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Looking for your next MG?
- Thread starter RichC
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Steve_S
Yoda
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Jacques Coune built these custom bodies on early MGB roadster chassis. He pitched the idea to MG for the coupe they had been planning to build but they rejected the idea because it looked too Italian. Ironically, the company that won the bid for the design which would become the MGB GT was from Italy!
I believe 64 of these cars were built by Mr. Coune, each custom ordered and sold for nearly double the price of a standard MGB. Mechanically they are identical to the early B roadsters and the only difference other than bodywork is the rear of the interior.
If I'm not mistaken, six of these cars remain today after one burned up in a house fire a few years ago. One is still raced on the vintage circuit and the rest I believe are kept as collector cars.
I believe 64 of these cars were built by Mr. Coune, each custom ordered and sold for nearly double the price of a standard MGB. Mechanically they are identical to the early B roadsters and the only difference other than bodywork is the rear of the interior.
If I'm not mistaken, six of these cars remain today after one burned up in a house fire a few years ago. One is still raced on the vintage circuit and the rest I believe are kept as collector cars.
Bret
Yoda
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According to the book “MGB The Illustrated History” the Bertlinette MGB 1800 (as Steve pointed out) was created by Jacques Coune of Brussels for that cities auto show in January of 64. This book also puts total production at 58 and actually blames the design’s demise on the introduction of the MGB GT in October 65. Not arguing - just quoting the book.
Too bad really it never took off – because I have always considered the Bertlinette design to have some of the most sexy lines ever penned. I deffently like it better than the GT.
Really surprised nobody ever tried to make a viable kit.
Too bad really it never took off – because I have always considered the Bertlinette design to have some of the most sexy lines ever penned. I deffently like it better than the GT.
Really surprised nobody ever tried to make a viable kit.
Steve_S
Yoda
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Sounds about right Bret. I do believe the Coune could have sold very well if MG had picked up the design. But when the MGB GT went into production in 1966, noone was willing to pay twice as much for the same car with different bodywork. Pity.
MG has always embraced classic (read older) styling which is good, but they probably could have survived much longer had they started to streamline like every other manufacturer did.
Some have tried to make copies of the Berlinette, but those who own them are very protective.
MG has always embraced classic (read older) styling which is good, but they probably could have survived much longer had they started to streamline like every other manufacturer did.
Some have tried to make copies of the Berlinette, but those who own them are very protective.
Simon TR4a
Jedi Knight
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What an absolutely stunning car!
I can hardly believe how gorgeous that is, what a shame there are so few.
Same is true of the Triumph Italia, though not as beautiful, and a Conrero bodied TR of which only 3 were built I think.
At first glance I thought Rich was kidding, thought it must be something exotic and Italian!
Simon.
I can hardly believe how gorgeous that is, what a shame there are so few.
Same is true of the Triumph Italia, though not as beautiful, and a Conrero bodied TR of which only 3 were built I think.
At first glance I thought Rich was kidding, thought it must be something exotic and Italian!
Simon.
Bret
Yoda
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Not to disagree – but if’n ya squint you’re eyes just so I could swear I see a hint of DB6 in the overall lines, the front head lights & rear-end. The Kamm tail isn’t my favorite look on the Aston Martin icon (prefer the DB4 & DB5s), but while the tail isn’t as pronounced on the Berlinette it works for me.
Perhaps the similarities (however slight) between the DB6 & the Berlinette is one of the reasons I like the design so much.
Hmmm? Maybe this is what Coune was looking for when he pinned the design? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif
Perhaps the similarities (however slight) between the DB6 & the Berlinette is one of the reasons I like the design so much.
Hmmm? Maybe this is what Coune was looking for when he pinned the design? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif
Steve_S
Yoda
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I was planning a Coune Berlinette replica once, based on a '67 GT basket case. Unfortunately the project came to a grinding halt when I realized two things. One, the cost of the bodywork was going to force the sale of my house and everything in it.
Second, the owners of these cars are very protective and would never, never allow a mold to be made of their car, or even measurements taken. Because of this, if / when the last Coune MGB is lost, there will never be another, not even in replica form. Pity.
