MGB Roadster

...is a review of the MGB in general although the review is for the "roadster" version available from 1974 to 1980. There were five revisions of the MGB from its launch in 1962 to its demise in 1980, the fith being the "rubber bumper" cars. There were special edition models of the car available with wire wheels, GT in pewter grey and Roadster in bronze to mark the end of production.

This review was meant to be short, ...
...Speed
The original 1962 MGB was no tear away and later cars from 1974 onwards had larger black safety bumpers - often called "rubber bumper" models due to the fact the steel bumpers were covered in a rubber-like plastic, similar to the Jensen-Heely of the same period but they looked better on the MGB.

Anyway I digress, the performace for the rubber bumper models was something like 0-60 in 14 seconds compared to 12 ... more

This is a review of the MGB in general although the review is for the "roadster" version available from 1974 to 1980. There were five revisions of the MGB from its launch in 1962 to its demise in 1980, the fith being the "rubber bumper" cars. There were special edition models of the car available with wire wheels, GT in pewter grey and Roadster in bronze to mark the end of production.

This review was meant to be short, but I ended up writing alot!

Our car
Russet Brown, yes brown! roadster with the orange deck-char seats and black bumpers! I liked this car. When we were growing up as we were always noticed and my friends always wanted a go. This was our car for about 19 years originally bought for my mother who also recieved alot of attention when she drove along.

Image
I am sorry but this is for those with flat-caps. Maybe a very early chrome bumper roadster may be a girly (granny!) magnet - all that chrome and filic styling when driving over the Alps with a beatiful companion ..... but the image is a little dowdy - for me anyway falling into the same categories as Austin-Heeley Sprite and Triumph 2000s.

MG fans fall into two camps, Chrome bumper fans or rubber bumper fans. Personally I like both but the rubber bumper cars are more practical, cheaper and safer - if a little slower.

Speed
The original 1962 MGB was no tear away and later cars from 1974 onwards had larger black safety bumpers - often called "rubber bumper" models due to the fact the steel bumpers were covered in a rubber-like plastic, similar to the Jensen-Heely of the same period but they looked better on the MGB.

Anyway I digress, the performace for the rubber bumper models was something like 0-60 in 14 seconds compared to 12 seconds for the chrome bumper models. Top speed is around 104mph - still enough to get you banned! GTs are a bit slower because they have the extra roof but a higher top speed - better aerodynamics.

The performance of the 1.8 engine can be improved by adding larger SU carbs, bored out engines or webber carbs - in fact I have seen one with a Mestro 2.0L turbo engine fitted and another with a Nissan 200SX engine! From memory original power was in the region of 96BHP and 105lb/ft tourque (I will confirm later as cant be sure).

Handling
As I remember the chrome bumper models were 2" (50cm) lower than the rubber bumper cars. This rise in ride height from 1974 onwards upset the handling somewhat coupled with the fact that the extra weight of all of the safety equipment added for the American market. BL didnt even change the spring rates! No wonder the British car manfacturers went bust and this was after the UK Government had bailed them out the first time.

So the later cars dont handle as well as the early ones. This can be rectified a little by adding Koni or similar telescopic dampers. Some owners take the bumpers off the late cars and lower the suspension to early spec' with good improvements as the MGB is not a bad handling car. Being rear wheel drive the steering is nice and direct and quite light at all speeds and no need for power assistance.

Practicality
If ever there was a practical sports car the MG would be it.

The original car came with a tonneau cover and a half tonneau so it is possible to drive the car with the hood down almost all year. Although I cant remember ever using ours. The boot is OK for a small suitcase and squashy bags plus there is a luggage space in the back of the car which in the heady days of not requiring seatbelts in the back, was where I spent most of my time on journeys.

These cars are so simple to work on. Loads of room in engine bay and pre-second world war mechnics prevail! Very simple for the DIY mechanic-owner.

Over half a million were made there is a thriving owners club to get new or inexpensive parts from. Rimmer Bros etc part suppliers can get everything! Yes you can rebuild your car with new parts - everything except the engine block - yes and the Motor Heritage Trust still make whole bodyshell!! I seem to think that the MGB is one of the best served in terms of spares of any classic.

Equipment
The heater is very good for a car of its age as well. Aside from that there are no other creature comforts, just the basics which arent that bad. The lights are all BL parts bin specials that are the usual tat and indecator stalks are spindly - I prefer the early dash in favour of the safty padded dash as its more 'classic' by the way.

The original car didnt come with a stereo - this is a 1978 car so you may find some rubbish stuck in there instead of the plain blanking plate bearing the MG logo.

