1964 MGB Roadster – A Classic, Affordable Sports Car
It’s likely that Mike Mathison is seeing his 1964 MGB Roadster in better shape today than when it rolled off the show room floor. After countless hours of meticulously handcrafting body panels, numerous days of monotonous detail work, and laying down some gleaming red paint – Mike has been reunited with his beautiful MG Roadster.
We met up with Mike just hours after he picked up his freshly revived MG from No Coast Custom and Rod Shop in Lincoln, Nebraska. It suffices to say his level of excitement was no further from a kid in a candy store.
He originally acquired the car from a long-time family friend after it had been sitting for several years. Mike said he always knew it was something he needed to keep in the family.
When he brought the car home years ago, it had around 69,000 original miles and needed a bit of TLC. “I limped it home running on a single carburetor,” Mike said. Initially, he installed new springs, tuned it up a bit, and got it back on its own two legs again.
The 1964 MGB Roadster was one of three variants. Its predecessors include the highly sought after GT and V8 models. The 4-cylinder Roadsters came with a twin carb 1798cc engine that produced around 95hp from the factory. That meant these two-seaters did just over 11 seconds in a 0-60mph time. Safe to say they were known for cornering and canyon runs than stop light stomps.
With a production span of 18 years, 1962 – 1980, and more than a half-million produced, the MGB crowns one of the most affordable best-selling sports cars ever made. It’s precisely why they are such a fan favorite among classic-car enthusiasts today. They are super fun to drive and easy to maintain.
Unfortunately, the car had been poorly restored previously – the typical improper filler work and poorly executed patch panels, so No Coast stripped the entire body and completely reworked it.
Both rear quarter panels were handmade, they installed a new interior kit, the dash was re-textured, and powder coated to maintain that crackle finish. Lastly, they polished and refitted all trim along with the front and rear bumpers.
Mike was even able to pick out his own custom mixed BASF Glasurit red paint that closely matched what MG called Damask red.
Call it a keepsake, a memento, or even a symbol of gratitude. This little 1964 MGB Roadster is a token of Mike’s appreciation for long lost British innovation. He looks forward to having something extra special to hit the local shows with this year.
