Cherry 1972 MGB! See exactly why it earns a thumbs up from the CAR WIZARD!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 20 พ.ย. 2021
- You don't see MG MGB's in this condition very often, and the CAR WIZARD 🧙♂️ gets to have one in his shop. You have to see this minty 1972 MG MGB roadster.
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Wizard - As a long time MGB owner with a fully restored 1966 MGB that I did myself, I would like to correct a few statements made in your video. This comes from point of view of having more knowledge about these cars and that you don't see them very often, not trying to one up anyone here.
1) MG imported over 400,000 MGB's to the U.S. over the 18 year production period. They were the most popular MG model ever produced and were specifically targeted to the U.S. market.
2) MGB's were very successful race cars in their day and won their classes at Le Mans and Sebring, along with many SCCA class championships. They also did well in rallying and and are still prevalent in historic racing.
3) The shock absorbers are not "knee action" shocks, they are "lever action" shocks, as referred to in the factory manual. Even though they are 1930's technology, they actually work very well as compared to tube shocks.
4) The battery was placed behind the passenger's seat to help weight balance the car.
5) The largest supplier of MG car parts (along with other British makes) is Moss Motors out of California. If Moss doesn't have it, it isn't made. You can literally build an MGB from scratch using Moss Motors parts (they even produce entire bodies). Suggest you look up their web site and consider using them if you have any future work on MG's. Your supplier probably ordered from Moss anyways.
6) The SU fuel pumps are notorious for going kaput, but are easy fixes. Usual failures are either the points in the pump, the pump diaphragm, or the leaf valves in the pump. Repair kits are available.
7) If you do see potential for future MGB work, I suggest you get the Robert Bentley reprint book of the factory repair manual. It has everything needed for repairing MGB's, including the special tuning sections to improve performance (albeit circa 1960's and 1970's). This book can be ordered from Moss.
8) The earlier models of the MGB (1963 to 1969) are actually quite roomy and fit large drivers easily. I am 6'4" tall and have to move the seat up on my '66 to reach the pedals. Later years moved the seat mounting system forward in order to accommodate the folding frame convertible top and then anyone over 6' was a bit cramped.
9) These cars are an absolute blast to drive and you are correct in noting any small hatchback of today can blow it away on the road for performance. That is not the point of the car. Being on the road on a beautiful sunny day with the wind in your hair and hearing the exhaust note as you drive on your favorite curvy road is what this car is all about.
Keep up the great work and I always enjoy watching your videos.
Excellent comment. Civil and knowledgeable. I have been thinking of getting an MGB and your information was very helpful.
I have the same style shocks in my Morris minor. You can change the grade of oil to stiffen the suspension!
IMO...the MGB was inferior to the previous model...the MGA....also inferior to contemporary Triumph TR3-TR4s....The B was slightly more comfortable interior-wise...but for me, performance was much better with the Triumph models...the TRs had a nice, rorty exhaust note...the MGB had a weird, weak, tinny sound to it...in short, the MGB was an anemic, ""ladies" sports car...the TR3-4 models were more masculine sounding, and had around 20 more bhp...I owned at 1959 Austin-Healey back in the late 1960s--a lusty six cylinder , making around 120bhp...but my buddy owned a 1960TR3...and it could totally keep up with my Healey, at least up to 60mph or so...But another friend of mine had a 68 MGB...it would soon be in my rear view mirror! lol.
I agree with you Ron. I bought a ten year old ‘72 MGB while in college. It was my dream car. I found a shop that happened to have a mechanic who used to race British motorcycles. He had the carbs tuned perfectly. We spent a day going through all of the grounds. Once this was done, I never had electrical problems. Knee action shocks!!
Fun is not a number!
The MG Abingdon plant that built the B and Midget had a very intetesting production method. Teams of workers at stations wold do their jobs and roll each car to the next station upon completion of their job. No moving assembly line. It was a team centered production style thanks to that, and its important to note, there were ZERO strikes at Abingdon in the 70s. Think about that! A Brittish Legland plant with NO STRIKES! IN THE 70S! Youd thinnk management woulda looked and asked what are they doing right here but of course no. Hence why Brittish Leyland failed.
The only other company I know that built cars like that was Volvo
@@QALibrary SAAB had a plant in Malmö that worked that way too.
Then they closed it down and kept the problem plant open..
The Reason why BL (and other British companies) failed was bad management.
I’m glad you still remember. It was a crime to shut down MG because, unlike their other brands, there were no strikes or major labor disputes there.
yep and now our good friends in China own the MG brand , so don't be fooled by the new "MG range " unless of course you want to support the CCP
Here’s one I know you haven’t heard.
Why do Brits drink warm beer?
The use Lucas refrigerators with Girling door seals.
Love these cars. The best manual shifter I’ve ever operated. Short throw. Very precise. Rorty engine. Great handling. Solid feeling construction. Very satisfying to drive. Horsepower ain’t everything.
I've never heard of one with a rotary engine. the one in the video has an i4
@@Duraputer he said 'rorty' as in it is a real sports car motor. As was portrayed in 'Ford vs Ferrari' at the beginning in the workshop, MG's are proper sports cars and need to be driven as such to get the best enjoyment. You do actually need to get the rev's up for it to respond well. Rorty = sporty but throaty and eager.
@@Mike_Costello my bad, never heard the word rorty, so i thought rotary.
@@Duraputer having said that, rotary conversions are not unheard of in MG's. Rover v8 conversions are common to but i'm sure a Google search will find a few rotary's too.
@@Duraputer Rorty not equal rotary.
That MG is in lovely shape...kudos to the owner for taking such good care of it!
You are joking. And now it's in the hands of a fool.. My opinion of course.
