My First Drive In An MGB - Why You Should Buy One (1978 Rubber Bumper Roadster Road Test) 

I am 63 years old. I have owned several sports cars, over the decades, from, a ‘58 Austin Healey 100-6, to a ‘72 Fiat 124 Spyder, an ‘81 Mazda RX7, and others, from Japan. My favorite car, (never should have sold her) was a 1978 MGB convertible! The Austin Healey, should have been number 1, but it suffered many reliability issues. The MG was very reliable, a blast to drive, not all that fast, but quick enough. Because I am old enough to remember when all cars were pretty slow, and did not have power steering, I never once, thought that the steering was “heavy”, or that the car was slow! Yes it does take both hands to park, and all new cars will, run off and leave it! You must realize that all cars of that era, where like that, unless you drove an American land yacht, or muscle car. I really, miss her, and if I find a good example for a reasonable price, I would buy one again.

I have a 1977 MGB that is mine and my grandpa’s project that every time I get it running it will run for 3 days to 2 weeks and quit again because of some sort of electrical short which is probably due to the many previous owners and that its wiring is original with afew random replacements. As a 15 year old girl that is very involved in farming, FFA, and many other things it’s like a summer project that’s been going on for 7 years now but through the struggles I’ve learned a lot and it is my favorite car by far and will always be one of my fondest memories of my childhood and working with my grandpa and dad.

When you look at the ghastly "faces" on todays modern cars, all of a sudden the rubber bumpers don't look so bad!

Why doesn't anyone appreciate how good the steering is on an MGB? All they say is that it's heavy; as if that's a problem! The steering is the car's best feature, for goodness sake! The steering is heavy because it's got 7 degrees of castor, which is two or three times more than most other cars. But that gives the driver great feel of what the front wheels are doing; it also makes the steering self-centre faultlessly out of a corner and also lets the car track with perfect stability in a straight line at any speed. In addition the steering is absolutely accurate with no lost motion around the straight ahead and also it's high geared with less than 3 turns lock to lock. Because of the weight of the steering you must use standard tyres as they came from the factory. Wider tyres are out of the question. Early radial tyres on the MGB were 155/14, the MGBGT and the later MGB were fitted with 165/14. Keep the standard factory steering wheel (16.5inch early, 15.5in later) in order to benefit from the proper leverage that they afford. Power steering conversions spoil all the advantages that MG engineered into the car in the first place! If you want lighter steering, buy a more modern car!

I have 1980 and absolutely love it. Ignore the snobbery and just enjoy what fun cars they are to drive.

Great stuff. Good to see it reviewed in realistic weather.

After watching this video, I went out and bought one! Could not be happier. And your comment about an amazing amount of room for a small car is an understatement. Both drive and passenger can stretch legs out fully and not hit the fire wall. truly amazing and a blast to drive. wishing summer could last forever!

I have an MGBGT, 1972 model. Love it. Heavy steering? Well yes when you are parking but you get used to that, power steering is for wimps!

Back around 1970, I put an MBG engine in my Austin Healy Sprite. I had to file the top of the carburetors for the hood to fit and I cut to drive shaft to 22". I could chirp the tires in all four gears...

Very good review, mine is 1976 ,fully restored, bored out to 2 liters, ported, etc.. same color as yours , I’ve owned it for 30+ years, looking forward to driving again. By the way I feel the bumpers, when in excellent condition, actually modernize the car giving it long flowing lines, and I think it is one of the few vintage cars it works very well on.

The B is exactly what it's for. Brilliant.

Having owned a shop that repaired and renovated classic British sports cars, when individuals would come in looking to buy their first one, especially if their wife would also be driving it, I always recommended the rubber bumper B. Why, because it was more refined and comfortable. As to the rubber bumper, it is perhaps the best integration of a rubber bumper onto a sports car. Another plus is that every part of this car is available new, along with a massive amount of options and at very reasonable prices.

The chrome bumper MGB was one I wish I had kept, but they are heavy to work underneath and from my experience they can eat prop shaft joints. Now I have an MGA and a Midget amongst others. With a good MGB , just put petrol in it and check the oils and grease regularly where required. They are a good solid car if you stop it rusting.

I've had 25 B's in various incarnations - early cars, late cars, factory V8's and a V8 conversion. The heavy steering issue comes from lazy owners. Grease the suspension every 1000 miles / 6 months and it's fine and make sure there's plenty of copper grease and oil in the rack and there will be no problems. That's ALL you need to do to resolve that - no fancy roller bearing king pins or power steering kits required.

