Engine Bay

Engine Bay References

The original look of the early-1970s engine bay is fairly clear from the contemporary sales brochures. The photos repay careful study. (Click to enlarge).

1973 engine (without the optional brake servo).

The above is from the sales brochure for the 1973 model year roadster (British Leyland Publication No. 2961). The 1973 model was manufactured between Aug. 1972 and Aug. 1973. As far as I am aware, the engine bay for the GT version of the car was identical to the roadster's.

In the picture above, the radiator diaphragm is missing its rubber seal and the rocker cover has no visible BL sticker (both of which one would expect to be present according to Clausager). The Tudor screenwash bottle was replaced by a 'hot water bottle' type bag in June 1973 (Clausager, p.148).

The shot below is from the 1973 model year GT sales brochure (British Leyland Publication No. 2962) and provides an interesting cross-reference. However (confusingly) this engine is actually from the period Aug. 1971 to Dec.1971 (1972 model year) as shown by its colour and the straight air filter pipes (Clausager, p.147). But I believe the curved air filter pipes were the only change in 1973. The optional servo is lurking top left.

1972 engine (with the optional servo).

Here is a shot from the roadster brochure for the 1970 model year (British Leyland Publication No. 2724). This expands the view to include the slam panel and the off-side inner wing, which is helpful. The original is rather small hence the poor resolution.

1970 engine bay.

The twin Negative Earth stickers, one above the other on the slam panel, are curious. From a Google search of cars with original-looking stickers (a search for "commission number" throws up best results) it appears to be a one-off. (Maybe hiding a scratch in the paintwork?)

Finally, a classic piece of '70s marketing cheese from the same brochure. Nothing suggestive going on here then...

Pulling birds was a persistent theme of early '70s MG marketing.

A blog about original features of the home market MGB GT in 1973 (ish)

Introduction

Unlike early MGB models from the '60s, the British Leyland-era cars of the '70s are rather unloved and not (yet) regarded as worth keeping original. 

This blog focusses on some of the original features (often obscure ones) which I have researched while rebuilding my own 1973 GT as near to 'factory' spec as I can. It's been an interesting project and isn't over yet.  If you spot anything that I've got wrong please leave a comment. I claim no expertise. Hopefully, it will be of interest to other anoraks who are aiming at authenticity and not wishing to re-invent the Rostyle.

I strongly suspect it will be of no interest to anyone else.

The 1973 model MGB GT

I'll be referring to a couple of standard references throughout this blog:

• 'Original MGB' by A. D. Clausager (Bay View Books, 1994) ISBN 1 870979 48 6 ('Clausager')
• 'MGB, Tourer, GT and V8 - Up to September 1976 Parts Catalogue' (British Leyland UK Ltd 1977) Part No. AKM 0039 ('Parts Catalogue')