MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGB Technical - '75 MGB- new to me

I just aquired a 1975 MGB (I also own 2 A's)and noticed that it is a "Jubilee" model. I know what it means but does it have any significance in the B world? Rare? Sought after?, etc.

Most of the smog equipment is missing and an after market weber look-alike has been installed. Is the smog equipment available or should I start looking for a Rover V8?

Let me know what you think,
Thanks,

Randy Myers
59 MGA roadster, coupe
75 MGB
Randy

Randy,My friend owned a 76 MGB with the 1925/1975 emblem on the dash. It was titled as a 77 MGB but looked like a '76 to me with the 72-76 dash. In the UK I think they came out with a 75 MGB GT Jubilee with a V8 and all options. MGBs didn't change that much over the 1970s and if you or someone is looking for a rare MGB or BGT V8 just build one. I would love to build a 67 myself.
James

Why would you want to put the smog equipment back on?

I also have a 75B Jubilee model and it is exempt from CA smog testing.
S Rechter

The Golden Jubilee models came out in 75 to commerorate old Number one, from what I understand, they missed it by a year. This car had a dash that was peculiar to it in that it had an octagon recess on the passenger side next to the glovebox door with that special laurel wreathed badge. It also had a special rectangular plate with the car or commission number stamped into it. Don't remember which number it was and I believe it was mounted in the engine compartment. Nothing else really special about it.

The 75's didn't have an anti roll bar on the front and if it doesn't have one, install one! The webber should work fine as that Stromberg is worth its weight in aluminum and that's it. Don't need smog stuff installed if it is removed.

That being said, the center hubcap medallions were gold tinted with black MG lettering, the badge on the boot lid had gold paint instead of black, the steering wheel center had a gold insert paint color, and the MG badge on the front bumper was painted gold on the insert versus black on the later rubber bumper cars or red on the 74.5 models.

Mark
M Whitt

Randy. You need to define what you want out of this car. If it is to be a show car, it should be as original as possible. If not, "the world is your oyster".

As Mark mentions, later models had a front anti-roll bar. However, tests done at the time showed that the addition of the front roll bar made the car seem to handle somewhat better, but did not show any measurable difference on the test track. The 75 had more roll, which affected perceptions, but was not any slower over the course being tested. The drivers, simply, felt more in control with the front anti-sway bar. The times demonstrated, however, did not show any difference of any real significance--the 75's times were, very slightly, faster.

Not sure what an "aftermarket Weber look-alike" is. The Weber 32/36 is not a bad carb, but twin SUs are better.

I use a 68 MGBGT as my daily driver to get to work with my 79 LE as my back up. I used my original 79B roadster as my daily driver for 5 1/2 years. A properly set up B has been the daily driver for quite a number of us.

Thus, you seem to have a good car. Now, you need to define what you are looking for out of it for the rest of us to make recommendations.

More information would allow us to do so in a practical manner. But, your car sounds like quite a find. If it is running well, do not be in a hurry to make any modifications to it.

Les
Les Bengtson

The Golden Jubilee cars came with several extras. British Racing Green body colour with gold lines below the chrome side strips, Al alloy road wheels (which were very susceptible to corrosion) and I think a special steering wheel. It was all cosmetic stuff, for a buyer who liked a bit of one-upmanship. Not many made or sold, so I would think it worth keeping in original livery.
Of course in the UK there was never any question of anti-smog devices here at that time, but I guess that it could really affect the performance. But despite that, I would tend to try to keep it - as was.
KB

The 'green and gold' cars were 751 GTs just for the UK market, these are *definitely* worth keeping especially if they still have the numbered dash plaque. If anywhere else got a car with a 'Jubilee' plaque it was organised by the local importer, although most cars manufactured during the 1975 *calendar* year got gold external and steering wheel badging.
Paul Hunt 2

Thanks for all your responses. I am a little confused about not needing smog devices. I thought all cars after 1967 needed to be smogged and that any car issued with smog equipment needed to maintain it in working order. My car is a CA car and came with smog and a catalytic converter originally.

Also, this car is a wiring nightmare. I have a green wire that runs between the gas tank and the body (on top of the tank)and is cut off near the battery box as well as a purple/red wire also near the battery box(but comes out of the loom near the battery box and doesn't go to the gas tank) and also disconnected. Any suggestions as to what they are supposed to go to?

Thanks for your help,

Randy Myers
'75 MGB
Randy

Randy,

You can confirm with the DMV that cars registered in California that are 1975 and older are exempt from smog testing.

