I’m almost positive my original '66 had red vinyl seats. I remember the transmission well. It taught me how to double-clutch.
The car I’m getting has a walnut shift knob, but otherwise looks like I remember. It’s hard to see in the photo, but it looks like it has a bend in it midway up.
The steering wheel is the old-type (only fair condition) with the wire spokes.
The dash is pre-1968. That’s why I limited my search to 1967 and before: I don’t like the padded dash.
Interesting side-note: I looked at a '67 locally. The guy was asking $3,900 but he wouldn’t start it up. (He said he trusted the guy who sold it to him, who said it ran fine.) No longer in The Recycler, the car is now on eBay with a “buy it now” price of $5,000. The seller is an enthusiast, and he seems to know his cars; but I was a little put off when he didn’t want to start it up right away for me. If he had, I may have bought that one.
There are no side-marker lights or reverse indicator lights.
Tube axle.
Folding top (which mom decided against, as she needed to put me in the back seat). I’d like to get the stowaway frame for it instead.
No smog equipment on the engine.
Steel wheels (which will be replaced by pained wires).
Early-style grille.
I’ve pretty much decided on Old English White. I know what you mean about it not looking “clean”. I thought the same thing. But I like the red interior.
happyheathen: The title says it’s a '66, so that’s how I’ll register it. If I find out differently later, then I’ll correct it then.
It’s quite possible that vinyl was available pre-68, I don’t recall ever seeing vinyl on a pre-68 car.
My sister’s was red leather, mine had black leather. I never recall working on a car that had vinyl. Maybe it was an option that was selected for most of the cars, like wire wheels.
I take it by your comments that the new baby has arrived. Cool, when can we take it for a ride?
In my description I meant to type “painted wires”; not “pained wires”.
happyheathen: Thanks, but my 1946 Willys CJ2A is slow enough for me!
There’s an MGB swap meet next Sunday. I think I’ll go to look for stuff. It would be cool to get a vintage radio. Anyone know when FM car radios came out? Is there a way to tell if a radio will work with positive earth?
My sister’s '67 had an AM/FM radio that was postive earth. It was described at the time as being a “European” radio as the on/off and volume was on the right knob.
You can install a neg ground radio in a postive ground if you isolate the radio from the car and run wires. There are two problems here, first the radio will be the wrong vintage (if this is important to you) and second if you ever short the radio to the car, sparks fly! Other choice would be, change the car to neg ground.
The swap meet is at John F. Kennedy High School, 8281 Walker Street in La Palma, CA. Sunday, November 24 2002 from 0700 to 1400. Admission is $4. Here’s the link: http://www.vintagemg.com/partsexchange2002.htm
I’m hoping to find a vintage radio there. Either that or an MG blanking plate. IIRC, the radio in my old MGB had the on/off/vol on the right. Too bad the car isn’t coming until nearly two weeks after the swap meet. It would be nice to go with a “shopping list”.
Got that right! Sounds just like my Dad’s old BGT.
Johhny LA Do you have the 1.8 litre model? I know Dad would have given anything to have been able to afford the 3.5 litre V8 That aside its a car even my Mum loved, especially when tearing up the countryside The engine wasn’t particularly revvy but had terrific urge and it looked the part. I wouldn’t mind one either.
Pushkin: All MGBs had 1.8 litre engine. The MGC had the 3 litre V8. Just under 9,000 of those were built. The MGC used a Rover engine that Rover (or British Leyland – British car companies confuse me with their mergers) bought from Buick. There’s a book available on how to convert an MGBto V8 power, but I tend to go for “mundane” things in my collections – sort of “representative examples”. (Note: I don’t have a car collection, but I do tend to collect things.) I’d always wanted to drive an MGC. I’ll bet it would have been a blast!
You’re right: The MGB wasn’t particularly fast, but it was a lot of fun to drive on mountain roads. American cars tend to go fast in a straight line. I tend to go for the finesse of European cars. (I’ve had three MGBs and two Porsches. I think an Acura NSX would have been fun too, from what I’ve read about them.)
As for BRG, I think I’ll save that for the 1967 Austin-Healy 3000 that I don’t have.
Actually the MGC had a 3litre straight six and was intended to replace the Austin-Healy 3000. The MGB GT V8 had a factory fitted 3.5litre V8 as found in some early Land Rovers. The V8 is more powerful but yet lighter than both. That would be a blast to drive. I’d love to have the time and money to buy or restore an old British sports car, there’s just something about them. Good luck with your car
Not a bad looking car, Johnny! Could be much worse. And I like it in red! Don’t make it white, please?
Pushkin: isn’t that the same Buick-V8 that can be found in later Rover 3500 sedans, and later the Vitesse and Vandenplas? I know the Rover/Buick one is used a lot in MGB restaurations. Maybe it’s essentially the same engine.
In 1961 IIRC Buick came out with a 215CI all aluminum V-8 that they used in the buick special for a year or two. Along about 1966-67 rover bought the rights to the engine and used it in the '68 Rover 3500S and in the Range Rover. (not sure of what year the RR got the V-8)
The Brits never bother to invent anything new if they have something old that will work, this coupled with the buying up of independent car companies in England resulted with this same engine being used all over the place. The Range Rover, the Tr-8, the MGB V-8 (yes it was a B, the C was a straight 6), as far as the Vitesse and the VDP go I’m not sure, but if they had a V-8 of about 3.5L then I would say yes.
Over the years this engine has grown in size to 4.5L and had electronic FI added and it is stil around.
Yeah, the Vitesse and Vandenplas definitely have the 3.5 V8. So the V8 block in the current Defenders and Range Rovers is essentially still the same? Or are they using Ford stuff now, what with the changed ownership of Land Rover?
Just checked the page, Johnny and the car looks like it could be a keeper.
I just remembered that there were two early headlight switches. Up till 65-66 the cars had a 3 position toggle switch (Off, park, headlights), after that it was a pull knob.
As far as I know it is the same engine, the Brits never throw anything away. I am unaware of any Ford engines that are shared between Land Rover and anybody else
The engine wasn’t particularly revvy but had terrific urge and it looked the part. I wouldn’t mind one either.