The MGB roadster is the car I recommend to anyone entering the British sports car hobby for the first time, with one important caveat: buy a rust-free example or budget to deal with rust immediately.

The MGB has everything you want in a first British sports car. The mechanical systems are simple and well-documented. Parts are more available and less expensive than any other British car from the same era. The community is large and helpful. The car is genuinely fun to drive with its light weight and responsive handling.

The caveat: the MGB rusts in specific, predictable places — the sills (rocker panels), the front valance, the rear valance, the rear wheel arches, and the trunk floor. A car that has been addressed in all these areas is a solid foundation. A car that needs all of them addressed is a long project.