A purebred member of Her Majesty's empire, the timeless MGB is coveted to this day by countless collectors and fun-loving folks, young at heart, who love going like the blazes in a lithe, stylish sports car. Always easy to maintain, an abundance of inexpensive spares is available even today, 31 years after "B" production ended.
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Three years after the "B" Roadster, in the fall of 1965, a companion hatchback Coupé, called MGB-GT, was introduced. The elegant yet functional GT was designed with Italian flair by Pininfarina and was poised to double as daily transportation for a small family. Exactly 10,765 examples were manufactured for the 1966 model year, with about 40% of those coming to the U.S.
We would be very surprised if more than a handful survivors would exist today, 45 years later.
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After three decades of being immersed in the collector car trade right here in sunny southern California, it takes a very special automobile to make our hearts beat faster. The unique 1966 MGB-GT presented here is such a car.
Purchased new on August 22, 1966 at the old PHIPPS MOTORS BMC dealership on Carrillo Street in Santa Barbara, Calif. by a wealthy Lady residing in a multi-million Dollar mansion in the star-studded VIP enclave of Montecito, the car has always remained in the Golden State; in fact, it has never left Santa Barbara County!
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Always garaged and pampered, the GT has travelled a mere 45,373 actual miles in 45 years.
A rare sight: authentic black plastic tag reading "BMC-66" attached to the ID plate; supposedly, it was only affixed to cars slated for California delivery. Original CHP inspection sticker and a 1967/68 El Dorado Country Club decal still grace the windshield's lower right corner.
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Amazingly, we found all factory books and manuals to be inside the glovebox, in their original, clear vinyl pouch, including the Driver's Handbook plus U.S. supplement, faithfully stamped Passport to Service book, MG Accessories brochure, and application for overseas membership in the M.G. Car Club! |
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Let's have a closer look at this fabulous MG now.
First, we open the bonnet to reveal a startlingly clean and original-looking engine bay.
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The engine, #18GBUH/34586, is the original, factory-installed unit, of course, as noted in the Service Book. Being such a low-mileage specimen, this power plant runs very strong, indeed; it doesn't drink, smoke, or make any unusual noises, quite extraordinary for a Brit of this vintage.
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On 2/16/2011, we had our mechanic perform a compression check. The result, as shown on the card above, confirmed our most favorable impression of this healthy engine!
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Continuing on to the car's exterior, we are awed by the state of preservation of its sleek coachwork. Progenitor of modern hatchbacks the likes of BMW Z3 and Porsche Cayman, this GT is truly as good as they come. Its svelte body is impressively straight, totally rust free, and shows excellent shut lines ("gaps") of bonnets and doors. Lower fenders and door sills, MGB's notorious weak spots, are devoid of any kind of corrosion-related paint bubbling.
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Beautiful to behold and giving the GT an extra dash of luxury, the special-order 60-spoke chrome wire wheels are in excellent condition. They are shod with period bias-ply whitewall tyres, which are in excellent condition as well.
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The GT's all original sheet metal displays its factory-prescribed British Racing Green color; the car was re-painted once, many moons ago, and continues to look superb, being free of annoying dings, dents, or scratches. The owner specified a narrow, red pinstripe to run along the car's flanks, highlighted by her monogram on each door. This could easily be buffed out; we happen to like it, for authenticity's sake. There's also a small, engraved brass plaque on the driver's door sill, bearing the owner's name.
Let's have a look inside now.
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Open wide: original door panels and hardware, in a fantastic state of preservation.
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Inside the cockpit, originality reigns as well. You could scour the corners of the earth and yet might never find another GT sporting a better-maintained, more authentic interior.
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Here's the famous "early" MGB metal dash in all its black wrinkle-finish glory. Note the gorgeous wood-and-alloy steering wheel; it's in perfect condition.
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Dash details, clockwise from top left:
- Gauge pod with immaculate, twin SMITHS gauges. Knob adjusts instrument lighting.
- Factory British Motor Corporation AM radio works perfect. Note toggle switches.
- Working map light.