I love MGs I have a 1974 midget and a 1959 Morris Minor. I will add that they are actually my only cars
Curious how many loom / wiring issues tbh
@@h0llowm3n a lot
I used to work at a Morris Minor garage in the 80’s in the UK
@@PaulSlade1 my grandmother drove a Morris minor 1000 and also had an Austin Marina
@@TheSarahnov16 The Austin Marina's a rare car now. Out of 1.1 million Marinas built, only 23,000 were sold in the US as Austins, and hardly any are left now. I like the Marina, but I can understand why US buyers wouldn't have been interested in it.
Lucas stands for Loose Unsoldered Connections And Splices.
Nice thing about those cars is that you can buy virtually every part for them, even body panels made on the original tooling. You can even buy a complete new body shell assembled on the original jigs.
I worked for the Prince of Darkness in the US and the UK from 1985 to 2000
Lucas other nom de plume is the ‘Prince of Darkness’
Those body panels are so close to the original that they are made with the same type of ungalvanized steel as the original so you can get the full MGB experience of watching your car rust right before your eyes.
@@PaulSlade1 ....and Lucas' secret weapon was the cadmium plated, mild steel Lucar connector. Unsealed to the elements, especially salty water and with dissimilar metals (the tinned brass of the bullets on the wire ends) in contact with the thinly plated steel. Perfect recipe for electrolytic corrosion. I pointed this out to Lucas, British Leyland, Lotus and Jaguar in the late 1960's but they kept on using these horrible connectors, because they were 2 old pence cheaper per connector than the earlier brass sleeve versions.
I worked from 1985 to 2000 for Lucas Diesel Systems out of Gillingham, on the SE coast of England, which later became Delphi Diesel Systems. I then worked for Bosch Diesel from 2000 to 2015, then back to Lucas/Delphi Diesel from 2015 to 2018 when I retired in Phoenix, AZ, USA
British Motor Heritage Ltd in England still make shells and panels for these using the original dies and presses. They are on TH-cam
I restored a 72 over twenty years ago and still have it. Some mild engine and suspension mods and it's lots of fun. Despite having newer and much more capable cars the MG has something special. It feels like proper driving.
These are really simple cars to look after, and a perfect choice for a home mechanic and are extremely popular and relatively cheap, at least in the UK. Parts are readily available, and not expensive. Literally everything is available, even down to a new bodyshell. There are some weak points, but these days there are upgrades. A standard car is never going to set the roads on fire, but that's not the point.
The big enemy of these cars, and pretty well all the others of this era is rust. Probably not too much of an issue in Texas, but best kept off the roads in those seasons and locations where salt is used on the road.
Like Classic Minis and Minors, I wonder how many other 50 year old cars there are that have affordable full parts availability? And that from a manufacturer that no longer exists.
@@frglee VW Beetles (and vehicles based on their mechanicals) come to mind. I believe Citroen 2CVs are well supported as well.
Many of the other British sports cars of their era are also quite well supported to. So, Triumph Spitfires and various of the TR series. The latter are based on a separate chassis, and whilst they rust, it's possible to get a new (and galvanised) chassis.
Of course, the parts do start getting more expensive with some of the rarer and more sought after British sports cars, so an Austin Healey 3000 is going to cost more to look after.
Wizard I am currently working at a vintage shop learning all about these mg's. Really cool to see one on the channel!!
Love these cars. I owned a 74 (last year without the rubber bumper) for 7 glorious years until it was totaled in 1987, my last year of college. It was parked on the street and hit by a drunk who dropped a cigarette in his lap! I've got to correct one incorrect statement, while the car is small, it had excellent leg room on the drivers side. I'm almost 6'4 with long legs and with the seat back, I could fully extend my legs behind the pedals. Shockingly it had some of the best leg room of any car I've owned because the leg compartment went far forward. It was definitely cramped width wise; however, I was skinny back in those days and could drive that car all day without being uncomfortable. I loved that car!
That's a very long wheelbase , with excellent legroom..always amazed me.
And typical of so many of these. . .you had it parked on the street during college...famous death scene for so many...if an accident didn't occur then it fell apart or rusted in the rain. I was there
I fully agree. At 6'3" I am more than comfortable in my early '74. With the seat all the way back, I literally cannot touch the firewall with my toes.
I’m nearly 6 feet and I fit my 80 B just fine. I also knew a mechanic who was 6 foot 3 who drove a b and he still had headroom to spare with the top up.
74 1/2 MGB went south and that was the end... RBB was the replacement what a POS.
@@curtknight1021 Obviously you were not. Wanna play one up with MGB/Brit car experience.
Drive it on a curvy road with the top down and you’ll feel like you’re going 80, until you realize that you’re really going 50. Lots of smiles per gallon in a British car! Great video Car wizard!
I recently bought one of these, and can tell you they are a BLAST to drive! Parts are readily available and the car is surprisingly extremely reliable as well - love it way more than I thought I would!
I had a 1971 and while I loved the car, I spent as much time working on it as driving it. That 2nd battery tray was for a 2nd connected battery. They originally were equipped with 2 - 6volt batteries, wired in series. Just another set of connections to give you trouble. Most, like this one, have been converted to have 1 - 12 volt battery.
I wondered if that was the case. Could you put a smaller 12v in there for accessories with the alternator divided between them? I was thinking about 12v ports for electronics hidden away
It's a British car from the 70's, so of course you spent as much time fixing it as driving it. Even Top Gear alluded to the fact that classic British sports car drivers spent more time fixing/servicing their cars than driving them. Still, the driving experience made up for everything.
And the brand of the two six volt batteries was KING OF THE ROAD, nothing to do with Roger Miller !
Had a 71 also with the dual batteries. Loved the car, but had so many problems, especially the electrical system. There was a running joke at my job about whether I would make it to work because my car broke so many times. Having said all that, I am considering buying another one in my retirement. They were a lot of fun despite all the issues.
