MGB Bedouin

[Andrew Guest]

I am new to the register. I bought a new MGB roadster in December 1970 in what was rare colour Bedouin/ Autumn Leaf trim FGN 329J from University Motors, London, but only kept for 2 years, due to company car. I have missed it for nearly 47 years!! I would like to buy it back (love Bedouin!), but seems not to exist anymore. Still have the original bill. If the original car been scrapped, can I obtain legal use of the registration if not re-sold?
Is anybody selling similar Bedouin, or please advise me, can I build it from new? (Love the recessed grill and rostyle wheels). Price not a problem. (will use my pension money but not for quote Lamborghini). Is there a list somewhere as to who builds MGB s from new? Prefer original spec, but would a 5 speed box on its own ,give a better performance? How are new build MGB's assessed for vehicle tax?

[Steve Illing]

There are lots of mg specialist that can build you your dream mgb.. when building a as new mgb certain rules must be followed... you will need a restoration project donor car.. then either restore the original shell or replace using heritage shell, if using a new shell try to retain as much of the original components ,obviously rebuilding/ restoring as nessesary, I think certain upgrades are perfectly sensible.... better braking and improved reliability/ performance worth considering,,, I've done many 'as new ' builds for clients over the years , and not done any two the same ! We all have different tastes and expectations .. and of course budgets My advise it to look at what's out there , go and view/ drive a few mgb's and talk to mgb owners what they have had done to their mgb's.... I couldn't take on any more projects for several months but you can contact me for advise if there's anything I can help with..... Steve ( ACR Steventon)

[Ian F]

This company - http://www.cchl.co.uk/index.php/en/show ... cification - do what is essentially a "new" MGB/GT. There are probably many others in the UK who could do a recreation of your car (eg http://www.mgmotorsport.co.uk/for_sale.htm). I can't recommend anyone as I've never seen their products, so whoever you find check carefully!

IanF.

[Andrew Vigor]

We have only 18 cars on the Register listed with the colour Bedouin. That is just 0.1%.

[Keith Wynn]

Hi Andrew, a quick check on the DVLA web site shows this car as still being registered but now Green, and no MOT since July 2015, so you will not be able to acquire the registration, but better still there is a hope that you can find the actual car and re-acquire it.
DVLA records for your MG
Date of first registration: November 1970
Cylinder capacity (cc) : 1798 cc
Fuel type : PETROL
Vehicle status: Not taxed
Vehicle colour: GREEN
I managed to find and buy back my '66 MGB (it took me 5 years and the DVLA were most unhelpful, but worth a try) and I had it restored by CCHL and am very pleased with the result, a couple of issues but Simon has sorted them all out with no quibbles.
Good luck, Keith

[Keith Wynn]

Hi Andrew, a quick check of the DVLA website shows your car is still in existence, and is now Green.

DVLA records for FGN 329J
Tax due: 01 September 1995
MOT Expired: 14 July 2015
Vehicle make : MG
Date of first registration : November 1970
Cylinder capacity (cc) : 1798 cc
Vehicle colour : GREEN

This means trying to obtain the registration is not going to be an option, however trying to re-acquire your actual car is a much better possibility. I have just been through an ultimately successful 10 year search for my MGB bought new in 1966. If you write to the DVLA asking them to post on a letter to the present owner they refuse, even if you supply a stamped envelope and leave your letter to the owner visible for examination. I tried this method every few years. However in your case you could write to the owner through the DVLA offering to provide a copy of the original invoice, maybe some period photos, and anything else you can cobble together about FGN 329J. If you are lucky the owner will contact you and then you can start trying to buy the MGB back. If they don't reply I'm afraid you will have to resort to advertising.

When I got my MGB back it was on SORN, so I shipped it to CCHL and was very pleased with the result.
Good luck, Keith

[Ian F]

As an addition to Keith's helpful reply above, I can offer the following:
# for both my MGB and my Midget I paid for a full copy of the vehicle registration documents from DVLA.
# this provides copies of all of the old buff log book owners up to date - it may be possible for Andrew to do the same, and hence get a copy of the current registration document and owner???
# I'm afraid I can't recall exactly what is asked for when requesting this old information, but it may be worth exploring, if you can find the name of the current owner then you could contact them directly.

IanF.

[Keith Wynn]

Ian you are correct in saying that DVLA will provide as much background history as they have (my documentation started only in 1977) however you do need to be the owner of the car before they will provide that information.
Keith

[Andrew Guest]

Thank you for all your replies. I am now actively looking for my 1970 car to act as the donor for as new re-build. Unfortunately FGN 329J is not on the MGCC or MGOC register. Are there any other registers? Also why would an MGB owner not bother with being a member of a specialist club? Another forum member has given me some tips via advertising and DVLA, which I now will be doing. One question is the DVLA , apart from MOT information also freely informs if the car is insured and mine is! Good, but do the insurance companies register their clients directly with DVLA or perhaps through some insurance association first?? Perhaps a friendly classic car insurance company can help me?

[Keith Wynn]

Hello Andrew, good luck with the search.
I believe all car Insurance companies automatically advise a central database, which is consulted by MOT stations etc., called MID, at https://ownvehicle.askmid.com/ whether they will pass on the name of the owner (assuming they even know it, which I don't think they do) is something else. I think the Insurance companies just give the registration, but worth a try.
Looking at the MOT history of your car it is now ripe for restoration as long as you can get to it before the owner gives up. It might be worth registering your interest for a 1970 Green MGB on several of the cars for sale web sites, you never know it may just turn up.
If I think of anything else I will let you know.
Cheers, Keith