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I've wanted a MGB off and on for a while now. I have a RB Midget wit a lot of personal history but it's "smallness" and vulnerability in accidents has become an issue of late. Granted I won't be a whole lot better of in a B but it has to be better. I wouldn't mind a/c either.

IIRC, the B handles and feels like a "regular" old car and isn't as sporty as it looks. Is that really the case? I drove a really nice A once and it was huge disappointment. Sell the Midget and get a B or should I stick with what I have already?
 
Don't know where that statement came from! A properly fitted MGB, with everything as in new condition is a great handling car! Many bad or worn out parts can cause reports like that and give the car, regardless of model, a bad name. So many opinions from so many people and many haven't a clue what their talking about, but have to offer their side line opinions, for whatever reason. Talk to someone who really knows the type of car your interested in, you'll be better off for it. Hap Waldrop of Acme Speed Shop knows more about MGBs than anybody I know of. Ask him what he thinks of MGBs handling. You'll be surprised! PJ
 
I've owned both (and currently do own both) over the last few years. Both are fun, interesting cars to drive with their own good and bad points. Here are my thoughts:

Spridget

Light and nimble above all else. My Bugeye weighed in at 1480#, and with the built up engine was really nippy. Street legal go-kart indeed. For the earlier cars (I know you've got a later one) some upgrades can be highly desirable (1275, disc brakes, 5-speed) if you're going to drive it a bunch. Easy enough to do those upgrades, but does remove some of the originality of the car.

MGB

One of the roomiest LBCs I've been in, and I've sat in most of the affordable ones. I seem to remember weighing my old '70 roadser at 2200# or so. Still light by modern standards, but even a mediocre driver like me could feel the weight difference. That said, the 1800 B-series engine all MGBs have is more powerful and torquier than any of the A-series engines or the 1500 in the Spridgets. The MGB is probably the most supported LBC, they made half a million of them and parts are cheap and plentiful. You want to go fast, there's stuff to do that.

As for safety, the later MGBs do have door impact beams and the rubber bumpers will help at least in low speed collisions. Still a tiny car, though, not really that much larger than a Spridget by modern standards. Even my current MGB GT seems dwarfed in a parking lot.

My advice is to drive a decent MGB and see what you think.
 
Owned and driven pre-'68 MGB's my entire adult life. HUNDREDS of thousand of miles. Stout, forgiving, fun cars. Handling is quite good for a sixty year old design and you can get it "stiffened up" even more with poly bushings and some time. And the engines are just about as reliable as they come if maintained correctly.

You can get a Paddy Hopkirk gas pedal extension for a better pedal position. Makes heel-and-toe a simple thing.

Caveat: I'm likely of "optimal" body size/shape for the cars; 5'10", 135lb, size 7Ā½ shoes... YMMV :driving:


...but it's gotta be better than a Spridget.
 
DrEntropy said:
Caveat: I'm likely of "optimal" body size/shape for the cars; 5'10", 135lb, size 7Ā½ shoes... YMMV :driving:

...but it's gotta be better than a Spridget.
Click to expand...

I'm 6'1", 210#, size 13 extra wide shoes. Tons of room in a B. Spridgets are a bit tight but roomier than you'd think. Still, noticeably less space. MGB is roomier than the TR3/4/6 cars as well. Wider, makes a big difference.
 
:iagree:
 
DrEntropy said:
Caveat: I'm likely of "optimal" body size/shape for the cars; 5'10", 135lb, size 7Ā½ shoes... YMMV
.
Click to expand...

Gads... I wish. I'm roughly the same height, but don't remember being 135 except maybe in college! Seems like I've gained 10 pounds per decade. :wink-new:
 
I'm one of few that has been involved in a collision in an MGB. The other car (Chevy Cavalier) came off considerably worse, and the B, a rubber bumper car, would have been restorable had I the resources. I felt like a change, anyway...

i got got out and walked away from the crash, MGBs are over-built and are pretty solid cars assuming that they haven't been weakened by rust, that is.
 
HERE'S the answer, Billy!!!
 
It's too nice Doc. I don't have the proper storage space to keep something that nice otherwise I'd still have my '69 Super Bee and the Bugeye.
 
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