Can any MGB on Earth go above 55 mph?

[benjj]

1) The 'is that' in my comment was indicative of the fact I wasn't sure.

2) It looks like something my 2 year old daughter would draw after having been given some bad news.

[nta16]

I think it's fair to say the US and the UK have different ideas of design and different tastes

the MGB does seem to attract more than its fair share of after market bling, upgrades(?) and improvements(?) to appearance and mechanics

as always - each to their own

[RichB]

rolymo said:

Still not a looker but a vast improving on the original

[anonymous-user]

I saw a black and gold TR8 hoonabating along the A40 last week. It looked spiffy enough, after its fashion, and sounded just fine.

[FailHere]

rolymo said:

Were you aware that the factory pop-riveted chunks of cast iron inside the crash beam

Yes, as I have had one dropped on my foot

[Halmyre]

Breadvan72 said:

I saw a black and gold TR8 hoonabating along the A40 last week. It looked spiffy enough, after its fashion, and sounded just fine.

I wonder how it's fortunes would have fared had the V8 version been available from the start? Or even the V8 and a Dolly Sprint engine. Of course, internecine squabbling between Jaguar, Triumph and MG put paid to that.

[RichB]

Halmyre said:

Breadvan72 said:

I saw a black and gold TR8 hoonabating along the A40 last week. It looked spiffy enough, after its fashion, and sounded just fine.

I wonder how it's fortunes would have fared had the V8 version been available from the start? Or even the V8 and a Dolly Sprint engine. Of course, internecine squabbling between Jaguar, Triumph and MG put paid to that.

I just can't get my head round the awkward looks, the wheelbase appears far too short. To me they are even more difficult than the early TVR wedges.

[a8hex]

Halmyre said:

Breadvan72 said:

I saw a black and gold TR8 hoonabating along the A40 last week. It looked spiffy enough, after its fashion, and sounded just fine.

I wonder how it's fortunes would have fared had the V8 version been available from the start? Or even the V8 and a Dolly Sprint engine. Of course, internecine squabbling between Jaguar, Triumph and MG put paid to that.

So difficult to understand why it didn't start life with the Sprint engine, I mean it was already rolling off the production line like that, why bring out a new engine version with the bottom half of the Sprint and the top half of the 1850. Of course we're talking BL so designing a product to be worse than it would be if you just took the path of least resistance is probably not something to be surprised by.

[Dr Jekyll]

RichB said:

I just can't get my head round the awkward looks, the wheelbase appears far too short. To me they are even more difficult than the early TVR wedges.

Part of the problem was that a mid engine was fashionable for sports or sportyish cars, so it was designed to look mid engined. A similar thing happened with the XJS to a lesser extent.

Both cars would have looked better if the rear window had sloped back further.

[RichB]

Dr Jekyll said:

RichB said:

I just can't get my head round the awkward looks, the wheelbase appears far too short. To me they are even more difficult than the early TVR wedges.

Part of the problem was that a mid engine was fashionable for sports or sportyish cars, so it was designed to look mid engined...

I hadn't ever thought of that but it's a good point. To make it look rather like the Fiat X19?

[anonymous-user]

Look! Even standing still the Italian car is going faster and not crashing into the hedge (note also high class windscreen wiper mod).


PS: kudos to MG Midget dude going at 70 ish on the A43 today. Lovely looking motah.

Edited by anonymous-user on Sunday 20th April 19:47

[Halmyre]

Dr Jekyll said:

RichB said:

I just can't get my head round the awkward looks, the wheelbase appears far too short. To me they are even more difficult than the early TVR wedges.

Part of the problem was that a mid engine was fashionable for sports or sportyish cars, so it was designed to look mid engined. A similar thing happened with the XJS to a lesser extent.

Both cars would have looked better if the rear window had sloped back further.

There's a story about some Italian car designer visiting Triumph and being shown the TR7 styling buck. He looked at the side profile for a few minutes, then walked round to the other side of the car, looked at it and said "Oh no, they've done the same to this side".

The original concept drawings by Harris Mann were much more stylish. Mann's original drawings for the Allegro were also much better than the end result. Poor sod.

Edited by Halmyre on Sunday 20th April 17:57

[aeropilot]

a8hex said:

Halmyre said:

Breadvan72 said:

I saw a black and gold TR8 hoonabating along the A40 last week. It looked spiffy enough, after its fashion, and sounded just fine.

I wonder how it's fortunes would have fared had the V8 version been available from the start? Or even the V8 and a Dolly Sprint engine. Of course, internecine squabbling between Jaguar, Triumph and MG put paid to that.

So difficult to understand why it didn't start life with the Sprint engine, I mean it was already rolling off the production line like that, why bring out a new engine version with the bottom half of the Sprint and the top half of the 1850. Of course we're talking BL so designing a product to be worse than it would be if you just took the path of least resistance is probably not something to be surprised by.

Maybe, because by the time the TR7 went into production the Sprint engine (like the Stag) already had a bad reputation, so instead of fixing the problems and getting on top of the shoddy servicing at BL dealers adding to the problems, the typical BL path as you say was to 'go back in time' to something more basic.....

One of my cousins bought a brand new Dolly Sprint back in 1977 and had endless problems with it which the dealership seemed incapable of sorting out

[V8 FOU]

Saw 3 MGB's at different times going to the Historic Dockyard show today.

Not one exceeding 55 mph.

QED


Two of them could be seen tutting as I flew past in the Turbo R.....

[v8bloke]

Mine is certainly not to everyones taste but all modifications have a purpose.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VREATjDytXw&lis...

It does however go over 55mph by about 100mph

never had so much fun in a car (well nearly)

[Fiscracer]

This one only does 55mph in 2nd and is used regularly in 4th overdrive ;-)



Sees off quite a lots of supposedly faster stuff too - on the grid at 2010 Spa 6 Hours in front of a 904 and a 26R



We ended up 16th out of over 100 starters including about 50 yank V8s




Cracking cars. Bomb proof, handle well, look good and punch above their weight in historic racing. If you think otherwise you haven't driven a decent one.

[anonymous-user]

Yes, that one must be completely factory standard. Oh, hang on....

[rolymo]

Another fine old restored MGB roadster, some would say "over-restored" but tell me, what is one supposed to do after retirement, with all that time on your hands to go over your pride and joy until it is finally nigh on perfect in all respects. What then? Chrome the filters, chrome the rocker and then what? Chrome anything cause you just gotta do something.

[nta16]

rolymo said:

... but tell me, what is one supposed to do after retirement, with all that time on your hands to go over your pride and joy until it is finally nigh on perfect in all respects. What then? Chrome the filters, chrome the rocker and then what? Chrome anything cause you just gotta do something.

how about, er, actually drive it, then service it as required from its actual use

oh, no, hang about, it's elderly MGB owners we're talking about

[heebeegeetee]

Breadvan72 said:

Yes, that one must be completely factory standard. Oh, hang on....

It'll be to the same level of prep as the other cars.

Thing is, when you look at a race MGB it really doesn't look much different from the road car, all the basic ingredients are there.

It's not at all like looking at a BTCC-type car or top rally car, where the only semblance is the basic overall shape of the vehicle.