To MGB or not to MGB?
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daveallgood
- Minor Friendly
- Posts: 71
- Joined: Sun Mar 08, 2009 3:23 pm
- MMOC Member: No
To MGB or not to MGB?
Apologies for the subject title but it seemed too good to miss. I can't decide whether or not to sell my Minor convertible and buy an MGB roadster. Does anyone have anything to say which might influence me one way or the other? Any comments gratefully received.
Re: To MGB or not to MGB?
It's a very 'common' car at the shows - so you will just be one of the crowd. Which is why I bought a TR7 drop head - which is MUCH better value for money - and much rarer too. Also - my head sticks above the screen in an MGB - but plenty of room in the TR7!! I'm often the only TR7 at the show - many come up and talk..........
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Blaketon
- Minor Legend
- Posts: 2554
- Joined: Sun May 06, 2007 11:09 am
- Location: South Wales
- MMOC Member: Yes
Re: To MGB or not to MGB?
My mother has a late low mileage MGB GT and she really likes it. It's a different beast to the Minor, that's for sure. Probably the best spares availability in the world; one advantage of being common 
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Chrome bumper cars are worth a pretty penny, particularly the 1960s versions. The later 1974 on cars have a little less power, higher weight and higher ride height but the '76 on models have better equipment and a rear anti roll bar to reduce the roll found in early rubber bumper cars. Rubber bumper models have V8 spec shells and bonnets (Its not the MGC bonnet but the V8 bonnet has a slightly higher curve), if ever you have a conversion in mind.
It's not the fastest thing on the road but it’s easy to drive briskly, as the engine is docility itself and is a very forgiving "Easy" engine. On paper it doesn’t look much but in practice it’s a much better car than you’d expect. It’s no screamer though there are tuning goodies there to make it go faster. Oddly enough on the circuits, quick Midgets are faster, as the A Series, combined with the lighter weight of the Midget, make the latter the quicker car (Only the quickest V8s are faster). As a road car, the MGB is a better all rounder than the Midget.
I am 6 feet tall and have no problem in the MGB; there is also plenty of leg room (In the Midget, I’m right on the limit). As to pleasure of driving, an MGB is on a par with the Minor (Different but on a par), though if I was going on a really long journey, I’d rather use the MGB. The later overdrive MGB gearbox is a jewel (Derived from the Austin 3 litre).
I have often said that if I was to have just one car, it would be an MGB GT like my mother’s; if I could have just two, it would be a Traveller and a Midget.
.Chrome bumper cars are worth a pretty penny, particularly the 1960s versions. The later 1974 on cars have a little less power, higher weight and higher ride height but the '76 on models have better equipment and a rear anti roll bar to reduce the roll found in early rubber bumper cars. Rubber bumper models have V8 spec shells and bonnets (Its not the MGC bonnet but the V8 bonnet has a slightly higher curve), if ever you have a conversion in mind.
It's not the fastest thing on the road but it’s easy to drive briskly, as the engine is docility itself and is a very forgiving "Easy" engine. On paper it doesn’t look much but in practice it’s a much better car than you’d expect. It’s no screamer though there are tuning goodies there to make it go faster. Oddly enough on the circuits, quick Midgets are faster, as the A Series, combined with the lighter weight of the Midget, make the latter the quicker car (Only the quickest V8s are faster). As a road car, the MGB is a better all rounder than the Midget.
I am 6 feet tall and have no problem in the MGB; there is also plenty of leg room (In the Midget, I’m right on the limit). As to pleasure of driving, an MGB is on a par with the Minor (Different but on a par), though if I was going on a really long journey, I’d rather use the MGB. The later overdrive MGB gearbox is a jewel (Derived from the Austin 3 litre).
I have often said that if I was to have just one car, it would be an MGB GT like my mother’s; if I could have just two, it would be a Traveller and a Midget.