Anyone here have experience with an MG MGB

"therevengeofthesaab (really likes pre-2005 hondas right now)" (therevengeofthesaab)
04/20/2014 at 19:12 • Filed to: None

Does anyone here have some experience with this car??

DISCUSSION (22)

yamahog > therevengeofthesaab (really likes pre-2005 hondas right now)
04/20/2014 at 19:19

My grandpa had one when I was very young. Fun little car, no seat belts, but my dad didn't like working on it.

jkm7680 > therevengeofthesaab (really likes pre-2005 hondas right now)
04/20/2014 at 19:20

Leaky convertible. Mgb Gt is the way to go.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > therevengeofthesaab (really likes pre-2005 hondas right now)
04/20/2014 at 19:21

If you find one that runs, you will

a) Be remembered for one of the greatest discoveries of all time

b) Be amazed at how quickly it stops running

c) Be in for a real treat

But, for God sake, if you are in the US, buy a pre-1975 one. Otherwise, your car will come with a rubber duck-bill mask, like this:

Kinja'd!!!

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > therevengeofthesaab (really likes pre-2005 hondas right now)
04/20/2014 at 19:23

I don't no, but I really want to V8-convert one. Not an LS, but a proper Rover V8 :) much more common over here anyway.

They're a bit like our Mustang. Very, very popular. Parts availability out the wazoo. Fun to drive, easy to work on, easy to tune. Great little cars :)

Merkin Muffley > therevengeofthesaab (really likes pre-2005 hondas right now)
04/20/2014 at 19:31

it is worth it to spend the money on one that has been properly restored and updated. Otherwise, you will be spending more time wrenching than driving.

Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 > jkm7680
04/20/2014 at 19:33

I pass by an MGB GT on Rt 1 in Laurel all the time. I'm tempted to stop and actually look at it. One day. I mention location only because I know you live in the metro area.

Bandit > therevengeofthesaab (really likes pre-2005 hondas right now)
04/20/2014 at 19:37

I do! I've rebuilt one of their engines, redone the fuel system, worked on the interior, and am helping totally rewire one. The mechanical are all pointlessly easy to work on, but everything is fine thread. Parts are cheap and plentiful. The major downfall on these cars is rust and sketchy wiring. My grandfather and father both have one and I'm helping them restore them. Neither of them have been on the road since before I've been born.

jkm7680 > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2
04/20/2014 at 19:40

Nice, Is it blue?

I've seen a blue Mgbgt driving around in Pgc

Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 > jkm7680
04/20/2014 at 19:46

It's a dark blue. Not great paint, but I haven't had a good look at it.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > therevengeofthesaab (really likes pre-2005 hondas right now)
04/20/2014 at 19:58

1) Sell kidneys

2) Acquire this http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/mg-…

It's an mgb gt with mx5 (miata) running gear.

evil2win > therevengeofthesaab (really likes pre-2005 hondas right now)
04/20/2014 at 20:03

I have a 74 Triumph Spitfire, and because of British Leyland it shares the same engine and transmission with the MG. As with any old car I'd recommend getting one in the best possible shape to begin with, then stay up on maintenance. It should be fine. The engine is an unremarkable cast iron pushrod engine linked to an agricultural 4 speed transmission. I'd recommend getting the overdrive transmission. I think it was around 1974 the car was made heavier and the suspension was lifted to meet US headlight height requirements which made the handling awful. I own the 74 Spitfire and a 73 Fiat spider and the Fiat with it's 5 speed, dual overhead cam 1.6L engine, and disc brakes all around is way more fun to drive. The both have about the same value, but if I had to choose I'd pick the Fiat.

therevengeofthesaab (really likes pre-2005 hondas right now) > jkm7680
04/20/2014 at 20:09

Yeah he is thinking of that too. More Practical

Kailand09 > therevengeofthesaab (really likes pre-2005 hondas right now)
04/20/2014 at 20:14

I know of a guy who has a GT with a ford 302 swap. Seems pretty damn awesome

jkm7680 > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2
04/20/2014 at 20:17

Yeah, Whenever one comes up. I've got to look

Last year, I offered a guy $1,500 for a shitty red P1800Es

He offered me $10,500. Not in my book it isn't.

Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 > jkm7680
04/20/2014 at 20:22

Haha, great car, but that's a lot of scratch.

jkm7680 > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2
04/20/2014 at 20:23

Yeah, I was hoping he would give it to me.
Sadly, he overvalued it. Rather severely.

The worst part is, I got a whiff of the interior.

Good God. It smelled like death in there.

Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 > jkm7680
04/20/2014 at 20:27

It's depressing when people overvalue cars they treat like shit. Give them to people who will care for them.

jkm7680 > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2
04/20/2014 at 20:32

Fully agree! He tried to pass off that he cared about the Car.

A faded paintjob, Shitty plastic hubcaps, terrible smell and various pieces of missing everything are signs that he didn't give two shits about the Car.

Any other enthusiast on the other hand, would have restored it.

Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif > therevengeofthesaab (really likes pre-2005 hondas right now)
04/20/2014 at 20:51

Two currently for sale on my local Kijiji, seem like a ton of work, but cool cars for sure.

Slave2anMG > evil2win
04/20/2014 at 20:54

Not exactly...the Spitfire started sharing the 1500cc engine/transmission with the Midget in 1974 and never with the MGB. '74 and earlier Midgets used the Austin A series engine (1275/1098/948cc depending on the year).

Slave2anMG > therevengeofthesaab (really likes pre-2005 hondas right now)
04/20/2014 at 20:56

Yep. Whatcha wanna know?

Here's the first thing to know - rust. They rust. Look for rotten rockers, rotten floors, rotten A pillars, rotten inner fenders.

Second thing to fear - rust. Third thing, too.

Try not to buy a car with a heavily bodged wiring harness. And as somebody else noted the '74 and earlier cars (without the rubber bumpers) are more desireable.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > evil2win
04/21/2014 at 09:22

I didn't know you had a Spitfire as well :) cool.

The '74 MkIV marked the period where the Spitfire started going downhill development-wise. The engines from the MkIV onwards had bigger big-end journals to match the 6-cylinders, which means they're less capable of high rpms and less revvy overall.

The earlier 1100s and 1300s are capable of hitting 9000rpm on the stock crank, which is a bit bonkers for a pushrod I4 whose development started in the '50s.

The Fiat is more advanced all around though. It's the equivalent of a Cayman to an Audi TT nowadays I suppose, engineering ambition and price-wise.