MGB: A modified gem that looks bone stock - a Real Road Test
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- čas přidán 25. 05. 2022
- The MGB is such a ubiquitous British Classic that it's easy to forget that they're a great drive. This modified MG, tweaked by Tim at Cambrian Classics Ltd (www.cambrianclassics.co.uk) has a 2-litre engine, a Ford five-speed gearbox and made my face hurt through sheer smile factor. Plus it has steel wheels and hubcaps, which look AMAZING. Old cars are just more fun.
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I’m glad to see an MGB on the channel. I’ve daily driven mine for the last 4 years 45,000 miles. Mine is named Henry, I don’t think I’ll ever stop driving it.
We’ve had my 71’ since 1980. Every year (almost) I have to take it back to my mechanic. It it’s almost worth putting a Miata drive train in it to just keep it on the road. But I won’t be able to drive soon and my daughters don’t care about it or my Jag. “But you bought me a Lexus!” No excuse for not learning how to drive. I guess I’ll have to sell them both soon. It makes me want to give the car to one of their boyfriends (who knows if either of them will be around in a year.) But they’ll have a car that I’ve spent so many thousands of dollars to keep them both running. Who cares.
@@wedjr97Don’t do it!!! Find a car lover. There’s no joy in seeing others waste your efforts.
What a hoot that looked like! Just the right amount of HP increase, w/ a 5-speed box, w/ a magnificent, proper exhaust note...Great camerawork by Ms. HubNut, too, kudos! And hats off to Tim at Cambrian Classics for a dynamite "resto-mod"!
Well they did not know that when I sold mine, however my damage was only when it threw the trolley jackout out sideways and the car fell down on the edge of the jack. dented the sill a bit., Hope they re ratioed the new gear box in the Mk 2, 2nd gear was pathetic in the old box..
*Very nicely mod'd car, nothing silly just improving on the original* 👍
Beautiful. Same lovely exhaust note, but more power and a better 5-speed gearbox make this what the MGB probably should ALWAYS have been.
But then, BLMC budgets did not extend into five-speed boxes or pepped up engines. (other then VERY mild enhancements)
Fantastic car.
Here's some trivia. About 45 years ago, I had a drag race with a mate. I had a 1960 Chev with 283 V8 and Powerglide, and he had a Series I MGB. It was a dead even race - no winner.
In a similar vein I drag raced my 1962 MG MK 1 against a 1958 Ford Thunderbird 352 cubic inch V8. It was even until 50 mph.
As usual. Happy to potter about in low powered unusual transport, but put him in a sporty number and the big child comes out! ;-) Nicely set up MG with appropriate modifications
My first car was a 1966 Midget which had the kit-form roof. At every opportunity it was off and I only got caught out a couple of times although one was a sudden torrential downpour! I loved that car so much that I get all misty eyed when I see one many years later.
Same here. Mine was black with steel wheels. Managed to blow it up on the M5 near Membury service station on the way to see race of champions at Silverstone in April 76. Had a mustard 1971 'B' a few years later. Great memories.
One of the best sounds from 4-cylinder engine what i have heard.
Thanks for showing that classic British sportscar 😀
Not so common in here Finland.
Not even in the old days? They were a very common site in classic car classifieds in my childhood here in sweden. But maybe the finns were always more into american cars?
@@rimmersbryggeri i think Austin Healeys were more common, maybe it was cheaper...
And i think peoples in Sweden has always had more money to use than here in Finland.
@@JS-1983 Ok there used to be alot of mg midgets here too you never see either anymore though. Not in traffic anyway.
Nobody could say that you didn't give it the beans! Miss Hubnut's camerawork was good; really improves the quality.
Yes, great car but the camera work really took this video up to the next level. It feels as if we are in the car with you, but it doesn’t dilute the honest charm of Ian’s delivery. Love Miss Hubnut comment at the start too. It’s a pleasure seeing you guys together
There is only so many ways you can describe rust.
Classic Ian, great road test of a very nicely modified mg thanks.
They are a pretty looking car one that we've kind of taken for granted. I must admit as I've got older I prefer the looks of the Triumph Spitfire but that's just personal taste. I fawn over an 1100 now whenever I see one, nostalgia eh.