I owned a rubber bumper roadster when I was 22 had it as driver daily for 7 years Loved that car

Great review! When I was born in 1974 i was brought home in my dads 1967 mgb as mom held on tight in the passenger. 5 years ago I bought my 1975 blaze red mgb for $3,500 and haven't looked back. It's been a blast to drive and while figuring out all the kinks and quirks it throws at you. I was able to make it to MG museum in Abingdon last year on honeymoon to pay my homage. That experience has tied me to the car more than I ever thought it would. Cheers from the US.

It's nice to see how much love these little gems get from people in the USA! I'd love one. Driven a couple but never actually owned one... yet!

Fair review. I love rubber bumper MGs personally. You're right that the steering is very heavy and they don't quite handle like a proper sports car but they are charming. Try a Midget or Sprite if you're after a real classic sports car experience.

I like the rubber bumpers better. I'm a younger guy and I hate chrome.

There have been more views of this review than all your other reviews added together ! Says something about the allure of the MG !

I've had midgets and just bought my first MG B im seriously over the moon with the room in this car the performance and cannot wait to take her on a nice longer drive. I like to stay local to get used to the gears and way the car manuver s. I'm not familiar with the overdrive as yet and watching videos as I'm ashamed to say I've not used it as yet. The chap I bought it from was an enthusiast and the car is in just about pristine condition with a mohair softtop and a beautiful white hardtop. There are no sounds in the car as there was in my last cars I rather like just listening to the engine as it happens. I'm using this as my daily as my midgets were high days and holiday cars . Although they were kept on great condition as one needs to be fettling with classics and looking after them I'm so so happy with my new purchase I really am. 😁

I didn’t mind the rubber bumper . It was well incorporated . I had issue with its reliability . Its the reason I never owned a British car .

It's raining very British!

I own a 1979 MGB. It’s a rolling restoration with a few rusty spots, but drives perfectly fine. Definitely not a tire scorcher, but on a nice summer day with the top down, my MGB never fails to put a smile on my face!

I'm addicted to MGBs. I have a 68, 71, 79, 79 Limited Edition and a 80 fully restored convertibles. I recently acquired a 68 MGC GT. It should take me about 2 years to complete this car. Here in Sunny California.

I have a 78 rubber bumper MG B. Its a royal pain in the arse, but i love her and shes in Inca Yellow!

The 1968 chrome bumper roadster I owned in the mid 80's was ultra reliable and I even used to drive it on the Yorkshire Moors in the snow... it coped brilliantly in these conditions. I loved the driving experience you got with it. The excellent feedback you get with it instills great confidence. The only issue I had in the 4 years of ownership was that the steering box grease needed blowtorching and replacing...boy oh boy did the steering get heavy! The (student daughter) of a director of Rolls Royce in Glasgow was the previous owner and the sills were repaired by their factory welders which was good to know as these can rust from the inside out!

I love the way minilites look on the B. One of the differences I noticed between yours and mine, was the use of 3 wipers required in the US because of the percentage of windscreen that must be covered. I dont know why, but those 3 wipers when engaged always make me smile. Then again, maybe it's just driving it.😁

I had a '72,before the rubber bumpers.Rally springs up front,extra leaf in the rear,all nylon bushing suspension.A little harsh,but SO much fun to drive.Forced to sell a few years ago,but glad to have had the ride for a while.

I had (3) MGB's. When I was 16-1/2", in 1977, I bought a used 1971 MGB, that car had all sorts of problems, bad engine bearings, crackes cylinder head, etc..... I spent lots to get it going but unfortunately crashed this B in summer of 1981, and stored it at home. Then purchased a 1972 MGB-GT Body in 82 and transferred over all from the 71 donor B to the 72 GT and drove that GT for a few years from 1982 to 1986, then sold it off. Then, in 1992, I purchased my third , a 1973 and spent $3500 to get it working 100%, engine rebuild, SU HIF rebuild, Rear Axle/Differential replaced, Rebuilt Distributor, New Radio, New Alternator, Electric Cooling Fan with Thermostat Control (I could not hear music at highway speeds anyhow) and enjoyed that B as a daily driver. Sold that B in 1995. Once you get all of the mechanical's sorted, the electrical systems up to par, and also install the obligatory after-market Electric Cooling Fan, these B cars are TONS of fun. They are also nice to tinker with and upgrade. You can also put an slightly oversized CamShaft for that 'lumpy goodness" that sets off Car Alarm when You are putting around for a Parking Spot!! Is there another B in my future? I sure hope so........ :)

Whatever people say and always like to say, rubbish cars, but I beg to differ! I've owned many over the years the last in UK in 2006-09 (a V8 conversion of a GT). In Australia I had a number of roadsters, all chrome bumpers and still by far the best was a Sandy Beige 67 GT in Sydney in 1988, with Webasto, black leather with white piping on wire wheels. Stunning car and a hoot to drive, I miss it terribly. I learnt last year it was derelict and rusted out! How do people let such a fine car deteriorate. Just imagine if the twin-cam had been the success it should have been in the MGA and how it would have progressed into the MGB, perhaps as a 'performance' version alongside the 1.8? But enough of the dreaming, they were a sports car for the masses, using parts bin (parts), in a package that did remarkably well and still does. I'm sure you'll find 'Classic World' if you drove a chrome bumper roadster it would handle even better.

