Mike is one of the nicest and most generous people I've ever met, and all of his projects, not just this car, exude passion and attention to detail that can't be fully appreciated on camera. But this video makes a brilliant effort to do so. Thanks for making this. 👍
Not only is this video awesome, and the car a phenomenal testament to his skills, Michael is such a top bloke too he’s helped me bring a mower back to life and he’s genuinely a great all round guy, great video 🙏
As a middle aged MG owner, I bloody love that car!!! Well done. I, always wanted to chuck an RX-8 drive train in mine. I think a mental rotary B GT would be hilarious. Can't be any less economical than mine is now on Webbers 😂
This MG is a fascinating project (as in, "a project is never finished). But, seeing Mike screaming down the drag strip in a trash bin is just a hoot!! I was lucky... I had just set my drink down when that came on screen! Yup, my trash bin is good for about 60 mph... 😂🤣👍
... this is truly inspirational, I'm currently DIY supercharging my '74 B and who knows where I'll go after that... Fantastic. I live by the my car my choice mantra, people might not agree but you've got to respect the love and effort gone in here!!! Come join the B dark side (or shiny chrome side) Jonny!
MGBs aren't rare classics, so if the odd one here and there is a bonkers project car (that "GT3-spec" one that was on Speedhunters years ago also comes to mind) then it's hardly the end of the world. Some great workmanship here, and it sounds mega!
Thanks Johnny, so glad you drove it! I'm not a fan of MG's but respect people that do keep them on the road, as for many other makes seen at car shows etc. I love this aspect too taking a car & doing what ye fancy, how can anyone disagree with this, it's very indulgent but just shows what you can do amalgamating old & new across many differing OEM's. This guy is a legend in the making. Let's see where he takes us in the next few years. Excellent episode! & bleddy good choice.
Gorgeous car. I've never been a big MG fan but this looks really fun. Some lovely little details too. Absolutely love a car with a load of hodge podge bits from other cars.
What a great bloke! When he was explaining the mix match of parts was impressive how it’s all come together so well with such imagination and skill. Hats off.
What a hooligan, what a very nice little car, I want one! This is so much better then the standard MGB, so much more a riot of a car and there has been put so much "one off" in this car... This car represents basically what true Choppers are within the Motorcycle scene.... As the Americans would say: I dig it ! This car makes so much sense and the most beautiful thing is: you'll have to build such a car yourself since these cars in general are not for sale...
Bravo Mike and Bravo Jonny for showcasing this awesome car! Remember. Cars are meant to be driven. Love the modifications and the drifting inspiration. This is great to see.
My first car was a1966 MG Midget so i have a soft spot for MGs. I had a lot of firsts in that car until it sort of rotted away under me! This is bonkers though, in a good way. Love the net curtain stencilling'
When I was modifying MG Midgets 40 years ago I found most MG people were really into them, in fact I never met a single "purist" when it came to Midgets or Bs. I also ran a 1969 BGT with an Aldon engine and uprated brakes and suspension which was a massive giggle to drive. I absolutely love what this guys done, right up my street. I have done nut and bolt restorations to standard, and there's merit in that of course, but this route is much more fun. That original blue I think was called "Tahiti" by the way.
I have to say i like any MGB. I have had a GT and also an MGA ( yes i'm errr fairly old ) which was by the way more fun to drive than the B . So whilst I wouldn't want to see it lose it's charm. I absolutely love it.!! I'm totaly am in sync with Mike and the engineering process to turn this into a Street/track car that is better than i could have imagined. It's bonkers and I think you are a jammy sod to have been given the opportunity to drive it Jonny
Love this car so much and it looked like great fun. It’s got great charm, that comes from the way it’s been patched together. Like an attractive Frankenstein’s monster!