If MGBs were stopped being produced by the end of the 60s, they would likely be much more revered than they are now.
The reason they sold well for so long and still so many of them about is that they're good fun cars that are easy and reasonably priced to keep on the road.
I sold, on average, an MGB a day in the 90’s, and wrote about them endlessly. My in depth knowledge of the breed came to bore the arse off me, but a few decades on I find it rather nostalgic and rather miss them being part of my life. I had some memorable dates that I drove to on what appeared to be a deckchair…(I always chose the latter incarnations for nighttime excursions)
The growly exhaust note on the MGB was provided by the long centre branch exhaust manifold. This was hugely heavy , being cast iron but very efficient
It's actually the exhaust ports on cylinders 2&3 being Siamesed that produce the note.
This is what I call a real sports car.. Absolutely loved it - thank you so much sharing
If you're going to modify a classic, this is how to do it. I love an MGB with steel wheels.
Agreed. But the Rostyles look even nicer!
androo4519...I have Minitaur ( Minilite copies) on my 1963 MGB.
Mines bog standard with overdrive and it will cruise at 60mph @ 3k revs also.. Cheers for the video Hubnut..
I have my only speeding ticket in one of these and have the photo to prove it. We sold our 1971 example some time ago to someone who had the time / money to put into it. This one looks very well done.
MGs were always a bit old man for me, and hard to justify in rural Australia, but I love the sound and the pure driving experience. Drove with a friend up the old Pacific Highway north of Sydney many years ago and it was just brilliant!
Thats a cracking looking MGB and what a beautiful noise it makes as well, as you say power you can use on the road!
I love the history section of a Hubnut review. His knowledge and how he gets it across is really excellent.
Fantastic filming Miss Hubnut, brings the review road test to another level.
Away from the workshop, this is where Hubnut shines, true motoring journalist.
Great to see another road test. What a lovely MGB!
I never had an MGB. My brother owned an MGA. When I got out of the Navy I purchased my first MG Midget. That was in 1970. My next car was also an MG Midget. I liked the burnt orange color so much that I picked that same color for both cars. The first Midget, that I owned, had the chrome bumpers while my second Midget had those ugly black rubber bumpers
It seems like you really enjoyed driving it
And its sound, it's amazing!
Cool modified MGB and a great fun review, HubNut par excellence! Thank you very much for the video, makes for perfect lunch break entertainment, very much appreciated.
"only so many ways to describe rust..." cracked me up right from the start! Great vid!
I thought, I've seen Tim before, now I know, at Morris Minor Traveler wood restoration you're filming Ian.
Good modifications to this MG MGB.
so beautiful. that is the best of the B series. the purest of the styling, they just got ugly after this.
hats off to Tim and his spiced version. this is what the factory would have engineered as a performance model... if they could have.
sweet drive Ian.
I do prefer the disc wheel above the wire for performance and better tire balance. The wires require inner tubes, thus the downgrade. This MGB sounds wonderful, and just the right power increase to still feel and sound like an MGB.
Wonderful review of a true classic. Makes me want one even more!
Always loved the sound of the B series engine. Also love the early interior and especially the dash with the old style dials and the map reading light.
What a delicious little car! Tim really has worked his magic over this one extremely well! 👍🏻
I have had a 66 BGT for the last 38 years it's like Triggers broom 🤣 I have modified in similar way but added Princess brake calipers and V8 discs . Good to be able to stop as well as go!
Good review, Ian, particularly the MG historical background information
As a kid in New England, in the 1960's, theses cars were everywhere!!! Roadsters and GT's. I still see them.on the road and for sale in local car lots. I love everyone I see! Great video, mate! 🎩🇺🇸🎩
Good, informative presentation. Nice mods on this one. '67 was the best year for B's - & for that matter, for many Euro & U.S. cars, before the Nader years, '68 & on. I like the steel wheels w/ small caps over the flashier wire wheels. The steels are lighter, stiffer, less troublesome. Some alloy wheels are nice, but may not have the originality of the steel ones. I had a beautiful, blue, '67 MGB-GT. What I wouldn't give to have it back!!
