MGB GT Walkaround and Drive

[@jwh475ezc]

Very nice. I had two MGB GTs in the early and mid 70s, a '67 and a '70 like this one. The flip out side rear windows were perfect for setting a beer to keep cool in the winter...for those long trips. Yeah I did stuff like that back then, lol.

[@classicperformance]

Thanks for the story, I'll have to see how one fits on the rear window ledge come winter :) We did a lot of crazy things back then but all in good fun and relatively safe in MGs.

[@zachallerton1724]

I had a picture of a '60s MGB GT (in racing green of course!) on the wall of my bedroom, back in high school, 1966. Sure wanted one in the worst kind of way. Loved it then, and still love it at 74 YO. THANKS FOR MAKING THIS VIDEO!

[@classicperformance]

Zach, great story and thanks for sharing and for your interest!!! We love an MGB especially the GTs. See our barn find MGB video too.

[@seans_shed]

I have a red GT and I love it! I agree, a great drive even when I am used to modern SUVs and a 2013 MX5, I still enjoy the viseral feelings the MGB GT gives me. I drive it in all weathers and find it enjoyable just for a short drive to the gym or a longer journey across the moors in the UK. Cheap to buy and eay to live with - get one and enjoy your custodianship!

[@classicperformance]

Couldn't agree more! We also have the Barn Find '69 GT if you have been following the story and I see you have. More to come on that one.

[@wolfsection1367]

Saw one of these on the road, loved the design and wanted to find out more! Now I kinda wanna buy one haha. Great video thanks!!

[@classicperformance]

Great cars, lots of leg room for even today's taller people. Check out our project '69 BGT. It most likely will be for sale!

[@05Rudey]

Been my favourite car since first seeing one at 7 years old. Now in my 40's the love for one hasn't changed. I'm just more in a position now to own one than I was back then ;)

[@classicperformance]

I have loved them too as a kid! I say pull the trigger and go for it!!!

[@MGB-learning]

Nice MGB GT. The small switch on the left side of the steering column is to turn on and off the dash instrument lights. The dash mounted switch above the main light switch that luminated is for testing the brake failure light switch.

[@classicperformance]

Thanks, GSGmaster. I realized the OD switch is on the stalk after I made the video. They are fun cars! I have had two GTs and a B. Great value too for a vintage sports car. Thanks for your interest.

[@JimJones-gd2jy]

Absolutely iconic car . . The 1970’s they were everywhere !

[@classicperformance]

they sure were. Still a lot of rubber bumper B's out there everywhere parked in yards, etc. I see them quite often. The chrome bumper and wire wheel cars are getting slim in general findings now.

[@cw7422]

She’s a beauty. I had a 1974 US spec Spitfire I bought when I was 9n the US Navy stationed in Scotland.

[@classicperformance]

All fun cars back then. I had one too, but it was a '73. Thank you for your service!

[@geraldbly4903]

Lovely GT and nice drive. These are great grand touring cars. Highly underrated. Glad to see such a nicely maintained example. I’ve owned a couple of them(roadsters) and have enjoyed every moment in them. Desperately want to find a nice GT so that I can have one of each. Thanks for the great video!

[@classicperformance]

Many thanks!

[@barryphillips7098]

Nice, looks great in BRG with chrome bumpers not rubber!

[@classicperformance]

Thanks for the interest, Barry!!!!

[@peterdeamicis1546]

Great job on a comprehensive video.

[@classicperformance]

Thanks, Peter. I got that OD switch location figured out. ha!

[@thewhitefordbronco]

That is crazy clean for its age!

[@classicperformance]

Well, I put a little tire shine on it before I started. She's been in storage for a while. 58,000 original miles. She deserves more attention.

[@David-wy9jl]

Not 100% positive, but that switch is not for overdrive, but rather is the dashboard light light switch. I think the O/D switch is on the right had stalk. If you can push it forward, then you'll know for sure. That's where it is on my 74 GT. Also, the radiator fan looks to be on backwards, but some put it on that way thinking it is better. Who knows. Great looking GT and a great period color.