You may have to bring your B to the DMV to have them look at the VIN though.
S Rechter

There were no V8 Jubilee models, only standard 1800s, with the cosmetic options mentioned.
Clark

There are no *standard* green wires running to the back of the car. Green/white and green/red go to the turn signal lamps, Green/brown to the reverse lamps, green/purple to the stop lamps, and green/black to the tank sender. Sometimes people add a ground wire from the tank or sender to the body, as otherwise it relies on series of mechanical fixings that may fail to cut through the paint.

Also no red/purple wires I'm aware of. Purple for interior lights, horns, cigar lighter. Purple/black for horns, purple/green and purple/pink for ignition key buzzer, purple/white for interior lights. Slate/purple for anti-runon valve, and yellow/purple for overdrive and seat belt warning light.

Whilst there were no V8 Jubilee models as such, V8s along with all non-Jubilee models got gold external and steering wheel badging.
Paul Hunt 2

Randy

http://www.ca.gov/state/search/dmv/search.jsp?q=smog+exemption&c=DMV

Currently, smog inspections are required for all vehicles except diesel powered vehicles, electric, natural gas powered vehicles over 14,000 lbs, hybrids, motorcycles, trailers, or vehicles 1975 and older.

The rolling 30 year old limit was changed some time back and the above is now "the law of the land"

Of course, like anything controlled by an elected body it is subject to change at any time, and not for what are necessarily good reasons.

HTH

Larry
Larry Hallanger

Thanks everyone for your responses. The smog info is very good news and really opens the door to opportunity.

I don't know what to think about the two mystery wires, I stripped some of the blue protective cover on the purple wire and now think it is a gray/red wire but still no hits on the wiring diagram.

My current plan is to get it on the road again and see what I've got.

Thanks for your help,

Randy Myers

59 MGA roadster, coupe
75 MGB
Randy

The Jubilee also got the first cloth seats, head rests, full carpet and tinted windows. The alloys were those made for the MGBGT V8, as they had a large stock due to the V8 not selling as well as they had hoped. As has been said, there were 751 made (one was written off by a journalist), one Jubilee midget and I also thought there was one BGT V8. The colour was classed as New Racing Green and was a slightly darker shade of BRG. The chrome stripes were also painted in body colour.

I have heard that numbers remaining now are in the 300-350 range, so I think any Jubilee is worth retaining in original livery. But the engine bay is larger than the previous models and will take a Rover V8 quite well, apparently.

I own Jubilee #193, and it has recently had a full repaint. The upholstery and trim etc is not looking as smart, but this may have to wait.

Cheers,
Neil
1975 MGBGT Jubilee
2003 MG TF120
N Courtney

Randy,

there were GT's, painted green with golden decales and gold coloured V8 wheels, produced as RHD cars only for the UK marked in 1975. Paul has given further information upon these GT's. They are rear, and the one V8 that was also produced in this layout is one of the most sought after.

The USA Jubilee MG B was a different car, altough produced in 1975 too.

The main differences were all tinted windows and windscreen and a octagonical decale on the dash, most outside right side. The MG badges were also gold coloured on the boot and on the front bunper.

Nothing else was differnt from late 1974 or early 1976 cars, an oil cooler and a rollbar were not fitted to these cars!

My roadser, that I imported from Alabama 13 years ago was fitted with all this stuff and I only kept the decal on the dash when I restored the car, fitted chrome bumpers lowered the ride hight and fitted a GT rollbar, Spax and a Stage 5 engine.

There is nothing, I think, that can make this kind of Jubelee that special, becoming a collectors item as all export cars of the 1975 producion had been labeled this way.

Ralph

Ralph

Well,my jubilee is white, has chrome hardware where it should be gold, an engine from a '73-74 with no smog equipment (that's the good news)and has vinyl seat covers. It does have the hexagonal indent in the right hand side of the dash and the sticker for it in the glove box. Not much to preserve.

I like the dash and general looks of the chrome bumper cars better so I may get this car back on the road and start looking for a late '60's B to replace it. I'd love to completely restore a car for my wife and I think the B is just right (the A is a little crude for her).