- Under-the-dash view. Note pristinely original, red cut pile carpeting. Wow!
- Mind-bogglingly preserved speaker grille, shifter unit, chrome ash tray.
- Authentic, red lap belt with chrome buckle and BMC decal. Rare & rarer!
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The overwhelming majority of GTs was delivered with black insides; to find a car sporting red leather with black piping is exceedingly uncommon. British Racing Green over red: a dazzling combination; along with the optional chrome wire wheels and wood-and-alloy volant, this GT is truly a perfect example of the "poor man's Aston Martin" envisioned by MG managing director John Thornley in the early Sixties.
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Vat-dyed, Lipstick Red CONNOLLY leather displays an irresistible patina. Due to continuous, loving care (and limited use by the proverbial "little old Lady"), these hides have survived in a most admirable way, looking gorgeous and still exuding a heavenly aroma!
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Providing space for the dog or a couple of kids, the rear accommodations were sensibly trimmed in naugahyde to match front seats. Again, originality reigns supreme!
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Pristine headliner and sun visors, mute witnesses to a pampered California life.
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Ready for a test drive?
So are we, but before we leave, let's inspect trunk and undercarriage.
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Hatchback design provides ample room for luggage, hence the car's Grand Touring moniker. Rear seatback folds forward, in the event even more cargo space is needed.
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Below the partition rest vintage spare and jacking equipment. Not a speck of rust anywhere!
Note beautifully preserved red naugahyde pads on rear hatch . . . yes, the ones that are usually missing!
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Here's where the distinction is made between "just another old car" and a truly great, California survivor. GT's undercarriage has never been touched, never needed undercoating or rust repair. It's clean, dry, unmolested. The perfect canvas for a mild preservation effort that should make this car last another 46 years, unless you live in our dry climate; in that case, you just could leave everything "as is" and forever be happy. Click on the image to the left for an XXL-sized view |
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Eagle-eyed enthusiasts might spot the factory overdrive. It is not currently hooked up, however, it's definitely a neat--and very desirable--option that might just need servicing.
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Thursday, February 17, was another nice day in San Buenaventura, a little overcast, nevertheless quite warm. We pulled the choke knob just a tad, turned the (original) ignition key, and the GT started instantly, settling into a smooth idle. Off we went!
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GT does everything right. There are no shimmies, no squeaks, no rattles. All the gauges work. The car doesn't overheat, ever. Ride is supple, brakes are perfect (we've just replaced rotors, brake pads, and flexible lines), dual carbs delightfully synchronized, steering free of slop.
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The direct connection between "man and machine" is just not palpable anymore with today's drive-by-wire gizmo-laden pseudo-sports cars. The MGB, on the other hand, fully delivers on its promise, sounding marvellous and responding eagerly to the driver's every input. Wherever you arrive, be it at your local coffee emporium or a British Car Show, you are sure to receive many compliments, admiring glances -- and, perhaps, even a trophy or two.
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Almost half a century has gone by since this GT left the Abingdon works. A very desirable "metal dash" MGB, it was built before government-mandates watered down the B's performance and good looks with smog pumps, plastic dashboards, and rubber bumpers. To many aficionados, a '66-'67 MGB "MK I" is the crême de la crême; finding one that has survived, unrestored, looking like it's just a couple of years old, is a rare event indeed, since 99% of the early cars have long ascended to the big boneyard in the sky.
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Only through a lucky confluence of circumstances could a 1960s MGB survive in such amazing condition. The car always always lived in Southern California and features all matching numbers. It is a low mileage car that has been driven less than 1,000 miles annually, on average. It has never been in an accident or suffered from corrosion, and it comes with wonderfully kept books and manuals. Add to this the fact that it features a most desirable color combination plus chrome wire wheels, and you have a true winner!
Being an irreplaceable example of England's best Sixties sports car, this superb MGB-GT MKI is not exactly cheap. We have not seen one like it before, and we doubt we'll ever find one like it again, at any price.
Addendum:
We sold this amazing MGB in March of 2011.
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