MG MGB Roadster
MG replaced the separate-frame MGA with a roomier unit-body roadster that stayed in production for eighteen years.
1962 MG MGB roadster at Haynes International Motor Museum · Andrew Bone · CC BY 2.0 Generic
Research pending
A matching completed auction sale has not been verified for this exact year, body, trim, engine, transmission and market.
Joyride shows this gap instead of substituting an asking price, unsold bid or mismatched special vehicle.
More than a set of wheels.
The MGB arrived in 1962 with wind-up windows, a folding hood and a strong steel unit body. This page follows the early home-market roadster with the original three-main-bearing 1.8-litre engine; later MGBs gained five main bearings and many market-specific changes. The 95 bhp figure is a period gross rating and should not be compared directly with modern net horsepower.
Look a little closer.
The MGB's transmission tunnel and sills are important structural parts of the car, so the roadster did not need the separate frame used by its MGA predecessor.
Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.
More engine to move a sturdier car
BMC enlarged the MGA's 1,622 cc engine to 1,798 cc for the MGB. The early engine kept three crankshaft main bearings, while the final-drive ratio rose to 3.9:1.
Source: Motor Sport · New cars from Rover, B.M.C., Ford and Fairthorpe ↗Old and new ideas together
The unit body and rack-and-pinion steering were modern, but the suspension remained deliberately simple: wishbones and coils at the front, with a live rear axle on leaf springs. That made the car understandable and serviceable around the world.
Source: Christie's · 1962 MG MGB roadster ↗Where these facts come from
- Motor Sport · MGB launch technical report
- British Motor Museum · MGB 60th anniversary
- Christie's · 1962 MG MGB roadster
Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed September 29, 2026.