MG MGB roadster, 1963
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Mise à jour: 07-December-2024 11:43

MG MGB roadster, 1963

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MG MGB roadster (modèle 'porte à tirette'), année 1963. Couleur bleu pâle (Powder Blue) avec un intérieur en cuir bleu foncé garni de passepoil bleu pâle. Moquette bleu foncé luxueuse, capote noire et capuche noir. Cette magnifique MGB est un modèle «porte à tirette» précoce avec les poignées de porte spéciales et tous les autres détails spéciaux comme les premières roues à disque avec enjoliveurs chromés et la magnifique direction originale arborant le grand logo MG. Ce superbe roadster MGB fut restauré et révisé détaillée et parfaitement par un spécialiste MG aux Pays-Bas. L'automobile est en meilleur état TOP : Concours ! Un reportage photo étendu de la restauration est présent. Parmi les autres composants, le moteur, la boîte de vitesses, la suspension et les instruments du tableau de bord (jauges) furent révisés. Parmi les autres pièces, le câblage, les freins, le radiateur, les parties chromées, les fenêtres, les pneus et l'échappement (maintenant en acier inoxydable) furent renouvelés. Les roues en acier furent émaillées au four, et le tableau de bord en métal fut magnifiquement peint avec la peinture d'effet d'ondulation noire. Le corps présente alignement des panneaux parfaite et une peinture haut de gamme. Où que vous regardes Tout est comme neuf ! La voiture est livrée avec un certificat de patrimoine (Heritage Certificate) qui confirme que ce corps, ce moteur et cette boîte de vitesses sont d'origine ; ‘Matching Numbers’. Un ensemble d'outils original, un manuel du propriétaire et un manuel d'atelier sont également présents. C’est un spécimen TOP rare !

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The MG B was the first MG (Morris Garage) to be built of unitary construction bodywork. The MG B roadster was manufactured between 1962 and 1980. Early models can be recognized by the chrome bumpers, but because of American rules on safety, the later models were equipped with synthetic bumpers. The greater part was exported to the United States.
 
Technical data

four-cylinder engine
cylinder capacity: 1798 cc.
capacity: 95 bhp. at 5400 rpm.
top-speed: 172 km/h.
gearbox: 4-speed, manual
weight: 935 kg. (GT 1040 kg.)

MG history

MG (Morris Garage) was set up by William Morris in the year 1923 to market a more sporty line of Morris models. Morris Production Manager, Cecil Kimber, was transferred from the factory in Cowley to Morris Garages (in Abington) to design MG's using Morris parts. MG production in Abingdon started in the year 1924. At the end of the 1930s, even normal passenger cars were introduced under the MG label.
The business flourished when in 1945, just after World War II, the sporty prewar MG TB and its successor the TC stole the hearts of the American soldiers. Numerous MGs were shipped to America where this type of motorcar was yet unknown.
Demand for the MG sports cars quickly rose in America, and most of the MGs were sold across the big pond in the years that followed. MGs were simple and well-built, affordable and easy to maintain. In 1952, Austin Motor Corporation merged with Morris Motors to form British Motor Corporation Ltd*.
In 1955, the pre-war TB and the post-war TC, TD and TF series with their pre-war designs were followed by the MG A roadster, which also became available as coupes after 1956.
In 1962, the successful MG A was followed by the even more successful and austerely but elegantly lined MG B. This series, too, mainly found its way to America. The MG B was available as roadster and as a 2+2 coupe, called the ‘GT’.
As British Motor* had stopped the production of the Austin Healey, there was again the need for a six-cylinder sports car from this stable, which made the MG C see the light of day in 1967. It was an MG B with a six-cylinder engine. However, this car failed to live up to expectations as its road-holding and character were not of Healey’s caliber. Eventually, Healey’s successor was to come from the newly merged British Leyland* stable in 1968, and was called the Triumph TR6.
In 1973, a V8 variant of the MG B came onto the market: the MGB V8. This model had a powerful Rover 3.5 litre V8 motor and was to be built until 1976.

The MG B roadster and the GT were sold until 1980, and, under pressure from American legislation, were adapted with safety-enhancing and emission-reducing conversions during their last five production years. The resultant thick rubber bumpers and less powerful engines made these cars much less attractive. Meanwhile, Japan produced the Datsun 240 Z, and put an end to the British sports car hegemony in America.

In 1980, it was curtains for MG B. In the years after, some Austins did appear, ‘dressed up’ as MGs but we’d rather forget about them. Finally, in the 1990s, a worthy successor emerged in the form of the MG F, which is available to this day.
In the year 2001 BMW decided to get rid of Rover because they were losing lots of money because the British pound was too expensive as was manufacturing cars in England.
A group of investors bought Rover. They took over the entire model line and were able to work out the last details on the Rover 75 Tourer and market it. Next idea was to give MG a true rebirth; various Rover models were technically re-engineered, tuned and spiced up to make thru drivers cars of them, a sporty line of cars alongside the Rover middle-class luxury line.
Looking at the Rover/ MG cars and reading about them in the press we can tell that we have high expectations of the MG models to appear in the future.

© Marc Vorgers 

British Leyland*
1968-75: BRITISH LEYLAND MOTOR CORPORATION, LTD
1975-78: BRITISH LEYLAND LIMITED
(in the merger of BRITISH MOTOR HOLDINGS with Austin-Morris and Jaguar interests in 1966)
and LEYLAND MOTOR CORP. LTD.
partly nationalized by the British government in 1975