MG MGB History
Catalog record
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History
Launched in 1962 as a more modern, comfortable successor to the MGA, the MGB used monocoque construction and a 1,798 cc B-Series four. Affordable, durable, and easy to live with, it became MG's definitive car and one of the best-selling sports cars in the world.
A Pininfarina-influenced fixed-head MGB GT coupe joined the roadster in 1965. From 1973 a Rover 3.5-litre V8 produced the MGB GT V8 (1973–1976), while US safety rules forced the heavier 'rubber bumper', ride-raised cars from late 1974. Production of all MGB variants reached 523,836 cars before the Abingdon factory closed in 1980.
Generations
Chrome-bumper · Chrome-bumper MGB
The original, lower, chrome-bumper cars — roadster from 1962, GT coupe from 1965 — widely considered the purest MGBs.
1962 Photo: “1962 MG B Roadster.jpg” by Coolalabright / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 4.0
1963 Photo: “1963 MG B Mk1 (24364537424).jpg” by Jeremy from Sydney, Australia / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0
1964 Photo: “1964 MGB Mk I Roadster (15709660074).jpg” by Sicnag / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0
1965 Photo: “1965 MG MGB GT MkI Coupe.jpg” by Sicnag / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0
1966 Photo: “1966 MG B GT by Milestoned.jpg” by Milestoned / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0
1967 Photo: “1967 MG B GT (7382416254).jpg” by dave_7 from Lethbridge, Canada / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0
1968 Photo: “1968 MGB GT MkII.jpg” by The original uploader was Chilterngreen at German Wikipedia . ( Original text: Jens Harrasz ) / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
1969 Photo: “1969 MG B GT hatchback (2016-01-04) 01.jpg” by OSX / Wikimedia Commons — Public domain
1970 Photo: “1970 MGB GT Mk II Coupe (13651115995).jpg” by Sicnag / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0
1971 Photo: “1971 MG B GT (3736442621).jpg” by dave_7 from Lethbridge, Canada / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0
1973 Photo: “1973 MGB GT V8 Coupe (16477125710).jpg” by Sicnag / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0
1974 Photo: “1974 MGB GT V8.jpg” by hugh llewelyn / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Rubber-bumper · Rubber-bumper MGB
US-impact-bumper cars with raised ride height and large polyurethane bumpers, built to the end of production in 1980.
1975 Photo: “1975 MG B GT V8 3.5.jpg” by Vauxford / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Body styles
- Roadster
- Coupe (GT)
Notable special editions & performance variants
MGB GT V8
Rover 3,528 cc V8 in the GT coupe body — MG's fastest B, factory-built only as a GT.
MGB GT
The fixed-head coupe with a useful hatchback tail, styled with Pininfarina input.
Related models
Collect the nameplate
Find a scale model of the MG MGB
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