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MGB New Guy- Looking at Early MGB-Odd one

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MisterB

MisterB

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Hi Folks-
Quick intro- I'm new to MG's but not to cars in general. Lots of experience with Brit bikes as well.
On to the meat---
I'm looking at an early B '62 or '63 according to the owner. They've given me a rubbing of the ID tag near the radiator and it's in German. Mostly illegible so the year box is not showing. This tag is very close in layout to the tag on my '58 190sl so is familiar to me.
Odd thing is the chassis number, though unreadable, seems to show 5 or 6 digits. Aren't the first two years of the B 3 or 4 digits or did they use "00XXXX"? Sounds like a silly question but these cars are not yet known to me.
Thank you in advance for any opinions and patience.

Best regards,
Mike Burgess
Albert, KS

"If it ain't broke I can't afford it."
 
My early MGB numbers are GHN3L/10273 if I recall correct . It could have just 3 or 4 numbers after the prefix if its a earlier car. Bob
 
As Bob shows in his post, only MGB numbers I've seen start with letters, not numbers. Where did you get those "chassis" numbers from? To my knowledge, no MGBs were made in Germany, but I could be wrong. PJ
 
Hi Folks-
Here's what I can decipher from the rubbing of the ID plate---
fahrgestell nr-- (chassis number)-87XXX baujar (year of manufacture) is illegible on the rubbing. That would be way too easy, huh?
They also gave me some numbers from the front frame---NGB 081XXX
From what I know this would place the car in 1966 build dates. A far cry from a '62.
I'm no expert in the MG's as mentioned but this is what I've been able to come up with.
My best guess is that this car was an export to Germany where it was purchased and shipped across to the US.
Odd, I'm working on a '58 190sl that was built in Germany, sold new in London and shipped over here. Small world, isn't it?

Thanks for the replies fellows.
Best,
Mike Burgess
Albert, KS
 
MGBs shipped to Australia were CKDs, completely knocked down, assembled in their own factory and possibly their ID plate is also different. I think something to do with the Australian import duty on complete cars.This might be the case in the German documented car. Possibly built in the UK and re tagged there. Interesting to say the least. PJ
 
Hi Folks-
Mystery solved! The owner got back to me. Push button door handles and number definately in the 87000 range.
A 1966, no doubts. Too bad, if it were a '62 I might pursue it.
Thanks to all who read and replied.

Regards,
Mike Burgess
Albert, KS
 
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