I remember drives with my parents in our '72 MGB. They were up front and I was curled up in a blanket on the battery cover back long before child seats and seat belts were a thing, or wrapped up under the passenger side tonneau while my dad drove in the rain with the top down and AM radio blasting. Years later I would inherit the car and loved and cared for it until it was stolen and wrecked. Absolutely broke my heart. Maybe someday I'll find another one to adore and scream at it's electrical issues.
My daughter recently bought a 1972 MGB roadster for 4000 dollars . 64,000 miles and the body was great with only 1 rust spot on the inner rocker panel on the driver,s side. It did need mechanical . attention. New braking system plus brake master cylinder, new clutch, new steering rack and a new exhaust .We got all the parts from Moss Motors ..their service was good and they have a great inventory . Wheels, tires, top and interior were perfect. Plus it is a rare Bronze gold with navy blue leather interior. Unfortunately it does not have overdrive. Some cars are survivors that are worth fixing up .Love the Car Wizard...Great Content.
That cover in the trunk is a half tonneau cover ..looks great in place when the top is down , we also added 2 round running lights in the grill for a sportier look. Fastening the top or tonneau cover can be tricky, I use pliers to stretch the fabric a bit and a small rubber mallet which helps ,
You can get 5 speed conversions, well worth it if it's a keeper
That was a steal for 4 grand.
@@stanbest3743 Yes. And they also work great in MG Midgets providing that extra feeling of highway passing power security.
@@vw5056 Add 8000 dollars to the 4 for parts and labor ...real cost was 12,000 dollars total ! LOL
This MGB is very cute. I like the overall styling of it. Kudos to the owner for keeping this car in very good shape
Perfect for cruising on PCH (Pacific Coast Hwy).
As an Englishman, this car makes me weep.
What was, what is and what shall never be.
All gone. Like tears in rain.
As an Englishman, this NWO makes me weep.
What was, what is and what shall never be.
All gone. Like tears in rain.
Hey it inspired Mazda to create the MX5!
Does any Mazda look as good as this car?
I used to feel that way about the us auto industry till I looked at it this way. The big 3 spent the 80s and 90s divesting from the us and trying to outsource all they could while the japanese invested in plants and design studios all ovet the US. I drive american cars, Hondas.
Blade Runner
14:00 the original fuel pump brand is SU (same as the carburettors). This brand is now owned by a British company called Burlen.
14:20 the MGB has two battery compartments because it had originally two 6 Volts batteries connected in series. Many owners later on converted this to a single 12 Volts battery.
When I was in trade school, I worked part-time at a friend of my father's shop. He did restorations, resto-mods, exotics, and, I helped him put a Honda S2000 engine & trans in one of these. It took it from barely being able to get out of it's own way, to being a fun little car. Plus, it solved the reliability problems that come with British hardware.
Hope they upgraded the brakes too!
That harsh but funny!
I do understand the appeal of the Honda 2000 or even a Miata transplant. The MGB is a lot more fun to drive with a boost in power, and or a 5 speed. I do prefer a motor with lower RPM grunt, but that’s me.
Actually, most of the components, particularly the engine and tranny were very robust. The real problem was Americans used to American cars, and not doing the proper maintenance- what’s a valve adjustment, or replace the points and plugs, do an oil change, Was common, plus not understanding those “weird looking” carburetors. When the car didn’t run properly, instead of doing the complete tune up including valve adjustments, people would start Messing with the carb.
Between 2011 & 2019 I had a 1974 MGB-GT that I put close to 40k miles on, and it always got me there and home. Plus, I had to use it as the main ride a couple times when my “real” cars were having issues.
Please don’t discount the reliability of a properly sorted MGB. They are great fun affordable classics.
Well that’s destroyed the whole character of that car forever, it wasn’t perfect and that’s part of its charm . The trouble with cars today is yes they are super reliable, but so dam boring without a ounce of character. It’s like when people buy beautiful old house’s then completely gut them, turning them into open plan featureless box’s.
@@gaz5663 yeah I was thinking that too. Might as well buy a shell or something, instead of trashing the original MG B. An engine is the soul of the car, and an MG- should have the MG engine. Otherwise, how is it even an MG anymore, except for the exterior etc?
THIS CAR MUST HAVE BEEN A FAMILY GIFT TO THE OWNER, THE LOVE FOR THIS MG IS FELT, AND, IT IS SO CUTE 🫖
I had one of those. It was a 1966. Incredible car. I was 18 when I had it and took corners as fast as I could. You can't flip em over. At least I couldn't.
That is a jewel of an MG. A labour of love for the owner.
Ron Kluwe covered just about everything I was going to say. I grew up with MG cars being born in the UK and being old! These cars were very common along with Midgets, my particular favourite. You can rebuild the fuel pump quite easily, you can probably get a recon kit from Moss Motors. The second battery tray was exactly that. Originally the B was fitted with two six volt batteries. It may be an export model variation to use a single twelve volt unit, I'm not sure. The one thing that defines all MG's is simple fun. Great cars.
bingo on the dual 6 volt batteries/dual trays.
My 67 bought new in Canada came from factory with the two six volts in series to give you the twelve volts.
Good job car wizard. I bought mine brand new in August of 1973. I've owned it for 48 years. It's been a great little trouble free car driving all the way out west in 1976
Had a mint condition 1969 MGB in red with black leather with about 50K miles in 1983. Was in a head on crash with a Smokey and the Bandit style 4500 pound Trans Am, each of us going 35mph for a combined 70 mph impact, Smokey had suddenly crossed the line. The car was crushed like a beer can around me, but the cab was remarkable strong, probably saved my life. It was a fun, super-reliable, simple little convertible, handled better and surer than my three Austin Healeys, but not quite as well as my Alfa Romeo Duetto Spyder, one of the most balanced cars I've ever driven. The five main bearing engine on the B is nearly indestructible.
The Alfa Romeo was a much more modern car in spite of being an older design. A whole class higher in all regards.
MGB was the first MG designed and built with a dedicated front "crush zone".
