Beskrivning
Very well engineered conversion
Comprehensively restored in 1995
Still in good condition
From long term ownership
"M. G. B. Safety Faster - and More Comfortably." Road test of the MGB, Motor magazine, 24th October 1962
The MGB took up the cudgels from the A, which with its separate chassis it is fair to say had its roots in the pre-war design period. Charming though the MGA was, the B’s unitary construction moved the game on by some margin as far as the driving experience went. Still the quintessential sports car for the average bloke, if anything it could have done with a little (if not a lot!) more power. The venerable push-rod iron blocked four cylinder B Series unit could be encouraged to clear the 100bhp mark reasonably easily but with room for a bigger unit altogether, some saw the best tool in the quest for more poke as the Buick designed all-alloy (and hence lightweight) 3. 5 litre V8 available from within-the-Parent- Company Rover organisation. Internal politics and some frankly rubbish excuses such as ‘It won’t fit’ to ‘Fast, open cars are too dangerous’ (right up there with ‘the dog ate my homework’ in our opinion) prevented the marriage of American-derived muscle to true-blue British sportster, at least not with the blessing of BLMC. This didn’t stop creative chaps-in-sheds doing it themselves, most notable of who was Ken Costello. The suits eventually relented but only with the coupe GT body and a mild state of tune for the V8 so it was still left to the tinkerers and fettlers to produce what the market obviously wanted; the open MGB with decent helpings of power and torque.
And this is a prime example of just that though it has to be said, very professionally executed. Fitted with a 3. 5 litre Rover V8 and associated LT77 five speed gear-box liberated from the company’s SD1 executive express in 1993, the B boasts that ‘decent’ power plus an extra cog to exploit it. The conversion and associated extensive restoration is covered in some detail in the car’s history file and the associated expenditure comfortably exceeded £10, 000 (in 1993 remember), on top of the cars purchase price of £3, 000 six years earlier.
For sale via our Berlinetta online auction. Please see our website for further details. Bidding closes Monday 18th September at 8. 00pm.
