The AutoHunter Spotlight for today is a car from what was basically the end of the line: a 1980 MG MGB Limited Edition. It is being sold by a dealer in Gladstone, Oregon, and the auction will end Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. (PDT).
I have always had a connection with the MGB. To me, this was the last of the classic British sports cars (with the exception of Morgan). It was the first sports car I ever drove. In fact, I actually test drove a brand-new 1980 MGB when I was only 13 years old! That is a whole other story, but I am likely the youngest automotive journalist to have ever had the opportunity to drive one of these when they were new.
I remember that drive in great detail. It was so much different than the other cars I had driven or ridden in. No, I didn’t drive any of those cars legally – but, hey, it was the ’80s. That MGB certainly handled different than my parents’ cars. The feeling of driving that little MG with the top down – enjoying the classic sound of the engine and exhaust note, combined with the rack and pinion steering and overall lightness – imprinted on me and made me a sports car fan for life.
To me, the MGB Limited Edition is the best incarnation of the late rubber-bumper MGB cars. A last-ditch scheme to save MG, the model was the brainchild of British Leyland’s marketing department and their advertising agency in the U.S. The plan was to build 500 U.S.-delivered MGBs, all painted black with silver striping, Limited Edition badging, a front spoiler, and special alloy wheels. The originally planned production of only 500 examples was quickly forgotten as demand expanded. These Limited Edition black with silver stripe cars worked well with the black rubber bumpers, making these MGBs a newer-looking yet classic MGB. As a result, more than 6,600 units came to the U.S., but sadly even this was not enough to save the company. The MGB Limited Edition became the swan song for one of the most historic brands in the world of sports cars and the brand that literally introduced Americans to the idea of sports cars.
The 1980 MGB Limited Edition featured here is described by the seller as powered by a 1.8-liter OHV inline-four mated to a four-speed synchromesh manual transmission with electronic overdrive. The car has been color-changed to a Black Cherry Metallic (which actually looks black in most of the photos) and has a black convertible top over a black vinyl interior. This British roadster is offered by the selling dealer with a clear title.
The seller goes on to say that this MGB received a complete restoration. Judging by the photos included in the listing, this looks to be a good example.
The exterior paintwork appears to be well done. I am guessing the owner simply wanted something a bit different from the standard black-painted MGB Limited Editions and had the color changed. You really need to get the car in the right light to see it is not black – a subtlety that really makes this MGB interesting.
The interior looks to be completely stock, with the exception of an aftermarket radio. The seat material is 100% correct, as are the steering wheel and carpets. Whoever did the work on this car really seems to have paid attention to the MGB’s details. You might think is a silly statement, but the truth is the MGB was a very well-built car, with nice finishing and a great deal of attention to detail. The people who built these cars cared about what they were doing right through to the end – and it shows when you see an all-original one up close. I am happy the owner took the time and money to have this one done correctly.
Under the hood is the original 1.8-liter OHV inline-four with a Weber Twin Sync 38 carburetor. This is a nice upgrade over the Stromberg this little MGB would have had when new and likely gives it a bit more power. Another nice item – and one of the only options the Limited Edition offered – is the four-speed gearbox with electronic overdrive. The overdrive unit makes these cars much more usable and gives them the ability to easily cruise on the highway at 70 mph without running at 4,400 rpm.
If you want to own one of the last classic MGs ever built – a good example that can give you the same feeling I got when I drove one new – this 1980 MGB Limited Edition is just the ticket. You had better act fast, though, as the auction for this classic British roadster ends on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. (PDT).
Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery