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Old 16 Sep 2010, 08:03 (Ref:2760208)   #1
John Turner
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MGBs with special bodies/conversions

As we head towards Winter, maybe time to inject a bit more life into this forum. Now we've done MGBs to death in the Historic Racing Today forum but discussion of WSMs, of which a 'one off' was the very attractive MGB body conversion led me to start thinking about the 'non standard' roadgoing versions of these ever popular classics. Many years ago, I owned a 'B' with a Heron GTB fastback hardtop which I always thought was the prettiest of all the specialist hardtops available at the time. I will post a pic of it up when I find it, but I remember it was extremely rare then, so I wonder how many, if any, now survive. So has anyone out there owned one, and what about the others like Lenham? Have a look here to trigger some memories:-

http://www.garage24.net/Mg-13.htm
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Old 16 Sep 2010, 14:44 (Ref:2760390)   #2
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The Coune cars are much nicer in the flesh. Only ever seen one though.

There is something about the GT that hits the visual spot for me, so I've never really gone for the hard top conversion thing, although both of my roadsters have original works hardtops. One even has competition history (the hardtop that is)!

In the book MG by McComb, there are pics of the development of the GT, some of which are surprisingly similar to the Lenham sillhouette.
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Old 16 Sep 2010, 16:29 (Ref:2760430)   #3
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Yes, I think the GT shape is fine, but the Heron GTB was in my view a better proprtioned car but then you'd never get anyone in the back. Mind you, you can't really do that in the GT either. Found those pics! I'd like a side on profile shot to illustrate what I mean. Fitted with an HRG Derrington head, she was a pretty quick car for a youngster to drive around in, 40 years ago! Where are you now 850WHW?:-
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Old 16 Sep 2010, 17:55 (Ref:2760487)   #4
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Why the grill change?

Oops, just a dark pic.

Last edited by Peter Mallett; 16 Sep 2010 at 18:06.
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Old 16 Sep 2010, 20:35 (Ref:2760583)   #5
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There is a 60s B Roadster in the workshop next door to me that is under a full restoration. After being soda blasted it looks like a fine mesh filter at the moment !!
However the guy that is doing it has done nothing else but body repairs for the last 50 years and is doing it as a labour of love and will use it himself as it's not cost effective
I did notice that there is a hardtop that came with it and if I get the time I will take a picture, just in case its an "oddity"
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Old 17 Sep 2010, 00:04 (Ref:2760655)   #6
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John, it's great to see these special MGB's again ...

Thanks for sharing...

I just think that the Abingdon version is still the prettiest.

Mind you I am biased having bought two MGB GT's, a Mineral Blue in '66, a Tartan Red in '69 and finally a Glacier White BGTV8 in '73 ..

PS. The Jacques Coune version whetted my appetite for a GT version of the gorgeous MGB and I was so happy when the official version arrived in 1965. I had to wait 9 months for mine.

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Old 22 Sep 2010, 08:19 (Ref:2762878)   #7
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Good wood Revival

Two specials were competing in the Fordwater Trophy at the Goodwood Revival Meeting on Sunday. Bob Ridgard was fifteenth in his Berlinette (Jacques Coune) but Tony Wilson-Spratt in the WSM MGB (NMN 97) stopped on the out lap and had to be towed back.

I was going to post photos but I am not allowed attachments.
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Old 26 Sep 2010, 13:41 (Ref:2764705)   #8
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I have seen a local car with a fastback/hardtop roof that from memory looked like the Heron one. I think I have a photo of it (amongst 10's of thousands mind)
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Old 28 Sep 2010, 16:59 (Ref:2766170)   #9
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Look forward to seeing that one, John. In the meantime, I think that somewhere I have a period shot of the WSM car and if I find it will post it here.
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Old 3 Oct 2010, 10:44 (Ref:2768585)   #10
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Had a look but didn't see it, sorry! I'll keep my eye out for it in future
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Old 11 Oct 2010, 04:33 (Ref:2772903)   #11
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Manton's of Mini racer Peter Manton fame in Melbourne Australia did a hardtop that went right out to the rear of the roadster 'B's that was made of 'glass.
You took the metal stock boot lid off so as to open a small boot lid on the rear of the top to get into the boot.
At one stage about 25 years ago I had a loan of the Kay Whiteford 'B' that was built for her by her father well known Australian racer Doug Whiteford that had this top on it.
The car was sky blue, and very quick for a 'B'.
I wonder if this is the car you saw?

Last edited by gossie; 11 Oct 2010 at 04:42. Reason: More info.
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Old 12 Oct 2010, 00:10 (Ref:2773502)   #12
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Possibly, my vague memory is that it was a pale yellowy colour though (primrose?)
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Old 12 Oct 2010, 01:47 (Ref:2773530)   #13
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Could have been repainted or another car???? Think that Manton hardtop was very rare though.

Can remember the Kay car was getting in need of a 'fix' in '85/'86 as it was showing rust where the guards joined up to the body.
It was sold on to a doctor in the late '80s so anything may have happened to it including a repaint.
It was a very well known car in it's day though by the racing fraternity.
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Old 23 Oct 2010, 15:48 (Ref:2778965)   #14
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For me the Coune cars were soo much better looking than the Abingdon version. JC built 55 cars in total before the Abingdon cars arrived,his cars,although 50% fibre glass,were slightly heavier than the BMC version.
Front wings were steel with the headlights some 60mm further back and of course were faired in from standard.
Two cars I know of belong to Barry Sider-Smith,I restored it for him many years ago,the other belongs to,as already told, Bob Ridgard.
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Old 17 Mar 2011, 22:30 (Ref:2847797)   #15
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There's a nice article in this months MG Car Club "Safety Fast" mag about hardtop and fastback conversions in period from Australia.
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Old 9 Apr 2011, 03:20 (Ref:2860753)   #16
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If you Google Manton MGB hardtops you will find many available and about 1/2 way down the page a Manton top in black running all the way to the rear as the blue one was on the car I drove.
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Old 9 Apr 2011, 14:40 (Ref:2860880)   #17
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I sold a white MGB Roadster new with a classic bermuda hardtop to one of 'Pan's People' in 1972
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