This was a great review! Lovely car. Great soundtrack.
Top job Tim, a really nice MGB & it sounds great too...I had a 1967 red MGB years ago here in Australia & it was always a good fun car to drive & no matter what Ian says, mine used to wind out to 110mph given the space after having it dyno tuned...❤
Great seeing Ian having fun and Camera Lady's comments were priceless
That was champion. A lovely, lively little spin. That exhaust note!
That's lovely. What an excellent set of modifications.
This 1967 MG B and I have ONE thing in common. What could it be...?
Great Video, Ian! Pure fun under a cloudy sky. Awesome...
Lovely work
That sounded glorious on take off! Looks stunning too!
Whay=t a lovely car, and from the smiles and the chortling, you obviously really enjoyed that. My first cars were an Austin A35 and an MG Midget, yes, two cars at 17!! Same engine in both, but such different cars, loved working on them. The A35 came without the Smiths heater, that was an optional extre, so I picked one up from the scrapyard and fitted it. After about 30 miles a faint warmth came from the vents, but it never got beyond that and I had to upgrade to an Anglia with a heater that burnt your face, much better.
Loved this vid'', great camera work too.
Lovely car and proper sound.
That is how a car should sound. Please preserve this for when EVs have taken over, and we have no souls.
Truer words.....
Thoroughly enjoyable video of a great car. Thank you.
Fantastic car, and so pretty with the roof removed. Quite clear to see just how good it is by the width of the grin on your face!
That "Describing Rust" line, you got me lol.
The enthusiasm for these cars is infectious.
I have a MGA running a 1950cc 5 bearing MGB engine with a HRG cross flow head, the engine really made the A a lot more fun to drive and revs much better than a standard motor, with 150bhp at the wheels. I would have enjoyed getting your view on the A when you were Sydney as I saw your drive along the Old Pacific Highway, one of my favourite pieces of roads around Sydney.
Brilliant video Ian 👍 lovely car ian
Sounds fantastic!
FINALLY you do a review of an MGB! Brilliant! I can practically smell this car! I was brought home from the maternity hospital in an MGB, so they're really in my blood.
I had an MGB in grad school. Fun car but it had a master cylinder leak that wouldn't stay fixed and a completely unpredictable electrical system. It either started or it didn't. I took it on a backpacking trip to the Pecos Wilderness in New Mexico once, drove it 100 miles on freeway, then on forest service and barely maintained back roads, then back to Albuquerque. The next day I drove to a convenience store right around the corner from my house, hit the tiniest bump and the whole rear end collapsed. The U-bolt holding the rear axle to the springs had completely sheared off and upon inspection, you could tell that it had been hanging by a thread for who knows how long. I guess I was lucky; it could've broken down 100 miles from civilization or at 70 miles an hour on the freeway, but it didn't.
It was fun while it lasted!
Great car with the right mods! 👍🏻
We used to have a 72 MG B in red with the three windscreen wipers. We found it in a matte like orange paint colour. We restored it cosmectically and sourced a better engine that wasn't smoking. Only thing we couldn't get quite right was tuning the carbs. It was a blast to ride in.
Back in 2003/2004, I was 22-23 years old and bought a 1969 MGB roadster British racing green paint, with beige interior and top! I owned two other cars , but THIS WAS MY DAILY DRIVER FOR TWO TO THREE YEARS !! Living here near Los Angeles California, selling cars at a dealership, I’d be driving wearing my suit, overcoat, driving gloves and dress hat/cap(?), all dialed in LOL! I enjoyed those drives home with the sun would be setting! Ah the memories! At that same exact time I also owned and drove a ‘65 VW Meyers Manx dune buggy, a ‘79 Chevy C10 step side w/350 v8 (heavily modified engine w/ black NASCAR rims and raised white letter BF Goodrich tires, and my ‘72 Honda CB750-4 that I customized into cafe racer!! I did ok for being in my early 20’s , with stay at home wife and three kids, and selling cars being able to provide for my fam!
In 1972, when he was working as a hairdresser in London, our friend Paul bought his MGBGT brand new. Brought it out to NZ with him and continued driving it until last year when he had a couple serious strokes. Fifty years of driving the same car. Very distinctive exhaust sound.
