When I was in the Navy stationed in the UK, a number of us had British sports cars. I had a 74 Spitfire 1500, one guy have a convertible MBG, one guy has a TVR, and 6 guys had TR-6s. Those were the days. I love the color of the new one!
Years ago I came across 6 or 7 classic M.G. owners traveling through Pocahontas County West Virginia. These old boys were Britted up to the max from their cars to their clothing. One of the old gals had sprung a coolant leak, never in my life had I witnessed a happier group of friends as they mended the stricken M.G. and spread the Gospel of the greatness of British Leyland automobiles. Have to admit for quite a time after I was looking at Craigslist for old MG’s. These 60 and 70 year old men had become boys through the little cars magic! Live on forever M.G.!!!
I'm one if the 70yo men and completely understand it. Young people who have only known modern cars can't unterstand how milions of us saw these cars back in the day. Much of my life was centered around them. With all their faults they did and do bring me much joy.
All classic car owners do the same. Old cars do break down a lot. Unless they whole lots is totally renewed. You cannot beat nature. It rots and corrodes without telling you.
Bought a new 1964 MGB when I was soldiering. Drove it until 1983, about 100K miles. I do feel as if I pushed the thing another 100K miles. Now in my late seventies, wish I could buy a new 1964 MGB. I loved that car beyond good sense.
This is how America needs to redo our classics! Make them "actually" look like the car! Not like a plastic knockoff with plastic bumpers bring the steel chrome bumpers n trim back!
This is technically a restomod. It's using the chassis number and registration of an original car with a new bodyshell. Similar things happen in the US all the time.
I had a 67 MGB. 3/4 valves in the shocks, Weber and abarth exhaust. I balanced the motor. Out of 245 cars that MGB was my favorite. Because of the way it was sprung, balance and handling. I'm not driving fast, I'm flying to low. Fun to drive and cheap to maintain.
I was a mechanic at a JRT dealership in USA until 1979. I so hoped they would design a simplified Cosworth twin cam 4 with a 5 speed all synchomesh transmission and 4 wheel disk brakes. But no, after all the years of success in America they let these proud old brands die a miserable death. I dispised the de-smoged Stromberg junk. I experienced a broken heart, so to recuperate l went to work for a Ferrari dealership.
Beautiful car! I have driven it for a year now and would not swap it for any other sports car! The looks and attention it receives from other road users and pedestrians with thumbs up where ever I drive. The attention it draws in car parks, the look on faces of other drivers as you raw past them (especially super car drivers!!!), the luxury, the comfort, handling and reliability. I look for reasons to drive it everyday!
+Ocee Bee Call Front line and speak to Tim or Ed. They are really nice company and great guys. I just drive the car and enjoy it, they know how it all works!
+Neil Cooper ..........They certainly look nice and fun to drive, but I personally would put my $$$ into an old school muscle car. Now THAT is fun! To boot, you get the sound that dwarfs any of these kid sized toy cars.
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Neil Cooper Three words... you lucky git! :P If I had the cash I'd have one of these no question, simply awesome. They sound so fierce too!
I used to have a well-sorted conversion with a Rover V8 and Rover gearbox. Just pure delight. Put a big cam in there and boy did it use a lot of gas though!
The Rolls equipped with a German engine, an MGB powered by a Japanese motor, and Parliament driven by a government system out of Europe. I think somebody got the whole 'the victor and the spoils' thing a bit confused.
Youre right technically , but the influx of small japanese sports cars killed MG in America and so killed any plans for a successor to the MGB.. That fate was well and truly sealed by the arrival of the "japanese MG" the MX5 in the late 80's . why do i still feel like crying ? lol
@@justinlinnane8043Yes! And I'm still heartbroken over Alfa Romeo's departure from the States in 1995 with their glorious Spider Veloce being yanked out of the market for lack of sales after the Miata was introduced here. And we never saw the replacement Spider, arguably one of the most beautiful cars that never rode American roads.
True. MG was dead by 90 and on life support with an aged and patchwork car attempting to stay legal the years before that. I eventually sold my 1974, last of the chrome bumper Bs, in 1989. I bought a 1989 built 1990 model MX5 (14000 USD) in white. It was close. It was both retro Elan and fresh Mazda. The MG sound was very close. One difference: I drove it 250000 miles for 20 years on the original clutch and non rebuilt engine. Sold it to a friend who still drives it on weekends. Don't think it will ever die, and it doesn't have a rust problem.
The MG killed the MG with its abysmal quality, even worse reliability, and so-so performance. I love them, but they're terrible, terrible cars. This makes them not terrible, and I'm totally for anything that does that.
I’ve owned 5 British roadsters, 3 Midgets, an MGB, and a 63 XKE. Loved every one. I was 16 in 1963 when I drove my uncles new 63 MGB through the Black Hills of South Dakota. Been hooked ever since!
My first MGB was a 1962 pull-handle roadster number 101 off the line. The first batch of MGB's were constructed outside the Abingdon plant as it wasn't quite ready for full production. In the late 70's the gearbox gave up so I fitted a late type O/D gearbox which had a different mating plate and 1st motion shaft diameter so I had the shaft turned down to fit the 3x bearing crankshaft bush and left one or maybe two ? engine to gearbox bolts unfixed due to mating misalignment . I rang the Abingdon competition dept and spoke to Nobby who said that to his knowledge it had not been done before but should work ok ....it did ... I removed the bumpers and replaced the 2x 6v batteries and that car regularly reached over 100 Mph between Bath and Oxford Uni and along the Fosse Way to Somerset ......Happy days.
Been to their factory and the cars are a work of art. For all these 'how much? Who buys that' comments, the bottom line is they sell every car they make. It's like a tailored suit to the customers individual tastes.
I am probably not someone to be consulted, but I am one of those who think that this car should have been powered by the Rover V8, just as it was in the mid 70s from British Leyland. Using the Mazda engine just seems like a cop out. Even Alfa Romeo uses an Italian engine in their version of the Miata.
Take 62k, buy an original MGB, the MX5 engine and gearbox, the suspension upgrades, even hire someone to put it all together, and you'd still have a fair bit of change. I do get it, but 62k? I like my plan.
The LE has a new Motor Heritage seam welded shell as well, all new interior trim, suspension, steering, brakes not to mention modern electronics. A lot to factor in.
