Kai Radicke writes:
> "1980 MGB Aston-Martin Prototype Roadster
> This car is a one-off, converted by Tickford's Ltd. in 1980
> as part of a rescue package for the MG Car Co. It
> in in A1 original condition with less than 1000 miles
> on the clock. Finished silver sand with black trim
> and interior, O/D and alloy wheels. It is now offered
> for sale at 8,500 pounds (14,500 dollars)
Wood & Burrell's book devotes a couple of pages to this car and the
movement it represented. When the end of MGB production was announced,
a private consortium was formed with the intent of continuing production
of the car; Aston Martin did the face-lift on the prototype, which
included a GT windscreen, huge lower body claddings, and a tiny chrome
grille above the massive rubber bumper. Not particularly pleasing, at
least to my eyes. When the consortium fell short of the necessary
budget, they approached Toyota with the prospect of buying into the
project, but (as we all know) it fell apart in the end.
As if 18 years of production weren't enough. I mean, the B IS pretty,
but you can only go so far in modernizing the design (although the RV8
is AWFULLY desirable).
As an aside: I noticed in one of the recent big-name mailorder
newsletters (either Moss or TRF) a photograph of a rubber-bumper B with
the exact same front bumper treatment: The upper portion of the rubber
bumper was chopped, and an early chrome grill was cut down to fit the
space. Did anyone else notice this?
(Yes, I admit it: I am a chrome-bumper snob.)
--
Todd Mullins
Todd.Mullins@nrlssc.navy.mil On the lovely Mississippi (USA) Coast
'74 MGB Tourer - May '74, before the "bumper-car" look
"I could go at any time..."
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