I currently have the exact opposite thoughts with respect to my 1965 registered
MGB.
Although all documentation from England dictates that this car is a 1965, it
has the push button doors. Unfortunately, this could be due to some fairly
major restoration work that it received in London many years ago in which the
fenders and quite possibly the doors were replaced. I have always wondered
exactly what year my car was, albeit for personal reasons as opposed to
DMV regulations.
I had always assumed that any car with pull handles was a pre-1966 car.
Dan
1965 RHD MGB
If it helps, I can provide you with copies of my paperwork. I feel so bad for
all of you that live in California and have to contend with these drastic
DMV situations.
At 07:48 AM 9/12/96 -0700, TJ Noto wrote:
>Years ago, when I bought my lil MG, I was told it was a 66. The
>registration said 66 and being somewhat ignorant as to the intricacies
>of the marque I had no reason to doubt this.
>
>Then I learned that 65 was supposedly the last year for the "pull type"
>door handles, with the push-button type debuting in 66. Since my
>car had the pull type I assumed it was an example of the oft-practiced
>"parts bin" manufacturing process the British (and other storied
>european manufacturers) were famous for. Nick came back from his
>lunch of a pie and a pint and found an extra set of early handles
>in his overalls and thus used them on the next B that came down the
>line.
>
>Then last year at the Palo Alto British meet I met a gentleman who
>told me that many 65 B's were registered as 66's here in CA for
>various reasons, mostly due to the new smog laws passed back then.
>He also told me my car was a 65, and that there were other differences
>in the door besides just the handle. The striker plate and door jam
>is completely different on the 66's and you can't just swap handles
>or even complete doors between the two.
>
>That man was trying to get together a registry of us folks with 65
>B's to try to get some leverage with DMV to have them properly
>registered and I gave him my name and number, but then never heard from
>him again.
>
>I've begun to investigate more thoroughly....last Sunday at the meet
>I saw other B's, whose owners thought they had 65 cars, whose VINs were
>actually later than mine. If I recall correctly, my VIN (Body) is
>GHN3L 53318. The Engine number is a 18GB unit I believe. It's
>obviously a 5 main engine. Other clues are the new gas tank securing
>methods (move away from strap type I believe) and also the electric
>tach.
>
>Most of the books I've read on the subject are sketchy as to the
>exact production numbers and year models so I continue to be confused.
>
>Does anyone have any definitive information or thoughts on this
>subject? I'd like to get the car registered as a 65 because it would
>eliminate the need to have it smogged every year. While the car
>is stock and always makes it through after I've tweaked it a little,
>it's a hassle and an extra cost I'd rather not deal with.
>
>B'est Regards,
>TJ Noto
>Palo Alto, CA
>
>
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