So, a 1978 rubber bumpered MGB, finished in brown and available at a “make an offer” price. Hmmm, I thought, at first, that I should title this post “Three strikes and you’re out” but that would be really snarky so I retracted that thought. This example has been sitting, indoors, for 25 years and I will admit that it looks quite nice. Let’s review it and I’ll try to be objective. Located in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey this Brit two-seater is available, here on craigslist for a make an offer price. Thanks are due to Mitchell G. for this tip!
MG’s model B was getting long in the tooth by ’78 – it would last until ’80 and then it was discontinued. Research indicates that late in the ’74 model year, the “B” had to have big, black front and rear bumpers attached to U.S. spec models to meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) rules, also known as five MPH bumpers. Additionally, all Bs were raised an inch in height, which I thought was to align the bumping surface of the new bumpers but I also read that it was really done to raise the headlight alignment – which seems an odd way to re-aim headlights. Whatever the case, it did nothing to enhance this car’s looks and probably, adversely, affected its handling.
Color is always subjective but I am not a brown fan – at all. I know it was very popular in the ’70s and early ’80s but it invokes a Frau Blucher-inspired horse neighing response from me – I don’t think it enhances the look of any automobile. But that’s just a subjective opinion and, as stated earlier, this MGB does present well. The finish has nice depth and shine, and the aforementioned ramming speed bumpers aren’t faded, rumpled, or split. The seller adds, “very solid floors rockers, rails all very clean“. There are no images of the top included but the seller suggests, “top fits great in better than average condition“.
Power is provided by a 62 net HP, 1.8 liter, in-line four-cylinder engine which spins a four-speed manual transmission. Overdrive was an option but it’s not stated if that’s the case here. The seller claims, “Motor is tight, just did head gasket, new water pump, radiator, weber carb …runs and drives very nice…” The mileage is recorded as being 52K miles but there is no claim of authenticity.
Inside is the standard MGB fare. The vinyl seats show some indication of wear but they still present well and don’t seem to have engaged in over-enthusiastic sunbathing – often the bane of drop-tops. The images aren’t clear or detailed enough to make out the dash and instrument panel but they do reveal an orangy-yellow carpet that seems of debatable origin. Do you think that’s original?
The seller states, “all educated reasonable offers considered“. I’m not a fan of that approach to car buying as I can’t think of a better way to negotiate against yourself than to fall for a “make an offer” come-on. The market value of a 1978 MGB is easy enough to determine and anyone selling a car knows what they’d like and what’s the minimum that they’re willing to accept – you can waste a lot of time slinging meaningless numbers back and forth. For that reason, and others that I have detailed, I’d move along, but that’s just me, how about you?
Like everything else. These $5000 cars have turned into 5 figure nest egg padders. No thanks.
One image shows what appears to be a Weber downdraft conversion.
Another shot has a set of twin SU’s
Wonder what the car actually has; stock was a single Zenith with lots of smog hardware.
2 engine pictures show twin SU carbs and then 1 Weber. My 79 had a single SU carb before I installed a Weber. Were twins stock in 78? Can’t see if the shifter shows an electric overdrive or not.
Yes, it’s confusing and I have swapped the engine images so it shows the Weber. I think, based on the listing, that the Weber is a replacement for the dual carbs that, according to my source, were Zenith 175CD5T units.
Good catch!
JO
74 1/2 on in the US had a single 1 3/4 in zenith Stromberg. Common replacement is the Weber DGV, or back date to the twin SUs..it doesn’t look like an over drive switch to me, but yeah hard to tell
I had a 1974 MGB 45th Anniversary Edition where the previous owner replaced the Stromberg carburetor (or “Strangleberg” depending on your point of view) with a Weber downdraft. It really woke the car up and it was a hoot to drive!
Miss that car!
Car height was reached by measuring from ground to center of the headlight.
Moss Motors is your friend-mine has a Fidanza aluminum flywheel, Peco exhaust and header, roller rockers, aluminum crossflow head, nitrided rocker shaft, twin SU HS6’s on an aluminum intake manifold, all on a balanced 1967 block. At least 125hp. Also I ditched the rubber bumpers, seats, and door cards. Now has aluminum door trim and Corbeau seats. Brembo rotors and Green Stuff pads. Toyo Proxes on Mini Lite copies. Originally a stock 1977, it now is a blast to drive. An Erector Set approach that taught me about engine building and tuning. Dirt simple technology and fairly inexpensive. Buy this one and fix it up to run as intended.
Re. your rocker shaft. Nitride on the rocker shaft is a good idea. Broke one on a set of roller rockers on one of our race engines. While looking through my sources for engine parts I found that Harland Sharp has thicker walled shafts available. As I run a couple sets of their rockers I bought two extra and have not had any problems with shafts. BTW, Harland Sharp invented the roller rockers and provides repair service and parts. Harland, Dave Taber of Comptune and Jon Stamps Racing designed the two engines that I run in one of our race cars.
I must be a little different. I know the rubber snout is universally hated, but I’ve always liked the way these looked. And the brown isn’t bad! Would be a fun project!
What’s up with the radiator area?
That’s stock. Factory put in 2 pusher electric fans.
The 78 north America delivery MGB was originally delivered with the 1.75 Stromberg carburettor and one piece intake/exhaust manifold that led to a catalytic converter. This was a very poor combination that led to many people changing the carb and finding that the exhaust system had to be replaced as well. There has been an ongoing argument as to which carb system to use for that replacement, the weber downdraft with a Pierce manifold, or a back date to the correct SU system with either a stock cast iron manifold, or aftermarket header. Depending on your source, the SU setup can be a couple hundred dollars more, and the performance is quite a bit better. I’ve been selling the complete sets for years now and the feedback is positive. Yes, the weber works, and if the cost is the only determining factor, then the weber is OK. Once set up, the dual SU’s are a joy to drive and require little maintenance. If this is an overdrive car (only 10% of the N/A cars were), with the SU setup, it is a desirable rubber bumper car. In the last few years, the earlier chrome bumper cars have become more difficult to find, and the RBB’s are plentiful on the market. A few minor changes in the engine and suspension make these RBB’s a viable alternative at a lower price. This car, if it is as rust free as the seller says (questionable, because of the location) can be an enjoyable car to use as a weekend cruiser/easy fun project.
Looks like he’s now updated the ad to say $7500 (at least I think that’s what it means). Says motivated seller. I wonder if he’ll be a motivated ad deleter once it’s sold. If it’s really nice, maybe not a terrible deal or a terrible starting point to talk. Needs pretty much a whole new interior from what I can tell, or at least a re-dye.
Right before the prices skyrocketed on these (and everything else), I sold one almost as nice overall and with a perfect interior for $1300 and had a hard time getting that. If you want a car price to skyrocket, let me know, if I have one, I’ll sell it. If I buy something, the prices on them will tank, guaranteed.
Sounds like my luck…lol. Bought one of these, 78 mod, for 3500, by the time moss motors and painting it, got thru with me, had over 8000 in it, with me doing all the work. Sold it, finally, for 5500 that was in 2018. I like the little money pits, just to cruise in, once finished. But I swore never again….lol.
I would prefer driving and being seen in my college-era tangerine color Pinto!
I carpooled with a guy who owned a Pinto that color, five speed.
the UK cars all had twin SU carbs ,the proper way for these to operate—–that was no longer allowed after 1975 because of the EPA BS—-this is shown with a crapass webber downdraft junk carb PLUS with SU carbs……are you getting both…..the Stromberg water choke carb was totally junk for this market