1972 MG B MKII Roadster

Perhaps the best loved British sports car of all, the MGB combines all the ingredients necessary to make it the perfect classic today - the car looks great, is lots of fun to drive, easy to work on and best of all, affordable to both buy and maintain. When it was launched in 1962, the MGB's monocoque construction - a first for a car wearing the famous Octagon badge - resulted in a much stiffer, lighter shell compared with its predecessor, the MGA. Other notable improvements included Lockheed disc brakes, rack and pinion steering and well set-up suspension, with coil springs and wishbone-type links controlled by hydraulic dampers up front and semi-elliptic springs at the rear. To many enthusiasts, the Mark II open-topped MGB offers the best all-round package, combining all the charm and character of the original with a much-needed fully synchromesh gearbox and improved electrics, with an alternator replacing the dynamo fitted to earlier cars. Further changes were necessitated by new safety legislation, including a collapsible steering column and padded dashboard. The Mark II, announced in 1967, was further refined in 1969 with new Rostyle wheels, seats and a matt black front grille then, in 1970, a redesigned hood, smaller 15.5-inch diameter steering wheel and much better heater made the MGB even easier to live with. The Mark II retains the purity of the original design but is more enjoyable to drive and still makes a lot of sense as a classic sports car today.