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MG MGB Technical - What's wrong with this '66B

Came across this nice looking '66B on ebay tonight. Besides the back-up lights and wrong engine color, there's a other things that don't seem right for this year. Anyone else see them? Pretend you're a concours judge.
Steve Buchina

Oop! - forgot to add the link.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1966-MGB-CONVERTIBLE-CHROME-BUMPERS-WIRE-WHEELS_W0QQitemZ220470058885QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Cars_Trucks?hash=item33550a1f85&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245#v4-35
Steve Buchina

The battery is in the wrong place, but otherwise it looks very nice. OK, the blue engine is a nightmare but that can be rectified easily...
Joern-M.

Unless the US spec cars are different, I dont think cars that early had break lights. Certainly my 1965 doesnt. Does this suggest a MK2 shell has been used rather than the original MK1??

Chris
C Briggs

AFAIK there are no new rear panels withouth cutouts for reversing lights available, that could explain this.
But itīs got the small gearbox tunnel, so definitely is a 3-synchro-shell.
Joern-M.

Apart from the reverse lights and the battery, the front turn signal/side light units are the wrong way round, and its got twin tail pipes. I think it also has the later Michelotti style hood, rather than the pack-away one. But this is nit-picking. It looks a great car.
Mike Howlett

From the headlight switch this car is a '67. It was only used for that year and is currently NLA. RAY
rjm RAY

As said, it is a nice looking car. At least the photos indicate such.

However, there are a few things I find fauth with - as a nit-picker. I think if more time had been taken with this car, one could have had an exceptional restoration.

1) I think the paint and body work shows talent and experience. Unfortunately, it appears that the body man didn't have proper direction (from PO) to make this a true '66 presentation. Panel below trunk lid is definitely '67 or later (back-up light holes should have be closed). The A-post and hinges are from a later model B (note courtesy light switch and no curvature of hinge arms). Additionally, sill (threshold) plates didn't come on the 66.

2) It doesn't take any more time to paint an engine with the correct color. Current owner should have taken the time to order proper paint.

3) Battery placement appears terribly haphazard and tacky. A '66B came with two 6-volts, connected in series. Will admit though - I converted my '66 to a single battery 12V system, but mounted battery on a secure platform, centered against the rear bulkhead.

4) Front half of car (with transmission tunnel) definitely appears pre-'68, not sure about B-post back. This could be a clip hybrid.

5) Dash switches appear correct for the '66, except for the choke knob decal (should be marked with a C). From what I remember, only difference between '66 and '67 dashes was reversal of choke and W/S washer pump locations.

6) Speaker box and cover grille appear modified and the radio blanking plate isn't correct.

7) Interior sill sidemember and flooring in a '66B were covered in rubber - not some glued in (marine) carpet more appropriate for the deck of a pontoon boat. There was no covering at all in the trunk (boot in the UK) in 1966 - just painted metal.

8) Mike - Stateside 66 B's were available with an optional fold-down top (hood in the UK).

Well it's about over - 3 primary bidders, less that 30 minutes to go and the price is at $12,100. Again, it looks nice from afar (no bottom shots), but don't think I would bid that high on a suspected composite car finished off in a hurried manner.

Steve Buchina

Addendum:

9) Dash shroud (between windshield and dash pad) should be covered with black vinyl (his shows exposed paint). Perhaps another hint of - let put this thing together and sell it.
Steve Buchina

Steve

i think Mike means the hood is the black folding frame from 70 onwards not the grey folding which was from 63 to 69.

If you look at any original car with no reverse lights you will see that the right rear wing and the rear panel were welded together down the centre of the filler neck.I was changed toits current position with the adition of reversing lights.

The hinges look the same as my 63 hinges and the later ones had rubbers riveted to them.

The courtesy light switch that is there is not original as they were attached by screws so these could be for a previous alarm.

Ste
Ste Brown

Hi Ste,
I just mention the optional gray (grey in UK) folding frame only because Mike referred to "the pack-away one" (i.e., standard issue frame in U.S.).

Not sure what you're referring to about the filler neck. A quick look in my stable suggest (near) same filler neck location on a '65,'66,'71 & '74 B (as measured by a thumbnail to end of stick).

You might be right on the door hinges, but early model B hinge arms definitely have more curvature in them than later models. The early B hinges also had rubber bumpers. However, they were a raised cone shape rather than the later flat square ones. Looking back at the picture, I'm also suspicious of the floor. Am I seeing a telltail sign of leveled filler (i.e., rust-through patch).

I agree on the A-post switch. It ain't stock for sure (early or late).
Steve Buchina

Steve

If your cars have the original rear wings and rear panel ,look inside the boot by the filler neck hole,on an early car they are joined down the middle of the filler neck hole, but on reverse light models they are joined down the side of the filler neck hole.
Due to the tooling been altered over the years the later wings and rear panel are the only ones avail so thats how you can tell if its had rear end panels.

As you can see on this picture the join to the side of the filler hole on the reverse light models.

Ste

Ste Brown

Nice looking car regardless of how correct it is. Is it my imagination or are the door catches painted? When I finish mine I will post it here and you guys can have a field day. Even I can't remember all the things that aren't right on it with all the mods I have done :)

Simon

Simon Jansen

Hi Folks:

If memory serves correctly, the blue engine paint is for a low compression engine (8 to 1).

Rich
richard boris

Ste,
Here's a rear-end shot of one of my restore projects ('66B). Joint is to the right of filler neck hole.

Richard,
You might be right - I learn new stuff all the time. I know in '66 they had two engines available (i.e., high compression & low compression). I've never seen the low compression version, however. So can't speak to how it was colored (coloured in the UK). Just thought they were identified by the engine plate (i.e., "H" for high compression & "L" for low compression). For example, "18GB-U-H 27237" as attached on one of my engine blocks.

Steve Buchina

Steve

I could be wrong about it been on the 66 model as it may have changed when pull handle doors stopped but heres the early joint.

Ste

Ste Brown

This thread was discussed between 01/09/2009 and 02/09/2009

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