[@classicperformance]

You know, I think you are correct on the OD switch. I'll check that! Thanks for the info!

[@classicperformance]

@@wpbjunkwpbjunk9704 Yes, I remembered that about the switch after making the recording. Duh. On the '70 I believe the OD is the right hand stalk push in and pull out to control the OD. Correct? Sound like you have a great car!!! I live those wheel too you have!

[@gonzalogrube726]

I have a 71 Gt and don’t have a right stalk, the car wasn’t equipped with an overdrive so no button but wipers are controlled with buttons on the dash

[@classicperformance]

@@gonzalogrube726 Thanks!!!

[@classicperformance]

The switch on the left side is for dimming the dash lights and OD on the stalk in and out I think. ??

[@tguevara5]

My big brother worked his arse off to buy an orange 1969 MG-BGT with the wire wheels back in the mid-seventies. I borrowed it one day to show off to the girls at my high school and ended up wrecking it. I worked my arse off paying him back for the repair only to have him trade it in for a newer convertible MG. He actually let me borrow the convertible to my surprise! If I ever win the lotto, I'm buying him an exact replica of his old MG-BGT.

[@classicperformance]

Oh boy!!!! It is my hope the girls did not see the accident and you had another shot at them with the newer convertible!!!

[@wernerdanler2742]

I remember these from back in the 70s. I had a friend who had an MG 2 seater convertible. I don't remember if that was a B or a mini. If I remember right, 1st gear was unsyncronized. Another had an Austin Healy. I think that was a TR3. Those cars were so fun to drive. A bunch of us in high school picked up one of our classmates MG and carried it into the school commons. That was fun! 😆 🤣

[@classicperformance]

After early production of the B model, 1st gear "crash box" was gone and fully synchronized in all gears. You are correct!!

[@djskate8584]

Believe it or not my dad has a 1966 mg-B gt with the original wire wheels 🛞 He has a 2.8L V6 that damn thing sounds like something out of Sebring, every month he’s getting MG catalogs and magazines from Victoria British.

[@classicperformance]

Outstanding and I di like the wire wheels better!!!! --and I did not know Victoria British was still around.

[@djskate8584]

@@classicperformance well, they are he also ordered a Sebring style front bumper from them, looks pretty cool 😎

[@jdunaway200]

I once owned a 74 gt. Many electronics issues. I couldn't trust it. So sold up, much to my future wife's chagrin.

[@classicperformance]

Thanks for the story!!

[@kyleanderson9281]

I've been poking around for a daily driveable, reliable classic that can survive Ohio winters- I think I may have found it!

[@classicperformance]

We have a project '69 MGB GT with very little rust which will be for sale soon. British Racing Green with knock off wires! Stay tuned to the channel and you will see it.

[@jg769]

Probably not a great car for Ohio winters since it’s fairly light and rear wheel drive. Plus the salted roads would certainly cause rust in the sills and doors. It’s an awesome summer car though!

[@classicperformance]

@@jg769 back in the day we put studded snow tires on them (everyone did) and just thought nothing of snow. Ugh... not today

[@kenmiddleton9471]

Looking forward to the barn find sister car

[@classicperformance]

Coming Soon!!! Weather has not been in our favor so far. Appreciate the interest!!

[@joshfoster9785]

Split bumper bit isnt true, nice example mind , just inherited my grandfathers b i have no split bumper and its 72 unmolested been in storage since i was 3 well over 30 years ago grandfather 2nd owner from new and hes a purest , when restoring i wasnt even allowed to upgrade the gear knob in his words this original it stays original! your car is very diffrent from the British version , either way around still great video and great car keep up the work :)

[@classicperformance]

Josh, we appreciate your interest in the MGB GT. How about doing some research on the MGB GT rear bumpers, and let us know what other years aside from 1970 in the USA or elsewhere have the two-piece "split' bumpers as we mentioned in the video for this 1970.

