Development history of the MGB GT

Written by John O'Cean and Anthony Osborne.

This iconic model was introduced in 1965 as a coupé version of the popular MGB roadster, and it quickly became a hit among enthusiasts and critics alike. But do you know the story behind its development? How did this car come to be, and what challenges did it face along the way? In this blog post, we will explore the history of the MGB GT, from its inception to its legacy.

​The MGB GT was born out of a desire to create a more practical and comfortable variant of the MGB roadster, which had been launched in 1962. The roadster was a successful and popular car, but it had some limitations, such as a lack of luggage space, poor weather protection, and noisy ride. The idea was to add a fixed roof and a hatchback to the roadster, creating a 2 + 2 car that could accommodate two adults and two (smallish) children and their belongings, while still retaining the sporty character and performance of the MGB.
 
As early as January 1962 the Abingdon design team, under the direction of John Thornely, had been working on the MGB GT as EX277. The GT was firstly drawn up at Abingdon by Jim Stimson at the request of the MGB lead designer, Syd Enever. These drawings were shown to Longbridge who would have the final sign-off of the model and insisted that the rounded appearance of the roof lacked something.

Instructing that the design be sent to Pininfarina who had a contract to do design work for the company (hence the Farina Austin A40, Farina Austin Cambridge, Morris Oxford, Wolseley 16/60, Riley 4/72, MG Magnette), Pininfarina incorporated the feature line (crease) around the roof and made a protype which was not that much different from the original Abingdon designs. However even Jim Stimson admitted that this improved the looks of the car no end, resulting in a sleek and elegant design that blended harmoniously with the existing MGB chassis and mechanicals. The new car looked like a miniature Aston Martin DB5, with a sloping roofline, a large rear window, and distinctive B-pillars.

The MGB GT made its debut at the London Motor Show in October 1965, and it was an instant success. The car received rave reviews from the press and the public, who praised its looks, practicality, handling, and performance. The MGB GT offered many advantages over the roadster, such as better visibility thanks to an enlarged (deeper) windscreen compared to the roadster, more headroom  - although some say, like the TR7 adverts "the MGB Roadster has 93 million miles of headroom" (roof down of course)!, more boot space and better insulation from noise and vibration. The car also had improved aerodynamics, which increased its top speed by about 5 mph. The MGB GT was also in some markets cheaper than the roadster to insure, as it was classified as a saloon rather than a sports car.
 
The MGB GT was powered by the same 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine as the roadster, producing 95 horsepower and 110 lb-ft of torque. The engine was mated to a four-speed manual gearbox, with an optional overdrive unit. The overdrive operates on both 3rd and 4th gear giving it a 3rd+ and 5th gear or 6 forward ratios overall. The car had independent front suspension, leaf-spring rear suspension, rack-and-pinion steering, and disc brakes at the front and drums at the rear. The car weighed about 2,200 lbs, and could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 13 seconds. The car had a top speed of about 105 mph.
 
The MGB GT was produced until 1980, with some changes and improvements over the years. Some of the most notable ones were:

• In 1967, the car received a revised dashboard with rocker switches instead of toggle switches.
• The MK2 had a recessed grille imposed on Abingdon by Longbridge. The MK3 had the MK1 grille surround with an 'eggbox' grille in black which Abingdon designed to replace the recessed grille. The MK4 had rubber bumpers - see images below for comparison.
• The internal door handles were changed with the MK2 incorporating the Morris Marina internal door handles being used on many of the BL cars of the day and replacing the lever handles used on the MK1, which were also used in the MK1 Austin 1100 and UK-built Minis from MK2 on to the end of production.
• In 1971, the car received a new engine with larger valves and improved cylinder head, increasing the power output to 98 horsepower.
• In 1972, the car received a new gearbox with synchromesh on all gears instead of just three.
• In 1974, the car received rubber bumpers instead of chrome ones, to comply with US safety regulations. All MGB GTs use 165-14 tyres. The roadsters sent out with radial shoes were 155-14. The increased ground clearance on the rubber bumper models (roadster & GT) was achieved by raising the suspension which was a Californian legislative requirement to achieve a minimum bumper height..
• In 1975, the car received an electric cooling fan instead of a belt-driven one.

MK1 grille

MK2 Grille

MK3 Grille

MK4 Grille

The MGB GT was discontinued in 1980, along with the roadster. 4 cylinder Roadster & GT production totalled 512,243 cars, making it one of the most successful British sports cars ever made. The car is still highly regarded by collectors and enthusiasts today, who appreciate its timeless design, lively performance, and everyday usability. The MGB GT is a true classic that deserves its place in automotive history.