It's bloody brilliant and perfectly weird in a good way it just works and in my head it makes total sense Mike is truly an inspiration to get in the garage and just do what makes yourself happy great episode jonny
I really like it Jonny. He's done some amazing stuff with it, with parts from so many different cars. It's an inspirational piece of work. And I agree, it sounds bloody awesome. As an aside, that wheelie bin is totally insane
"wing mirrors" are awesome! I installed wing mirrors on my 2000 Accord (4dr/v6/ex-L), 1995 Jeep XJ (2dr/2wd/"sport"), and now they are on my 2001 Prelude! They have all been Honda Hornet mirrors with custom mounts & blank plates (cover holes from oem mirrors).
Saw this at Bicester. Followed for a while and was great to see it in person. It's one of those cars that the longer you spend looking at it the more details you notice. Fantastic build and totally well deserving of the Hotwheels comp!
Fair play, the frankenstein nature of the parts sourcing really appeals (it's my fave part of all the projects I've done). That's the difference for me, finding your way around problems rather than just buying your way through. Very good.
Mike was so brillant and really really "felt at home" in you your company Jonny - merry christmas to you and looking forwards to your excellent work after "the seasonal brear"
I had a midget as a student which was fun, an mgbgt after in racing green nicely tweaked and full racing suspension in the nineties….but this I’d have loved as mine wasn’t mad enough for me…this is awesome. 👍✊🙏
I never expected to see one of these on the channel. At least not one that didn’t need digging out and the help of the can of hope. He’s done a really good job of that, glad it got the interest that it deserves.. love the flat cap by the way, think I might have to pick one up 😝
Well we certainly didn't saw that one coming! Amazing work at many levels,and I wouldn't mind a episode on that Peugeot,I bet it's got some secrets on it's own.
Fabulous, Cecil would've been proud on you, like you M, he started playing with Wolseley engines, litterly like making his own car, starting similar with little knowledge but bags of enthusiasm. As a prewar MG freak, you enlighten my petrol head heart, keep fabricating!
Just love it! I can't believe I missed this episode, but Mike is an inspirational shed engine build tinker. The very true. The MG is generally underpowered so to have one that's a hot rod like this is brilliant. a civic type. R engine in one of these would fly as well. Bet it would fly around a track. My God the bin lid flaping around 👍👏😂👏
This is a great car - all power to Mike's elbow ! I have an 1970 MG Midget which is lightly modified, scrappy around the edges but I use it as my work car on nice days in the summer. There are some MG purists out there, but most enthusiasts I come across are just happy to see the cars on the road being used and loved. Thanks for doing the video Jonny.
I’m mid 30’s and have a mildly hot 71 MGB Roadster. I love mine, even without such a wonderful amount of work. I can see why he has two now! Need a second one to be more creative with!
Screw the Purists....😂😂 This MGB is insane,.looks amazing and sounds bloody awesome. Another fantastic episode Johnny. As for the wheelie Bin, that is epic!
Love it when an owner tells the tester 'You should be able to hoof it a bit up here...'. Great enthusiast who enjoys his car both as a driver and generous to others.
The car is amazing but I was trying to get a better look at the workshop which gave birth to it. Appreciated a few B-roll shots (such as the benches at 3:57 and 6:04) and very much enjoyed seeing the horse's head and wheelybin side projects too. Great video.
A bloke in a shed fiddling, a nice bloke at that, man after my own heart, would love to have the time, until then i shall satisfy my longing by watching more the excellent content that issues forth from this excellent channel. Keep it coming Jonny.
I recommended that engine for the Scimitar resto-mod project last week. I think Its got to be the best bang per buck drivetrain you can use at the moment. I've been looking at MGBs since a young mate of mine popped round in one. I'm only 5'5" so it fitted nicely and at least it's not a new Golf.
Love the ingenuity, I met Mike while at the EDA checkpoint near York while on the inaugural Street Weekend this year and had a good look around his car. Like the choice of engine
Awesome build this and huge respect to Mike for pulling together bits from all sorts and building a properly sorted car, not a novelty curiosity. Anyone who can daily this in winter, is a pure driver.