One suggestion to insure reliability is to removed the fuse block and clean all of the contacts. Most electrical issues on my '72 MGB are from bad grounds and that fuse block. It's a part of my annual service now.
Yes agreed, or replace the fusebox with new one.
And that is a factory recommendation largely ignored in the American market, just as is an annual "de-coking"
Dialectic grease is your saviour on these cars with a can of WD40 being almost mandatory in the glove tray of any Mini of the era to spray that distributor head with it's useless rubber boot still allowing condensation or leakage to intrude. The design of that little booger put the distributor right up front just behind the grill low down where it would get swamped with road spray during any rain. Golly, at 77 years old I find myself lusting after that British Leyland experience once again. Is there a pill for that?
The small Abingdon factory was very much a family firm within the BL monster. They were proud of the cars they built. I bought my 1966 MGB in 1969 and still have it. The fuel pumps are made by SU these days the rights are owned by Burlen they will also sell you new carbs. Those K+Ns are aftermarket. They originally had one metal can plus intake tube arrangement per with a paper filter element..
The points on the fuel pump are a known weakness, our car now has a transistor assisted one. This does lose the ability to tap it with the wire wheel hammer to get you home.
Our car still runs all it’s original Lucas equipment and it gives no problems, it isn’t a garage queen having once run off Berlin to home in England in one day after a rally through close to monsoon conditions.
Mrs W’s reaction isn’t unusual, women often walk up to ours and stroke it when it’s at car shows.
I always enjoy your videos, thank you.
There's nothing like being stroked at a car show....
I had a MIdget Mk I (aka Sprite Mk II) that got me addicted to LBC's (Little British Cars). These cars were crude, primitive and lovable. No, they were not perfect but they topped the scale as far as fun goes. If it weren't for my Midget, I would not have learned to work on cars. If I didn't have my head underneath the hood once a day, it meant I wasn't driving it.
My uncle had a couple Mg's and MGB's... He loved them, I remember days of helping push to bump start one he had when I was a kid
An old British WWII vet friend of mine who used to restore British Leyland vehicles gave me a piece of advice, "if you buy a British Leyland product buy it new and get rid of it after three years unless you like to waste money", he had MG's, E Types, Spitfires and Austin's, very good advice from a B/L mechanic.
The MGB is beautifully proportioned and the perfect size for a sports car. In fact it defines the sports car.
It does define the British sports car!...unfortunately.
@@curbozerboomer1773 Haha Harsh very harsh but well you can always retromod !
If you have sat in a Miata interior dimensions are a dead ringer for the MGB
@@briandawkins984 The MIATA was patterned after the MGB and the LOTUS Elan S2.
The first Miata was indeed closely patterned after the Lotus Elan. The next to current MX-5 I looked at had identical exterior dimensions save across the beam. It was 6 inches wider. The cockpit dimensions vs. my 1980 MGB were pretty much a dead ringer. Mazda claims the interior to be ergonomic design with a computer. I leave you to judge. I think both cars are iconic.
I had one of these in the '70's as well as the MGC with a 3 litre 6 cylinder engine instead of the 4cyl
UK versions of the 'B' had 2 x 6V batteries under the back seat instead of a single 12V. The cars were prone to body panel rust but I guess in Texas, the weather has been its saviour. Good ones go for very high prices in Britain these days.
That is a beaut. My father worked in automotive supply we were going past Longbridge one day and he said there would be a strike soon, I queried that, Car parks overflowing with i=unsold cars so management will do something small union will object ends in a strike. Another story they had an inter union dispute over who puts the screws in on a model with a wooden dash because screw goes through wood into metal, recall a customer saying that explains why there no screws in mine and it fell out, (dealers were supposed to fit them- no one told them.
I bought a 1960 MGA roadster when I got back from Viet Nam in 1969. I kept it for 49 1/2 years until it got difficult to get in out of. Great car.
Reminds me of years ago when I used to have a 1972 Triumph GT6 MKIV......Inline 6 with dual stromberg carbs it was an absolute blast to drive and I especially loved that the whole front hood was one piece and when you lifted it up you could just sit on either tire and work on anything in the engine bay.......Yep those where the good ole days.
One of my first memories is my parents working on my mom's MGB so she could get to work the next day. This was pretty much a weekly occurrence.
Wrong owner.
My brother had 3 MGB GTs over the years , great car but the GTs are solid roofs not rag tops. The bodywork looks in great shape usual rust spots are on the top of the fenders eg seam joint. First one was British racing green , black leather interior cream piping. Chrome bumpers not the plastic stuff. I did my apprenticeship training at Laycocks overdrive plant in archer road , Sheffield , South Yorkshire, uk when it belonged to GKN. Then moved to Shardlows plant another GKN site manufacturing forged & machined crankshafts, happy days.
Had a 1967 B. It was the most fun car I ever owned, but I had to buy a spare wrecked one in order to keep mine and a couple of friends’ on the road. The points on the fuel pump were a constant headache, but that was forgotten when I was behind the wheel.
Many thanks to Henry Jones for sharing with us about the ZERO worker strikes at Abington. Your video makes me miss our '70 split bumper. Good times!!!
It should, they’re one of the top collectible MGs now with bumpers and the hardware made of unobtanium.
Not true, about unobtainable parts, virtually everything for your B is obtainable. The reproduction market is incredible. I have a 1980 Parts are reasonably priced, and extensive.
Amazing condition underneath…here in the UK, owners can only dream of an MG that rust free 👍🏻👍🏻
Yes indeed. No rust OMG
And about half of the US
Isn't that why you colonised Australia, so you could have a place to own and drive rust free cars. I'm sure that's correct.
Australia …a great place to find old British classic cars 😎
BMC Heritage does make a replacement shell or unibody for this car..
Uses much better steel and is completely original from the BMC panel dies .
