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MG MGB Technical - 1971 mgb hood with no emblem bump

I have just purchased am mgb that is titled a 66, as per the vin plate. But it looks like a 71, and the hood has no raised area toward the front behind the emblem on the grill. Anyone know of why this would be? thanks
kwd Donahoe

The easiest difference to spot is the wiper blade arrangement. Two blades is 68 and older. Three blades is 69 to the end unless your talking GT. The 66 would have originaly had an aluminium bonnet. The 71 would have been steel. The lack of the bump suggests that it was probably a cheap steel reproduction part replacement.

LaVerne
LED DOWNEY

Because either it is a car that originally had the recessed grille and someone has fitted the grille with the shield or the bonnet (hood) has been changed for one off a recessed grille car - these had no raised section.
Chris at Octarine Services

The '71 recessed grill cars also had the raised
"bullnose" on the hood (bonnet).

My '71 B/GT had the aluminum hood as OEM
but relentless pounding on it by careless
drivers put an end to it.

I'm thinking that your lack of this detail is the
result of bodywork repair.

Most body shops are unaware that there is
supposed to be a raised "bullnose" on the hood
and so they simply repair a bashed hood
without that detail.
Daniel Wong

"... the bonnet (hood) has been changed for one off a recessed grille car - these had no raised section."

Chris,
Were the B's in the UK different? My '70 GT, with recessed grille, came with a raised section centered on front edge of the hood (bonnet). In fact, can't think of one '69-'72 B that I've seen over here that didn't have one. The only variance to the hood for these years (vs other years) was the attached chrome (stainless?) trim strip along the leading edge.
Steve Buchina

Chris,
I was reluctant to jump on your post, but couldn't let this one pass. Daniel posted as I was typing - we're not piling on.
Steve Buchina

It would seem to make sense that the recessed grille cars had no bump, although looking at contemporary photos, they appear to have the same bonnet as other cars...unless original press cars had the standard bonnet, which was changed later in production?

The MGC has no bump behind the badge.
Dave O'Neill 2

...but obviously has a couple of other bumps!
Dave O'Neill 2

The only reason I said that was that I had a 1971 GT with the recessed grille and it had no bump on the bonnet and no sign of a repair either - it was evenly rusty along the front edge!

Checking with Clausager shows the recessed grille with a bonnet with the bump so I guess mine must have been modded - unless someone else knows for certain otherwise!
Chris at Octarine Services

Without a doubt all the cars had a raised "bump" on the bonnet. (even the new MGF)The recessed grille just sat back further with the MG emblem on the grille itself. It might be worth seeing if the bonnet has been damaged and subsequently "filled flat".
Paul
Paul Carugati (MGF and MGBGT)

kwd. As has been noted, these cars have often been modified over the years. Twenty seven years now since the MGB went out of production and a lot of work done on most of them.

If you have a 66, you will have a different dash set up then a 71 would, along with a different transmission and starter type. Should be fairly easy to determine the difference and Clausager's book, "Original MGB" is the best reference for how things should look. If it turns out that you have a later model titled as a 66, it would be useful to know so that you can purchase the correct parts for it when you need to. In my area of Arizona, emissions testing is required on all cars made from 1967 onwards. Thus, a 66 or older MGB is considered a plus as you do not have to take it for testing every year. I have seen one "early" MGB, which due to its vintage did not have to be emissions tested, with the same padded dash that my 68 has--which does have to be emissions tested. A lot of things happen over the years.

Les
Les Bengtson

FWIW, both of the 71BGTs I had used aluminum hoods. My 72B and BGT both used steel. All had the hump. I've seen one hood without the hump and it appeared to be a poor quality aftermarket hood from years ago. Compared with a real hood there were slight differences in the way the bracing was done underneath, and it was steel
gerry masterman

We went to the MG National concourse in Rohnert Park (50 miles north of San Franciso) today. There were well over 100 MGB's (1963 - 1980) on display. All of them had the bump on the front of the hood. If you have a smooth hood on the B, it is definitely not original.
Lee

Let's stir a little! The only non-bump bonnets (hoods) I've seen were the Costello conversions. His fibreglass (fiberglas)had no bumps because they were designed to go with his 'egg-box' grille.

It would seem he was the only person who could be bothered - or, perhaps that should be, could afford - to do the design work properly! I'm sure that Leyland simply didn't think it was worth changing the design when the bump wasn't really necessary!

Regards

Peter
P L Hills

Interestingly, the MGC didn't have the bonnet bump, even though it had the grille with the emblem plinth which DOES look appropriate with the bump....
Rob Edwards

This thread was discussed between 12/07/2007 and 20/07/2007

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