unique or sacrilege?

I recently bought my first B and love it, even though I haven't got it running yet. I've read everything on the net I can find and looked at pics of hundreds of B's and GT's.

I'm amazed at alot of the cars you guys have. They are gorgeous. Most of you seem to be sticklers for restoring B's back to their original glory. I think that's great.

But I'm thinking of going in another direction. Thinking about a complete custom job. Custom fiberglass dashboard. Updated gauges. Lamborghini door kits. Custom multi-colored paint graphics.

What are your thoughts? Unique or sacrilege?

Whatever blows your dress up.

Go right ahead , if you paid for it , you should be able to do anything you want to . People on here might not like it but unless they gave you money for it , have at it .

I believe I'd better keep my comments to myself to keep from scaring off a new member. Chad, welcome to the group but be prepared to find that alot of use do not like drastic mods. Keep in mind that some of us are just old fuddy duddies when it comes to modernizing MGBs and take the comments with a grain of salt.

Well there are folk who spend their time modifying 1930s blower Bentleys. And Bentley himself did the same thing.

Hopefully MGBs never become so rare that we miss the odd one being converted. More are going to be left to rot.

If you took a 10 point original car and hot rodded it people would probably think you were somewhat nuts. But there are plenty of cars that need some TLC.

I am currently looking to redo my interior in a somewhat subtler vein. I am adding heated seats, electric windows and quite a bit of wood. But nothing that was not being fitted after market at the time.

If I get my hands on a DB4 I will turn it into a working version of the Bond car (yes, I know he drove a DB5 in the movie but the DB4 chassis is closer). OK so maybe not the caltrops, machine gun or the ejector seat. But the navigation/radar system definitely, complete with the concealed panel and the black and white display, sure.

"SACRILEGE" :(

I am under the impression the car isn't in that great of shape ? I personally think there are still enough B's out there that a heavily modified B might be something a little different.

Just don't make it habit . :)

Its your car do what you want but remember, when the day comes you want to move on, someone else may not have the your vision of a custom modified.

Hey its only a 1976 Rubber Bumper! He can do whatever he wants......:)

Let's hear it for the "Fuddy Duddies!" Huzaah, huzaah, huzaah!

Lonnie

Well, since you asked for "thoughts?", here goes.

If you're taking a rusted out rubber bumpered car and saving it from the wrecking yard, more power to you. If we're talking about a pull-handle chrome bumper car in good condition I'd say SACRILEGE!

I certainly lean towards the keep it original or at least mods that can be undone, but that's just me.

All that said, it's your car, time and money. What ever you do, do it well and keep it safe.

Good Luck - Paul

Gerry, you do scare us "non-traditionalists". Chad, don't click the picture in my signature, it might start giving you some ideas-look at the site and guess what route I'd tell you to take.

I'd like to find some 2-3 tone color schemes. I'd like silver with some very bright yellow to accent it, but can't find lines to break up the colors.

Do with it what you want. Someone will always like it, and someone will always turn up their nose.

Now, if you took a Costello GT-V8 and started cutting into it, well, even I'd cringe!


Or get 2, one for your purist side, one for your wild side! Still trying to talk my wife into that one.

It's up to you i guess, but my thoughts have always been....if you want a modern dash and a fiberglass body, just buy a new car.

I don't understand the point of modernizing something old. I like relics of all sorts and can often appreciate the charm of their antiquated state. Seeing a car that looks like it did when it was on the car lot either brings back great memories or helps me imagine what that time in history was like before i was born.

And besides, no matter what you do to a B, it will never be modern. The best you can hope to accomplish is something grey...that's not a classic and not a modern roadster. I don't find that too appealing, personally. If i were to begin modernizing my B, i would find myself forever unsatisfied because it will never truly be what i'm trying to make it.

The end result would be something like Michael Jackson's face.

I say go for it! :) It's your car.

Hey, Chad,

Go here:

http://www.mgnuts.com/mg/horrors/

If you spend a little time on this page and some of the other "horror" pages that Steve has put together, you may get the idea of some of the blunders that have been committed against the MGB. That being said, its your car, you time, your money. Have fun! my 2 cents. GA

I would NEVER do anything like that to an MG. Hey, I just want some cool paint and doors.