A good friend of mine had a 1965 MGB in the seventies.A great car which I remember he sold for around £200.00ish. Peanuts even in those days.
Lovely sounding engine!
Nice tasteful mods on that! Can't beat bombing around in a MGB in the Welsh countryside. 😁👍
I am not into modifications, however these ones are effective and do make the car better.
Personally I like those old overdrives if you could get them to work, so my ideal B would still have the original gearbox and overdrive.
Have 3 B`s, all rubber bumpers. Daily is `78 with Weber/header & 4sp while builder-car has dual SU & actual 5sp, -not solenoid pressure/electric style...grab the stick & hit all 5 gears. (was recently told by other MG builder/enthusiast that Moss Motors values those trans at $5k) Last B has no title & is parts only. They`re an utter riot to drive!
Beautiful.....I never owned one but I owned a Triumph T R 7....... very dark blue.......It was a beauty.......!!!! Same sounding engine.... best orchestra in the world foe me that is.....!!!!My car was a 1977 T R 7......!!!!.
It's a MG it has to be driven everywhere with the roof down.Absolute lovely cars.
That thing sound glorious and 120 hp in something like that is more than enough to have a lot of legal fun. I wouldn't get good mpg though, I'd be constantly dropping it down just to hear that exhaust note.
That looked like fun! A proper little roadster. I have to say Ian, at 14:20 you were like Toad of Toad Hall.
I had a red 1 in 1975, the floor was rusted out, had already replaced the sills -My brother welded in the new floor, I sprayed it Tartan Red, replaced the gearbox & radiator, the head was cracked, so swapped that, bought for car £60 sold it for £80, don't think I would own another, to old for that now :-)
Always great to see a wild animal enjoying his natural habitat! :) That looked like a good day.
Very nice car with some practical tweaks. My Healey has the same meccano set top - not the easiest things to put up in a hurry. One of the cars I have on my list is a BGT V8. Drop heads are nice but I just prefer the look of the fixed head.
Not a Hub Nut vehicle but an essential part of the Hub Nut diet as noted by the chortle and outright laughter. A pleasant car to watch and listen to.
I had a 66 and a 70. Both completely stock, but nothing sounded or felt like those cars. A true driver's experience. Watching this video makes me think my '66 was a freak. It would easily cruise at 80 mph towing my hard top tent trailer and would top out at just over 100mph without the OD the 70 had. I know it shouldn't have been able to, but it did. Loved that ratty little car.
This is the first video I've seen since you left for New Zealand. where does the time go. Back then I bought two really rotten B's and have spent all this time cutting, splicing, and welding. After watching this video with those great sound notes, I'm even more excited to get it on the road!
Similar to our car right down to the pistons from a Lotus Corrina. Swept volume calculates out to 1933 cc. . Ours still has the original MK1 body shell with the narrow transmission tunnel so there is plenty of room.in the footwells.
As you said you get the genuine British sports car experience in tolerable comfort.
Another great video has always Ian and miss hubnut and hublets and hubmutts
Nice one. Makes me want to go for a drive in my MX5 NC roadster.
Surprised it was a modded B series, was expecting the Mazda MX5 engine and box in it.
120 bhp is plenty enough for proper fun on uk roads
I have never seen you so excited at driving a car Mr HubNut it must be a very special car, very envious but I don't think I could get in and out of it though.
Great video Ian.
That top end sounds immense. The five speed gearbox must make the car feel.so usable with its closer ratios and just that little bit of extra power.
I had the pleasure of reviewing a late MGB GT and a TR7 back to back earlier this year at the Great British car Journey.
I found the MGB to have a certain charm but felt like the old design that it was by that point compared to the Triumph.
The offset driving position was extreme and I found the spine twisting position uncomfortable. The late rubber bumper car sitting higher did ride smoothly though. I still think both the Roadster and the GT are great looking cars.
The only time I’ve seen a bigger smile on hubnuts face was driving a certain purple HSV v8 Ute in Australia.
That's a VERY nice MGB! It's a car I've had quite a lot to do with over the years -- although I've never owned one. I really love the GT, and it would have been one of those if a 'B HAD found a place in my garage.