Saw this on the hotwheels page and didn't think much about it but watching this video makes me realise how much work and dedication has been put into the build. Kudos to the guy. Looks a lot of fun
Love everything from the various tattooesque flowers to the side exit exhaust which, from a distance looks like the contrasting vertical/horizontal detail strip on the side of a Range Rover. So much ingenuity and love’s gone it! Thank you kindly gents! Keep up the great work. I’d call it an MGS cos of the engine or Steampunk. Failing that MGBB for Brutally Beautiful… you could go on for forever finding new angles ❤❤❤
Love this, been an MG fan and owner for several years but so great to see the engineering innovativeness, upcycling. And above all Passion from Mike…. What a sound too…. Bloody awesome ❤
The HotWheels Legends has been more about the builders than the builds for me. Michael is in my top three, one of the others is Mikey Brown and his Big Dill Isetta,(Paper to Pavement RU-vid channel). These guys went about winning in very different ways, but they share an enthusiasm, and have both built incredible cars on low budgets with wierd but brilliant choices throughout their projects. Oh, I don't have anyone else in mind for my third pick, but I like to keep my options open.
Never been a fan of the 4 pot Leyland B-series engined MGB's but ever since looking after & driving an old client's Rover V8 version about 35 years ago, I was converted and wouldn't mind getting a hold of one now myself.
Love this. I was never into B’s before butI have a 78 roadster, in the same colour as the one in the vid. It’s a little project and not stock. This has given me inspiration. First thing I changed was the headlights to led an I’ve had so many comments, even positive from the flat cap warriors. But something cheap and simple means I can drive it at night with confidence.
I bought a mgb for my 18th and I can agree on why u didn’t like them, I’m currently v8 swapping mine and I constantly get talked down to by the all the boring old mg purists who think they own every mg. Got abt 25 guys having a right go at me for just putting Datsun style bonnet mirrors on . I love how this guy just had a vision and went with it no matter what, big respect
The best LBS vid ever! Mike's approach to design and build puts commercial builders to shame. Johnny, get him on board as a contributer to the channel! Truly inspiring!
It looks amazing, and you can tell Michael has truly made this MGB his own, and it deserves to be made into a hot wheels car fabulous, and Jonny, you should get him to do something to your Allegro to complement Fabco, wonderful fabrication
Michael is such a legend. I never expect an mgb to be one of my favourite cars ive seen in a long time. Almost everything about it. Congratulations on the Hotwheels win. Some great comments about the classics and younger generations in there too which unfortunalty i think in 20 years time will be too late to change things
Loved this segment. Best story you have done that i have seen. Enjoyed the young man’s passion and turned a boys car into a mans car. Wow I love this car
Using the exhaust as a heat exchanger for interior heating is a good shout. I had a similar idea about wrapping a copper coil around a radiator hose and using it to heat the windscreen washer bottle so the washers don't freeze up in winter. Haven't done it (yet) though.
A long time ago, I remember seeing an accessory heat exchanger on offer. It was made in plastic, with a section of pipe the size of a radiator hose, and a cylinder around it for heating the washer fluid. The washer fluid gets pumped through the cylinder on its way to the screen.
The powers that be are trying to stop this kind of British ingenuity. Everyone should have their own workshop and a bit of imagination to get the juices flowing! Like Jonny, I share his views on MG's, this MGB is a propa kick in the nuts for the flat cap/anorak brigade, which makes me smile, A LOT.
The amount of feel-good in this video ; off the damn scale! MGB's don't excite me either but this is brilliant. What a great guy Mike is, great stuff Jonny!
What an awesome car. love the individuality of the build. and the smile on both your faces during the drive is priceless. My own '73 BGT has something to emulate.
At the intro, with "I don't really like MG's" I was also totally with you. They're always just shiny factory cars driven by old men (I'm old too), but I have to admit that car and owner is very impressive... I love what he's done. How he's managed to combine a dozen cars into an MG..!?!? Nice job, and congrates on the Hotwheels win... x
I actually drove past you guys when you were filming the shots used in the opening section of this vid, and the summary at the end- what a great car. I see Michael out in the orange MBG roadster pretty often tbh.