[@Twinless95]

So many folkscall this British Racing It is actually called Brooklyn Green.

[@classicperformance]

Willow Green (lighter) and Dark BRG ran through 1970. I believe Brookland Green came out later in the 70's ('76-'80). But yes, it does somewhat resemble Brookland green. We repainted it as it might not match quite as exact to the original dark BRG from the factory.

[@MadeOnAMacBook]

Do you know what the RPM's are like around highway speed (70-80MPH)? Great in depth video!

[@classicperformance]

without overdrive around 3,600 RPM. Manageable

[@duncanwilson9020]

Mine's flame red, and very nearly in running order.

[@classicperformance]

Happy to hear from another B owner! Great cars! Thanks for sharing!

[@bpeacehelotes]

You couldn't have straightened the fuel gauge?

[@classicperformance]

Nope, not yet. It reads incorrect or not at all when straight!

[@MasterMoyle]

I'm looking online to try and purchase one as a restoration project.

[@classicperformance]

Our project '69 wire wheel car is or will be for sale. New upload drops today on the progress since we rescued it from long-term storage. Send a DM through our Instagram if interested. "ClassicPerformance1".

[@DrewM91105]

You might want to wear your seat belt when you drive. -- especially in a very small, very old car where even a small accident would injure you badly. Also the overspray from that respray is pretty astonishing. The door jambs have the white plastic light switches painted (which they weren't) and in the engine bay there's paint on the coolant overflow bottle and some hoses. I've never seen that before. The engine bay should have been masked a lot better or at least that paint removed after the painting. Okay, that's my criticism for the day! The MGB GT was a great looking car but it's also an oven inside on hot days, one of the main reasons I sold my '74 a few years ago and replaced it with a roadster. I miss the BGT but if I ever got another one, it would have to have a/c added, I'm afraid. The rear side windows pop out a little, supposedly for airflow, but that makes zero difference. Despite these issues, the car looks pretty nice. A lot of MG owners shun the so-called "pillow dash" on this car because it eliminated the glove box and it looks a bit, well, clunky. The '74 I had (plus I think the '73s) had a regular dash with a glovebox. Earlier cars had a pretty metal dash that looked really classic.

[@classicperformance]

Thanks for the info, Drew. yes the pillow dash and "pop out" side windows are not the best features of the vintage of BGT which this is. However in a bad rain storm, the GT always prevails.

[@kurtdobson]

Lucas electrics fully exposed to the weather yields fantastic unreliability. The other issue I had woth my 73 MGBGT was the engine was totally worn out at 50k miles. Rebuilding it I found the quality of the engine block was very poor compared to US which is why it wore out so quickly. Rust. Yep. Lots of it... great car to drive though.

[@classicperformance]

I'd have to agree with you Kurt. I have had original early B engines last almost 100k, but totally worn out by then! The cars were never made to last 50 years unlike some American cars and trucks where 50 years doesn't bother them. Check out the barn find MGB GT we recently discovered. kzbin.info/www/bejne/iZyqeWRmfrpnnbMsi=BWZwf_fwcNnDt9M0

[@jeffthevideoguy23]

I wish I didn't live in the rust belt. I'd love to get one of these.

[@classicperformance]

They are easily shipped. Find one and check with uShip for quotes. uship.com

[@cape-uz9ok]

You neglect to say that the heater is missing.

[@classicperformance]

Yes, it started leaking and is currently at radiator shop. Good eye. There a lot under the hood that need sorting. I can think of two more very obvious omissions. Just seeing who the astute viewers are. As I said, it's just a driver, and does that very well as you see.

[@kbrickell4732]

a lot of difference in the us dashboard

[@classicperformance]

Yes!!! Thanks for your interest