I’ve owned about a dozen MGs over the years and have found that most of the problems I experienced were a result of the previous owner trying to half way fix an issue rather than a fault with the car itself. They are slow, small and uncomfortable for a long trip but they are still a blast to drive
It is more fun more to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow. Even though these things can get smoked by most modern mini vans the fun to drive factor more than overcomes it.
Yep. Any MGB left in the states was sure to have been owned by a teenager in the 80s or 90s, and has been thrashed accordingly.
@@vw5056 Exactly right. A mini van may be able to outgun an MG B but you know they're no fun behind the wheel, it's a van after all. A nice chrome bumper MG makes you look and feel like a Hollywood star in the '60s.
It's not about going fast, it's about the experience!
@@SpitfireFortyFour but that take that minivan or "any modern hatchback that can apparently outrun the MG" and the MG B to twisty mountain roads, and you know who will be smoked and left behind... it won't be the MG B
@@eymanyouwell True. They are fantastic handling cars, however of you want to go fast there always the MG B V8!
I can smell the interior through the video. Love the smell of those old cars 😊
These were built for racing ! The factory had teams at Lemans...Sebring and more in the 60's. The dual rear batteries were to help weight distribution and lower the centre of gravity. Also with battery tech back then 2 six volts supplied more cranking power in the cold than a single 12 volt. All of the dual carb pre 1975 B's ran between 90 and 95 hp depending on year and body style.
This is one sweet MGB....overdrive is a big plus! Paint is beautiful. Zero rust.
They were not built for racing. They were modified for racing.
Finally an MGB! Mine's a '78 still going strong at about 85000 original miles
I just had a 1970 MGB for sale at the last estate sale I worked at. It was mustard yellow with only 42668 original one owner miles. It had been sitting in the barn since 2004. We didn't try to start it but the new customer put new fluid in it and had it running the next day. The reason why it has two battery bins may be because the 70 model I sold had two six volt batteries.
MGB's had two 6 volt batteries in series for 12 volts. They did that for weight balance. Many converted to a single 12 volt battery for simplicity.
Good story.
MOWOG is like MOPAR or FoMoCo…. MOrris WOlseley mG. You’ll see it cast in parts or on NOS spares.
The transmissions had Mowog cast into their cases.
True , my first car was a Morris Major, Australian built version of a Wolseley 1500, or Riley 1.5 of the late 50s. Every time I was buying parts for my Morris, the part would have MOWOG stamped on it .
BangerFleet..... Morris Oxfrord Wolseley Garage
You, Pete Complete and Atomic Shrimp are my favorite youtube channels. Thanks for doing what you do.
Years back, I bought a used '77 MGB Tourer (4spd) and enjoyed it. I loved the sound of the exhaust, it was just beautiful. The English really knew how to dial-in an exhaust note. And I've never heard an English car that I didn't like the sound of it.
People before me had forced closed both the trunk lid and the hood ripping the metal where the hold-up mount was attached. So the Wizard is correct in being certain to release those latches to close them.
The only electrical problem I had was sometimes if I drove through a puddle the starter would kick-in and it would run for about five minutes. Very annoying and seemingly self destructive but it lasted through my ownership.
I have a 1974. Sweet. Easy to work on and spares galore. Great car for Hamptons in Long Island. Gets more attention then all the brand new Ferraris and Aston Martins.
MG's of this era are SO easy to work on. Very simple systems despite the nonsense you hear people mention about unreliable Lucas electronics. I'm sure Wizard will fix things, but there's no reason to send such a car across several states for basic maintenance. Parts are readily available and technical help is widely available on several car forums.
I will add the last place I would go is The Wizard.
MoWoG you'll find stamped on a lot of parts. It's an abbreviation of Morris (Mo) and Wolsley (Wo) from when the two companies merged. The G they say either means Group or MG as the prefix at the time for MG's was G.
MG is the abbreviation for Morris Garage.
It is spelled Wolseley, but pronounced as wolsey. Love British English.
@@mescko I am British and say Wolseley
@@clairesmith1117 Interesting. I've heard Brits pronounce it Wolsey, I'll have to check with a mate of mine in Croydon, he's a a car nut with a Marina GT, 1300 GT, Maxi, Dolomite Sprint, Stag, 2.5 PI Mk.1 and who knows what else.
@@machtschnell7452 Actually ... no.
My mom owned a 1971 (the year I was born) in a burnt orange.
She bought it when it was a few years old.
I got to steer it when I was about 4.
I wish she had never sold it.
Was supposed to be given to me when I was old enough to drive.
Thanks for the trip down memory lane!
These years used to use 2, 6 volt batteries.
:)
The "Extra" space at the rear was for the "other" battery. The cars were originally designed to run 2x 6 volt batteries - hopefully to give equal weight distribution:-). I had one when I was 21 and checking the electrolyte levels was such a chore it was rarely done! Now in my late 60's I have 2 and they're a joy to drive top down on a sunny day.
Classic British Car . Beautiful lines
What a sweet little ride. Bringing me back to my childhood in Spain. Thanks, Wizard.
I have always loved the MGAs, MGBs, and the Austin Healeys
MG A series manufactured from 1955 to 1962. The MG B series, manufactured from1962 to 1980. 18 years of MG B series! The later B series included a hatchback! Neighbour had a green hatchback with brown leather upholstery. Beauty 1972 MGB convertible! 1.8L, 80-hp, OHV Dual SU carbs! 4-speed synchro-crash transmission with OVER DRIVE! It could actually drive on the Interstate! Love it! 01:49 "..back window": .. In the later half of the 20th Century, Brits (UK types) referred to the back window/rear window of their automobile as the "back light" . BTW, in the UK, plexiglass is referred to as "perspex". 14:20 The empty battery bracket on the aft port side is awaiting a starboard-side driver. Yup. Weight and balance considerations were taken into consideration for a change in suspension geometry for certain markets... . I have heard the MGB's knee-action dampers on the front suspension could be refilled with either mushy peas or beef gravy, depending upon climate. Rachel Ray's EVO be damned!.. In summer, the plungers on the SU carburettors were partial to a certain Portuguese Port. . In England, aluminum, element 13, Al, is spelled "aluminium". Funny that. Some engineering features of 1950's and 1960's MG's were even quirkier than the 1972 MGB of the Car Wizard's.. Luv yah!
