This article is reprinted in the book "Road & Track MG Sports Cars
1962-1980" for those who are interested. Of course, I don't know if this
book is still in print, my copy dates from 1985. It's funny, R&T didn't
have a lot of positive things to say about our B after 1968 (and even
then they thought it was long in the tooth and due for replacement). For
example, the 1979 road test is subtitled: "We complain. BL makes money.
Time stands still." I think partly it was a fascination with the "modern"
technology of the time (OHC 6's, mid-engines, rotaries, IRS) that
distracted them from the merits of a well-balanced, responsive but not
blindingly fast or startlingly modern open car. Or maybe it was just the
folding top mechanism...
Dan Ray had this to say:
>I just wanted to share a unique find of mine whilst at the flea market
>today.
>It's a June 1970 Road & Track with a comparison article between the MGB,
>Fiat 124, Triumph TR-6 and Porsche 914. It only cost me $2.50! The nostalgia
>of seeing the old ads from when I was 3 years old is worth every penny.
>The test article is pretty damning of the B in comparison with the others,
>but the charts, which are a hallmark of such articles by RT are pretty
>interesting. They referred to the B as "dated", the interior as "decidedly
>unattractive", and the top folding procedure as a "monumental exercise"
>dubbed "Early-Masochistic" (ok, something we ALL know!) but they don't
>really slam the performance at all.
>Add to this the great ads of the time (the back cover has an add for the new
>Plum Crazy Dodge Challenger R/T!) and it's a blast to just stare at the
>photos.
>I'm sure this article isn't in the "Gold Portfolio" edition for the B but
>it's still a cool find. Any other magazine editions I should look out for?
>Cheers,
>Dan
>73 B
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Max Heim
'66 MGB GHN3L76149
Runs great,
looks particularly bad since some SUV clown backed into it.
If you're near Mountain View, CA,
it's the red one with the silver bootlid.
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