Back in the early seventies, my poncey neighbour was sales manager with a Wakefield BL dealership. He showed me the brochures of the not yet released "Marina" in it's various derivatives. He was actually embarrassed, and ashamed to be involved with them! Around the same time, he arrived home in his new company car, which was an MGB GT V8 in purple with white leather/vinyl.... I can still remember the reg which was WWW 5 L Vehicle make: MG Date of first registration: April 1973 Cylinder capacity (cc): 1798 cc CO₂Emissions: Not available Fuel type: PETROL Euro Status: Not available Export marker: No Vehicle status: Not taxed Vehicle colour: PURPLE Vehicle type approval: Not available Wheelplan: 2-AXLE-RIGID BODY Revenue weight: Not available Unbelievable!!! It never was a V8 (despite the V8 badge on the grill)! I said he was a poncey twat (they named their dog Jensen because it was the day they brought the "Jensen" from London)! What a twat!!!
It would be amazing if all car manufacturers still made old looking cars but with modern running gears and electronics that you could buy at a reasonable price, cars nowadays have no character there just an appliance or tool
If they were going to install a better lump than the old B series, why didn't they stick with a Rover unit?, the 2 litre turbo 16 valve engine from the Rover 620 ti. Also the alloy T70 box from Rover Triumph, OK, it is only 5 speed, but personally I'd live without the 6th gear to stick with British components in a British sports car.
Decades ago friends in South Africa loaned me their ‘B for six weeks - Jonannesburg to Durban, down Indian Ocean side to Capetown, back up through the Karoo, Kimberley and back to J’burg and then up north to Kruger. Didn’t miss a beat! Good memories. 👌🇨🇦
Yes 100% my ALL time favourite sports car the Beautiful Healey 3000 when your old But if younger n still love diving Nothing satisfies like a Lotus Elan, MGA was way better looking than the B any day n loved the chrome rack on the boot lit
My 1969 MGB GT had a tuned, 2 litre B series engine and modified suspension but would still be under £6k. For £25k you could build (or have built) a very nice 300 bhp V8 with Tiff's beloved power steering, you could then buy quite a nice stable of cars with the change. That said those steel wheels are the nicest I have ever seen gracing a MGB and the point about Tim Fenna and Frontline is you really do get quality engineering. Looks fab, and pretty easy to live with. As a classic update exercise I would say the LE50 is fantastic, but I would look to put together a V8, maybe even with Mustang power, and have Frontline provide the underpinnings to make it work.
Exactly, you could spend 4k on a good Bgt and then spend another 4k on really perfecting the spec and you'd have a seriously great car for 8k. 4k worth of mods will sort out some of the old welding, give you a great leather interior, give it some modern sound proofing, give it a brand new paint job and some good wire wheels and if you really want, a grand extra will tune the engine up nicely and you have yourself something that's not far off the le50. That's what I'd do anyway.
Very cool, I'm glad to see resto mods keep all these great cars going. First car I owned was a 1977 mgb, bought it 6 years ago now and tbf it had a few engine mods and a handling kit. Really was a tough old girl! daily drove it year round and amazingly it was relatively cheap to keep it going with a few sunday's spent fixing it with my mates. If anyone wants to pick one up but is put off by the performance figures don't worry, working the B series engine and the 4 speed box with over drive operated by the button on the stick was some of the best fun behind the wheel you can have. Also 30 feels like 60 and 60 feels like 100+ 😂 ahhh.. such good cars
We used to have a concourse MGB GT with the uprated 2 litre engine, twin weber carbs and a Ford 5-speed box, all for under £6k. I can't even imagine paying £62k for a car that's no better.
It's a great car, but not an MG.. I had a 66 that needed a new engine or rebuild, so dropped a rebuilt V8 in it with various upgrades, including stealth cam, fuel injection, custom ecu, 6 link rear suspension, 5 speed box, custom manifold, stainless exhaust, lsd etc etc. Original shell, original interior, and it would drive the wheels of this LE.. Dynoed at 211hp at the hubs, so @235bhp at the crank.. All for under 7k, but obviously would have been more if I'd had to pay labour costs.. plus the original car cost me 9k.. No brainer to me.. Had to sell her when I got divorced, and had rebuilt her original engine to go with her, and still miss her 11 years on😭
Never really saw the appeal of the MGB but they're almost as common as classic minis in the UK. Wish they would build one of these modern replicas of those.
None of the drawbacks? . Sensors going ,emmission lights emmissions tests etc etc ....all the trappings of a modern vehicle . The old one, well, as long as you have a spark air and fuel you are good to go . No MOT,Free road tax . Ok, 7 seconds slower getting to 60 than the new one..but...who the hell really cares !!!!
gpo746 the le50 is also tax exempt and no emissions tests. Does 40mpg too. The sensors rarely fail as they only have the basic temp, throttle and engine speed sensors. And far more reliable than the b series engine.
Nice to see a reissue of a classic actually look like the original. Drove a friend's GT from time to time, loved the feel. Would like to drive the new version for comparison. That price tag, though. Seems much like inflated prices that vinyl equipment is costing audio hipsters these days.
When he says inside there is very little to chose...absolute nonsense..I have driven “frontline “ the interior is absolutely astonishing in terms of bespoke options and the sheer quality of leather and switch gear...the car is everything Eagle is to the E Type...
I once owned a 1980 MGB. it was easy to fix and always needed delicate tuning adjustments. I now drive a 2006 5spd Pontiac Solstice. Best looking/drivng roadster for cheap. This video is about an MGB GT, not a MGB, the convertible.
Chris Williams it is awesome, it puts a smile on my face every time I drive it! It roars, and Kman, this small kiddy car is a bit more powerful than most muscle cars? We are talking mid 3 seconds to 60 and a top of 175 restricted! It's the real deal, but understated, reserved, and a car that is just a bit different from your average sports car. A car of character.
Spend about 6-8k for a really solid MGB then spend a further 8-10k modernising it with new brakes, upgraded engine with supercharger, suspension and mod-cons. Less than £20,000 for a more nostalgic B than the Frontline
The original 1966 would do 100 easily. There are claims of as much as 120. There’s no way that 3-bearing tractor engine has 190,000 miles on it without a valve job but it was a pretty solid engine. A BMW 1 or 2 M- series engine would be more historically logical than a Miata engine (the AC Ace used a BMW six from the 1930’s built under license). Love the wheels though.
