Rubber bumper cars (1974-1980):

1974 saw the most important changes in the B’s styling with the appearance of the controversial rubber bumpers needed to meet American 5mph crash tests. Unfortunately the suspension also had to be raised by 1.5 inches to satisfy standard bumper height requirements which had the very undesirable effect of destroying the handling. Late 1976-1980 cars were fitted with rear anti-roll bars which restored most of the B’s original handling, revised dashboards and garish striped cloth seats. British Leyland artificially tried to boost sales by introducing special models, the first being the British market Jubilee cars which were finished in British racing green with gold stripes along the sides and gold painted wheels from the GT V8. The second being the final batch of cars, produced after the decision of definitely stopping MG production had been taken, these Limited Edition cars which were basically a run of 580 GTs and 420 roadsters painted in metallic beige (roadsters) and pewter (GTs). The cars were fitted with either alloy or wire wheels and a front airdam. These cars were not the first to bear the LE tag as 6682 (doesn’t sound very limited to me) black roadsters had been produced for the American market (the GT had been dropped from the US market in 1974 to give way to Triumph’s TR7) between 1979 and 1980. The cars were basically the same as the UK LEs apart from their color and their anemic emissions strangled and absolutely pitiful 62.5 BHP.(the power was raised slightly on the last cars). The last roadster and the last GT (both being LE models) were completed on 22 October 1980 and can be seen at the Heritage motor center at Gaydon, England. In all 512243 MGBs were built (386961 being roadsters and 125282 GTs) making the MGB the most successful sports car of all time.