MGB How many MGB's still out there?

[Christopher H]

How rare are rubber bumper B-GT's-seems like I se for sale once in awhile.

Chris

 

[78Z]

I agree with putting a more modern engine into fairly common cars. If the engine blew up beyond reasonable repair in my Spitfire I'd be very tempted to put a Toyota 1.6 DOHC AE86 motor with 5 speed in it. Most sedans, MGBs, Spridgets, Jag XJs are fair game imo. They are all fairly common (realitly speaking). But won't take something more rare like a Jag XK120 and stuff a Chevy 350 into it. There are also some cars that are characterised by their engine like the Jensen Healey and the Lotus 907 engine that I wouldn't want to mess with.

If that makes me unpopular with the purists then so be it but I'd suspect I'd be having more fun.

 

[Guest]

and a chevy v6 in a rubber bumper car is a natural. along with a chrome bumper conversion and lowering. or what about a sebring body kit? It is much better to put a car back on the road in a modified condition than to let it rot

 

[78Z]

before I bought my Spitfire I was seriously considering getting a rubber bumper with a shot motor and putting a Chevy 3.4L V6 and 5 speed from a write-off Camaro. I was going to keep with FI as going carbs forces one to have a hood scoupe. I couldn't find any good project cars - either they were totally restored or really rusty. A lot of people people keep telling why the V6? Why not the Rover V8? But really from my reasearch the Chev 60 degree V6 is pretty much perfect. It is low weight (about the same as the Rover V8), has a decent aftermarket, cheap and frankly puts out as much power as the Rover V8. With a kit it pretty much bolts in with having to cut up the car. And it comes attached to a 5 speed unlike most of the Rover V8s. So found the Spitfire but I'd still love to do a V6 MBG ... someday.

 

[Steve]

In answer to the question about the rarity of rubber bumper GTs, in the UK they are relatively common, but only 1,247 were imported to the USA, which makes them one of the rarer MGs in the country.

 

[Guest]

I know they are rare, I got into a discussion about modifying one earlier this week. They are the only RB car I wouldn't mess with

 

[BuddyJ]

I wasn't offended. In accuality, my post was refering to a buddy of mine that I work with. He hates rubber bumpers, 1500s and anything else from the 70s or so. And your car better not have any modern upgrades. He's a hard-nose for only vintage performance parts. "If its supercharged, it better be a Judson" kind of mentality.

I agree that there are some cars that shouldn't be messed with because of their rarity/ lack of surviving models. I also think that so called upgrades should be tasteful.

When I finally get my car, I want it to look stock all over, except under the hood. No big swaps, but I'd like to have a good street engine. Everything else will be original, cuz thats how I like it.

 

[Guest]

I don't think is possible to offend those of us with R/B cars. we're too busy convertin them to C/B

 

[Christopher H]

As far as converting an R/B car, I like them just fine. The only problem I see with a R/B car is that they seem to have low resale here in the midwest. Arena Motor Sales, the local high performance auto and motorcycle dealer has a really nice LE 1980 that they've had forever for less than ten grand. Probably one of the nicest cars they've had, possibly almost number one-high number two condition.

It has been sitting there for quite awhile, looking for a new home. Which I find discouraging when I see a restorable rubber bumper car.

Although you'll never get all of your money back out of a car I usually at least like to get half to 3/4 of my investment back out after I've enjoyed the car for awhile. I also usually buy cars that need work because A. I'm cheap B. I enjoy fixing them up and C. It lets me know what I've got when I'm done.

C/B cars are another matter. The biggest problem is finding one here in the midwest that isn't rusted as badly as the Titanic.

Chris

[ 01-10-2003: Message edited by: Christopher H ]</p>

 

[JFC]

It amazes me how the RB's are denegrated when I read articles concerning the B in different books or magazines. I like a clean RB and have seen some real nice ones. In fact one of the nicer B's I've seen is aerog1's (I think that's the correct post name). The articles fail to mention how many of the RB's were sold. Someone sure liked them because they sold a lot! I think it all started with the MG "purists" when the RB's came out. They didn't accept the change then and passed along their opinions to anyone who would listen. I was a kid then and my Dad had a CB GT; I remember the comments people would make concerning the then new B.

 

[Guest]

this is true Christopher

 

[aeronca65t]

We may be all wearing out on this discussion....but I'm really *glad* RB cars exist. Without them, the "supply" of MGs (including my converted Midget) would have ended about 5 years sooner.

My car was pretty beat-up when I bought it...it had mostly been a "city" car. If it hadn't had rubber bumpers, it would have been destroyed by the time I got it...they actually work well!

If I lived in an urban area, I'd have kept the rubber bumbers.....I live in a rural area, and the RBs were pretty beat up anyway, so I converted....and actually, since then, I mostly run "no bumpers".

But love 'em or hate 'em, there's no question that the RBs allowed *more* MGs "in the pipeline".

My converted car is here:

https://www.britishcarforum.com/PHPhotoalbum/displayimage.php?pid=138

 

[Bruce74B]

I am sorry that might have offended a rubber bumber MGB owner with an off the cuff remark about a rubber bumper car...I don't mean to offend anyone, but sometimes speak without thinking. Kind of like putting my mouth in motion before engaging the brain. But any such comments are usually made in jest and I don't think any rubber bumper owner should really be offended. No more than the "no girly type" comments should be. Yes, that was offensive to me, and I am 6'3" and 250 lbs...but to each his own. LOL
Again, a lot of things said in jest can offend, and I appoligize if I have offended my "rubber bumper" relatives with my remarks.

Bruce

 

[Christopher H]

I'll Check it out.

Chris