The problem with MGBs, is like most classics, that replacement parts are truly rubbish. In 1980, the tooling for the front wings was so badly worn that even a BL wing would not fit without serious metalwork. In the early 1990's when I did my rebuild, hunting down genuine new old stock was a labour of love.
I see now that heritage Roadster shells are available, with doors, bonnet and boot, but at a whiff under £13,000. I mean, what happened???? That makes for a very expensive build, because these shells are not even seam sealed. All the cosmetic stuff went south in the 90's. Screen rubbers and trims, waist strips, bumpers and over-riders being examples of badly reproduced parts.
The rubbers and trims are oversized and really hard to fit. Waist strips are often thin metal and corrugated when viewed end on, and repro bumpers have oddly shaped ends, and so on.
Many rebuilds are a patchwork of different years and specs, so buying an MGB takes a lot of effort to find a decent one.
The most important tool when viewing any MGB is a magnet.