This car is in my bucket list. ♥

A fond memory of driving my '72 B at 100mph on the NYS thruway listening to "take the long way home". What a great car I restored!

Great review but then I’m a little biased as I’ve owned half a dozen MGBs over the years. Don’t let people put you off the rubber bumper models, speaking from experience they are actually better cars than the earlier chrome ones once the 75/76 models had the suspension sorted! I currently have an MGB LE and love it to bits. Modern enough but with vintage charm retained. Worst of all are the rubbers converted to chrome with chrome wire conversions and usually repainted flame red - yawn!

I never forget that phone call from my friend informing me that BL dealer had imported 4 MGB’s and 4 TR7’s and couple of Spitfires. I was 15 that time and the three were my dream machines. I went to the showroom and was jumping from one to other and I kept dreaming of buying one but due to weather in Dubai I wouldn’t be able to drive it but one day I am hoping to buy a red TR7 and blue MGB...

I drove a 1975 MGB in high school. It wasn’t perfect but it fit me like a glove.

I get sick to the back teeth of people who slate the MGB. Most who say such awful things about them have usually never driven one. What I will say is, if you get a bad one, it probably would put you off, but a well sorted B is an absolute blast. I regret the day I sold my 74 Damask red GT. I used it every day, in all weathers, and rarely touched my modern car. They're a great car for everyday use, and I personally prefer the tin top looks wise. That's it, I need another one! 😊

Some of us think that MGB's are great. I'm a 20 year owner of a B GT Sebring race car replica, and my mate owns the one in this film. We asked the question - is the MGB the perfect classic? @9Yz4

Bought a MGB GT at the age of 26 and I couldn't be happier!

I have a 1979 US market MGB in the same vermilion color as the car in the video - so I love that car! I also removed the original steering wheel and replaced it with a smaller diameter MotoLita like the one in the video which makes the steering harder. The one in the video also has aftermarket wheels instead of the factory Rostyles. It's a wonderful driving machine, peppy but not overwhelming, fun in the curves and a gearbox that makes shifting a delight. It's a great car to own for those who like classics. Parts are plentiful, they are easy to work on if one wishes to, and there are many clubs all over to enjoy the car with kindred spirits. Great job on the video.

I have always loved these and, in fact, owe my lifelong love of sports cars (Fiat X1/9, Mazda RX-8 and, now, my fourth Miata!) to a ride to the Jersey shore in a college friend’s orange MGB in the summer of ‘75.❤️

bought a 74 1/2 mgb recently for $3500 USD, needs some work but it has a clean title, the engine was rebuilt, interior redone, floorboards replaced and came with spare parts, including a rollbar. i can't wait to get the thing in driving condition! it will be my daily commute car :D

Cars with character, I've got a 67 GT, its a rough as hell but I love it because it does what its mean't to do, and gives me many smiles to the gallon

Love this little classic British cutie! 👐👐👏👏💙🚗

I love my '77 B Tourer. I had a '74 and three MX-5's, too. While I enjoyed them all for different reasons, my '77 MGB is the greatest car I've ever owned and by my definition the perfection of *the car*. Brilliant little machines.

The US specs also required the headlights to be at a certain distance from the ground, the result was the height of the car was raised 2 inches. Add to that smog control and crap carburettors with a reduction of roughly 20 hp from the first B engines with 98 HP. I note that your car has had the better SUs fitted. These rubber bumper Bs get a lot of slag in the US and typically sell at about 30%-40% less than a chrome bumper B. The large, hideous, bumpers do not look good on some of the colors such as blue, but on a red or black car, not so bad. There is a rubber bumper delete kit for around $2200 USD but you get a POS front bumper that is nothing like the originals. What is good about the RBB is that they are excellent for rally having already been "lifted". I recently sold my 64 B and sorely regret the sale. Mine was a fantasctic car. Now looking for a replacement, unfortunately there is nothing out there like mine. Checking out the MGA and the older T series MGs. Thanks for the video, enjoy your car. From Oregon USA

I always wanted an MGB and then bought an MX-5 NB, simply because it was cheaper and how I find a pretty good reinterpretation.

