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MGB GT - Room for the Kids
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John Thornley, general manager of MG Car Co. from 1952 - '69, wanted the replacement for the MGA to be a coupe. He finally got his coupe in October 1965 with the introduction of the MGB GT. The MGB GT shared a lot of the styling of the MGB using the same front end, front and rear fenders and doors. The roof line of the GT was raised. Also added was a hatch back. Inside the car there was a back seat which was suitable for small children only. The rear seat folded down providing the GT with with something lacking in other models, carrying capacity. |
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John Thornley, retired as MG Manager shown here with his MGB GT. |
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The MGB GT was more than 250 lbs. heavier than the MGB. The weight was countered by better areodynamics and actually had a higher top end than the MGB. The 1800 cc motor was the same as the MGB but the GT was given a stiffer suspension to carry the additional weight. |
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The GT was virtually identical on the outside to the MGB except for the roof line. |
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A MGB GT V8 model, using the Rover 3.5 litre engine was added in 1973. Unlike the MGC the motor fit inside the engine compartment. The car performed well but the timing of its introduction was terrible. The energy crisis of the '70s made driving fast and with a gas guzzler very unfashionable. U.S. emission standards were thought to high for the car so no left hand drive models got past prototype status. The last MGB GT V8 was produced in 1976 with a total of 2591 being built. It remains the fastest production model MG ever built. |
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The MGB GT V8 marked the first sucessful truly fast production car for MG. |
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