MG B - 1974
Specifications
Make: MG
Model: B
Body type: Roadster
Year: 1974
Engine: 4 cylinder in line, pushrod ohv
Cylinder capacity: 1798 cc
Power: 94 HP @ 5500 rpm
Top speed: 165 km/h (103 mph)
0-100 Km/h (0-60 mph): 12.2 secs
Fuel: petrol
Color: orange
Seats: 2
Association: A.S.I.
Notes: Right hand drive
The MGB was Britain's best-selling sports car and offered as both convertible and coupe’. It has every single ingredient of the classic British roadster. Production began on May 1962 and replaced the MGA. Production continued until October 22, 1980. The chassis was constructed of a unibody structure that reduced weight, improved strength, and reduced manufacturing costs. Zero-to-sixty took just over 11 seconds thanks in-part to the three bearing, 1798 cc engine that produced just under 100 horsepower. In 1964 the engine was improved to a five-bearing crankshaft which improved the vehicles reliability.
When the MGA had been announced in 1955, it had set new standards for MG in terms of performance and styling, but by the beginning of the 1960's it had become slightly out-dated. Sports car design had moved up a gear, particularly in terms of comfort and the prospective sports car buyer was demanding more sophistication than the MGA was able to deliver. For MG's sake, the replacement needed to offer better performance and a greater degree of comfort. History has now shown that the new car did have these features, for it was the venerable MGB, a car which was to sell over five times the numbers of MGA.
Like the Austin-Healey Sprite and later the MG Midget, the MGB was to be of unitary construction which brought a number of advantages. The design of the body was such that the individual panels when welded together, produced box-like structures of immense strength. The engine and transmission came directly from the MGA, but the b-series engine had been increased in capacity to 1789cc, which resulted in 94bhp, and a diaphragm clutch was used between the engine and transmission. As standard, the car was supplied with bolt-on steel disc wheels, similar to those of the MGA but of a slightly smaller diameter.
The MGB was extremely well received by the press who were fulsome in their praise of the new car, which was capable of exceeding 100mph without any fuss. Performance handling and economy were all of a high standard for the time, which resulted in a thoroughly reliable sports car that was a joy to drive. It found a ready market, particularly in the USA.