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MG MGB Technical - GT Windsreens on a roadster

This may sound like a bizarre question but does anyone know anyone who has put a GT screen (which is 3 inches or so taller) on to a roadster and raised the hood to meet it? As a long time GT driver I would like to buy a roadster to go with it but have now realised that as a 6' 4'' tall bloke with short legs and a long body I look well over the top of the screen. Lowering the seat is obviously an option but I figured a raising the screen as well might solve the problem completely. My thinking is to buy a GT screen surround panel and then modify it into a stronger screen frame.

Any thoughts would be much appreciated. If anyone sets up doing it commercially I reckon they could make a fair bundle as the world is full of tall people who would like a ragtop B!

Cheers

John
JR Lakey

You can do anything with enough time and money. Don't forget that you would have to get a custom made hood and hood frame.
John H

The Aston prototype was exactly like this. It's been in Safety Fast I think. It used to be around SE centre events a year or two back. It looked great.
Stan Best

http://www.mgcars.org.uk/midgetspriteclub/surrey/images3/silv98astonMGB.jpg
mw michel

There are more pictures of this car in "MGB - The Illustrated History" by Jonathan Wood & Lionel Burrell - pages 136 and 137.

Very handsome lines with the tall windscreen. I suppose one could build one out of a GT, although I don't recommend sacrificing a GT in the process. Perhaps a badly rear-ended GT that was otherwise unsalvageable could provide the front half of such a car at no loss to the GT community. Then one would have to weld on the rear section of a tourer (perhaps from the door jambs back) and build a custom top frame and top.

Over here in the Colonies where we don't have such things as RV8s, a fellow built an impeccable LH-drive RV8 replica, importing body panels and other parts as available. So perhaps, somebody in North America will build a replica of the Towns/Aston design - which was built using a GT windscreen.

FWIW,
Allen
Allen Bachelder

I may be wrong but I think that University Motors built a couple of MGB cabriolets with a GT as basis, retaining the higher windscreen. I saw such a car ages ago, in 1980 at a Car Club meeting in switzerland.
Joern-M.

I think Lenham converted some GTs or GTV8s into 2+2 open top cars with the GT windscreen and a reduced size boot lid. The rear bulk head being further back.

There was a yellow RB one of these for sale at Silverstone a few years ago. I have to say I don't rate them as the most beautiful of MGB varients.
David Witham

Don't forget the side doors as well would need to come from a GT. The "right" way would be to convert a GT, as you'd be caught in an endless loop of fabrication the other way - new aluminium frame, doors, hood, etc. Or maybe not.

The alternative for taller people might be the opposite tack. Brooklands screens and goggles! Get rid of that awkward top of the windscreen.

What happens of it rains? Well, you get wet of course!
John Z

http://www.austin-rover.co.uk/index.htm?sportsastonmgbf.htm

Rick Stevens

JR - I'd lower the seat or drive a different sportscar - going to all that trouble can't do anything but provide grief and later regret.

Im 6'2 and it may be the seat could be the answer for you.

Good luck though,

Jeff
J Delk

Lowering the seat to suit a 6'4" person should be much easier and less frustrating. There are two issues to address, length of your legs and height of your torso.

You can make a shocking difference just working with the rubber and foam. You have to use new foam. You can remove a couple of inches from the bottom of the foam. ‘Saw’ the foam off with a bread knife or something similar. Remember to keep and angle in the foam so that you sit a bit lower than the front lip of the seat. Also scoop foam out of the top where you are going to sit, so you will “nest” down a little more. Use the rubber webbing, not the diaphragm. Don’t use the catalog MGB seat webbing. Find a rubber that is softer and going to give more. To address long legs, when re-attaching the seats into the car, make certain that the runners are bolted into the rear-most bolt holes. To break in the rubber and foam leave something heavy in the seat at night. I used a bag of concrete but wished I could have found something less dusty.
The last option is to modify the frame or install a racing seat that does not have a frame and bolts right to the floor.
jjralston

Ages ago Practical Classics magazine carried an advertisement for a company located in the UK that did GT to roadster conversions. I don't remember any other details than it still retained the taller windscreen and quarter lights. May not hurt to look up a copy from the early 90's.

Tom
Tom Sotomayor

This thread was discussed between 02/05/2007 and 05/05/2007

MG MGB Technical index

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