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Is there a "best year"
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Steve_S
Yoda
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Re: Is there a "best year"
Sure there is. Whatever year the person who's answering the question owns! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif
Many consider it the '67. Personally (and I'm biased of course) I like the late 64 / early 65 best because I find the pull handles beautiful and the dash layout preferable to later Mark I. Plus you still get the stronger 5-main engine.
Sure there is. Whatever year the person who's answering the question owns! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif
Many consider it the '67. Personally (and I'm biased of course) I like the late 64 / early 65 best because I find the pull handles beautiful and the dash layout preferable to later Mark I. Plus you still get the stronger 5-main engine.
rick_ingram
Yoda
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Re: Is there a "best year"
I would extend that selection out to any of the "Abingdon years".
/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif
I would extend that selection out to any of the "Abingdon years".
/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif
Re: Is there a "best year"
With most cars, the early years are generally the clearest expression of the original concept of the car. As "improvements" are made, they almost always soften that concept, usually because the marketing gurus have gotten hold of it. They seek to broaden the appeal and sell to people that may not have been interested in the car as originally introduced. The '55 T-bird vs the '75 T-bird is a good, if extreme, example.
The MGB was to some extent saved from this fate, probably because BMC and Leyland were never able to spend enough money on the car to screw it up really badly. But they did what they could with the goofy colors, decals and interior treatments of the '70's.
As you might surmise, I like the early ones, with the '64 being the pinnacle, as witnessed by the sales figures for that year. Ignore the fact that own a '64.
With most cars, the early years are generally the clearest expression of the original concept of the car. As "improvements" are made, they almost always soften that concept, usually because the marketing gurus have gotten hold of it. They seek to broaden the appeal and sell to people that may not have been interested in the car as originally introduced. The '55 T-bird vs the '75 T-bird is a good, if extreme, example.
The MGB was to some extent saved from this fate, probably because BMC and Leyland were never able to spend enough money on the car to screw it up really badly. But they did what they could with the goofy colors, decals and interior treatments of the '70's.
As you might surmise, I like the early ones, with the '64 being the pinnacle, as witnessed by the sales figures for that year. Ignore the fact that own a '64.
Re: Is there a "best year"
If you look at a list of all of the changes made to the B and the coinciding dates, the changes made the car better up until late 67. After that the cars slowly started to comply with US regulations, which erodded the soul of the MGB. Just my opinion. My ultimate car would be a white or red one with wire wheels and OD built around Aug or Sept of 67. I have owned a couple of such vehicles. Both were purchased as projects. Both were sold to a guy who rebuilds them and ships them overseas. His offers were just too good to refuse. Both cars fetched over 20 grand overseas.
If you look at a list of all of the changes made to the B and the coinciding dates, the changes made the car better up until late 67. After that the cars slowly started to comply with US regulations, which erodded the soul of the MGB. Just my opinion. My ultimate car would be a white or red one with wire wheels and OD built around Aug or Sept of 67. I have owned a couple of such vehicles. Both were purchased as projects. Both were sold to a guy who rebuilds them and ships them overseas. His offers were just too good to refuse. Both cars fetched over 20 grand overseas.
aeronca65t
Great Pumpkin
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Re: Is there a "best year"
All else being equal, I like the '64-'67 cars best.
But I'd rather have an MGB in good shape with solid doglegs and rockers, irrespective of the year.
So I'd much prefer a nice, solid rubber-bumper car over a rusty '65. Especially since the new cars are so easy to back date, if desired.
I'm quite happy with my '69, but wish it had the older, black-crinkle, metal dashboard with bigger tach and speedometer.
And "real" knockoffs (I'm working on this)
All else being equal, I like the '64-'67 cars best.
But I'd rather have an MGB in good shape with solid doglegs and rockers, irrespective of the year.
So I'd much prefer a nice, solid rubber-bumper car over a rusty '65. Especially since the new cars are so easy to back date, if desired.
I'm quite happy with my '69, but wish it had the older, black-crinkle, metal dashboard with bigger tach and speedometer.
And "real" knockoffs (I'm working on this)
billspohn
Jedi Knight
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Re: Is there a "best year"
Probably because most posters read the original question, in which he asked what was the best year from 1962 to 1967.