Second, the owners of these cars are very protective and would never, never allow a mold to be made of their car, or even measurements taken. Because of this, if / when the last Coune MGB is lost, there will never be another, not even in replica form. Pity.
OP
RichC
Senior Member
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And I thought I was the only one that liked this car??? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
If you need a little more info:
The CBW 55B
Sometime during 1963, the Belgian stylist Jacques Coune met Sir Alec Issigonis to discuss the potentiality of collaborating with The British Motor Corporation to explore the possibility of using the design concept of the MGB Berlinette Coupe, for production at Abingdon.
Walter Oldfield who was then managing director of The Nuffield Press and a former confidant of Lord Nuffield, gave instructions for an MGB minus all the unnecessary trim to be delivered directly from the Abingdon production line to Brussels for Coune to build the coach work to his own design. This work was duly completed and the Berlinette delivered to Cowley for appraisal early in 1964.
Sir George Harriman, as chairman of BMC became personally involved and together with Issigonis, Sir Leonard Lord and MG's design engineer Sid Enever, drove the Berlinette for assessment over an extensive trial period throughout the summer of 1964.
The final decision was not to adopt the design in favour of the GT already conceived, and in fact introduced in 1965. Issigonis's recorded comments to Coune when advising him of his ruling was: "It looks too Italian!" A true statement as most of the craftsmen were from Turin, but possibly one of the most regrettable judgements the great man ever made.
Of the fifty six Berlinettes built only one was of particular significance. CBW 55B was the only right hand drive model to be produced. This acording to Coune was personally ordered by Alec Issigonis.
Without the backing of BMC, and their mass production advantages, Coune's manufacturing methods, although skillfully hand built, were not really a commercially viable proposition. The retail cost was ÂŁ1,300 against ÂŁ690 for the equivalent MGB. Ultimately therefore a total of only fifty six Berlinette's were produced, all of which were left hand drive models for the European Market. CBW 55B is one of only eight known to have survived.
If you need a little more info:
The CBW 55B
Sometime during 1963, the Belgian stylist Jacques Coune met Sir Alec Issigonis to discuss the potentiality of collaborating with The British Motor Corporation to explore the possibility of using the design concept of the MGB Berlinette Coupe, for production at Abingdon.
Walter Oldfield who was then managing director of The Nuffield Press and a former confidant of Lord Nuffield, gave instructions for an MGB minus all the unnecessary trim to be delivered directly from the Abingdon production line to Brussels for Coune to build the coach work to his own design. This work was duly completed and the Berlinette delivered to Cowley for appraisal early in 1964.
Sir George Harriman, as chairman of BMC became personally involved and together with Issigonis, Sir Leonard Lord and MG's design engineer Sid Enever, drove the Berlinette for assessment over an extensive trial period throughout the summer of 1964.
The final decision was not to adopt the design in favour of the GT already conceived, and in fact introduced in 1965. Issigonis's recorded comments to Coune when advising him of his ruling was: "It looks too Italian!" A true statement as most of the craftsmen were from Turin, but possibly one of the most regrettable judgements the great man ever made.
Of the fifty six Berlinettes built only one was of particular significance. CBW 55B was the only right hand drive model to be produced. This acording to Coune was personally ordered by Alec Issigonis.
Without the backing of BMC, and their mass production advantages, Coune's manufacturing methods, although skillfully hand built, were not really a commercially viable proposition. The retail cost was ÂŁ1,300 against ÂŁ690 for the equivalent MGB. Ultimately therefore a total of only fifty six Berlinette's were produced, all of which were left hand drive models for the European Market. CBW 55B is one of only eight known to have survived.
Bret
Yoda
Offline
Too Italian looking!?!
True statement or not – I tend to believe the cost was the real culprit here. After reading as much as I have about BMC (FOBAR comes to mind /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazyeyes.gif) in those years, I suspect that the tooling & startup costs for the different wings (front finders) and wonderful looking lines rear of the doors – would have probably figured more into the decision not to use the design than anything else.
True statement or not – I tend to believe the cost was the real culprit here. After reading as much as I have about BMC (FOBAR comes to mind /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazyeyes.gif) in those years, I suspect that the tooling & startup costs for the different wings (front finders) and wonderful looking lines rear of the doors – would have probably figured more into the decision not to use the design than anything else.