The very last MGB Roadster made, which rolled off the MG Car Company’s Abingdon production line on 23rd October 1980, made a dramatic return to its home town on 1st December 2011. The property of the Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon, it has been placed on indefinite loan to the 17th Century Abingdon County Hall Museum. And, due to the practical limitations imposed by the picturesque Grade One listed building, the car had to be ‘posted’ on its side through the arched windows of the first floor, with just inches to spare.
The task of first stripping the MG to its bare shell, fitting that to a specially designed cradle, masterminding the pair’s delivery into the building via a gigantic 30 ton scissor lift, and finally rebuilding the car for public display, fell to Witney-based British Motor Heritage (BMH), which also sponsored the ambitious project from start to finish.
Said BMH’s Managing Director John Yea: “As the only manufacturer of original-quality replacement panels and complete bodyshells for the ubiquitous MGB, we felt we were the appropriate company to help bring this challenging task to fruition for all concerned. 2012 is the 50th anniversary of this perennially popular sports car, and it is very fitting that a representative example will be proudly displayed in the town where over 500,000 were built; a high percentage of which were exported to America.”
Editor’s Note: ‘Last production MGB makes dramatic return to town of its birth‘ was originally available as a British Motor Heritage press release dated 1st December 2011. We have republished the article because we find it of interest and hope you agree.
About British Motor Heritage
BMH was established in 1975 to support the owners of classic British marques by putting genuine components back into manufacture; using original tools wherever possible. To date it has built over 6,000 replacement bodyshells for the MGB, MGR V8, MG Midget, Austin Healey Sprite, Triumph TR6, original Mini and Mini Clubman, as well as thousands of individual replacement panels. Further details on BMH and its products for the MGB and other classic British cars can be found at www.bmh-ltd.com
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