I don't think '1969' quite qualifies as an answer to that question...... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/jester.gif
I like the early 3 main engines, so would probably opt for 1962/3 as being a 'purer' expression of the original idea. Certainly after about 1967, the configuration of the cars was no longer dictated primarily by what MG wanted, but by what North American market regulations mandated.
I can see someone wanting an alll synch trans in his ideal MGB, but notwithstanding the cheesy synchro rings in the early non-synch box, I still prefer it, especially with the optional CR gear set.
So for me, the ideal would be a 1963 convertible (the term roadster not being traditionally applicable to a car with roll-up windows) with OD CR box.
Kensai said:
Probably because most posters read the original question, in which he asked what was the best year from 1962 to 1967.
I don't think '1969' quite qualifies as an answer to that question...... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/jester.gif
I like the early 3 main engines, so would probably opt for 1962/3 as being a 'purer' expression of the original idea. Certainly after about 1967, the configuration of the cars was no longer dictated primarily by what MG wanted, but by what North American market regulations mandated.
I can see someone wanting an alll synch trans in his ideal MGB, but notwithstanding the cheesy synchro rings in the early non-synch box, I still prefer it, especially with the optional CR gear set.
So for me, the ideal would be a 1963 convertible (the term roadster not being traditionally applicable to a car with roll-up windows) with OD CR box.
Steve_S
Yoda
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Re: Is there a "best year"
Only in looks and partial mechanics. You still have the modern interior and a heavier car, unless you spend more money changing those things than it would have cost to just buy a Mark I!"aeronca65t" said:
I'm not sure I'd call a '67 "better" than a 65 or 66. They are essentially the same car. Headlight switch is different. I guess some of the smaller mechanicals had some changes but nothing noteworthy."tr8todd" said:
I share your opinion."tr8todd" said:
"billspohn" said:
tony barnhill
Great Pumpkin - R.I.P
Offline
Re: Is there a "best year"
I love mt '67 GT!!
The GT I've been building for several years has all the things I like from all the different years...some of the major ones are:
-early push button door body & trim (pre-side markers)
-'67 steel dash w/ Euro '70's radio console w/heat controls in console & fresh air vents in OE radio location
-late power assisted brakes
-18V engine w/dual HIF's & OD
-'70 split rear bumpers
-'80 seats
....& some I've probably forgotten!
I love mt '67 GT!!
The GT I've been building for several years has all the things I like from all the different years...some of the major ones are:
-early push button door body & trim (pre-side markers)
-'67 steel dash w/ Euro '70's radio console w/heat controls in console & fresh air vents in OE radio location
-late power assisted brakes
-18V engine w/dual HIF's & OD
-'70 split rear bumpers
-'80 seats
....& some I've probably forgotten!
tony barnhill
Great Pumpkin - R.I.P
Offline
Re: Is there a "best year"
Here's the URL showing what was involved in the dash conversion (some photos):
https://theautoist.com/installing1964dash.htm
The folks at British Wiring took my dash layout (with the later guages) & custom built a wiring harness for it.
The radio console is still in the final mock-up stage...we took a '70's Euro console that mates to a steel dash (Euro console was needed because of later transmission tunnel) & are grafting the face of a '79 radio console into it so the heater controls, clock & the radio are in it.
I need to take some updated photos....
& here's the car:
& the later boosted brakes in the engine compartment:
& the instructions for making that conversion:
https://theautoist.com/convertingto-fromservoboostedbrakes.htm
Here's the URL showing what was involved in the dash conversion (some photos):
https://theautoist.com/installing1964dash.htm
The folks at British Wiring took my dash layout (with the later guages) & custom built a wiring harness for it.
The radio console is still in the final mock-up stage...we took a '70's Euro console that mates to a steel dash (Euro console was needed because of later transmission tunnel) & are grafting the face of a '79 radio console into it so the heater controls, clock & the radio are in it.
I need to take some updated photos....
& here's the car:
& the later boosted brakes in the engine compartment:
& the instructions for making that conversion:
https://theautoist.com/convertingto-fromservoboostedbrakes.htm
tony barnhill
Great Pumpkin - R.I.P
Offline
Re: Is there a "best year"
Hey, I've got longer...beats bending way over to get into the engine compartment!!
Hey, I've got longer...beats bending way over to get into the engine compartment!!