The bodyshell alone is about £14000, unpainted. They presumably buy new engines and transmissions directly from Mazda, which also won't be cheap. Then each engine has work done to it. Then they have to put together the suspension package for it. Then any original parts being reused will either have to be replaced with new, or completely reconditioned. There's probably some R&D done before they started building these things that they need to recoup money on. They'll also need to source an original car to reshell, which will cost a few grand depending on condition. And then of course there's the fact that these are all build to order in a small workshop by hand. That's a lot of man-hours, which is expensive. I could go on.
I rode in an MGBGT to Cali from Ruston in 1967. Great touring car. Had room for the driver and I and our luggage(he was a USAF major) and s great driver. Loved this car, not as much as the TR GT6 though
Loved my old mgbgt v8. Fast enough and not bad handling either. One reason for that i discovered was my leaf springs had broken, lowering the rear somewhat. When i got them replaced, the handling was worse. Wonder if its still going....
I bought a brand new 1967 MGB GT Special. It was the only one I had ever seen. It had badges on the side of the front fenders, special steering wheel and chrome knock off wire wheels with knock off center spinners. I had quite a few mechanical problems with it but enjoyed driving it once all the bugs were worked out. In my opinion BMC had poor quality control or I just had a lemon, everybody makes one once in a while. ok
Never owned one but have driven MGBs scores of times. Always enjoyed the experience. Don't think I'd get an upgraded one. That would be like putting 4WD and ABS on a Roman chariot. Some things are best left as they were.
"Tiff" sawing away, back and forth, at the steering wheel is not likely to produce smooth transitions in the turns, nor impressive lap times (says this MGB owner who has raced his 1970 in SCCA Solo II Autocross over seasons);
My high school car, '67 through '69, was a 1959 Jaguar XK150s, fixed head coupe. British racing green with red and white leather interior, such a sweet ride. And Every Hot Girl at school wanted to take a ride in MY CAR !
I absolutely love my MGB; however, I also know it can't be driven daily. It's too hot, loud, unreliable, smelly, and slow. However, THIS is a daily driver! Bravo for making this. As the Brits are wont to say, "Bloody brilliant."
A few months after I bought my MGB for $1500.00 i found an MGC for sale in a parking lot for the same freaking price. Man I wish I'd of scored that car.
@Scrubworks the problem with most retromods is the modern WHEELS, which are uber-tacky on a classic. With these Dunlops in a subtle re-size, this MG is perfect to my eye.
These things are lovely.... Reminiscent in concept of the old Vicarage Mk2 Jaguars with XJ power units and big, fat electric seats.... Wonderful for a month or two, but you will yearn for the loveliness of the original after a few months.
Lack of power steering on such a light car certainly doesn't mean it has "heavy" steering, unless you're parallel-parking. The steering is practically intuitive.
.0-60 mph times don’t mean squat in the grand scheme of things automotive. It’s the driving experience that accounts! It’s easy to correct the sloppy handling, slap on some Bilstein coil over HD shocks, some decent anti roll bars and bang, the old girl is fixed.
Yes I agree. Those of us who grew up with big cars before power steering tend to find the steering far too light in modern cars. I learnt in an Alvis TD21 with no power steering and, wow, you felt like you'd done a rigorous gym session after a spirited drive in that LOL.
Hmm, In the 70s I owned a string of small cars: a 72 Vega, a 74 Audi Fox, a 60 TR3, a 63 Volvo PV 544, a 77 Chevrolet Nova, an 80 Ford Fiesta. Man, that PINTO really needed power steering...but didn't have it. And, obviously, the Nova probably would be a handful without power steering. Weight and steering geometry will determine if you can get by without power steering.
"Ow Much"...! Bugger off, Hewitt's in Manchester build the SuperB for less than that... One of it's test drivers bottled at 180Mph, but it did kick Rover up the arse to build the RV8 again a better "used" alternative than paying £60,000.
You can tell it modern it’s better built, the shutlines are tighter, the paint looks like it’s sprayed on as opposed to the hand painted original, it may get better but the price.....!
+MaxTheKanuck #JoinTheMasterRace Obviously you don;t know anything about MGB engines. Check out this IP address: //classicmotorsports.com/articles/supercharging-your-mgb/
Is it worth 10 times more? Depends on what you want. If you want an authentic MGB then just buy one. If you want something that handles and behaves - and GOES - like a sportscar, there are better choices than either. An MX5 costs about the same as MGB and shits all over it. But that's a newer Japanese car, compared to a British classic. If you hanker for a front engined classic that handles and performs, look at a Caterham. That's a modern version of a 1950s design, Lotus 7, and looks like a 1930s design, but it handles and goes like a current Ferrari. And unlike the MX5, it's very British.
WHAT THE ENGLISH STYLE SPORT CAR ! CLASSIC, STYLISH, ELEGANT, KEEP ORIGINAL DESIGN AND UP RATE MORE AND MORE LUXURY AND HIGH PERFORMANCE ENGINE, REAL WONDERFUL CAR !
Great look at this. Remember I am from South Africa so in this land we don’t have old cars like this. Our cars are new like a bmw 3 serious or a Mercedes c class e class s class sl etcetera. We have decided to spent more money on a new car so we don’t buy a old car as this.
Both nice cars, yet the LE50 kinda defeats the purpose of owning a classic car in my opinion. A great car no doubt, and I love the look of it with the wheels, and you get Japanese reliability with a classic look, yet for that sorta coin, I wouldnt be buying the LE50
When I owned mind, I loved to drive it. 4 speed with and electric overdrive. But.... I was on a first name basis with the local tow truck driver. He expected my call when it rained. I hope the new one didn't use Lucas in the electrical and made it a negative earth... ;)
*More American paid internet trolls.* I had countless cars with Lucas electrics, even RR had them, and not one had problems. Next he will be on about Range Rovers. The US makers hate them as they are better than than the dross they turn out.
Ah John Burns, share the love... ;) Alas, much as I would love to be a paid internet troll, I work simply on facts. Glad you didn't have any problems with Lucas. Regarding US car makers, I agree with you. Good for about 100K miles and that's it. Another fun time I had with the car was when I first bought it. It was for sale at a service station several blocks away from my home. The big issue was the left front spindle splines were trashed. So I bought it and limped home using only the emergency brake to stop. It was going okay with no traffic. That is until the last turn. After making the turn, the wire wheel came off and bounced down the street. A city worker was working on the street and stopped the wheel which is an amazing feat in itself because he was laughing so hard. When he finished laughing he brought the wheel over and was kind enough to put a warning candle out behind me as I remounted the wheel for the trip home... So Cheers John, and Mind the Gap!
