MGB LE

Introduced 1980 Number built - 420 cars It is worthwhile to look back over the period 1962 to 1980 which is the period that the evergreen MGB was in contin o s prod ction at !bingdon" Introd ced at the 1962 Motor #how the MGB cost a $ere %9&9 1's (d and had a top speed o) aro nd 108 $ph and a 0 to 60$ph ti$e o) 12"1 sees" *ith its three $ain bearing 1+98cc engine developing 9' bhp , '-&00 rprn the MGB was a good per)or$er with plent. o) tor/ e thro gho t the range and was overall a $ore )le0ible car than its predecessor- the MG!" 1he MGB LE anno nced in 2ctober 1980 alongside the G1 LE version went on sale at %6-108 with the G1 at %6-'+6" 1he top peed had changed little in 18 .ears with a / oted red ction to 10' $ph and a 0 to 60 $ph ti$e that re$ained the sa$e" Ma0i$ $ power / oted to 3I4 standard was 9+ bhp , '-'00 rp$" In the intervening .ears there were n $ero s $odi)ications to the MGB- so$e $inor- so$e $a5or" !ltho gh the basic bod. shape re$ained totall. naltered $ost o) the prod ction changes were cos$etic b t so$e centred on $echanical i$prove$ent and as a g ide to the evol tion o) the MGB it wo ld be appropriate to list the $ain changes and i$prove$ents that have taken place over the .ears" E6 20' as the MGB was codena$ed b. !bingdon- went into prod ction in Ma. 1962 and had a )o r speed- three s.nchro$esh non7overdrive gearbo0 $ated to a three $ain bearing 1+98 cc engine" 1he )irst change to speci)ication was the option o) a La.cock overdrive in 8an ar. 196( to be )ollowed b. the availabilit. o) a )actor. hardtop in 8 ne" 9losed circ it crankcase breathing was introd ced in :ebr ar. 196' to be closel. )ollowed b. a change to a )ive $ain bearing engine" !n oil cooler now beca$e standard e/ ip$ent which was available as an option previo sl." !t the sa$e ti$e the d.na$o driven rev co nter was replaced b. an electronic variet." In March 196' the ) el tank capacit. was increased )ro$ 10 gallons to 12 together with a change )ro$ p ll7t.pe door handles to p sh b tton- this coincided with the door locks and internal door $echanis$s being altered" In 2ctober 196' the closed co pe version- the MGB G1 was anno nced and this was )itted with a stronger #alisb r. t.pe rear a0le as opposed to the ban5o t.pe" 1his i$prove$ent was not seen on the ;oadster ntil !pril 196+" In 2ctober o) the sa$e .ear the Mark II version was anno nced with the )ollowing $echanical i$prove$ents< d.na$o changed )or alternator with negative earth electrics- pre7engaged starter to replace the bendi0 t.pe and a ) ll s.nchro$esh gearbo0 was )itted" !t the sa$e ti$e the trans$ission t nnel was enlarged to acco$$odate the now optional Borg *arner a to$atic trans$ission" 1he !$erican $arket cars now di))ered to $eet $ore stringent reg lations and had e$ission control e/ ip$ent- d al circ it brakes and energ. absorbing steering col $ns )itted" 1he MG9 arrived in 1968 and d ring this .ear the MGB had changes to the rear a0le ratios on both overdrive and non7overdrive cars to be )ollowed in 1969 with a standard closer ratio gearbo0" 2n the e0port cars ;ost.le wheels were )itted as were reclining seats" !t the latter end o) 1969 the MGB appeared )or the )irst ti$e with a =British Le.land= badge adorning the )ront wings" ' st d ;ost.le wheels were standardised with optional wire wheels available" 1he npop lar recessed )ront grille with narrow plated s rro nd and vertical black slats was )itted at this ti$e together with a s$aller )latter spoked steering wheel" 1he horn p sh was now stalk $o nted" Leather seats gave