That's the first car I wanted to purchase as a teenager. I brought one in to my dad's cousin garage. He looked at it and said there would be too much work to do on it. He ended up selling me a '67 Dodge Charger. But I still wanted the MGB.
The British name for those shock is 'lever arm shock absorbers'.
Also the damping fluid in the carbs does not slow the opening of the throttle. It's action is to enrich the mixture on acceleration in place of the accelerator pump you would find on conventional carbs.
Those Lucas pumps were hilariously bad and they never bothered to improve the design in many decades.
When I was a kid my father had a Landrover which was only about a year old. One night it died in the middle of nowhere. He was completely unfazed - just looked around for a rock & whacked it. Pump started running and we went home. 15 years later I was in the army and the Landrovers were still breaking down for the same reason. I used to help out with recoveries and used the same method to get them going.
so true of the land rover carried a piece of wood "Rhodesian Army"
Thank you for spelling "damping" correctly. The Wizard, unfortunately, made the mistake of calling it a "dampener" as most people do.
W was essentially right re the SU carbies. Pedal to the floor, lots of manifold vacuum, the oil stops the SU piston slamming to the top of its pot (they look great polished) and lifting the very long needle, prematurely opening the jet wide. The oil means it opens in a slower, more controlled way. A clever design, if you don't care a jot about pollution.
The fuel pumps were supplied by SU, not Lucas. With just occasional use, the contacts points stick, and the quick cure was to tap the pump with a hammer. Today, you can replace the points with electronics, which are reliable, and retain the original appearance of the pump. They are easy to overhaul.
@@chrisnewbold9876
Yes branded as SU, made by Lucas?
I worked in the parking business in 1970 one year after high school.
“I drove ALL the cars” and I mean All.
The MGBGT was one of my favorites.
Fit like a glove when driving it. It was like being in a fighter jet cockpit, not for speed but fit. A blast to drive. Everything was right there sitting in it. “No other car like it” Not even the Triumph’s came close or any other car. Some of my other favorites listed from that time period 1970 to 1971 I drove.
The Buick 225, the Mercedes Gull Wing Coup, Olds 442, Mercedes 6.9 liter 450.
Opel GT, Brecklin, Saab Sonnit, Cadillac brougham. Chrysler 300, Chrysler’s Cuda,
Buick GS, Corvette, two different 3 wheelers, the BMW and I forgot the other ones name. Jag XKE hardtop. Too many more to list. The MGB GT always stands out in my mind even after driving All the different cars back then.
I bought a brand new 1971 Beetle, $1645.00 off the showroom floor. Then a new 1973 VW Super Beetle $2395.00. Why the VW Beetles, the most dependable cars you could buy. Easy to maintain, great fuel mileage, everyone seemed to own VW’s back then. Best car’s for the money. I drove 90 miles a day, 5 days a week for 7 years with the Beetle, it never broke down or stranded me in all those years up to 1980.
I bought a new 1980 Olds Cutlass Supreme with the V6, nice car. My first automatic.
One of those 3 wheelers a Morgan (V twin engine air cooled in front of the car?)
Or an Isetta?
Or a Heinkel Kabine Roller?
Wow! Brings back a lot of memories. I had a 1972 MGB that my Dad bought for me in 74. It replaced my 67 Galaxy 500 that my sister wrecked! Originally the car had two 6V batteries in series, hence the two battery compartments.Later I put in two 12V batteries in parallel. That required a Ford alternator to keep both batteries happy. I put almost 233k miles on that MGB. I did rebuild the top end a couple of times, replacing the 8:1 original pistons with earlier 9.5:1 ones. I never rebuilt the crank, transmission or rear end. I did replace the crank bearings with std ones one time. The 72 had the 18V engine with the largest intake valves so there was some potential to make over 100 hp. Later added a dual point ignition with a 290 deg duration camshaft but still with the standard SUs. the result was rear wheel spinning first to second shifts. I recall hitting 120 mph on the speedo once. I gave it to my now ex father-in-law back in 1988....it was apparently sold in the 2000's. I do miss that car!
Beautiful car, so nice to see it rust free, and so well looked after!! It was the inspiration for the mazda miata.
Never have I envied a car as much as this one , all the one's I've owned or worked on has been riddled with rust , Excellent video as always Wizard
In. 2004 or 2005 I bought a 1969 MGB roadster British racing green w/tan seats and top, as a commuter to work With character! It was my daily driver for two years!
Horsepower was rated at 95 net bhp on both five-main-bearing and earlier three-bearing cars with peak power coming at 5,400 rpm with a 6,000 rpm redline. Torque output on the MGB had a peak of 110 lb⋅ft
Car Wizard: A couple of things I noticed on the underside tour of the car.
1) The oil leak. Check the PCV system (it should suck a sheet of paper down on the oil fill neck when idling.) Also check the left side (drivers side) of the engine block. There are two stamped sheet metal covers over the tappet gallery there. They usually have cork gaskets and are often neglected.
2) I was amazed that the inboard pivots of the lower A-arms were in such good shape. Looks like someone may have installed the MGB V-8 lower A-arm inboard sttel-rubber-steel bushings there.
3) Last but not least... the propeller shaft appears to be out of phase. It is possible to get the splines misaligned on the MGB if the shaft was ever removed for a clutch job or U-joint replacement. The splines are not keyed as in some vehicles. The two yokes at each end of the shaft MUST be aligned so that their axes are exactly parallel. It can be hard to see if it is off by one spline when installed. Looks like it might be out of phase by several. Best thing is to take it off and look straight along the shaft.