@@steves2061 You drove home with no brakes and knowing a wheel was loose? I am surprised you never mentioned mystical oil leaks. Go to any TH-cam on a Range Rover, you will find the comments are full of Americans (Paid Internet troll) slagging them. Reading the comments the UK must be full of cars broken down on the sides of the roads. I was in the desert. The worst cars I ever had were a Chey Blazer and a Buick. The Blazer was supposed to be an off-roader. They spent too much on crap velour seats than he mechanicals. Total trash. Jay Leno can't help putting digs in on British cars. He put a dig in on British cars on a SAAB vid, saying Swedish cars were superior and more reliable. Many of the components were British sourced on the SAAB, inc Girling brakes, which he never knew about.
Too late now, but BL should have released a “new” version in about 1980, 5 speed box and ether a 2ltr six cylinder or a twin cam four, re-do suspension and brakes, sell to the USA.
The tories?....you’re joking of course. The Labourite Trotskyite Commie elements within the trade unions killed the car industry in the UK. They conned the numbskull workers into believing we could still compete with the Japanese who had begun making inroads into our market. Of course our cars suffered due to their bullyboy working practices as production and overall standards fell. Dealers protested in vain and were left trying to con the British public that the new cars from the Far East were ‘jap crap’.It didn’t work because these cars were far more reliable whereas our cars wouldn’t even start on winter mornings! The demise of our motor industry along with many heavy industries are all directly attributable to headcases in the Labour movement and trade unions who didn’t have a clue about running competitive businesses. And that remains the same today with the Dinosaurs who run Labour....The Marxists and Communists Corbyn, McDonnell, Watson, along with their Dinosaur Trade Union Bosses.......men who have spent their lifetimes hating Britain and will never succeed.
At the end, one is the original mgb and the other one is a mazda. Which one would u like to bring to classic car gathering?...mmmm...for me definitely the original.
i can see that the cost may seem high.. but redesigning suspension to handle well cost ALOT of money...(even by today standards and industrial capabilities) plus the craftsmanship on this one is strong...lol example : if dodge hellcat handles like a european/japanese car it would not be affordable at all...designing a suspension that handles will mark the price very high....designing one for 400HP+ cost even more its not hard to make power from an engine these days (for any automaker and certainly not anyone with tools) and how reliable that engine will run with that sort power (the 70s and 80s are gone )
you can say that again about no power steering ive been driving a 960kg 1983 mitsubishi cordia(4x2 supershift) for 9 years (this will get your arms ripped after all that time if its your daily driver)
Although as rare as hens teethe, why not hunt down a real deal 65 LE which was obviously the inspiration for this project. At the same time a competent car builder could do this project on his own.
![[LIVE] : ONE ลุมพินี 89 | คู่เอก "ยอดไอคิว vs คิริลล์"](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Z3vYkHJ_5Ig/mqdefault.jpg)
When I was in the Navy stationed in the UK, a number of us had British sports cars. I had a 74 Spitfire 1500, one guy have a convertible MBG, one guy has a TVR, and 6 guys had TR-6s. Those were the days. I love the color of the new one!
Submariners, always were flash gits ;)
Years ago I came across 6 or 7 classic M.G. owners traveling through Pocahontas County West Virginia. These old boys were Britted up to the max from their cars to their clothing. One of the old gals had sprung a coolant leak, never in my life had I witnessed a happier group of friends as they mended the stricken M.G. and spread the Gospel of the greatness of British Leyland automobiles. Have to admit for quite a time after I was looking at Craigslist for old MG’s. These 60 and 70 year old men had become boys through the little cars magic! Live on forever M.G.!!!
I'm one if the 70yo men and completely understand it. Young people who have only known modern cars can't unterstand how milions of us saw these cars back in the day. Much of my life was centered around them. With all their faults they did and do bring me much joy.
All classic car owners do the same. Old cars do break down a lot. Unless they whole lots is totally renewed. You cannot beat nature. It rots and corrodes without telling you.
Bought a new 1964 MGB when I was soldiering. Drove it until 1983, about 100K miles. I do feel as if I pushed the thing another 100K miles. Now in my late seventies, wish I could buy a new 1964 MGB. I loved that car beyond good sense.
@@armondedge8840
You can buy a new MGB. Heritage Motors.
I’m 41 and my daily driver is a 73 B. My son, daughter, and I have rebuilt it and work on it together. There is hope for the next generation 😄
I really love this LE50. In high school 79-83, I had a 1973 MGB and I loved it. I drove it everywhere and it never failed me.
Was it the GT or Roadster?
Resto-modding done right. Definitely up there with the Eagle E-Type and the Jensen Interceptor S.
This is how America needs to redo our classics! Make them "actually" look like the car! Not like a plastic knockoff with plastic bumpers bring the steel chrome bumpers n trim back!
fucking democrats destroyed the US sports car industry
This is technically a restomod. It's using the chassis number and registration of an original car with a new bodyshell. Similar things happen in the US all the time.
MG are being manufactured in China, designed in UK and assembled in Thailand. Perhaps the MGB may be reborn at a more realistic price.
I had a 67 MGB. 3/4 valves in the shocks, Weber and abarth exhaust. I balanced the motor.
Out of 245 cars that MGB was my favorite. Because of the way it was sprung, balance and handling.
I'm not driving fast, I'm flying to low. Fun to drive and cheap to maintain.
I was a mechanic at a JRT dealership in USA until 1979. I so hoped they would design a simplified Cosworth twin cam 4 with a 5 speed all synchomesh transmission and 4 wheel disk brakes. But no, after all the years of success in America they let these proud old brands die a miserable death. I dispised the de-smoged Stromberg junk. I experienced a broken heart, so to recuperate l went to work for a Ferrari dealership.
Oh giggle....
@
Leonardo DaHumanoid
You poor bastard.
Beautiful car! I have driven it for a year now and would not swap it for any other sports car! The looks and attention it receives from other road users and pedestrians with thumbs up where ever I drive. The attention it draws in car parks, the look on faces of other drivers as you raw past them (especially super car drivers!!!), the luxury, the comfort, handling and reliability. I look for reasons to drive it everyday!
