The MGB GT was a fixed-roof version of the MGB sports car. The hatchback-style of the little machine utilized a greenhouse designed by none other than Pininfarina. By merging the sloping rear window with the rear deck lid, the GT provided the utility of a wagon while keeping the style and shape of a coupe. This 1974 edition used to be the seller’s daily driver, but it’s been sitting for a while and will need some coaxing to get back on the road. Located in Los Angeles, California, this GT is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $4,800.
With roots dating back to the 1920s, M.G. Car Co. Ltd is the British sports car manufacturer that made the MG marque famous. While the company focused on open 2-seat sports cars, they also produced some sedans and coupes. In recent years, ownership of the concern transferred to SAIC Motor Corp., a Chinese entity. The MGB replaced the MGA in 1962 and production would continue to 1980. The MGB GT was introduced in 1965 and it would also cease in 1980, but exports to the use stopped six years earlier. In 2019, Road & Track named the GT one of “Pininfarina’s Most Beautiful Designs That Aren’t Ferraris.”
At one time, the seller says he drove this MGB GT all the time. We’re not told why the car was left unattended for some time, but it sits as an unfinished project now. The two single-barrel carburetors need some work as do the brakes. Apparently, these cars took two batteries to run back in the day, but we’re told this car was converted to a single battery operation and that needs replacing, too. The entire GT needs a good detailing, and you might find that the interior needs to be redone. However, there also may be electrical issues as the radio, turn signals and other things like that don’t work. Start with the fuse box first (trust me, I know).
This GT has under 82,000 miles on it and the body looks decent under the layers of dirt. We don’t get any glimpses of the drivetrain, but what should be under the hood is 1.8-liter inline-4 that produced 95 horsepower. 1974 would be the year that the front bumpers would grow thanks to U.S. safety regulations. These would take the form of two big rubber blocks affixed around mid-year. Those don’t appear to be present on this car, so perhaps this one is an early ‘74. Just under 10,000 GT’s would be built for 1974 and we understand about half of them made it to the U.S. Hagerty says the average value of one of these cars is $5,000 and the world’s greatest maybe $20,000.
The huge rubber bumperettes were lovingly nicknamed Sabrinas after a very buxom British actress and only appeared in the late 74s. Starting in September of 1974 they received the rubber bumpers. They were supposed to be 75s but didn’t pass Federal emission regulations because they still had the twin SU carbs, so they were called 74 1/2s. The “true” 75s had a single carb that passed the emission regulations. MG stopped importing the GT in 75 because MG and Triumph were then both part of British Leyland and the higher ups in BL were Triumph people who wanted to promote the TR7.
One of the best looking cars for the smallest amount of money, in my opinion. I always thought it would be fun to put a 289 in one.
Eric,
The favorite engine swap is the Rover V8, that was originally a Buick engine. It’s all aluminum and weighs less than the four cylinder in the MGB.
Steve – Is that what is in an MGC?
The MGC had an inline 6 cylinder engine plus uprated suspension and interior. This car has the slatted grill from the earlier cars.
May be a 74, but it has a 68 or 69 grill. Is this a rubber bumper conversion?
At least the overriders were changed out for pre-70 models.
Grill is in terrible shape.
Lots of MG’s and MGB’s out there for the taking so $4800 for this, with SO many questions, seems a bit absurd.
The MGC was an MGB with a different hood, and the AH 3liter (slightly updated) straight 6 put in. It also had a different front suspension.
The Rover V8 made the MGBGT V8, never made it to the US, other than grey market. The first gas crisis hit when it came out.
A more luxurious MGRV8 came out in 1994, British Heritage bodies, modified/updated, new suspension, etc. It was just an appetite wetter for the MGF coming in 1995 or 1996.
I’m pretty sure (although I have no proof) that the way MG figured out how to design the hood (bonnet in Brit-speak) was to slam the hood on the MGC and see where the bulges had to be made for the C engine.
Had a beautiful little MGB-GT that was a garage find in San Francisco. Covered in dirt, the owner was leaving the country and needed cash. I bought it for a song, flat bedded it home and went to work. After a wash and a detail, it looked beautiful in all original condition.
It was white with factory side stripes and a black interior. As I went over it (I had already been through 3 roadsters) I found subtle differences that made it so attractive. (Apparently, BLM lost money on every one built due to the GT/Pinafarina coachwork!) They also added an aluminum hood for weight purposes. It handled better than the roadsters and BONUS it had overdrive that the previous owner did not know. It was an extra turn handle on the right of the steering wheel.
I sold it to a young first-time enthusiast who recently sent me a photo. It has lost its original white finish and is now a striking gunmetal gray metallic. It looks amazing (although I am a fan of originals), and I love seeing a new generation of enthusiasts building!
As far as I know, yes the early “74s had chrome bumpers with the “Sabrinas”. However, these original chrome bumpers are heavier/thicker ones than the early cars. I used early ’74 bumpers on my chrome bumper conversion on my ’78 MGB (roadster) Which I would never do again. The body below the tail lamps is missing on rubber bumper cars, (I had to make from scratch) front turn signal/parking lamp holes too large for early style lamps, plus a couple of other minor modifications required. I just recently sold a 1971 GT with 32,000 original miles, California car and yes the older bumpers are much thinner. (Hey Chris, are you having fun with your BIG PUMPKIN?)
The kit from Moss does come with metal pieces to weld in under the rear lights. I don’t know what it does for front turn signals. It does come with the later rectangular ones.
Paul, I ordered the parts from Moss. (8-10 years ago) They were supposedly replacement parts for GTs. They did not even come close to fitting properly. (They would have made the tail lamps stick out like buck teeth!) It has gotten to the point (for me) that Moss is the last resort for most things MGB. Poor quality, poor fit, etc. Even the prices have risen to the point that the poor quality just rubs salt in the wound of the pricing. I really feel that a lot of the parts comes through GB from China.