I have always modified my cars, and fully approve of tasteful and respectful restomod. A high-performance GT is something I'd still really fancy.
Think Tim has done all the right sorts of things with his car, but there's another roadster I used to know that was molded with a different paradigm as its guide.
It belonged to a friend and colleague. As his was a five bearing car, he decided to supercharge it. Suspension, brakes, and gearbox were appropriately attended to, and that motor was a delight to drive; and while not fast in outright terms (even in the eighties), point to point on a demanding road, nothing much could better its times.
Wheels and hubcaps look amazing
Loved this one. I’ve owned a ‘78 Midget here in the US for 27 years, and am still infatuated with it. I sure wish it sounded like that B, though. With the Triumph engine allotted to the later Midgets, they lost the lovely blat of the old A-series, alas.
To get that growly exhaust note on a Midget, you merely have fit an exhaust manifold with a long centre branch.
Great review Ian 👍it looks like the screen washer has been modified as well, my 1974 MGB which I have had for 36 years works like a kids water pistol.. 😆
Yes, I think my GT had the hand pump type washer.
I think you just managed to keep your shades on there Ian, looks like immense fun
My brother has an L reg and replaced the original motor with a Rover SD1 Vitesse V8, bored out to 4.2 if I remember correctly. It sounds lush. Only drives it the summer.
That engine was a factory fitment in the MGB V8, but I believe only in 3½ litre displacement. That would go like stink. From what I understand, the alloy V8 weighs the same or slightly less than the original cast iron 4 pot.
Back in the 1970's when I owned a B, the stock wheels were in rough shape. At that time, the Datsun 240Z was very popular and almost everyone was putting aluminum slot wheels on them. That meant that there were a lot of take off wheels lying about. And, they fit the MGB. 4 1/2" bolt circle I believe. Who knows if any of these wheels are still out there, but they are a good alternative to stock B and they were a bit wider IIRC.
I love mine! It's not working at the moment despite a full engine and gearbox rebuild in 2020. Hopefully a new fuel pump will bring it back to life.
Liked from this🥝 quarter too. Thanks for sharing.
My first MGB was a 1968 which had a fold-down top, at least here in the US. The other benefit of the GT was that the roof stiffened up the car. It wasn't quite the "flexi-flyer" the roadster was. I raced a roadster for 12 years in the northeast US. I found that a tube-type, equal length exhaust header and 2" pipe to the rear with no muffler or resonator helped quite a lot so I put the same set-up on my street cars. But that was back when I actually had hearing.
Great to see you driving and enjoying a British sportscar Ian. My Triumph Spitfire's always available if you fancy a comparative review? Its the yellow one from your social at the Motorist recently.
Cheers. ian@hubnut.org please.
Wow I've never seen a B go like that before unbelievable.... Like the idea of the ford close ratio transmission... Although the later stock B boxer are delightful to use for me 1st is to low geared... The ratios or to spaced out.... Let's face it there's a black hole between the 2nd to 3rd shift... The guy deserves credit what a wonderful B..... Definitely a wolf in sheeps clothing for sure 👍
Thanks Ian, and Tim! 🙂👍
The MGA was also lots of fun. If you've never driven one, and like old school sorts car travel, try to wangle an opportunity. A friend had one, in the late 1970's, into which he had slotted an MGB engine and a Ford gearbox, and then did a number of other modifications, including the suspension . Very comfortable, and a nice ride. Except for when it rained. The cover always let some rain in, especially at the sides.
Check the back catalogue. Had a drive in an MGA Twin Cam a couple of years ago!
Very nice, this is my thinking on classic cars, modernise the mechanicals, while keeping the beautiful lines standard, or near standard!
Oh, that lovely exhaust note...
Wonderful MGB & it's story is so well told👌
I am thinking you had trouble handing the keys back😉
Perfect tourer👏🍾🥂🍷
Only two extra enhancements that I would consider doing from having had similar work done a much loved TR6
- better ventilated discs at the front (think some Volvo ventilated discs fit straight onto MG fittings)
- bigger radiator (& switchable electric fan, if you are in a warmer climate)