+Ocee Bee Call Front line and speak to Tim or Ed. They are really nice company and great guys. I just drive the car and enjoy it, they know how it all works!
+Neil Cooper ..........They certainly look nice and fun to drive, but I personally would put my $$$ into an old school muscle car. Now THAT is fun! To boot, you get the sound that dwarfs any of these kid sized toy cars.
Neil Cooper
Three words... you lucky git! :P
If I had the cash I'd have one of these no question, simply awesome. They sound so fierce too!
A well sorted or even a full race spec MGB V8 can be had for less than half this and the sound of a V8 for me would win every time let alone the cost
p24hrsmith RV8's the then modern MGB roadster is going up in value
I used to have a well-sorted conversion with a Rover V8 and Rover gearbox. Just pure delight. Put a big cam in there and boy did it use a lot of gas though!
p24hrsmith agreed
Yeah but too heavy for good handling.
The Rolls equipped with a German engine, an MGB powered by a Japanese motor, and Parliament driven by a government system out of Europe. I think somebody got the whole 'the victor and the spoils' thing a bit confused.
Funniest and truest remark ever! Congratulations! You won the internet!
d'arc madr Who really won WWII????
Exactly
Not your fault, mate! Audie and the the other blokes in the 3rd I. D. did their bit.
brexit is bad
Oh the irony ! a reborn MG with the engine of a car that killed the original MG!! Why do I feel like crying!
Almost a great analogy, but the MGB was axed well before the Miata/MX5 was introduced
Youre right technically , but the influx of small japanese sports cars killed MG in America and so killed any plans for a successor to the MGB.. That fate was well and truly sealed by the arrival of the "japanese MG" the MX5 in the late 80's . why do i still feel like crying ? lol
@@justinlinnane8043Yes! And I'm still heartbroken over Alfa Romeo's departure from the States in 1995 with their glorious Spider Veloce being yanked out of the market for lack of sales after the Miata was introduced here. And we never saw the replacement Spider, arguably one of the most beautiful cars that never rode American roads.
True. MG was dead by 90 and on life support with an aged and patchwork car attempting to stay legal the years before that. I eventually sold my 1974, last of the chrome bumper Bs, in 1989. I bought a 1989 built 1990 model MX5 (14000 USD) in white. It was close. It was both retro Elan and fresh Mazda. The MG sound was very close. One difference:
I drove it 250000 miles for 20 years on the original clutch and non rebuilt engine. Sold it to a friend who still drives it on weekends. Don't think it will ever die, and it doesn't have a rust problem.
The MG killed the MG with its abysmal quality, even worse reliability, and so-so performance. I love them, but they're terrible, terrible cars. This makes them not terrible, and I'm totally for anything that does that.
I’ve owned 5 British roadsters, 3 Midgets, an MGB, and a 63 XKE. Loved every one. I was 16 in 1963 when I drove my uncles new 63 MGB through the Black Hills of South Dakota. Been hooked ever since!
My first MGB was a 1962 pull-handle roadster number 101 off the line. The first batch of MGB's were constructed outside the Abingdon plant as it wasn't quite ready for full production.
In the late 70's the gearbox gave up so I fitted a late type O/D gearbox which had a different mating plate and 1st motion shaft diameter so I had the shaft turned down to fit the 3x bearing crankshaft bush and left one or maybe two ? engine to gearbox bolts unfixed due to mating misalignment . I rang the Abingdon competition dept and spoke to Nobby who said that to his knowledge it had not been done before but should work ok ....it did ...
I removed the bumpers and replaced the 2x 6v batteries and that car regularly reached over 100 Mph between Bath and Oxford Uni and along the Fosse Way to Somerset ......Happy days.
My first car was a 66 with wire wheels, I built the engine in my bedroom. Loved that car. Filled the lever action shocks with STP.
Been to their factory and the cars are a work of art. For all these 'how much? Who buys that' comments, the bottom line is they sell every car they make. It's like a tailored suit to the customers individual tastes.
I am probably not someone to be consulted, but I am one of those who think that this car should have been powered by the Rover V8, just as it was in the mid 70s from British Leyland. Using the Mazda engine just seems like a cop out. Even Alfa Romeo uses an Italian engine in their version of the Miata.
Take 62k, buy an original MGB, the MX5 engine and gearbox, the suspension upgrades, even hire someone to put it all together, and you'd still have a fair bit of change. I do get it, but 62k? I like my plan.
old MG == 750kg of rust
The LE has a new Motor Heritage seam welded shell as well, all new interior trim, suspension, steering, brakes not to mention modern electronics. A lot to factor in.
Back in the early seventies, my poncey neighbour was sales manager with a Wakefield BL dealership.
He showed me the brochures of the not yet released "Marina" in it's various derivatives.
He was actually embarrassed, and ashamed to be involved with them!
Around the same time, he arrived home in his new company car, which was an MGB GT V8 in purple with white leather/vinyl....
I can still remember the reg which was WWW 5 L
Vehicle make: MG
Date of first registration: April 1973
Cylinder capacity (cc): 1798 cc
CO₂Emissions: Not available
Fuel type: PETROL
Euro Status: Not available
Export marker: No
Vehicle status: Not taxed
Vehicle colour: PURPLE
Vehicle type approval: Not available
Wheelplan: 2-AXLE-RIGID BODY
Revenue weight: Not available
Unbelievable!!!
It never was a V8 (despite the V8 badge on the grill)!
I said he was a poncey twat (they named their dog Jensen because it was the day they brought the "Jensen" from London)!
What a twat!!!
It would be amazing if all car manufacturers still made old looking cars but with modern running gears and electronics that you could buy at a reasonable price, cars nowadays have no character there just an appliance or tool
If they were going to install a better lump than the old B series, why didn't they stick with a Rover unit?, the 2 litre turbo 16 valve engine from the Rover 620 ti. Also the alloy T70 box from Rover Triumph, OK, it is only 5 speed, but personally I'd live without the 6th gear to stick with British components in a British sports car.
Decades ago friends in South Africa loaned me their ‘B for six weeks - Jonannesburg to Durban, down Indian Ocean side to Capetown, back up through the Karoo, Kimberley and back to J’burg and then up north to Kruger. Didn’t miss a beat! Good memories. 👌🇨🇦
The LE-50 is as much an MGB-GT as the Eagle is an E-Type...