I truly enjoyed your vid. on the 1978 MGB. I own the 1977 U.S. version, "Left Hand Drive", no overdrive, but still a great deal of fun. Cheers!

I had a 2nd hand MGB in 1979ish, one of the first rubber bumper models, not a bad car for a Cpl stationed in Germany.......and yes it was a girl puller.......

Great little cars, way back when, my brother had an MGB GT , it rode better than any small American car produced at the time.

I’ve owned two MGBs in my life and they were great fun. But I got to know my mechanic really well over the years. Just got a 2023 Mazda Miata and it’s just as much fun to drive without needing a towing company on speed dial. 😀

Vê had 2 MGB’s in my life. One in the late 60’s & one in the early 70’s. I loved them both & used them in road rallies. They were a great vehicle. Reliable & very enjoyable to drive. They are still one of my favorite vehicles & I live in the USA. I’m looking for another one for 4 years, but having a lot of trouble finding one. I’m Still searching ,Great gas milagre!

They had lots of them in the used car lots in the 1980s. Test drove a few, they had a nice neck snapping acceleration in the first 30 mph. Impressive in the 1980s when all cars were slow. 40 years later , you can see them on the road on weekends

I'm 58 (almost) and am therefore a baby of the 60s but a teenager of the 70s. As such I'm a member of that heinous band of individuals that actually prefers - by some considerable distance - the rubber bumper version.

I am a 67 years old American. I have owned several sports cars over the decades, from a '69 Volvo P-1800S, to a ‘80 Mazda RX7, a ‘78 Fiat 124 Spyder, a '70 MGB, and a '69 Triumph Spitfire, the last three of which I currently own plus a '92 Fox body Mustang (I've owned some other American Muscle cars in my life as well as both foreign and Domestic sedans as well as pickups and jeeps).. My favorite was the Volvo but I also enjoyed and enjoy all the others.

Extremely rare we see one on the road.

Nice review and great car , how tall are you ?? Just thinking off space inside (but you are handsome as well) You can get these for a low price now in the US and it would be nice to have one , Thank you >>>>

Wonderful cars.

Great video. I've just taken delivery of a purple 74 GT so it's a crossover. Rubber bumpers but the earlier dash. It'll be staying original but I'm looking forward to resurrecting it! It hasn't been driven since 1991!

I prefer the looks of the rubber bumper MGB

Currently torn between one of these and a Triumph Spitfire. Vastly different cars or so I’m told, reckon I’m going to have to try them both before deciding either way

I did buy MG Midgets...love em....my first was purchased in 1976...3500$ new.

My ex-girlfriend had a 1972 MGB. Great car - a little English race car with license plates! 1598 cc inline 4. overhead cam. twin SU carbs. THREE compression rings! I put a 3/4 race cam in it. close ratio 4 speed. The optional overdrive unit would have been nice. rack and pinion steering. great handling and braking. In 1974 My uncle bought a brand new MGB and bragged about beating a Vette light-to-light on the way over to visit us. I was 11 years old at the time.

Overdrive was an option, not standard. Having seen the "rubber bumper" version first (when I was 16 or so) I've ALWAYS liked that version best. It looks clean lined and graphic and just as good to me today. The MGB I owned was a 1969 wire wheeled version.

Except in Florida. 108 degrees in the cockpit and it rains every afternoon. Tops a bit sticky for the quick put ups when approaching a storm. Why, by the late 70's more horsepower to accommodate a bloody air conditioner install is beyond me! Bucket of ice to sit on helps.

Sorry folks, but BL produced a horror show when they took the cheap and easy way out by raising the ride height and fitting rubber bumpers so they could eke out a few more years of exports to the US. Compared to the pre-1973 cars the handling of the rubber bumper cars was awful and the marginal power output was strangled by emissions regulations. The later cars were just embarrassing.

Identical to mine! Same year and same color. It was NOT torquey though - no power no torque. I loved that car though. Was my first car ever.

Excellent review. I recently acquired a 1970 MGB and this video really captures what makes the little English roadster so special.

Those bumpers were not the result of safety regulations, rather they were the result of regulations to protect the insurance companies. Most claims were from low speed, parking lot mishaps, so a bumper that would be unscathed after sub 5mph impacts would save a lot of money.

The noice you get from an MGB reminds you that you are driving a sports car, car made in the sixties seventies. Nothing really matches!

