10 Facts about the MGB you may not know!

Lovely old British cars. I had 3 different ones over 25 years when I was younger. They are very basic (its a morris minor with a new suit) !. They cost a fortune to own if you use them properly, I know. In UK weather they need restoring every 15 years, and components will fail. Women generally hate the cramped cabin and rough ride, I know. As we move towards 2030 deadline for petrol and diesel engines many existing owners are trying to sell them at silly prices before values tumble for old oil burners. Dont buy one now, 2023, wait a few years. Knowing how much they cost to run and own I would not pay more than £6000 for a really good one and make sure you have plenty left in the bank. You will need it!

All news to me.
I like your channel. I really wish you would run a similar format for the Midget.
That is my current flavour of poison.
Definitely the poor man’s sports car, but a lot of fun to drive.

I am glad to have found this channel because owning an MGB Roadster is my dream. And I am sorry to have to correct you but Rubery Owen wasn't a man, it was an engineering company owned by John Rubery and Alfred Owen, based in the town of my birth, Darlaston in Staffordshire.
Anyway, I'm subscribed and look forward to viewing your content. Thank you.

Oh how great is hindsight at least I still have the workshop manual from my MGA Twin Cam and Considering back in the early 1970's in Australia it was only $4500.00 in fair to good used condition and these days worth considerably more wish I still had it along with the Sunbeam Tiger and a couple of real Toyota Levins a TE27 and a rather special TE37 once raced at Bathurst by one Mark Thatcher, Yes the Margaret Thatcher's son.
When younger so few of us have any real long term vision and I remember a story about my Snap On rep who once sold his Car to a rather Famous Australian Radio Anouncer one John Laws and he was looking the other way when John came up behind him and said that's the best most original car on display here and I would very much like to know if you would be interested in selling it, He was surprised to see who it was when he turned around and a deal was struck for the sale at a more than fair price.

I would like to have heard more about the Austin-Healey based 3.0 I-6 engine and the Rover 3.5 V8 engine options.
Interesting facts:
Donald Healey was furious about the 3.0 being used in the MGB because the body design was not originally suitable (as proven by the low sales).
The Rover 3.5 V8 engine was actually bought from Buick (the aluminum V8 weighed 40 pounds less than the cast iron I4 1798cc B engine). Unfortunately for us yanks, we couldn't get the V8 due to the US emissions standards.

I'm not particularly an MG fan but this was interesting and concise. Very good.

As I recall when James Bond saw the MGB Ms Goodnight was driving in "The Man with the Golden Gun", he referred to it as a "Bedpan"!

My MGB had two six volt batteries in series under the rear deck behind the seat. Naturally they where open to all the elements. Someone laid the connecting cable over the drive shaft which eventually wore in two. Darkness quickly ensued.

My dad raced one in SCCA races, sadly our emissions and safety laws put a end to these cars in the USA. But I’m looking for one to race to 🤔 or maybe a Austin Healy?

There's always something new to learn about these LBCs.
Thank you for this list.

Rubery owen were a big company . They made numerous axles and chassis for the british lorry manufacturers .

interesting stuff, I've found the "B" also makes a great Hot Rod (mines a custom chassis/suspension, 400hp SBC '64), maybe a video on modified MGBs?

Love it, I thought Charles had the MGC for his 18th and the DB6 for his 21st though? Could be wrong!

That was pretty good! I knew about the MGB police cars and some of the Rostyle information. Didn't know it was from a Detroit, Michigan company. The rest I had no clue about and I've been living the MGB dream since 1973 when I bought a 1968 MGB. Still have it and it looks very nice.

Outstanding video and presentation.

I thought Rubery Owen was a brummie firm that made chassis and wheels for the British motor industry.

I love my '70 blaze red B

As a long time 1974 MGB GT Owner I would like to thank you for the very interesting video you put together. Your researchers are to be commended for that stunning effort.
Thankyou

Tesla copied the nose of the Renault Caravelle..

Very interesting, thanks. By the way, hope you don't mind me pointing out that "Michigan" is pronounced as though the C was an S --> Mi-SH-Igan

Great video, enjoyed it! Also I loved your T-shirt. Where can I get it?

I enjoyed your content. I don’t enjoy music while I’m trying to hear you talk!
Thanks …

Rather underwhelming, if mercifully short: that's 7 minutes of my life that I'm not going to get back.

Other IRS options looked at were Coil Springs with Watts Linkage, which was supposedly dropped on cost grounds and a Panhard Rod that turned out to be too short unlike what is seen in recent times by Frontline. In retrospect which IRS option would have been better for the MGB in terms of longevity had it faced a similar historical trajectory as real life, on top of sharing parallels with the similarly long-running Alfa Romeo Spider and Fiat 124 Sports Spider? In practice it is said the standard engine in the MGC was actually pushing out 124 hp at most rather than the oft-quoted 145 hp.