You remember the MGA models,the twin cam's,or aTriumph TR3;the beautiful looks;or a Austin Healey MK2 or 3?Those where car's!!
Yes 100% my ALL time favourite sports car the Beautiful Healey 3000 when your old But if younger n still love diving Nothing satisfies like a Lotus Elan, MGA was way better looking than the B any day n loved the chrome rack on the boot lit
Only the British could destroy a company like MG .
All out comrades..
They wee crap from the start.
William Mcmonagle here speaks a man that has never driven a MG.....
Alan Wayte Does this imply they were junk ??????? and only a idiot would drive a MG .
@Messenger Charles
Another Daily Mail Reader. Sad isn't it.
Look at this you buffoon:
th-cam.com/video/SsizoYrceOg/w-d-xo.html
My 1969 MGB GT had a tuned, 2 litre B series engine and modified suspension but would still be under £6k. For £25k you could build (or have built) a very nice 300 bhp V8 with Tiff's beloved power steering, you could then buy quite a nice stable of cars with the change.
That said those steel wheels are the nicest I have ever seen gracing a MGB and the point about Tim Fenna and Frontline is you really do get quality engineering. Looks fab, and pretty easy to live with.
As a classic update exercise I would say the LE50 is fantastic, but I would look to put together a V8, maybe even with Mustang power, and have Frontline provide the underpinnings to make it work.
Shame he didn't answer his initial question - is it worth 10 times more? Clearly no, imo. If you want an old classic, buy an old classic!
Exactly, you could spend 4k on a good Bgt and then spend another 4k on really perfecting the spec and you'd have a seriously great car for 8k. 4k worth of mods will sort out some of the old welding, give you a great leather interior, give it some modern sound proofing, give it a brand new paint job and some good wire wheels and if you really want, a grand extra will tune the engine up nicely and you have yourself something that's not far off the le50. That's what I'd do anyway.
good luck!
Very cool, I'm glad to see resto mods keep all these great cars going. First car I owned was a 1977 mgb, bought it 6 years ago now and tbf it had a few engine mods and a handling kit. Really was a tough old girl! daily drove it year round and amazingly it was relatively cheap to keep it going with a few sunday's spent fixing it with my mates.
If anyone wants to pick one up but is put off by the performance figures don't worry, working the B series engine and the 4 speed box with over drive operated by the button on the stick was some of the best fun behind the wheel you can have. Also 30 feels like 60 and 60 feels like 100+ 😂 ahhh.. such good cars
We used to have a concourse MGB GT with the uprated 2 litre engine, twin weber carbs and a Ford 5-speed box, all for under £6k. I can't even imagine paying £62k for a car that's no better.
It's a great car, but not an MG.. I had a 66 that needed a new engine or rebuild, so dropped a rebuilt V8 in it with various upgrades, including stealth cam, fuel injection, custom ecu, 6 link rear suspension, 5 speed box, custom manifold, stainless exhaust, lsd etc etc. Original shell, original interior, and it would drive the wheels of this LE.. Dynoed at 211hp at the hubs, so @235bhp at the crank.. All for under 7k, but obviously would have been more if I'd had to pay labour costs.. plus the original car cost me 9k.. No brainer to me.. Had to sell her when I got divorced, and had rebuilt her original engine to go with her, and still miss her 11 years on😭
Why'd you need to sell such a masterpiece when you divorced? 😥
All the Mazda hate is funny as hell. What is an MX-5 anyway, but an MGB that works right all the time. Anybody doing such a modernization to an MGA??
You could add most of those upgrades for a lot less money than buying the new one.
Never really saw the appeal of the MGB but they're almost as common as classic minis in the UK. Wish they would build one of these modern replicas of those.
I'm guessing that when they came up with the name "Fifth Gear", they weren't anticipating that 6 speed gearboxes would ever be introduced.
+justsomeguytoyou It was on Channel 5 originally...
+justsomeguytoyou The movie studio is still 20th Century Fox.
justsomeguytoyou They have 10 speeds now XD
I'd have the new one. All the benefits of the classic with none of the drawbacks.
None of the drawbacks? . Sensors going ,emmission lights emmissions tests etc etc ....all the trappings of a modern vehicle . The old one, well, as long as you have a spark air and fuel you are good to go . No MOT,Free road tax . Ok, 7 seconds slower getting to 60 than the new one..but...who the hell really cares !!!!
A live rear axle in the modern MG makes it closer to a small muscle car. That in itself is not bad, but not for the price.
gpo746 the le50 is also tax exempt and no emissions tests. Does 40mpg too. The sensors rarely fail as they only have the basic temp, throttle and engine speed sensors. And far more reliable than the b series engine.
@@gpo746 Seriously, there really are no drawbacks with the new one.
What car do u have?
Nice to see a reissue of a classic actually look like the original.
Drove a friend's GT from time to time, loved the feel. Would like to drive the new version for comparison.
That price tag, though. Seems much like inflated prices that vinyl equipment is costing audio hipsters these days.
When he says inside there is very little to chose...absolute nonsense..I have driven “frontline “ the interior is absolutely astonishing in terms of bespoke options and the sheer quality of leather and switch gear...the car is everything Eagle is to the E Type...
I once owned a 1980 MGB. it was easy to fix and always needed delicate tuning adjustments. I now drive a 2006 5spd Pontiac Solstice. Best looking/drivng roadster for cheap. This video is about an MGB GT, not a MGB, the convertible.
At that price all I have to say is, O...M...G!
Chris Williams it is awesome, it puts a smile on my face every time I drive it! It roars, and Kman, this small kiddy car is a bit more powerful than most muscle cars? We are talking mid 3 seconds to 60 and a top of 175 restricted! It's the real deal, but understated, reserved, and a car that is just a bit different from your average sports car. A car of character.
Spend about 6-8k for a really solid MGB then spend a further 8-10k modernising it with new brakes, upgraded engine with supercharger, suspension and mod-cons.
Less than £20,000 for a more nostalgic B than the Frontline
The original 1966 would do 100 easily. There are claims of as much as 120. There’s no way that 3-bearing tractor engine has 190,000 miles on it without a valve job but it was a pretty solid engine.
