MG B 1971 News

If I drive down the street in my convertible, passers-by would - sometimes quietly - remark on my second childhood or mid-life crisis or even an egocentric grey-haired man.But if I travel that same caustic road with a group of 10 or 40 or, as was recently the case, 60 MGs, the adoration, smiles and waves would bring a hardened man to tears. Beyond the snide remarks of the solo road trip, people tend to bond with people en masse in sports cars.You wouldn't, for example, find the same cheery disposition from bystanders confronted with 60 4WDs. Convertibles incite the senses, sparking thoughts as diverse as race car competition and romantic evening coastal touring. Throughout our life, the convertible has set the scene for adventure on a range of levels.Movies are made from the goings-on in convertibles. Girl kisses boy for the first time in a convertible; Elvis Presley drives a convertible racer through the desert to win the prize and the girl; and if Rhett Butler had his way, it would probably be him driving a convertible over the Alabama horizon waving farewell forever to Scarlett. There have been convertibles for the dreamers and the rich, the romantic and the would-be racer.Most of us wanted, or want, a convertible. But things get in the way. Children, on-street parking, the everyday limitations of two seats and even the security of maintaining a car with a fabric roof. Which is why the people who predominantly drive convertibles are - lets say - free of the encumbrances that would keep the cars out of reach for most people.Two days as the guest of the MG Car Club of Western Australia for its annual Safety Fast pow-wow, and you see how 120-odd members of suburbia solidify under the umbrella of the ownership of an obsolete car marque. The Safety Fast event is the club's premier social outing, held by the MGCC in conjunction with the TC Owners Club and the MG Owners Club, and is now in its 20th year.Club member Don Wylie was unable to attend the event, but his pristine 1971 MGB MkII was available. The weather is unkind on the first day of the two-day Safety Fast event. Grey clouds and plenty of rain means the journey is with the roof up and a rag on the windscreen to absorb the leak while an errant drip from elsewhere coldly wets my right knee. Those rumours you heard about early model English convertibles and their propensity to share the weather with the occupants - they're true.But the car loves the cooler weather, keeping the temperature gauge around 160-degree F rather than the warmer day that can see the needle pinch the 190F numeral. The water temperature gauge and the oil pressure gauge always have your attention. Oily things can become susceptible to driving conditions and the simple truth of becoming weary after 40 years of use.The MG is, however, a surprise. Under acceleration it's unique exhaust note fills the cabin. The gearbox snicks light and easy and the clutch, while firm, is positive. The steering is heavy - heavy at speed and quite weighty when parking - though this car retains the original, large diameter steering wheel. It can be flung with confidence, helped by this car's original lever-arm dampers being replaced with hydraulic units.The roof is easy to retract. This is a later model MGB and has the two metal clips and two press studs atop the windscreen frame. Owners of earlier models endure the disassembly of a number of vinyl fabric pieces, metal straps and studs - an awkward manoeuvre made frustrating in times when speed is essential.Like a sudden onslaught of rain. The route is quiet country roads south-east of Perth, edging the Darling Range then entering the hills in surroundings of tall trees and picturesque dams. There is no rush and only a few of the more daring overtake a fellow member. A few of the MG contingent get lost. One lost his steering wheel after enthusiastically rounding a corner and waited for the roving specialist mechanic.But that's part of the fun. From the pleasure of owning an MG to the camaraderie in events such as MG Car Club of WA's Safety Fast run, there's just something magnetic about the enormity, the rareness, of a group of old cars with their different noise and smell and flapping fabric.HISTORYThe now 50-year-old MGB was built from 1962 to 1980 with total production reaching 386,789 units. Almost nine of every 10 cars made was exported, mainly to the US.It was the first unitary MG sports car, designed for high integrity without a roof.This toughness and reliability suited it to endurance sports events.Its successes included outright wins in the 1965 Guards 1000 race at Brands Hatch; 1966 Marathon du la Route 84 Hours at Nurburgring; class wins at Sebring in 1966 and 1967; 1966 Targa Florio and 1966 1000km Spa race.It also finished second place in class at each of the 1964 and 1965 Le Mans 24 Hour events.In 1965 the MGB GT was added to the range and by the end of production in 1980, 125,323 of the hardtops had been built.Unlike the convertible version, less than half of the GTs were exported. A total of 512,112 convertibles and GTs made the MGB the world's top-selling sports car of its era, the first to reach a half a million and the top British sports car of all