I'm sorry, I wasn't clear. I meant exactly what I wrote, i.e. " ...was
the first GT built in *January 1966*", not, as it might have looked, "the
first GT *was* built in January 1966" (I was getting my info from
Clausager, too). I was establishing that Rich's car must have been built
after January 1966, not in 1965 as he was speculating. But I think Rich
knew what I meant.
Paul Hunt had this to say:
>My Clausager says that GT production began in Sep 65 for RHD (car No. 71933)
>and Nov 65 for LHD (car No. 73163.
>
>PaulH.
>http://freespace.virgin.net/paul.hunt1/
>(or if that URL doesn't work try )
>(http://194.168.54.52/paul.hunt1)
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Max Heim <mvheim@studiolimage.com>
>To: MG List <mgs@autox.team.net>
>Date: 30 August 1999 06:53
>Subject: Re: My Early BGT
>
>
>>Hmm, interesting. Clausager states that serial #77774 was the first GT
>>built in January 1966. This seems to indicate that 84510 would have come
>>off the line around March 66. By the time it shipped to the states, it's
>>hard to see how it got registered as a '65, except as some kind of tax
>>dodge (?). GT body numbers began with 101 in 1965, with 524 produced in
>>the calendar year (bringing it up to 625, presumably). 10,241 were
>>produced in 1966, so number 2450 would be an early 1966 car, which
>>corresponds to the serial number calculation above. So it seems definite
>>your car was built in early calendar year 1966. Anyway, since GT
>>production didn't begin until September 1965, which was the beginning of
>>the 1966 *model* year, I don't see how any GTs could be termed 1965
>>models.
>>
>>About the production and assembly history you mention, Clausager does
>>describe a change in the body assembly & trim location, but seems to
>>imply that all final assembly was at Abingdon. But there is room for some
>>interpretation there.
>>
>>
>>RL Chrysler had this to say:
>>
>>>Hi folks,
>>>I just got on this list today, and am eager to try to be a helpful lister.
>>>I'm in the early stages of a full restoration on what I believe to be a
>>>rather early MGB/GT. Her ser. no. is GHD3L84510, and the body no. tag is
>>>002450P. It seems to me that most of the early GT's were registered as
>1966
>>>cars, ie.by the time they were produced, dispatched from Abingdon, and
>made
>>>their way over the pond to North America, and were sold to their first
>>>owner, the paperwork recognised them as '66's. Mine is registered as a
>1965,
>>>therefore I'm assuming the car is fairly early.
>>>Another pont of interest; I read in a mid 1980's issue of the NAMGBR
>>>magazine that the earliest BGT's were not produced at Abingdon at all for
>>>the first while. Anybody know where they were assembled, and how long this
>>>took place before Abingdon took them on as per usual?
>>>Rich Chrysler
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>--
>>
>>Max Heim
>>'66 MGB GHN3L76149
>>If you're near Mountain View, CA,
>>it's the red one with the silver bootlid.
>>
>
>
--
===============================
Max Heim
mvheim@studiolimage.com
Studio L'Image/San Francisco
415 643 9309 : 415 643 9307 fax
Studio L'Image/New York
212 242 3366 : 212 242 3399 fax
|