Four Minilites Plus One Rover V8 Equals MGB Perfection

"DailyTurismo" (thedailyturismo) 09/19/2014 at 12:08 • Filed to: Daily Turismo, Blog

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MGB's exuded a jaunty personality ever since their introduction (at the Earls Court motor show in September 1962, priced at £690 plus £259 tax), yet they were always lacking in some soup . They carried on with the same basic shape, design until '74 when the US DOT safety nazis ruined a really good looking car.

MG's solution was to fashion ugly chunks of black rubber that should have been a warning to all Hollywood starlets considering collagen/botox lip injections. There's been a run of MGBs with mod's on this site lately...but when someone takes the time to convert/revert a black bumpered '79 into a pre-'74 small bumper, chrome grille car, and presents it with quality pictures and a V8, it would be like poking his mom in the eye if we did not feature it. Find this !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! currently bidding for $8,600 reserve-not-met with 2 days to go on eBay, located in Adrian, MI.

The color combo in this B is great, the top boot looks taut and all appears to be in proper nick . It's sporting genuine mini-lites (according to the picture) and the seller has a good trail of eBay feedback related to the car. He (or she?) apparently been dealing a lot of his parts online. Only two negatives, the rest look like he's been putting this car together for quite some time. Good feedback on a seller and the ability see when/how he fixed up his car is always a plus for buying something sight unseen, especially in farm country where getting a good ppi would be more difficult.

Best of all, its been properly converted with a Buick 215 (a/k/a Rover 3.5) V8 which just looks totally at home in the engine bay. They've updated the trans to a T5 with a 3.23:1 posi rear end and the 200+ horsepower from the V8 should be a welcome addition to the drive.

The steering wheel is about the only element that hasn't been changed to a pre '74 configuration; and that could easily be changed out for either an early MGB Banjo steering wheel or a Motolita. Someone has deleted the headrests when they recovered the seats to maintain that '60s look.

See a cooler back-dated classic? !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

Originally posted as !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! on !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

Image credits; ebay

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > DailyTurismo 09/19/2014 at 12:14

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This appears to be one of the many available upgrade radiators. Not a bad idea, given things. I'd like a V8 MGB to have twin carbs of some kind and early-type MG-stamped valve covers, but both things are easy enough to fix.

Svend > DailyTurismo 09/19/2014 at 13:03

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I've always wanted an MG B and on many an occasion have had my head turned for something a little more modern like the MG RV8. Looks wise it's a nice spiritual successor to the MG B.