The car has a laycock overdrive (OD) which was optinal on very early chrome bumper models but standard on all later cars. This is from a time when gearboxes didnt have five gears. it allows the engine to rev' slower at higher engine speeds. The OD is a switch on the top of the gear stick. OD can be used in 3rd and 4th which essentially gives the car six speeds. The OD can be only used in 3rd or 4th gear otherwise it breaks. Really good for overtaking keep the car in OD-3rd and when you are ready to overtake just filck it out of OD-3rd into 3rd giving more power. Read up on how to use before driving/using as they do break easily if used wrongly.

Safety
In a crash, the MGB is a safe car - it used accident specifications that were still current in 1994! This allowed the MGR-V8 to use the same basic shell. Some owners fit rollover bars - available from the MG-Owners Club (MGOC). My mother was once run into by a single decker bus and as there was no apparent damage to the car the bus driver denied it until it was pointed out that there was bus colour paint on those big bumpers! Ture to form our MG demolished a fair few modern super-minis - 1980s Nissan Micra into the rear of MG anyone? MG just a scratch Micra demolished.

Fun
The MG is a fun car - hood down stopped in traffic, people just want to speak to you and its possible to feel good without being pretentious.

Customer Service
Our car was always serviced at home and never went to a dealer unless it was a real problem. Who cares anyway MG-Rover dealers dont exist anymore.

Reliability
In 19 years bits wore out but our car never broke down. Enough said.

Economy
They need regular servicing by a specialist or enthusiastic DIYer but dont go wrong that often if looked after and economy will be 25-35MPG.

On the Road
Getting into the car you will sit very low with legs out-stretched flat in front of you and stearing wheel relatively close to your chest meaning "arms bent" classic driving postion. The pedals are well placed in front of you and good for heal-toe action if you are into that sort of thing. Clutch is light, brake pedal is firm also requiring a firm shove if you really want to stop in a hurry. As you drive in this very vintage postion your left arm will naturally rest on the centre console over the transmission tunnel which leaves it nicely placed to change gear with the notchy but positive gear shift which is long in the throw and short across the gate.

Engine should always sound lumpy on tickover but smooth - if you get me? On the road it becomes smoother and more sports-car sounding but never gives the feeling of going fast. closing the throttle on overrun makes the exhaust pop and burble - nice. Get someone to set it up well and radio is optional. Brisk performance is what you get and the ability to keep up with modern-day traffic. Handing feels good and positive unless you push it, but its an old car and it wont work like a modern one. It is possible to spin the wheels easily on loose surfaces too - watch out or have fun - they do wiggle in the wet!

The ride is a little on the harsh side but the seats are comfortable. With the hood up the windscrean appears letter-box like to view from but once down, which is where it should be unless raining, the driver gets really good all-round vision since the windscreen frame is less obtrusive than a modern car.

None of this really matters of course as it is possible to just leave all of this irrelevant trivia at home - being lost in another dimension of motoring.

Differnet Models
Leyland tried a few differnt models to give the MG a performance image. These were the MGC and the MGB GT V8.

The C was available as a convertable or GT - essentially a B with a 3.0 145BHP straight 6 engine, 15" wheels (wow!) and altered torsion bar front suspension. The C is identified by the large power bulge on the bonnet. When launced the press had field day as they claimed it understeared like a pig and wasnt that fast (0-60 in 10 seconds and top speed of 120 MPH(....) . Apparently they were wrong and it isnt a bad car for long distance touring. The C is very sought after since it was only produced between 1967 and 1969. The MGCs competed as a racing team in GT racing with some success, the cars are known by the name of "Sebring".

The GT-V8 had a 3.5 Rover V8 engine, 137 BHP and bags of tourque. 0-60 in 8 seconds and certainly a performance car. Also built in limited numbers during the early 1970s. Some have chrome bumpers - most expensive and some have rubber bumpers - cheaper.

There were a few tuning companies that played with the B, notably Ken Costello who did the first V8 transplants, which lead to the GT-V8 being introduced in 1972 by the factory - Late again BL. The others were Downton, who also converted Minis of the day. Downton carried out changes to the MGC with several packages one of which was a tripple carburetter conversion, alternative body styling to the headlights and differnt wheels. These look very distictive and should imagine are very valuable today.

Conclusion
We dont have our MGB anymore and it is missed. Would I have another? Yes, but I would have to improve it. Maybe a sky blue rubber bumper based conversion, convertable shell with roll cage, bubble racing arches and alloy mag wheels with an engine from something modern or perhaps a MGC "Sebring" racing replica. It would certainly be a hobby car for the summer and a few track days or hill climbs. if I was to choose a standard car i would try an MGC maybe a GT with metalic paint and red leather interior. A poor mans Aston Martin(!!) 

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