Good points that need loking at.
Good call and often sets up vibration and premature wear and failure of the differential to drive shaft seal.
@@jeffhildreth9244 Unfortunately we will never know. Car Wizard will take a lot of time on describing problems and do his whole walk around but is kinda sparse on follow through, continuity, and completion.
You need to start a “Wizards Network” repair shops that will sign on to your ethics as an auto repair shop!
You drank the kool aid.. Good luck.
It has relays in the electrical system. This car is missing many of the pollution control items like the air pump and gulp valve. Here in South Korea it must have all the pollution control items. Indeed it must look just like off the production line. Nice car. Mine came from Amarillo, Texas. That is why there is no rust on the this sample and mine. I have owned mine for 32 years, since January 1990. Nice to see one in such condition. This car does hold a tall person very well. I am 6’3” and fit in very well. Thanks for posting!
A friend owns a Triumph TR-3. He had perpetual trouble with the headlight switch. He said it had three positions: OFF - DIM - FLICKER.
The car was originally fitted with two six volt batteries , hence the two battery holders. The shock absorbers are called “ lever arm shock absorbers “ You can also get an su fuel pump that has a transistor power unit as opposed to the original contacts type and looks identical.Mowog stands for Morris and Wolseley, the G has a number of meanings, depending on what you read about it.
Close... Morris OXFORD Wolseley G various.
The 1800cc engine produces 90 hp in standard trim. The overdrive gearbox normally worked on the 3rd and 4th gear of the standard 4 speed gearbox. The original battery arrangement was two 6v batteries wired in series to produce 12v, that is what the two trays are for behind the seats under the removable panels. I owned a MGC in my youth which in standard form was fitted with the 3,000cc 6 cylinder British Leyland engine producing 150hp - similar to what had been fitted in the Austin Healy 3000. At first glance the MGC looks identical to the MGB but the give away is that the MGC had a pronounced bulge to the front of the bonnet (hood) with a discrete chrome trim. The other significant difference is that the front suspension was operated by torsion bars each side. It was a great car with a top speed of almost 130mph as against the MGB’s 110 mph. The only drawback was that the steering was very heavy whilst parking due to the big lump of engine.
Those MG had to be driven off cliffs to reach those speeds.
@@machtschnell7452 Not an MGC. Look them up.
Tne original HP was variously designated as 95HP or 98 HP. There were a couple of O Drive Transmissions.. early on they worked on 3rd and 4th and later 4th only.
The MGC also had 15 inch wheels. I bout a 1969 MGCGT in 1970 from my employer,, British Motors of Monterey (Calif) One of the finest of 30 Brit cars I have owned , my favorite... I miss it.
My brother has a 1972 roadster. He swapped out the original poorly motor for a Rover V8 bored out to 3.9L with custom exhaust. It's pristine and rust-free in Scotland, thanks to his OCD.
My High School biology teacher had a 1980 MGB coupe, she bought brand new I remember it was quite reliable. :)
Having owned one (as well as a couple of Triumph GT6's), if your English car doesn't leave oil spots on your driveway it usually means you'd better check and see if there's any oil at all in the engine...
It's an early form of rust prevention.
Truth. A neighbour was recently visited by a trio of fully-restored E-Types - one of each series - in town for a meet. A day later and there were telltale oil spots on the road where each one had been parked.
Lucas fuel pumps had a set of points in them which are much like the points in the distributor. Usually it’s just the points that go wrong and are replaced or the diaphragm which is also replaceable.
Stock fuel pumps are actually SU. As you say, the one at the wizards shop could probably be brought back to life by cleaning and adjusting the points. The SU replacements can be had w/points or electronic.
Rick Currie.. Perpetuating the LUCAS myth... SU fuel pumps.
@@jeffhildreth9244 you’re right. My bad.
I love the old British sports cars, and have owned a few (Triumphs in my case). I've had the pleasure of driving a couple of the old MGBs though, and remember absolutely loving them!
17:28 ....I thought Freddy was gonna come bursting thru the screen when Wizard mentioned that fuel-pump...
What a clean lookin little ride, I bet it handles twists and turns like it's on rails...👏🤘🏻🇬🇧
I had a 70, then 72 MGB... Great cars.. I took the drivetrain from the 70 and put it in the 72 (70 had the overdrive trans, which is a major plus).... in 1983,, I bought a '80 limited edition MGB and I swapped that older drivetrain (and suspension) into the 80. The 72 and subsequently 80 MGBs were my daily drivers for many many years. The 80 is now fully restored with a V8 engine swap.
MOWOG
Found on engine blocks, transmissions, cylinder heads, and pistons, it
dates back to the very origins of the British car industry. Before the
merger with Morris Motors in 1935, Wolseley and MG were owned as the
personal property of Lord Nuffield. After the merger with the bulk of
design work carried out at Cowley, the identification number for chassis
and engines on Wolseley was assigned a “W” and the letter “G” was
assigned to MG (M was already assigned to Morris). Hence the use of Mo
(Morris), Wo (Wolseley) and MG to mark the various components with MOWOG
as the result.
I love MGs!!! Used to have a 77 B & now a 78 B (52k miles) with the Weber carb conversion. That switch falling apart is common (British Leyland), that overdrive is an aftermarket option that I wish I had on mine. Great quirky little cars, so much fun to drive. That one is beautiful.
If it's any consolation, ignition switches also loosen up and come apart on '60s Mercedes! :)
Overdrive was a Factory option, so the prop shift is shorter if fitted.
Wish my '67 Alpine had come with overdrive. It was really buzzing at 70 mph. Still, it managed to survive numerous highway trips, including a big one in 1990 to Toronto, Canada, for the dozen or so years ('84-'96) I drove it.
