When you think about classic British sports cars, there are a few models that spring to mind and the MG MGB is definitely one of them. It even became the world’s best-selling sports car! Let’s look over the MGB’s 18-year production run and see how this iconic car evolved.
The first version of the MGB to be released was the Roadster in 1962. It was designed with all of the latest parts for the time and had incredibly good specifications compared to its rivals. This meant that the MGB was an excellent drive and was a huge improvement from its predecessor, the MGA. The newly upgraded 1.8-litre engine and four-speed gearbox gave the car a higher top speed and a lot of power!
The MGB GT was launched in 1965 and featured a fastback roof which was designed by the great Pininfarina. The combination of the sloping rear window and rear deck lid offered more headroom for front passengers but don’t be fooled if you think anything but luggage could use the back seats! The increased weight made the GT slower off the mark than the B, but this was compensated for with an additional 5mph to its top speed.
1967 brought with it the MGB Mark II, changes included synchromesh on all 4 gears and an automatic Borg-Warner gearbox was an option as well. To make room for the new gearboxes, a new flat-topped transmission tunnel was put in and there were changes to the floor pan.
The Mark III was given a black aluminium front grille which replaced the chrome grill and slats in 1970. This new look was not very popular with the fans and the chrome returned with a number of improvements to the exterior.
Unfortunately, the MG MGB ended production in 1980 after an exceedingly good time on the market. It certainly made a mark on British car engineering.
Did you know that MG have stopped production at their Longbridge car plant in Birmingham? Read more in this blog post from last month… https://smart-motoring.com/latest-news/mg-pulls-production-uk/
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