A BMW 1 or 2 M- series engine would be more historically logical than a Miata engine (the AC Ace used a BMW six from the 1930’s built under license). Love the wheels though.
62k?? Where do these company's get these figures from I can fit an sr20 engine and coilovers for around 5k
The bodyshell alone is about £14000, unpainted. They presumably buy new engines and transmissions directly from Mazda, which also won't be cheap. Then each engine has work done to it. Then they have to put together the suspension package for it. Then any original parts being reused will either have to be replaced with new, or completely reconditioned. There's probably some R&D done before they started building these things that they need to recoup money on. They'll also need to source an original car to reshell, which will cost a few grand depending on condition. And then of course there's the fact that these are all build to order in a small workshop by hand. That's a lot of man-hours, which is expensive. I could go on.
I rode in an MGBGT to Cali from Ruston in 1967. Great touring car. Had room for the driver and I and our luggage(he was a USAF major) and s great driver. Loved this car, not as much as the TR GT6 though
Loved my old mgbgt v8. Fast enough and not bad handling either. One reason for that i discovered was my leaf springs had broken, lowering the rear somewhat. When i got them replaced, the handling was worse. Wonder if its still going....
I bought a brand new 1967 MGB GT Special. It was the only one I had ever seen. It had badges on the side of the front fenders, special steering wheel and chrome knock off wire wheels with knock off center spinners. I had quite a few mechanical problems with it but enjoyed driving it once all the bugs were worked out. In my opinion BMC had poor quality control or I just had a lemon, everybody makes one once in a while. ok
this is an mgb-gt; not mg or mgb... but a long way from that old 80 to 120 hp. very nice excepting the price tag
Never owned one but have driven MGBs scores of times. Always enjoyed the experience. Don't think I'd get an upgraded one. That would be like putting 4WD and ABS on a Roman chariot. Some things are best left as they were.
"Tiff" sawing away, back and forth, at the steering wheel is not likely to produce smooth transitions in the turns, nor impressive lap times (says this MGB owner who has raced his 1970 in SCCA Solo II Autocross over seasons);
I used to love the steering weight on my 67 MGB and l had a small momo steering wheel to boot
My high school car, '67 through '69, was a 1959 Jaguar XK150s, fixed head coupe. British racing green with red and white leather interior, such a sweet ride. And Every Hot Girl at school wanted to take a ride in MY CAR !
I absolutely love my MGB; however, I also know it can't be driven daily. It's too hot, loud, unreliable, smelly, and slow. However, THIS is a daily driver! Bravo for making this. As the Brits are wont to say, "Bloody brilliant."
A NEW and relatively exclusive recreation of of one of the most influential sports cars of all time, for this money... WOW!
A few months after I bought my MGB for $1500.00 i found an MGC for sale in a parking lot for the same freaking price. Man I wish I'd of scored that car.
My new dream two car garage, an Alfaholics GTA and an MG LE50.
@Scrubworks the problem with most retromods is the modern WHEELS, which are uber-tacky on a classic. With these Dunlops in a subtle re-size, this MG is perfect to my eye.
Tiff is a legend.
Is this available in a left-hand drive for the US market? A straight 6 with twin overhead cams would be nice.
These things are lovely.... Reminiscent in concept of the old Vicarage Mk2 Jaguars with XJ power units and big, fat electric seats.... Wonderful for a month or two, but you will yearn for the loveliness of the original after a few months.
One thing missing is the exhaust through a dustbin sound.
Lack of power steering on such a light car certainly doesn't mean it has "heavy" steering, unless you're parallel-parking. The steering is practically intuitive.
.0-60 mph times don’t mean squat in the grand scheme of things automotive. It’s the driving experience that accounts! It’s easy to correct the sloppy handling, slap on some Bilstein coil over HD shocks, some decent anti roll bars and bang, the old girl is fixed.
I've got one I'm currently trying to get it going again
There should be no reason for the "new" one to need power steering.
Yes I agree. Those of us who grew up with big cars before power steering tend to find the steering far too light in modern cars.
I learnt in an Alvis TD21 with no power steering and, wow, you felt like you'd done a rigorous gym session after a spirited drive in that LOL.
Hmm,
In the 70s I owned a string of small cars: a 72 Vega, a 74 Audi Fox, a 60 TR3, a 63 Volvo PV 544, a 77 Chevrolet Nova, an 80 Ford Fiesta. Man, that PINTO really needed power steering...but didn't have it. And, obviously, the Nova probably would be a handful without power steering.
Weight and steering geometry will determine if you can get by without power steering.
"Ow Much"...! Bugger off, Hewitt's in Manchester build the SuperB for less than that... One of it's test drivers bottled at 180Mph, but it did kick Rover up the arse to build the RV8 again a better "used" alternative than paying £60,000.
Best to rebuild my car, using a wrecked MX-6 & save $60,000 dollars.
Took the Japanese to build a British sports car that works. First time every time.
No. Any modern British engine/transmission/suspension would have improved this car greatly.
You can tell it modern it’s better built, the shutlines are tighter, the paint looks like it’s sprayed on as opposed to the hand painted original, it may get better but the price.....!
For 62K, I'd be wanting the bonnet to fit a little better.......
I would much rather put the $62,000 in to restoring my 1972 MGB GT. With $60,000 I can by after market heads and cams and a super charger for my MGB
*buy
Yeah, as if that engine can take boost without eating itself.
+MaxTheKanuck #JoinTheMasterRace Obviously you don;t know anything about MGB engines. Check out this IP address: //classicmotorsports.com/articles/supercharging-your-mgb/
mrblowhard2u Hoodini.
+donny southwell but you are poor so why comment ?
oh and thats pounds strerling not dollar
As someone who truly loves the MG name, I would say that I would probably buy this if this price was cheaper.
Needs to be 40K in my opinion
just think how much better it would be with a 13B rotary engine.
I want this car to succeed, sadly that price tag murders it all.
a lot of hand built custom work production done in low numbers $$$
At least they didn't make it electric, like some restmods out there.
WOW....what a nice car and modern handeling and less loss per year than every other modern look car
Fitting that a Miata engine was selected for the upgrade.
Wow, I would buy one.
The mgb is a good looking car. Ford makes more f series trucks in a year than mg made mgb in 30 years
Italian designed coachwork, British tractor motor and chassis..
..and?
