The MGB was in production for eighteen years from 1962-1980 but its conception was during its MGA predecessor’s period. The MGA ran from 1955 to mid 1962 and at the time was MG’s most successful sports car selling over 101,000 cars in roadster and coupe form worldwide and it was to be the last MG sports car with a separate chassis.

The MGB in 1962 was known as the mark 1 and had leather seats, pull handle doors flush fitting locks, disc wheels, cross ply tyres, aluminium bonnet, pack-away hood and the grey hood frame split into two to allow for storage in the boot. The pack -away hood regarded as a simple standard hood was offered up until 1970 although many buyers went for the optional extra since 1963 of the folding hood, which was a lot more convenient.

The mark 2 MGB was introduced in October 1967 for the model year 1968 and this included a new all synchro gear box, new type of overdrive unit and the cars transmission tunnel had to be modified to accommodate the larger components, an automatic gearbox was also offered for the first time and other changes included two speed wipers, the dynamo replaced with an alternator and the electrics were changed to negative earth to mention but a few main changes and improvements. Externally to the rear of the MGB reversing lights were installed for the mark 2 version but some late mark ones may also have had these fitted as standard.

1968 saw only a few more notable changes to the MGB, in March many cars were fitted with radial tyres but it was not yet the norm and in November a heater was a standard fitment, it had up to this point been an optional extra. One other item worth noting in 1968 was the merger of Leyland/ BMC as this would lead to a Leylandised MGB for the 1970 model year.

Up until August 1969 there were very few other notable changes and it was at this time that the Leylandised MGB 1970 model appeared and sometimes referred to as the mark 3. Gone was the aluminium bonnet and this was replaced with steel, the leather seats were replaced with Ambla ( vinyl ) and the very recognisable MG chrome grill was replaced with a black recessed type with separate mouldings added to the bonnet edge and wings, painted Rostyle wheels were fitted as standard and chrome versions available as an optional extra, and Leyland badging appeared on both front wings. Also in August 1969, the MGC was discontinued.