HDC Data Dive: The MGB

by John Mayhead

30 September 2025 2 min read

Author: John Mayhead
Photography: Historic Auctioneers

It’s very apt that, just over 101 years after the MG octagon was first copyrighted, with the logo on the ascendancy once more, that the lowly MGB has come out on top of another list: Hagerty provides Classic Car Insurance for more 1972 MGB Roadsters in the UK than any other year, make and model of car.

The MGB’s ubiquity has also been the reason why many commentators have, over the years, put it down. It was too obvious a choice for a classic car when there are so many more exotic models to choose from they said, it was too predictable, too common.

How much is your car to insure? Find out in four easy steps.

Get a quote

But the MGB is popular for a reason, or more specifically, many reasons. Thanks to its monocoque design there’s a surprising amount of space inside, both in the cockpit and the boot, making it practical for road trips and comfortable to drive. The standard 1798cc B-Series engine is relatively easy to maintain and the 3528cc MGB GT V8 option makes it a very quick car for the era. Parts are in plentiful supply and, most importantly for any prospective buyer, there are literally thousands to choose from: over half a million were built between 1962 and 1980. Those numbers also provide something else that many classic car owners want: a sense of community.

The next generation of MG roadster, the Cyberster, is beginning to be seen on British roads with a reported 300 sold since its UK launch in August 2024. Although the 2.1-ton EV is more than twice the weight of its MGB Roadster ancestor and the near-£60,000 list price puts it in a different price bracket, MG Motor insists that it ‘draws inspiration from MGs heritage, with signature design highlights including a distinctive long bonnet, low nose and curvaceous surfaces’. Time will tell if this new MG sports car will boost prices of the old one.