Thanks for your help,

Randy Myers
'59 roadster, coupe
'75 convertible
Randy

Same here Randy,
My 74.5 was standard except for the painted stick on dash oak leaf badge "MG 50 years". Also the absent antiroll bar(since installed). Rather oddly I have a later style brake master cylinder(it's orrigional). I suspect that the MG factory had a fairly casual approach to parts supply. Bolting on whatever was most availiable at the time. These cars are very close to being hand built.
I too have thought of changeing the dash. I've considered making up a wood replica which would look even better than the wood overlays you can buy. When you look closly at the english style dash it breaks down into 5 more or less flat sections. The two small end bits, the glove box and instrument cowl, then the middle.
Peter
P.N. Sherman

If I blow this up on a photcopier I should be set to go. Ready made pattern

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170068996928&ssPageName=MERC_VI_RUPX_BID_Stores_IT&refitem=170068321677&itemcount=4&refwidgetloc=active_view_item&usedrule1=UpSell_LogicX&refwidgettype=cross_promot_widget#ebayphotohosting
P.N. Sherman

PN,

I looked at wood panels for the '75. They make for an huge improvement in the appearance of the dash but it is still an awkwardly layed out dash. The '62-69 kit that you linked to really looked nice, perhaps worth the effort to change the dash to an earlier model. Have you looked into what it would take to swap dashes?

Randy Myers
Randy

My Jubilee does not have the octagonal inset on the dash, just the rectangular 75th emblem plaque with the car number and the original owner's name (J M Melville) engraved on it mounted below the ventilation grills in the center of the dash. The front and rear MG logos are chrome with black lettering. The plaque was an optional extra, and the owner had to ask for it to be fitted, so not all of the 750 'real' Jubilee cars had this feature.

Someone looked at my car before me, and was going to paint it orange. The seller refused to sell it to him. When I agreed to buy it, I said "You know what colour it has to be, don't you". He did. A good MG fan from way back.
N Courtney

Hi randy,
Actually thinking of making a wood dash. Not just an overlay. Getting some good quality wood, cutting out the sections and joining it all together. It should be neither expensive or hard to do especially as I have a ready made pattern. I've already gone and bought an instument cowl for the early dash which should tie the whole thing togeather. I'd agree that the later Dash is a bit dreary and the RHD conversion dash in my car was fitted by someone who managed to get every instument and switch location off centre and in some cases in the wrong spot. He did however manage to place the " 50 years" badge correctly.
Peter

Randy,
Having "de-toxed" my '79, I would highly recomend the procedure ( my area does not require smog testing ).
The performance improvement was slight but noticeable.
However the cleaner look of the engine compartment, combined with the easier access to the motor were the real payoff. Good luck.
Jim
J A Kelly

Despite the numbers at the track, may I highly recommend installing the 77-80 sway bars. They may not make it go faster but they make it sooo much more fun to drive! The improvement in 'feel' is tremendous.
Sam

Peter,

I am a hobby woodworker and have cosidered the wood dash for both my MGA abd MGB. I would caution you against using solid wood and would recommend a veneer for the finish surface. The chances of cracking in solid wood is much greater due to the changes in temperature from day to night and the frequency of the changes. I haven't come up with a plan but will be thinking about it.

Randy Myers
Randy

Ralph - they did make at least some non-jubilee models for the US export market in 1975. I had one - it did not have the indent with the octagonal motif by the glovebox on the passenger side. Otherwise it was an appropriate '75 with the ZS carb, but no cat. Later, I had a '76 which was my daily driver for 11 years. It had none of the earmarks of the jubilee models except the MG emblem on the horn button had a gold field rather than a red one. In the spirit of "whatever's in the bin", I'm sure.

One of the few disadvantages of retirement is that I can no longer claim any car to be a daily driver. My blue '73 is still my first-prioity personal-use vehicle subject to weather conditions. Here in Harbor Beach Michigan we now have over 20" of snow on the ground and more coming down as I write. There is salt on the roads, and I've spent enough time with the welder on these cars to avoid subjecting them to any more salt. In that regard, I guess I'll have to reclassify my GT as my "fair-weather first-prioity personal-use vehicle". But Les is so correct about these being first-rate daily drivers - as reliable as any.

I've said it many times on these threads, but one thought that always brings a smile to my face when driving my B is "Isn't this great: there is nothing, absolutely nothing, that can go wrong with this car that is not worth fixing!" That thought would not occur to me while driving my wife's LeSabre.

Randy - the MG Magnette saloons have solid wood dashes and they don't crack. They are not carved of a single piece but about six pieces glued together, but solid wood nevertheless.

FWIW,
Allen
Allen Bachelder

Alan,

I stand corrected. A glue-up could solve the expansion/contraction issue, but I would still recommend a veneer for reduced chance of damage.

Randy Myers
Randy

Here, Randy, you'd better have a shop Manual with the wiring diagrams:-

http://www.bmcno.org/manuals/MGB%20Workshop%20Manual.pdf

Derek Nicholson

They have moved the manuals to this page.

http://www.bmcno.org/tech%20tips/techtip.htm#DL_LIBRARY
N Courtney

This thread was discussed between 02/01/2007 and 31/01/2007

MG MGB Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGB Technical BBS is active now.