wa. to the reclining vin.l covered variet." :ro$ late 19+0 the overriders now had black r bber )acings and the bonnet and bootlids had telescopic sta.s )itted" ! new Michelotti designed )oldawa. hood and i$proved heating and ventilation co$pleted this .ears i$prove$ents" In 2ctober 19+1 the Mark III saw .et $ore changes to the interior with a new centre console and ar$rest and the radio apert re $oving to the console" :resh air vents now occ pied the old radio apert re" ;ocker switches replaced toggle switches and a collapsible steering col $n was introd ced now on the >? cars" ! .ear later the )ront grille is again revised with the MG badge $ ch $ore pro$inent set in a chro$e s rro nded hone.co$b plastic $esh" Black wiper ar$s and blades- door ar$ rests and a new leather bo nd steering wheel with slotted spokes- together with a cigar lighter were introd ced" 1he MGB G1 @8 was la nched in ! g st 19+( and in #epte$ber 19+( the nderbonnet la.o t o) the MGB was co$$onised with the @8" ;adial t.res now beca$e standard and the a to$atic gearbo0 option was withdrawn" #ervo assisted brakes were now standard together with haAard warning lights" 1hen in #epte$ber 19+& ca$e the $ost radical o) e0ternal changes with the introd ction o) the black i$pact absorbing pol. rethane b $pers )ront and rear with the )ront incorporating the grille and indicators" 1he ride height was raised 1@2B to $eet ># sa)et. legislation" ! single 12 volt batter. replaced the twin 6 volt batteries" In 8 ne 19+' La.cock LC overdrive now beca$e a standard )it$ent and )ro$ ! g st 19+6 the s spension was $odi)ied with thicker )ront anti7roll bar and the addition o) a rear one" 1he steering beca$e lower geared and radiator cooling was now b. $eans o) a ther$ostaticall. controlled electric )an" 2verdrive was now selected b. gear knob $o nted switch and Calogen lights were )itted as standard" 1he interior was .et again redesigned with striped )abric seats and carpets were )itted thro gho t instead o) r bber $atting" 1he MGB carried s nvisors and the hood now had a Aip7o t rear window" ! new console ho sed a clock and ill $inated switches and an =C= pattern padded steering wheel" Detrol tank capacit. was now red ced to 11 gallons )ro$ 12" :ro$ late 19++ there was an option o) 1ri $ph #tag t.pe wheels with 18'E+0 t.res and inertia reel seat belts were standard" In 8an ar. 19+8 twin radio speakers were $o nted in the door panels" :inall. the last 1000 MGBs were prod ced and co$pleted in 2ctober 1980 and designated the Li$ited Edition" 1he LEs were )itted with )ront chin spoilers and the distinctive #tag7t.pe allo. wheels" *ire wheels were an option on the roadster version and the car was )inished in bronAe $etallic paint with gold LE stripes r nning the length o) the car bod.work" 1he interior was pholstered in orange and brown striped cloth tri$ and this last o) the line MGB carried a price tag o) %6-&&'" ! total o) &20 ;oadsters and '80 G1s were $ade be)ore the clos re o) !bingdon and the last o) each $odel now resides with the Ceritage 1r st alongside their )a$o s collection o) historic vehicles at the Ceritage 9entre- Ga.don" Brief technical specifications... Engine 4o o) c.linders< & @alve operation< overhead operated b. tappet p shrods and rockers" 4o o) bearings< ' $ain" Bore F #troke< 80"26$$ 0 88"9$$ 9apacit.< 1+9899" Dower o tp t< 9+ bhp at '-'00rp$" Ma0i$ $ 1or/ e< 10' IbE)t at 2-'00 rp$" 9o$pression ratio< 9"0<1 9arb ration< 1win #> CI:&" 1rans$ission< & )orward speed- 1 reverse all s.nchro$esh" 9l tch< #ingle dr. plate- h.dra licall. operated # spension< )rontG coil and wishbone- rearG live a0le with lea) springs" 3a$pers< !r$strong lever ar$ )ront F rear" #teering< ;ack and pinion" Brakes< C.dra lic with servo assistance- )ront 10"+'B dia disc- rearG 10B dia dr $" !cceleration< 0760 $ph< 1& sees" Ma0" speed< 10' $ph"