Friday 16th December 2011

Pic of the Week: An MGB with a difference

Classic British sports car with a surprising heart...

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Ah, the MGB. Pleasant-looking olde worlde sportster, but not the sort of thing you would want, in standard form at least, to take to a track day, right?

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Not in the case of the car you see here. Because this is the Frontline MG LE50, a car that's been created to celebrate the 50th anniversary of MG's classic sports car next year. And underneath the bonnet lies a 2.0-litre 212hp, 175lb ft engine derived from a Mazda MX-5.

And handling that power is a six-speed Mazda gearbox and bespoke multi-link suspension. It's a combination that will no doubt upset some purists, but we're willing to bet that it's a hoot.

Something we'll find out for certain when we drive it next week...

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[Lowtimer]

I actually want one of these, even though I find it quite hard to articulate exactly why. I like that colour too.

[Watchman]

I do like the idea of modernised classics. Top Gear showed the E-type and Aston a few series ago. I have long fancied rebuilding a Lotus Elan +2 with the help from Spyder and a modern Ford engine.

I would ask though, regarding the comment about upsetting purists, do people get wound up by this? I can understand if the original had some value but Elan +2s and MGBs can be had for shed money these days.

[BigCojones]

I've never - read never - been a fan of MG. Yet there is something about this 'poor-mans-Aston' i like...

[thewheelman]

Looks great! I couldn't help looking for a rival from a similar era, also with an engine transplant.
I found this LS1 powered Porsche 914, now i feel sad that this car will never be in my life.....



On a slightly more modern note, a Jag V12 in an MX5.

Edited by thewheelman on Friday 16th December 12:52

[sparkster8]

Is it the wheels perhaps? Bit surprised by just how 'right' that seems to look. I'm nodding in agreement with the comment about not being an MG 'type' but I really like that.

[Janosh]

Hmm - I like everything but the wheels...

They look best on wire spoke wheels, but perhaps there's too much power to run the original profile??

[sparkster8]

Like that 914, what I need in my life is an LS powered TR7 - yes really !

[sparkster8]

thewheelman said:

Looks great! I couldn't help looking for a rival from a similar era, also with an engine transplant.
I found this LS1 powered Porsche 914, now i feel sad that this car will never be in my life.....



On a slightly more modern note, a Jag V12 in an MX5.

Edited by thewheelman on Friday 16th December 12:52

V12 MX5 - hmmmm a challenging drive I imagine !

[BigTom85]

Saw this being unveiled at the Classic Car Show at the NEC, and instantly liked it. It really is a lovely thing, and the quality of finish is simply stunning. The interior is especially lovely.

I think its about £50k though.

[Mr_B]

Call this Pistonheads ?? MGB with a Jag V12 http://www.mgexperience.net/phorum/read.php?41,154...

[thewheelman]

sparkster8 said:

thewheelman said:

Looks great! I couldn't help looking for a rival from a similar era, also with an engine transplant.
I found this LS1 powered Porsche 914, now i feel sad that this car will never be in my life.....



On a slightly more modern note, a Jag V12 in an MX5.

Edited by thewheelman on Friday 16th December 12:52

V12 MX5 - hmmmm a challenging drive I imagine !

I was just thinking that, it'd cahange the balance of weight in a huge way.

[JaseB]

I've driven it and can confirm it's bl**dy quick and great fun to slide round roundabouts

Very cool, and I'm not an MGB fan normally.

[Cotty]

Is that the same engine and box as in the Ginetta G40R ?

[toon10]

Watchman said:

I do like the idea of modernised classics. Top Gear showed the E-type and Aston a few series ago. I have long fancied rebuilding a Lotus Elan +2 with the help from Spyder and a modern Ford engine.

I would ask though, regarding the comment about upsetting purists, do people get wound up by this? I can understand if the original had some value but Elan +2s and MGBs can be had for shed money these days.

I like the idea of modernising classics. I've never been a fan of the MG and wouldn't choose that as a starting point. I do like the idea of those old 911's with modern bits that the likes of Autofarm do. Need a bigger wallet than mine though.

[mgtony]

I saw that one at the NEC in November, looks a decent little car. I prefer it looking like this, which were the first magazine pictures of it. I originally thought they were all going to be this colour scheme.

[JaseB]

Cotty said:

Is that the same engine and box as in the Ginetta G40R ?

I 'think' it's a basically a Ford Duratec so to be found in all sorts of things from Morgans, Caterhams, Ginettas etc

[varsas]

Mr_B said:

Call this Pistonheads ?? MGB with a Jag V12 http://www.mgexperience.net/phorum/read.php?41,154...

Ends up as a V8. Well worth reading though.

[LuS1fer]

I'd also like one assuming it can still be registered as a classic and doesn't have to have DRLs. Modern cars look like a bowl of flubber so I can see this being increasingly popular.

[edo]

Like that. Even the wheels look right.

Cant help but think a nice straight 6 or V8 might have been better, but I guess the Mx5 engine is light.

[gezkc]

212hp in an MGB! I like!

I agree with previous comments about those wheels though. Wires, or failing that period minilites would be much nicer.