Sep-77

5-447001

447036

1978 model year

Crankshaft changed from forging to a casting with larger counter weights

Tonneau cover standard

Passenger side door mirror now convex

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

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

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

"Black Monday" BL announces closing of factory at Abingdon

Jan-80

507309

UNK

First serial # this calendar year

Jan-80

500,000^th 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

Last MGB-GT body built by Pressed Steel (125,618 built)

2-Oct-80

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

Last MGB roadster completed (a metallic bronze LE)

23-Oct-80

523002

Last MGB (a GT) completed (a metallic silver LE)