I had a 78 MGB US model. Either this one is a British model or a lot is different. The entire dashboard is completely different. The seats, steering wheel & even the windshield wipers. In the US, there were three wipers.

I had a 1954 MG TF. Drove it from NY to Los Angeles to Mexico City and back home.

J'ai 89 ans et j'ai travaillais pendant 15 ans pour BMC ; mécanicien, J'ai connu et réparé toutes la gamme de voiture BMC et je dois dire que la MGB 1800 fut la reine des voitures de sport de la firme. Robuste et facile d'entretien et le " best " avec l'overdrive. La seule chose fragile , la pompe à essence electrique mal protégé sous chassis. Une faiblesse de l'embrayage au début qui subit des modifications.

I had an ice white, 77 gt as my first car and it was amazing. Teaches you to drive and is just such a good experience. Driving to classic car events and going on adventures was the best. Had it for 3 years and sold but finally getting another one later this year and will be improving bits to get a little extra from the whole experience 😁😁👍

I love the MG such a cute car. I saw this video of a Canadian mg with chrome ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-RiN5j8p-0ts.html

Loved driving this one. Even if it was tipping it down.

4:10 the pleasure of this view worths the price

Great car but ur too tall for it. Made ne claustaphobic watching you drive it

I know this is a silly question but has it got a radio? I can imagine the tunes with the soft top down on a sunny day 🙈

I had a brand new rubber bumper, wire wheeled BGT. The car was far from special.

I have a lovely MGB LE Roadster for sale if anyone is interested .

Martin Melissa Clark Sharon Jones Edward

Spend Your £10 k or whatever it costs to buy a Good one, Use it Daily & Plan for a £3,000 small restoration every 3 or 5 Years = Great Fun & the CHEAPEST Motoring on the Planet. Compared to Modern Junk . Never Sell it, Just Restore & Restore again. Every Part is available. Not Just MG's, Old Minis, Moggy's, Beetles, & Many others. Way Cheaper than a modern car. Specialist can fit Power steering , or A V8 ? Use it Daily & restore it every 50,000 or 100,000 miles or when it needs it. Maybe Buy a £500.00 Modern car for Supermarket Car park Damage etc ? & Use in Snow / Ice & Gritted Roads. Whatever you Pay, It will Always Have a Re-Sale value. NO MGB ever goes to the CRUSHER !!!

Lucky me i don't need to buy one because i've had one for 37 years

Taylor Kenneth Hernandez Daniel Perez Susan

Welded too many to like them the migets were worse again terrible rotboxes

I acquired a 1980 MGB many years ago; a fixer-upper, bur so simple to own that I drove frm Vancouver to LA and back. Not one single issue came up. Then I sold it to a father and son restoration team. Now I drive a 06 Pontiac Solstice. Gotta have a roadster!

Haha , I often cringed stil when putting my overdrive on " using the clutch " , omg. I bought my all chrome bumper and wire wheel 1967 mgb GT. So now 4 years later I can stop having overdrive dilamer. I remember the guy I bought it off saying it works in 3rd and 4th but forgot about clutch and did it to play safe. It's so solid and rust free . I'm real glad I bought it No regret at all 🇬🇧

I have a MIDGET 1977 and I love it nice car to Ride

I have an 1978 MGB roadster in the same colour as the car in the video. I originally bought it in 2003 and sold it after a few years and bought it back again in 2022. Its one of the family now and its not going anywhere.😊

I have a 1972 chrome bumper MGB with the original spoke wheels and hardtop, also have a 76 MGB roadster with the rubber bumpers and both of them are for sale if anyone is interested, as I have my eye on a 58 MGA. They are great cars, and they come in handy with gas prices soaring! Let’s go Brandon!

I have owned several MGBs and MG Midgets over the last 35 years. My advice is don’t buy one unless you are prepared to maintain it correctly and also have a heated garage. They can quite rapidly transform themselves from a desirable trouble free car into an expensive liability if kept outside or not looked after.

my 78 B is nice car but u can feel every little bump and crack in the road. shaking the poor car.............other than that it gets complimented everywhere it goes

Potential buyer likes this 👍🇬🇧

I have had my MGB GT Jubilee 22 years now. Its rubber bumper, but so what. I have only experienced body roll once in that time.

magnificent vehicle and i owned a 77, but the trouble! i sold it for a miata and its the same thing except better, and super reliable, with airbags and fuel injection.

TR4 much nicer more practical car,?

Lovely looking car and a bit troublesome so weekends have to be spent tinkering--everything you want from a classic.

Lewis Daniel Clark Lisa Perez Jessica

I learned to drive a stick shift on a friend's 1973 purple MGB - I've been a roadster fan ever since!