MGB GT & MGC GT

BMC introduced the MGB to replace the MGA in1962, the bodywork design is said to be based on the Renault Caravelle/Floride. It remained in production with BMC and later British Leyland until 1976 and was briefly revived as the MG RV8 between 1992 and 1995. It was originally a roadster with an in line 4 cylinder version of the B series engine at 1800cc. The GT coupe was introduced in 1965 and in 1967 the car was available as the MGC having the 3 litre in line 6 cylinder engine from the Austin Healey shoehorned in. This engine was too big and heavy and upset the balance of the car. It only remained on sale for 2 years. In 1973 the correct decision was made to put the Rover 3.5 litre V8 into the car creating the MGB GT V8. Throughout its production life the car was built at the MG works in Abingdon, Oxfordshire until the site was closed in 1980. I live in the remarkably pretty little town of  Abingdon and I am delighted to see little convoys of vintage MGs from all over the world coming here to visit. We have one of the last MGB GT cars in the town museum. I've always liked the MGB.

Corgi brought out their MGB GT in March 1967, it was later adapted to be an MGC and later on again got the Whizzwheels treatment. The car appears elsewhere in the little Wheels museum modelled by Dinky Toys, Dinky by Matchbox as the MGB GT and the MGB GT V8, by Vanguards as the original roadster and the later MkIII with the rubber bumpers and by Corgi Classics in 1:18 Scale

327 MGB GT

The MGB was a great looking car and this is well modelled replica of the early version - chrome bumpers and wire wheels. However because Corgi used the chromed plastic bumper unit for the suspension it had a tendency to collapse as the plastic springs break away really easily. Nevertheless otherwise it is a nice well made car. The MGB GT was released in 1967 and deleted in 1969. The car is always red with a dark or light blue interior, wire spoke wheels and opening doors and rear hatch. There should be a black suitcase in the boot. It is a popular model and prices are high

345 MGC GT

You've got to feel a bit sorry for the Corgi range planners. They had a lovely model on the books with the MGB. then in 1969 MG came out with their latest offering - the MGC - so all the boys in Northampton had to do was to change the decal and add a power bulge and they had their own fab new supercar. Who remembers the MGC now? It was an MGB with the engine from the Austin Healey 3000; when what the MGB was crying out for was the Buick V8 from the big Rover P5. This of course appeared in time as the MGB V8 and then the MGC disappeared without trace. The MGC Competition No.345 was briefly in the range for 1969 only, it is usually yellow with a black bonnet, it is seen in orange with a black bonnet, this was only available in gift sets 41 & 48, the car was supplied with number stickers which do not always survive.

378 Whizzwheels

MGC GT; reworking of the old 345 with added WhizzWheels, not necessarily improving the model in the process. It retains the opening doors, tip-up seats and opening rear hatch. It was supplied with a sheet of racing number stickers and a suitcase in the boot. You don't have to dig too far into my website to discover that I'm not that fond of these Whizzwheels re-releases. The Whizzwheels MGC ran from 1970 to 1972, the core range model was deep orange/red with a black bonnet. The red version was in the Scammell Tri-Deck Transporter gift set. Sales were not great so values are reasonably high.