in Kali, you'll want to make sure the car still has all of its emissions parts in tact... including the ZS carburetor. Otherwise, you'll have the added experience of trying to find all these extra bits and getting them installed and working properly before you'd even be allowed to have it legally registered...

I took on the responsibility of getting my '76 'B smogged when I bought it, but I paid well under 1K for it. I paid for the difference in the labor and parts to get it to pass...
 
Go for it! Theres something about the LE that I just love.....I paid roughly the same for mine(from florida) and it sounds like it's in similar condition to mine when I got it, with a little work you'll have a great car.
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[ QUOTE ]
I have a chance to purchase a 79 B Roadster LE. The car has a 137K miles and the owner claims the car runs well. Comes with a soft and hard top. Interior looks pretty good, the seats could stand to be recovered though. It's a CA car with no rust through. The guy is asking $1750. What is your opinion on what the car is worth?

Thanks for the help.

[/ QUOTE ]

Way Way over priced. What is his telephone number?
 
Well, I went to look at the LE today and struck a deal to buy the car for $1575. Not bad I guess. It does need a bit of work. New carpet kit, seat covers, dash cap and of course an engine rebuild. Number one cyclinder is weak and it's burning a bit of oil. Needs a little body work on the left front fender and I guess a fresh coat of paint would be nice, although the paint isn't in too bad of a condition. Would make a great daily driver, but I have bigger plans. Wish me luck.
 

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Yes she did. I'm suprised by that as well. Especially since that makes 3 B's, one is completely dismantled and going for a ground up rebuild, and one is 70% complete.
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Least she knows where to find you, and that may be a plus.
 
Congrats, Looks good!
 
As for smog, I'm pretty sure that it won't pass just yet. Number One cylinder is bad. The previous owner tells me that it did pass a few years back but when the cylinder went bad he did a non-op. I'm not too worried about that as I'm planning to either do a complete rebuild on the engine or maybe drop in a V6 or V8. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hammer.gif
 
I am so glad we don't have smog here yet, they've been talking about it but so far were OK....1988 an up need it here....My Camaro failed it's last test but now it's exempt /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif I'd really 'B' in a pickle if they started it here.
 
They've been talking about it in Alabama for the past 20 years. At first, they had roadside checks... If you didn't have a muffler, but the guy in the Baja VW or Dunebuggy (who ever heard of dunes in AL?) ahead of you had straightpipes, with a coffeecan over them... You'd get a ticket, and the VW guy would go scot-free. Nothing since that (25-15 years years ago) but lots of talk. But I've read (more talk - so far) that soon they want to reinvent the roadside check, with electronic tailpipe sniffers this time. Like I said lots of talk - and going on for more than a decade - possibly two, but I hope not anytime soon for here. Thank the emissions gods! (or Alabama's going-no-where-soon state government) - lol /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif
 
Not too far from me. If you need a hand let me know and maybe I can drop by. Have relatives near there.

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Thanks for the offer. I just may take you up on that. What's your specialty?
 
Drag racing, hehehe!!! I do mostly wrench work. OK on body work, great on electrical and fuel. Raced a Vega with a 350 at Sears Point so speed is in my blood.
 
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