Is it worth 10 times more? Depends on what you want. If you want an authentic MGB then just buy one. If you want something that handles and behaves - and GOES - like a sportscar, there are better choices than either. An MX5 costs about the same as MGB and shits all over it. But that's a newer Japanese car, compared to a British classic. If you hanker for a front engined classic that handles and performs, look at a Caterham. That's a modern version of a 1950s design, Lotus 7, and looks like a 1930s design, but it handles and goes like a current Ferrari. And unlike the MX5, it's very British.
WHAT THE ENGLISH STYLE SPORT CAR ! CLASSIC, STYLISH, ELEGANT, KEEP ORIGINAL DESIGN AND UP RATE MORE AND MORE LUXURY AND HIGH PERFORMANCE ENGINE, REAL WONDERFUL CAR !
Great look at this. Remember I am from South Africa so in this land we don’t have old cars like this. Our cars are new like a bmw 3 serious or a Mercedes c class e class s class sl etcetera. We have decided to spent more money on a new car so we don’t buy a old car as this.
Both nice cars, yet the LE50 kinda defeats the purpose of owning a classic car in my opinion. A great car no doubt, and I love the look of it with the wheels, and you get Japanese reliability with a classic look, yet for that sorta coin, I wouldnt be buying the LE50
The LE50 is *not* classic, it is current.
When I owned mind, I loved to drive it. 4 speed with and electric overdrive. But.... I was on a first name basis with the local tow truck driver. He expected my call when it rained. I hope the new one didn't use Lucas in the electrical and made it a negative earth... ;)
*More American paid internet trolls.* I had countless cars with Lucas electrics, even RR had them, and not one had problems. Next he will be on about Range Rovers. The US makers hate them as they are better than than the dross they turn out.
Ah John Burns, share the love... ;) Alas, much as I would love to be a paid internet troll, I work simply on facts. Glad you didn't have any problems with Lucas. Regarding US car makers, I agree with you. Good for about 100K miles and that's it.
Another fun time I had with the car was when I first bought it. It was for sale at a service station several blocks away from my home. The big issue was the left front spindle splines were trashed. So I bought it and limped home using only the emergency brake to stop. It was going okay with no traffic. That is until the last turn. After making the turn, the wire wheel came off and bounced down the street. A city worker was working on the street and stopped the wheel which is an amazing feat in itself because he was laughing so hard. When he finished laughing he brought the wheel over and was kind enough to put a warning candle out behind me as I remounted the wheel for the trip home...
So Cheers John,
and Mind the Gap!
@@steves2061
You drove home with no brakes and knowing a wheel was loose?
I am surprised you never mentioned mystical oil leaks.
Go to any TH-cam on a Range Rover, you will find the comments are full of Americans (Paid Internet troll) slagging them. Reading the comments the UK must be full of cars broken down on the sides of the roads.
I was in the desert. The worst cars I ever had were a Chey Blazer and a Buick. The Blazer was supposed to be an off-roader. They spent too much on crap velour seats than he mechanicals. Total trash.
Jay Leno can't help putting digs in on British cars. He put a dig in on British cars on a SAAB vid, saying Swedish cars were superior and more reliable. Many of the components were British sourced on the SAAB, inc Girling brakes, which he never knew about.
Too late now, but BL should have released a “new” version in about 1980, 5 speed box and ether a 2ltr six cylinder or a twin cam four, re-do suspension and brakes, sell to the USA.
It more resembles my wonderful MG-GT. Those were the days.
In the mid 80's I had a 1971 MGB convertible with a Ford Pinto motor in it that flat hauled ass.
Geee you ought to get something for $90,000 and Indian engineering
Pretty nice upgrade
if the tories hadn't completely killed off british heavy industry, that engine could also have been british.
The tories?....you’re joking of course. The Labourite Trotskyite Commie elements within the trade unions killed the car industry in the UK. They conned the numbskull workers into believing we could still compete with the Japanese who had begun making inroads into our market. Of course our cars suffered due to their bullyboy working practices as production and overall standards fell. Dealers protested in vain and were left trying to con the British public that the new cars from the Far East were ‘jap crap’.It didn’t work because these cars were far more reliable whereas our cars wouldn’t even start on winter mornings! The demise of our motor industry along with many heavy industries are all directly attributable to headcases in the Labour movement and trade unions who didn’t have a clue about running competitive businesses. And that remains the same today with the Dinosaurs who run Labour....The Marxists and Communists Corbyn, McDonnell, Watson, along with their Dinosaur Trade Union Bosses.......men who have spent their lifetimes hating Britain and will never succeed.
@user name
That idiot Thatcher *did* kill off the UK car industry. Get out of cloud cuckoo land.
i love Fifth Gear
Isn't the black plate illegal then?
I would take the LE 50 here but V8 MGB GT over the LE 50
Would make a great sleeper car for racing.
"Which would you choose? It all boils down to feel." No, sunshine - it boils down to money x 10
Modernized one for me please. But with a Coyote motor and Tremec though.
I used to say I’d rather push an MG then drive a Triumph. Then I did it, which wasn’t nearly as fun as saying it.
At the end, one is the original mgb and the other one is a mazda. Which one would u like to bring to classic car gathering?...mmmm...for me definitely the original.
No. It is an MGB how it should have been.
If the program had compared the Frontline with the GTV8, that would have been a like for like comparison with a proper MG not a Japanese clone.
Man, I would drive the mortal shit out of one of these every day forever!
i can see that the cost may seem high..
but redesigning suspension to handle well cost ALOT of money...(even by today standards and industrial capabilities)
plus the craftsmanship on this one is strong...lol
example : if dodge hellcat handles like a european/japanese car
it would not be affordable at all...designing a suspension that handles will mark the price very high....designing one for 400HP+ cost even more
its not hard to make power from an engine these days (for any automaker and certainly not anyone with tools) and how reliable that engine will run with that sort power (the 70s and 80s are gone )
you can say that again about no power steering ive been driving a 960kg 1983 mitsubishi cordia(4x2 supershift) for 9 years
(this will get your arms ripped after all that time if its your daily driver)
hell yeah i do
did you try using glasses?
if that doesn't work try getting youre eyes corrected
So Front line do what enthusiasts do for £5000 and sell it for £62,000. Lucrative.
Although as rare as hens teethe, why not hunt down a real deal 65 LE which was obviously the inspiration for this project. At the same time a competent car builder could do this project on his own.