time.The total UK market volumes were 49,810 tourers and 64,907 GTs - perhaps a reflection on British weather. Many MGBs were reimported to Britain from the US over the years as demand for classic versions grew.The term "Safety Fast'' has been the motto of MG since 1929 after it Oxford Bus Company vehicles - whose chassis had been built by Morris Motors - wore a "Safety First'' badge to promote their then novel four-wheel brake system. MG marketing picked up on the slogan, changing it to Safety Fast. It replaced "It Passes - and Surpasses'' and ``Faster than Most''. MG was unhappy that pencil-toting wags added the word ``bicycles'' to these slogans.CLUB DATARising new car ownership by new generations of motorists and the increasing age of the older cars should mean declining membership of single-marque car clubs. But despite most MGs dating back to the late 1960s, the MG Car Club of WA - in line with trends across Australia - is raising membership each year. It now numbers 250 with an estimated 200 MG cars on the club books.MG owners get regular outings, newsletters, access to member assistance when rebuilding or repairing, club meetings and ar displays. The cost is only $100 a year for a couple.THE OWNER AND HIS CARRetired motor mechanic Don Wylie (CORR) brought a tired MGB as "something to keep me busy''. It followed other projects by the Perth enthusiast, including a Midget and an MG GT, both rebuilt and subsequently sold. Now the red 1971 MkII is as original as when it left the factory - save for the replacement of the rear lever-arm dampers for hydraulic shock absorbers - and runs like a Swiss watch."It'll still do 100mph (160km/h),'' he says. Don and wife Renee have owned the MGB for four years though it's not alone. The garage is shared with a MGF - a car Don says is much maligned as it is "great'' to drive, though because of its mid-engine layout, difficult to repair. But that won't stop the couple taking the F out for a spin in this year's 20th anniversary Safety Fast Run.

"You can pay $70,000 or $90,000 for say, a new Audi and no one notices you," he says. "But you can go out and spend $20,000 on an MG and people are waving at you and saying hello. Everyone wants to stop and talk to you. They all know someone who had one over the years."Colwell owns a 1971 MGB Mark 2, complete with the four-speed electric overdrive gearbox. "It's bright red of course." he says. "I purchased the vehicle in 2007 from a couple at Pyrmont (Sydney). "They had owned the vehicle since 2001 and needed to sell due to parking issues," he says. "MG 146, the registration plate was on it. Lucky I'm not a Kiwi."Colwell says: "At the time I was not in a position to take on a restoration, so I purchased this car in good condition, and proceeded to make it better. "I have tidied the vehicle and added my own touches, such as the new chrome wheels and chrome grille, without destroying its ability to be reverted to original.""Preserving the breed is paramount on classic cars. Only ever do things that can be easily undone. "Parts are readily available for these as they are a popular model both here and overseas, and internet is making it easier than ever to source parts."He says he enjoys Sunday drives with his wife. With the roof down he says it's a pleasure cruiser. Colwell says he has loved the MG style since he was young. "My sister's boyfriend turned up in a beautiful Primrose Yellow 1969 MGB Mk 2. "I was in total awe of this sports car for playboys."He bought his first MG when he was 18 and eventually sold it to TV motoring show host Peter Wherrett. "He turned up with his trademark cap and took the car for a spin and the deal was done. The vehicle was purchased for his son." Since then he has swapped between MGs and the other British iconic car of the 60s, Minis.He says Minis are driven by everyone from the wealthy to the worker, but the MG has a different image. "There's a playboy image, a bit of snobbery that goes with the MGs." "Having the roof off and the sound. The MG has a sound all of its own. Most people will tell you that's what it's all about, the sound."And the sparkle of the wheels. The chrome-wire wheels on it attract people's attention." Although the MG is British they were assembled in Australia up until 1972. About 9000 MGBs were made here. The wide appeal of the MGs have seen their value fluctuate over the years.Colwell says he bought the car for $16,000 two years ago, but the people he bought it from paid $21,000 for it back in 2000. Now he says good cars are selling for well over $20,000. "It comes down to how many of them are around at the time." When he was shopping around he saw several in poor condition."When I saw this one I was surprised. This one was restored. It was a fair to medium job." Now Colwell's interests are switching back to Minis. If he can convince his wife, who loves the MG, he is looking to sell it to fund his next project. " I have found a rare ex-NSW Police pursuit Mini Cooper S MK2 and it's now undergoing a major restoration. I will go the whole hog on it. "As I have said to others, I'm investing my super in my Cooper." " So I will be selling the MGB, however this may be a decision I live to regret. Only time will tell."