Classic/Antique Car Repair: Buying a 1979 MG MGB, british sports cars, line mechanic

Question
I am looking into buying this beautiful 79 MGB convertible i found at a pretty decent price. It's in great shape for its age and has been "babied" by its owner. I love the car but i'm afraid that the engine is going to over heat in the South Carolina heat. I'm 18 and i need a reliable car to get me to and from class and work everyday. Please tell me if the car is a bad investment for an everyday car in the Carolina's or if there is a inexpensive way to fix this UK car to fit the US environment and heat difference.Thank you so much!

Answer
Hi Sarah,
Even though the MGB was one of the more reliable of the British sports cars of that era, no one can tell you if that one is going to be a reliable piece of transportation. As for the heat of South Carolina I don't think that is an issue as I was a line mechanic on MGs in Florida and as long as an MGB was operating correctly the temp difference between the UK and Florida gave us little trouble. In fact I don't know how that car operated in the UK with the heater and defroster they had.
In my opinion that MGB will operate as well as any 79 car except the MG does require that the owner do what they are supose to do. Most people don't. If you don't change oil and filter when you are supose to, (every 3000 miles) If you are not use to a straight stick car, If you don't have all of the fluids checked every 3000 miles and adjust the valves every 6000 miles etc, etc. You would be much better off with a Ford or Chevy. If you have to drive on an expressway every day and the MGB is not an "Overdrive" model you should get something else. The non-overdrive model is not geared high enough to use continuously at  Expressway speeds. I like the MGB and have put 189,000. on a 1966 MGB without needing any engine, transmission or differential work. However, I did repalce the fuel pump 2 times, the waterpump once and most hoses once. Keep in mind I was an MG mechanic and did what I was supose to when I was supose to. I can not say that the all MGs are as reliable as all Fords or Chevys, they are not. The MG is more about desire than reliability. If you want (desire) the MG, locate a local MG specialist to check it out before you buy it and have them maintain it for you. What ever you do, DON'T take it to a regular repair shop for maintance. There are still MG specialist in every major city in the US and there are more Parts suppliers today than there were in 1980 when the last MG was brought to the US.
I hope this helped you.
Howard