Have rubber Gt bumpers and carburettors from a low mileage car in excellent condition forsale if anyone interested 👍

Brilliant cars. I have two and love them both.

MG = More Garbage

I always thought that the designers were influenced by the Ferrari 250GT California SWB.

One might say that the MGBs' headlight design was also copied fropm the Datsun Fairlady Roadster SPL310 (The second generation Fairlady made its debut at the Tokyo Motor show in 1961, several months before the roll-out of the similar looking MGB). but I believe this was merely the 'style of the day' and Renault was a little too arrogant in their action....BMCs quality control and later BLs' was legendary by its' absence; MGB (imho) was a name simply to differentiate for the important US market the difference between the MGA and the NEW model, much like the use of XKE instead of E-Type (as a continuatio of the well-established and liked XK-range of exported Jaguar sportscars. Points 4 and 5 have amusing stories but it was always pounds, shilling and pence which counted and BMC chose to keep production costs down to maintain profits. Ironically, this culminated with the attitude of rolling out the same car (basically) with the same engine (having failed with the V8 and inline 6) for 18yrs. A total production of cabs and coupés of +/-512,000 remains impressive however it could have been so much greater but for the lack of vision from the British management.

My stepdad worked as a sales manager for an mg dealership in the Detroit area in about 1976 . With that job a new car comes with it usually every week or two until it’s sold . He would bring a brand new one home ever night. He’d let me drive them all I wanted. I was about twenty. I waited for him to get home every night and I was gone. It was wow.

My mother bought a brand new 1968 MGB (black) when I was 11 years old. I learned oil changes and tune ups on the car. She gave it to my older sister about 1972 or 1973, who ran it hard, then ran it without oil and destroyed the engine.

I remember my mother being furious when she happened to see my sister race the MGB through a "lay by" on the Taconic to pass slower traffic which blocked her. But she didn't lose the car, and continued to beat the poor thing to death. Oh well.

MG didn't make as nicely detailed a front as the Renault.
Its a pity that the MGB got neither a V4 or an independent rear suspension.
Good for Prince Phillip triggering the collaboration with Pinninfarina - wish they'd used them more

The MGB starter was fitted to the engine before the engine was lowered into the car. Changing the starter was a @#$% of a job as there was so little room betwen the engine and the subframe to maneuver it out. Much tugging and heaving!

Shipped with the wrong PISTONS?? Wow. Even for MG that's some seriously slack QC.
My first car was a 63 MG Midget. I would never dream of buying another English car of ANY brand after that experience.

I loved my 1967 MGB until I was hit by a drunk in a Mazda pickup. It was never quite the same after that. Still, I would love to have it back.

great video!

Had a used 1961 Renault Caravelle as my first car in high school. Great little machine! Had a few 'French' oddities; but that just gave it more character! Wish I still had it!!

I owned a 1965 black convertable MGB reg DDV 800C. It was an ex Devon Police car. It was the start of my owning several 'Bees. Loved them all!!
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That was interesting, thanks & all the best....

Excellent content. I only drive MGS and I'm a life- long Detroiter. Thank you for sharing. I'll be driving my '77 roadster to work in about two hours. Thanks for sharing.

Some engaging and fun facts there! I remember the name Rubery Owen I thought they manufactured door rubbers for some reason. A pity that the V4 BMC engine never went into production.

I got nicked for speeding in my ancient standard 10 back in the 60s near Morden by an MGB Convertible cop car

I worked for BL at their Canadian headquarters (1974-76). It was fitting you ended with a GT in British Racing Green...my favourite! One of the best jobs I ever had!

The “Copying” Renault claim reminds me a bit of Land Rover’s claim against the Ineos Grenadier ….. or when the Jackson or the Marvin Gaye estates accuse musicians of copyright violation because they own the chord with C# or the note F …….

15th

Have been selling MGBs since the 1980's but didn't know all 10 facts. Retired now with a 1967 MGBGT to keep me busy.
Designer was Don Head at Abingdon. sadly missed in the Oxfordshire area and his own car was a bit special.
Tyre pressures seem to be vague on advice. We ( my former colleague and I ) reckon 28 F and 24 R gave a nice ride and good turn in.

Most British sports cars in the sixties were made to export to Canada and the U.S. Only approximately 10% were made for the home market.

The MGB assembly line photo shown earlier in this videowas actually taken in Sydney Australia, not in the Abingdon, UK factory.Over 9,000 MGB roadsters were assembled in Australia between 1963 and 1972.

“Mish-igan, not “Mitch-igan”. Otherwise interesting video. I think if you ask any car buff in the U.S. to name their favorite British car, they might say Jaguar, but many would say MGB. They were everywhere. I British Leyland would have created an OHC 2 litre for the MGB