Bright blue blast from MG’s past scoops award at Spring classic meet
A Pageant Blue Roadster added a dash of colour and stole the show at this year’s Spring Classic Drive and Ride In Day at the museum.
It may be 44 years old but the MGB Roadster, first registered in 1979, turns many heads when it glides along the Lake District roads close to its owner's home in Ulverston.
Retired garage owner Malcolm Grisdale bought the little Roadster in 2017 and has spent several years restoring it.
“I used to service and look after it for a customer who was in his 80s,” says Malcolm. “But he came in one day and said he didn’t use it much anymore and would I like to buy it?
“It was hard to resist! It’s a lovely little car. It was only when I looked at the paper work that I realised I was only its second owner. The first owner had it for 38 years!”
Originally, the MGB had an 1800cc engine but it has had a conversion bringing it up to 1950cc. It’s had its paintwork freshened up in the original Pageant Blue colour and its original rubber bumpers have been replaced with colour coded ones to give it a more modern look.
“It’s very nice to drive and performs well with the bigger engine,” says Malcolm who ran the Salthouse Motor Services Garage, in Barrow, for 12 years before retiring. In total, he worked in the motor trade for 47 years.
“I’m taking the roadster to the Isle of Man next month to take part in a classic car tour. It zips along very nicely so it should be a lovely trip.”
It scooped this year’s “Springtime Stunner” Trophy after impressing the judge Chris Lowe, Curator of the Lakeland Motor Museum.
“It’s the sort of bright coloured little car that puts a smile on your face,” says Chris: “It was a tough decision because there were so many excellent vehicles at the Classic Drive and Ride In Day. But this MGB Roadster is in such lovely condition that I felt it deserved the trophy.”
Malcolm says: “I was delighted to see it win the Springtime Stunner trophy. My wife and I have had a lot of fun out and about in it. It was in storage during the pandemic but it’s great to now be back out on the roads in it.”
Over 100 cars and 20 motorcycles/scooters attended this year’s Spring Classic Drive and Ride In Day – with big crowds enjoying the display and the great weather.
Share this event on social sites