This 1973 MG MGB is for sale on Bring a Trailer in Joshua Tree, California. The car is powered by a 302 ci Ford V8 with a Holley four-barrel carburetor, aluminum intake manifold, MSD distributor, Holley fuel pump, and side exhaust. The drivetrain features a five-speed manual transmission and what looks like the factory rear end. The car rides on a set of Rostyle 14-inch wheels with BFGoodrich Radial T/A 215/60 tires. The brakes are disc in front and drum in rear. Issues with the car include cracks/scrapes on front spoiler and tachometer, oil pressure, engine temp, and fuel gauges do not work. Under the glove box are a set of aftermarket tachometer, oil pressure, battery voltage, and engine temperature gauges. The seller also says the clock, hazard lights, cigarette lighter does not work.
Source: Bring a Trailer
Interesting car cosmetically it’s pretty nice. Bit it needs a new wiring harness. (Never mess with old British electrics) and a modern, all aluminum 4 cylinder engine would be perfect. Lighten up that nose by a few hundred pounds.
Of course there’s still the problem of the tiny interior. Pretty sure this car was designed by no one taller than 5’4”.
5’4″? It sounds like you haven’t actually been in a B. They have more legroom than most cars out there. Seated at 6′ my legs cannot touch the firewall. If you’re an inch or two taller than me, the low windshield does get in the way.
As for engines. An aluminum head ford is about 50lbs more than the all iron 1.8 it came with stock. The T5 transmission is MUCH lighter than a MGB overdrive.
A modern aluminum 4 would be very cool (think the duratec Frontline puts in their restomods), but a 300+ horse ford V8 with gobs of torque under 3,000rpms is certainly pretty perfect as is.