Want some inspiration? Check out the second car on this page, especially the interior!

http://www.mgnuts.com/mg/modslate/

Go for it.....but make sure that you don't slip from custom to tacky. I think that the B is a great candidate for some very well executed mods. Just don't go to the extent that "pimp my ride" goes to....you may find yourself with a white elephant.

It's your car do what you like. But personally, I like to see them close to stock. Then again, I have a green engine! As a general rule, I like, don't change anything you can't change back.

I've been to a bunch of rod and custom shows lately. And nothing turns my stomach more than some 1/2 thought out rod with bad seats and a crappy engine swap. I would much rather look at an original or properly restored car.

Steve S Wrote:

Jon Zaremba Wrote:

Tim, that GT was done as part of a mod competition. It was up against a modern ricer-style car. I don't know who won but I'm sure the projector, game system and bar were just to help win the contest. I also have to wonder what he does when it rains with those rams sticking straight up out of the hood! But other than that, I think the car is gorgeous. I really like the rear plate treatment.

Steve,

I really like that rear plate treatment on this car too! I would be tempted to do a similar mod, but I think it really only looks good with that type of rear end treatment. The only thing that bothers me on that car (and others like it) is the rear fender wells. They never look quite natural to me.

I also like the fresh air intakes on the front valance.

I don't think the rear plate project would work for a US plate, unfortunately. The fenders are a love-hate thing. They are standard sebring replica wells. I've always loved them personally. The valance looks like it may be a MG Motorsports unit. Very attractive!

I think the question is "Why modify an MGB so much that it's not really an MGB anymore?"
People who completely change the car must not like MGB's, I guess, or they wouldn't want to change them so much.

Anyone can do anything they want to their own car, but you can't expect other people who like that car to like what you've done if you drastically change it. That's just common sense. I mean, if you transform a 1960s or 1970s roadster into a 21st century Honda, what is the point? Just get a Honda and save yourself the trouble!

Having said that, there are a lot of ways to "improve" an MGB and have it still be an MGB -- different colors, fender flares, different wheels, sunroof, different bumpers, etc. After a while, though, when it's really no longer recognizably an MG . . . Well, what's the point?
It's just a question of degree. Like everything else in life, moderation is nearly always what works best.

It's all relative and open to personal interpretation. Part of what makes an M.G. an M.G. is styling. They were always known, especially in the early days, for superbe styling. Change the looks of the car and even if it is 100% stock underneath, it is somewhat less of an M.G. than it used to be. Nothing wrong with that, but a modified car is not always to everyone's liking. Most MG people seem to prefer stock cars even though most of the auto world prefers highly customized ones.

I think that what you'll find on every single car forum chat room such as this is that you'll always get a few that love what you did, you'll get a few that don't care either way, you'll get a few that just absolutely think you're crazy and what the hell were you thinking, you'll get a few that have a better way to do what you've done, and you'll get a few that JUST HATE what you've done.

You'll never get 100% approval. even if it's a million dollar ferrari, there'll always be someone that doesn't like it for one reason or another.

SO, rather than go that route, I suggest you do exactly WHAT YOU LIKE! Ask a few questions here and there, get some advice about specific things, and just do, as JDW put it, WHAT BLOWS YOUR DRESS UP!

Brian

Its your car , but if you cant follow through with all that you say, and have tech, difficulties and cant finnish it , would seem that another great loss of a b to the bone yard, sorry but really dont want to rain on your parade, but just my 2 cents

When it comes to modifying a MGB or any other car for that matter is all about taste, some will like, some will not. I think with a MG it comes to a fine balancing act, if you stick with period/history mods you'll get a nod form most folks, but if you pimp it out, ala/Solarman don't expect everyone to appreciate your creation as much as you do. MY 67 GT is pretty original and I have struggled over the smallest devaition for original, but finally decise I will go ahead with a few add-ons that i want for the car like Superlite knock offs, alloy valve cover, front spoiler, all these items will be easily removeable for the next owner if they are a purist, but overall I think most of the MGB community would approve of the add-ons. Wheels is a biggie with our cars, modern wheels just look tacky on our cars in my opinion. My perfect modded MGB would be a race car replica for the street with as much go as show.

OK, for what it is worth. I plan to upgrade teh 72B I have in my yard - in otherwords make it into what I think I B would be if made today.

