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MG MGB Technical - What year this roadster

A friend of mine has recently bought a RB roadster from a dealer in North Yorkshire. I saw it for the first time yesterday. The car is a restored ex US import with side marker lights and triple wipers. It is registered as a 1977 model and the VIN plate bears the number GHN 5 414**** which identifies it as a 77 model. The car is restored but has the pre-77 spec ie fan on water pump, early air filters, no electronic ignition, 4 syncro overdrive box with dipstick at top.
No rear roll-bar. The interior is also as per the 75 model. So my question is why would it bear a later VIN plate? Is it possible that some of the export cars were built to the 75 spec but with later body numbers or is this car a re-shelled 75 model. Are there any other ways to tell?
roger lawson

Roger,

Sounds like a PO may have rebuilt the car into something they liked rather than a stock '77. Are the brackets on the car where the rear roll-bar would attach? I doubt the car was built as a '75 but registered as a '77 (unless it really is a '75 but sat somewhere for 2 years. The VIN is usually attached as the car is built).

When I restored my '74, I put in a '79 o/drive and an engine out of a '68 so it's easy to swap components and sometimes hard to figure what year a car is, especially if no history is provided when purchased.

My other project is in the same boat. Originally a '79 roadster; now to be registered as a '77, chrome-bumper conversion, Rover V8, interior as a '72-74 with Miata seats.

You could contact the British Motor Heritage Trust and order a certificate that will provide details attached to this VIN.

Cheers
Simon

Simon Austin

I have seen 77's with early 73-76 interiors. These were not factory, but installed by the owner in a rebuild. The 77's did not have water pump fan's. They had two electric fans. Check the location of the radiator. Forward mounting is a 77 body, mounted back toward the motor is a 75 body. Many have been retro fitted with early carbs and ignitions. The 75 had a 80 mm speedo. Your friends car should have a speedo that has 1280 tpm on the face. If not then there will be a error in the speedo as the 75 speedo was 1000 tpm and fitted with the side fill transmission. There are lots of the 68-74 US versions speedo's here if you need a different one.
Jim Lema

A water pump mounted fan on a 77 could be evidence that an air conditioning unit was installed at one time. The BL AC unit's installation instructions show removal of one elctric fan and installation an engine driven one along with a shroud.
R. L Carleen

This thread was discussed between 04/10/2004 and 05/10/2004

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