Philip Ketcherside.. MY guess, wussed out and installed a made in Spain ( not Italy) down draft Weber. Inefficient, fiddley Junk. Fit some proper SUs.
It is oddly interesting that when I was a "kid" back in the 60's and70's and the British roadsters I owned around 15 years old, parts were sometimes very hard to procure and now much easier!
Yes, you can get them delivered to your door within a few days now with just a few clicks on the web !
Steven - My first car was an Austin-Healey 3000 which I bought in 1970 at the age of 16. Many shops in Los Angeles refused to work on "funny foreign cars" so I bought a repair manual and learned how to fix it myself. There were still dealers at that time, small parts like brakes and ignition were easy to get, and there were lots of parts cars in junkyards for cheap .
Now things are very different, lots of repops are available because these cars are now being restored for considerable dollar value.
I paid $650 for my Healey and it was almost mint, with ragtop and hardtop, leather seats, OD, and mildly hopped up engine. Now I see some go for over $100K at auction.
@@lewis72 Different time indeed. Sure wasn't that way back in the late '60's.
I had three XK120's back in high school. Did not pay over a grand for any of them!
@@Brookside975
Lesser examples, I can remember when 2-door Mk2 Escorts were virtually free.
Wizard, great review, brings back happy memories as an old MG owner. First started with the midget and ended with the MGB GT 1970. Fun cars but not particulier fast.
Over the years I have had 10 MB-Bs and MIdget. The yard looked like a used british car lot. The early year car were very spartan and the car had a great exhaust note to it. There are alot of fun to drive and relatively easy to work on. Still have a garage full of parts, engines, transmission, doors and wire wheel. Tempted to get another B to put some of my parts to good use. Great review Mr. Wizard of one fine looking car.
Never owned one but always admired them…as well as their Triumph cousins.
People don’t realize how hot a convertible can get with out A/C.
Dominick I live in California, it can be uncomfortable even in the 80's. I love the look of the convertible but drive with the top up most of the time.
That’s why if you’re lucky your B has a zip out rear window 😎 but yes it can get warm. Moss Motors does have an air conditioning kit for this year
Wizard,lovely u got something really classic there,a true British 🇬🇧icon.👊💪💪💪🤔👌👍🌶
I also owned a red 72,when I was 18 ,thanks for the video and bringing happy memories.
The good and the bad memories came flooding back with this video. I owned a 1970 split bumper MGB. In yellow.. bullet proof motor and transmission, twin stromburg carburetors, wire wheels with knock off hubs,(just like the car in the video). Loved that car most of the time, hated the Lucas Electrics, mechanical points in the fuel pump. Everyone needs to own a British car with Lucas electrics. Just for the experience. Wonderful to drive, pain in the butt to own.
Forgot, my ignition switch melted in the parking lot of the servicing dealership. Also remember the challenges of the knee action shocks. Oil filled…straight 40 or 50 weight oil as I remember.
The MGB is a timeless classic. The styling is still beautiful today. The fun to drive factor is a 10 on a scale of 1 to 10. Then, the U.S. government in 74 or 75, ruined the car with 5 mph bumper laws and smog junk, and that was the end of that.
I had a 1975 MGB that I paid 3700$ in 1978. The rubber bumper model. Went on our honeymoon all through New England in it. Top down every day except one. That was 1979. Sold it in 82 when we bought a house. It was a nice car. I can honestly say 'been there, done that. Had it for 4 years.
J P... Mid year 1974 chrome to RBB. Also of equal importance.. the previous MGB headlights were lower than the US standard.. The RBB for collision and the increase in road height by 2" for the head;lights.. that killed the car. Add to that smog regs and the wretched Stromberg Smog carbs and then a single carb and a weight increase of a couple hundred pounds. with a now 68 HP engine instead of the original 98 HP made the car a be-jewelled pig.
Watching this reminds me how few good mechanics there are in this country. Imagine, the lady had to send her car all the way from Texas, because she couldn’t find someone competent to diagnose this car in the whole state of Texas. Or else, she couldn’t find someone that she trusted, which is a real big problem. We have three mechanics in my hometown, one is incompetent, one throws parts at problems instead of diagnosing them, and the other mechanic makes mistakes all the time. I have lived here 11 years, and have yet to find a decent mechanic, either in my little town, or in the big city next door
There are good mechanics. You just have to do your research. Trial and error. The Car Wizard has shown he is trustworthy through his videos so it's easy to send your car to him. Not a tough decision if you're willing to bring your car there and wait a while. A TH-cam channel shows transparency which is hard to find if your local mechanic doesn't post videos of their work.
There are mechanics,friends of mechanics,mechanics friends who want to be mechanics, mechanic wannabes , and people who are so tight they want to be the mechanic and just bad choice of mechanics.
Never ever cheap customers as they are perfect.
@@oscarsusan3834 Whatever, you can make fun of the customers, but nine times out of 10 it is the customer to get screwed, not the mechanic
@@jeffzekas customers make the choices.
The best way to find a good autoshop is to find out what autoshops small used car dealers use.
My MG stalled as well: The heat valve was leaking and water was constantly dripping on and in the distributor. Easy fix with a valve replacement.
I owned a green 74 model in 1976.Now I drive a red 1998 Mazda MX5 as a weekend toy.I would love to try out an MGB again to compare them after 45 years!
Every Lucas lamp has three setting; dim, intermittant and off.
More LUCAS BS posted by the ignorant.
I like my coffee the way I like my Lucas electrics
I acquired a a pristine 1971 MGB last February also with overdrive. Just a heads up, I was told not to back the car up with the overdrive engaged because if the solenoid that automatically disengages it were to fail the unit can be damaged badly. I am not an expert so take it for what it is worth.
True. Never reverse with O/D engaged.
This was my favorite car for sport driving. You could feel the road while you were driving.
And the manual control of the car gave a sense of being a part of the driving experience.
This car fit like a custom made driving glove! 🚗