The plans include a V6 and 5 or 6sp tranny, gauges replaced with digital ones. seats replaced with racing style seats and 4pt harnesses, some body mods but probably fairly subtle ones and a non-MG paint scheme. Is this going to upset some people - SUREit is but do I care? Not one bit because it is my car.

Do what you feel happy with because the car is yours and what anybody elses opinion is is just that THIER opinion.

Welcome to a growing family of people who love MGB in all the many forms it now takes.

Heck, have fun with it. It's a RB so you can put in a Camaro V6 like Adam did. You might also consider the RB to CB conversion. Go wild with the paint but don't waste your $$$ trying to do Lambo style doors.

Just keep it under 150mph if you've got a bad master brake cylinder.

Welcome to the board! I don't have any disparaging remarks for you, but maybe a suggestion for you instead. Have you seen the Sebring body kits for the MGB? I think they be good alternative to the lambo body kit and will also capture the spirit of the car much better. Also, check out the paint schemes of vintage racers. But before you do anything.... get it runnin man! :) Make her reliable, safe, and fun! Worry about looks later!

71EmmaG Wrote:

There ya go! That kit with a set of panasports, fat tires, and supercharger is what a street performance B is all about!! Someday..... Someday......

If it makes you happy then you should go right ahead. (as long as it's not an early pull handle). I have that feeling you will, after completing this project, decide to get another MG for a more original restoration. Use this one to learn the way the B is put together. A friend of mine caught a lot of flack from his Triumph club when he modified a GT6 for his wife. He changed nothing on the exterior, but did replace the original blown engine with one out of a Toyota Supra. He used the automatic tranny with the engine because his wife could not drive a standard. He did a very good job of concealing a roll bar and replaced the interior with surroundings more hospitable to a spoiled wife. He had extra sound deadening material placed in the floor, installed an AC unit, and replaced the seats with some really nice and comfortable leather seats that he pulled from a wrecked BMW Z3. He also softened up the suspension and added some ballast wt in a couple of places to balance the car. He also installed modern disk brakes all the way around. He restored the exterior to original and if you were to just look at it you would swear it was an original GT6 (unless it's running in which case you know it has a toyota unit in it.) His wife is very happy and doesn't give him such a hard time when he spends hours in his shop tending to his MkI Spitfires.
Personally, I have two early B's. A '63 and a '64 with another '64 for parts. (sorry guys, that one suffered a T-bone and, although not totally beyond repair, more than I want to tackle) I would never consider ANY modifications to my "other children", but would consider doing a late chrome bumper BGT for my wife in the same manner of my friends GT6. It would be a good way of getting her into the hobby.

That GT6 actually sounds pretty cool, maybe except the auto trans. That is one of my favorite LBC's, and thats a great motor to do the swap with. It kind of reminds me of the Mustang from Fast & the Furious 3, which I didn't actually see (big surprise). You can link to info on the car, though. Also very nicely done, but many people felt it was an insult to the Mustang. Personally, I think it probably liberated it.

http://www.tuningmag.net/?name=the-fast-and-the-furious-III-tokyo-drift

As far as extreme makeovers for MG's, I don't personally like them. It isn't necessarily because I'm a purist, as I'm not particularly. Its more because the MG, and the other LBC's out there, were and are great cars. They are the most tastefully designed and executed cars you can buy for the money, and you'd have to spend a lot more to get something as beautiful and fun to drive. Why spend all that time and money to change a beautiful car into a less attractive one? I suppose thats what I think when I see a heavily altered MG. It really comes down to taste I suppose. I think scissor doors look better on a Honda Prelude than on a car with a design predating the scissor door's existence, even of only by a few years!

I am tempted to modify, but if you modify, you can't go half way. It's all or not at all. So I stay with stock, easier resell, cheaper to restore.

Here's a couple of pics of what I'd term as a modified mod..

There are plenty of MGs still available out there, I say modify it. I can't picture the Lambo doors but do what you like it's your car.
I think if you are going to modify an old car you have to keep it somewhat true to the era or you risk having a ridiculous looking end product. Hopefully the result is an MG that has been modified and not some car that might have been an MG at one point.

-Eric

Jon Zaremba Wrote: