My Favorite Ride: You cannot buy this 1976 MGB. Someone else already did.

This week’s column was going to be about a sporty red 1976 MGB anyone seeking a summer ride could buy. But darn, it’s already sold.

Someone paid $6,000 for the 1,900-pound donation to the Monroe County History Center Garage Sale. The convertible was to be previewed and showcased here, but alas it’s too late. You can’t buy the convertible and neither can I.

MGBs were manufactured in England for nearly two decades, starting in 1962. Eighteen years later, the final two models came off the British Leyland assembly line on Oct 22, 1980. When it comes to two-seater convertible sports cars, the MGB is among the favorites out there. Easy to maintain and fun to drive, the car has a following.

More than 513,000 MGBs were made, with nearly half exported to the United States. The car and its parts were pretty much the same throughout its production era: same body design, drivetrain, suspension and 4-cylinder engine block. A disappointing “upgrade” came in 1974, when the leather upholstery was replaced with vinyl.

Sure, the MGB is gone, but there’s still so much cool stuff for sale at this year’s History Center Garage Sale Extravaganza. How about a handmade 2-foot-tall Chinese porcelain temple vase? An old and working Woodstock typewriter? Maybe an antique armoire. Or a wooden pony rocker? A just-polished silver platter?

Don’t miss this twice-a-year event. It’s Friday and Saturday, June 14-15, from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. at 4015 Profile Parkway. All proceeds support exhibits, collections and programs at the Monroe County History Center in downtown Bloomington.

And, if anyone has an historic car they’d like to drive in Bloomington’s Fourth of July parade next month, please send me an email and a picture of your car, soon. The history center is seeking a vehicle to represent the organization.

Field of cars

In other news, I went out to Spencer one afternoon this past week to see some cars. Steve Toth and Jay Thompson had parked their vehicles car-show style behind Toth's house, and I got to check them out during a private car show of sorts.

There was an eclectic selection of great cars, including: a two-tone 1958 Chevrolet Brookwood station wagon, a 1990 Cadillac, a 1978 Lincoln Continental Mark V, a 1976 International truck, a 1975 Chevy Corvette, another Corvette (what year I can’t recall), a 2016 Dodge Challenger.

And my favorite, a white, all-original, 2-door 1965 Pontiac Grand Prix. Or maybe my favorite is the gold 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado with the telescopic steering wheel I got to see right before I left. Toth has the gem tucked away under a faded green car cover, where it’s been 20 years or so. He plans to restore the Olds and is already buying parts. I asked him to call me when it’s finished.

Come back next week to read about some of these beauties. They all have a story.

Have a story to tell about a car or truck? Contact My Favorite Ride reporter Laura Lane at llane@heraldt.com or 812-318-5967.