I have the 79 and 80 LE models. The 79 is restored and the 80 is next in line for a ground up restoration. I did notice that the build quality was way better on the 79.
It did have a pretty long production run, but it was only 18 years, unless you consider the MGA as umbrella’d as close enough to be classified as the same basic car since mechanically it is so similar… then that would be 25 yrs
I would suggest everyone who is , or has been, involved with MGBs has an opinion including me. I have owned 30 Brit cars since 1964 to include 7 MGs. I have owned: 1946 TC race car which I streeterized. 1950 MG TD which was also a race car prepped for Bonneville. My very first car was a 1953 MGTD MK II.. my favorite of the T series. First month production 1956 MGA which I bought when working for British Motors of Monterey, Calif. I promptly installed a 3 main B motor. Then a 1969 MGC GT also bought while there. Webasto sun roof and 4 speed automatic, Mineral Blue. Twelve years ago I bought and restored a completely rust free 1964 Iris Blue B. Fabulous car. Stupidly sold it. I replaced it with my current 1963 MGB. Looks good runs well but the Weber has to go. Garbage, and I am adamant about getting rid of them, they are a cheap (relatively) easy way out of not restoring and replacing the SU carbs, best carb ever built. . The down draft WEBER is NOT a dedicated unit for the B, it is universal and unfit as it comes. To properly fit one you need a sack of jets and a rolling dyno, and then you still have a carb tat has a 90 turn of the air fuel mixture. They are inefficient, prone to vapor lock and do not have the "punch" of proper SUs. Your mileage may vary. The latest down draft weber is made in Spain and worse than the Italian made units. Back to the LE MGB. I simple words An Abomination.. It fails on the following basic points. Substandard.... Design, Materials and Workmanship. There is no excuse for this car. Other manufacturers managed to comply with the US Federal regulations without looking hideous and still with some resemblance of former days and some power left. Attempts at upping the mid sixties HP to the former 95-98 are commendable but expensive and , as we see with the Weber, a waste of money and time. I agree with the Electronic ignition and the exhaust and so on but this is the classic "lipstick on a pig" Granted the car has very few miles but that does not preclude that the car itself is a deterrent to purchase given design, material and workmanship failure. There are plenty of pre 1974 1/2 chrome bumper cars out there. I would suggest that MGB ended life in June of 74. RIP. I can forgive the rubber bumpers on a BRG, Black or Red MGB.. (almost) It's the rest of the car that is the real problem. The LE designation means absolutely nothing. Stripes and wheels doesn't cut it. If someone wants to restore (bring the car back to original) that is folly. Throwing money trying to upgrade the car is expensive and time consuming ..and , as an example, replacing the vinyl seat covers with proper leather. a grand just to buy the covers not to include installation. There's more but I'm done and you are bored... What this car needs is a proper Christian Burial or back to a museum for gross auto mistakes next to the Gremlin and the Kaisers with the widow's peak windshield. Excellent video and my condolences to the next owner. RIP MGB.
I have the 79 and 80 LE models. The 79 is restored and the 80 is next in line for a ground up restoration. I did notice that the build quality was way better on the 79.
Outstanding video and presentation.
Thank you! Cheers!
Thank you for the Walk around video of this beauty!
Glad you enjoyed it
Pretty amazing that the basic car itself had almost a 40 year production run. Very cool example indeed.
It did have a pretty long production run, but it was only 18 years, unless you consider the MGA as umbrella’d as close enough to be classified as the same basic car since mechanically it is so similar… then that would be 25 yrs
@@mgbgtguy yes, I meant almost 20 years not 40...lol.
I would suggest everyone who is , or has been, involved with MGBs has an opinion including me.
I have owned 30 Brit cars since 1964 to include 7 MGs. I have owned:
1946 TC race car which I streeterized. 1950 MG TD which was also a race car prepped for Bonneville.
My very first car was a 1953 MGTD MK II.. my favorite of the T series. First month production 1956 MGA
which I bought when working for British Motors of Monterey, Calif. I promptly installed a 3 main B motor.
Then a 1969 MGC GT also bought while there. Webasto sun roof and 4 speed automatic, Mineral Blue.
Twelve years ago I bought and restored a completely rust free 1964 Iris Blue B. Fabulous car. Stupidly sold it.
I replaced it with my current 1963 MGB. Looks good runs well but the Weber has to go. Garbage, and I am
adamant about getting rid of them, they are a cheap (relatively) easy way out of not restoring and replacing
the SU carbs, best carb ever built. . The down draft WEBER is NOT a dedicated unit for the B, it is universal and
unfit as it comes.
To properly fit one you need a sack of jets and a rolling dyno, and then you still have a carb tat has a 90 turn of the
air fuel mixture. They are inefficient, prone to vapor lock and do not have the "punch" of proper SUs.
Your mileage may vary. The latest down draft weber is made in Spain and worse than the Italian made units.
Back to the LE MGB. I simple words An Abomination.. It fails on the following basic points. Substandard.... Design,
Materials and Workmanship. There is no excuse for this car. Other manufacturers managed to comply with the US
Federal regulations without looking hideous and still with some resemblance of former days and some power left.
Attempts at upping the mid sixties HP to the former 95-98 are commendable but expensive and , as we see with the Weber,
a waste of money and time. I agree with the Electronic ignition and the exhaust and so on but this is the classic "lipstick on a pig"
Granted the car has very few miles but that does not preclude that the car itself is a deterrent to purchase given design, material
and workmanship failure.
There are plenty of pre 1974 1/2 chrome bumper cars out there. I would suggest that MGB ended life in June of 74. RIP.
I can forgive the rubber bumpers on a BRG, Black or Red MGB.. (almost) It's the rest of the car that is the real problem.
The LE designation means absolutely nothing. Stripes and wheels doesn't cut it.
If someone wants to restore (bring the car back to original) that is folly. Throwing money trying to upgrade the car is expensive
and time consuming ..and , as an example, replacing the vinyl seat covers with proper leather. a grand just to buy the covers not
to include installation.
There's more but I'm done and you are bored... What this car needs is a proper Christian Burial or back to a museum for gross
auto mistakes next to the Gremlin and the Kaisers with the widow's peak windshield.
Excellent video and my condolences to the next owner. RIP MGB.
Did the LE have larger tyres on its alloys such as 185/70 x 14?
I couldn’t remember if they did or not, but after looking it up, yes the LE had 185/70-14 tires