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MGB
Production Modifications, Sep 1977 - End of Production |
Date |
Roadster
Chassis No. |
GT
Chassis No. |
Remarks
© 1994 Orin B. Harding (Last Revised: 24-May-94) |
Sep-77 |
5-447001 |
447036 |
1978 model year |
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Crankshaft changed from forging to a casting with larger counter
weights |
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Tonneau cover standard |
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Passenger side door mirror now convex |
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Second carbon canister added to N. American and Japan cars |
|
5-449828 |
|
Beige replaces Autumn Leaf as optional interior colour (N. America
and Japan) |
|
5-453746 |
5-453450 |
British Leyland motif deleted from right wing |
Jan-78 |
5-455743 |
5-455283 |
First serial # this calendar year |
Jun-78 |
5-471001 |
5-471005 |
1979 model year |
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|
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Radio speakers mounted in both doors |
Jan-79 |
5-485179 |
5-483812 |
First serial # this calendar year |
Mar-79 |
5-492071 |
|
"Limited Edition" - N. American specification - car
production begins . Black paint, silver
striping, special cast alloy road wheels or wire wheels, special
steering wheel with 3 drilled spokes, front air dam, trunk rack, floor
mats, and fascia mounted plaque standard. 6,668 LE cars were
built and sold as '79 models in California and as '80 models in other
states. Serial numbers are interspersed with normal production and cars
were built in batches from 3/79 through 10/80. |
Jun-79 |
501001 |
|
1980 model year |
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Identification numbering system changed to comply with US federally
mandated VIN system. Note that ‘79 model cars for California were
built up to Dec. 31, 1979 and sold as ‘79 model year cars in
California, but as ‘80 model year cars in other states. These
California cars will have serial numbers in a range between 5-485179 and
5-507308 and have GHN5 prefix. |
Jun-79 |
501001 |
|
80 MPH speedometer with 6 digit odometer (N. America and Japan). |
Jun-79 |
501004 |
501036 |
Rear foglamps standard - UK market cars |
|
505066 |
|
Headlight rim "notched" to allow adjustment without
removing rim |
10-Sep-79 |
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"Black Monday" BL announces closing of factory at Abingdon |
Jan-80 |
507309 |
UNK |
First serial # this calendar year |
Jan-80 |
|
|
500,000th MGB completed (a N. American spec. LE roadster) |
|
518492 |
519367 |
Final "Limited Edition" or LE models (also known as
Run Out Special Edition) car production begins. Cars are produced for UK
market only and sold as 1981 model cars. Same build specification as the
1980 NA LE cars except roadsters are painted metallic bronze with
gold striping and GT’s are painted metallic silver with silver
striping. These LE cars for the UK market had MG logos with red
background and silver letters. About 420 roadsters and 580 GT’s were
built and serial numbers are interspersed with normal production cars. |
1-Oct-80 |
|
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Last MGB-GT body built by Pressed Steel (125,618 built) |
2-Oct-80 |
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Last MGB Roadster body built by Pressed Steel (387,184 built) a N.
American specification car |
Oct-80 |
521966 |
|
Last standard export model MGB, a Porcelain White roadster for
Japan |
Oct-80 |
523000 |
|
Last North American specification MGB roadster (VIN #
GVVDJ2AG523000), a N. American LE model completed. This car was given to
Henry Ford II who placed it in the Henry Ford Museum, Dearborn, MI. In
January 1983 the museum sold it, along with the 1929 MG M type Midget
that Edsel Ford had owned, to the Gast Classic Motorcars Exhibit,
Strasburg, PA. which is a private automobile museum. |
23-Oct-80 |
523001 |
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Last MGB roadster completed (a metallic bronze LE) |
23-Oct-80 |
|
523002 |
Last MGB (a GT) completed (a metallic silver LE) |