1962 MG B Lightweight Competition Roadster

Lot details
Registration No: 541 UXK
Chassis No: 114
Mot Expiry: Mar 2007

Originally assembled using body number MGB000114 (the fourteenth bodyshell made), this very early left-hand drive roadster was despatched by the factory on 9th July 1962. Among the first batch of MGBs shipped to America, it was destined for the showrooms of San Francisco-based British Motor Car Distributors (BMCD). However, upon arrival '114' - like some of its fellow passengers - was found to be suffering from salt water damage. Deemed unfit for retail sale, the Tartan Red roadster and its similarly afflicted siblings were written off by BMCD's insurers (but only after they had surrendered the relevant chassis identification plates). Officially 'nameless' but not homeless, they were put into store.

A keen racer who was instrumental in the creation of both the Californian Sports Car Club (precursor to the SCCA) and Laguna Seca circuit, BMCD boss Kjell Qvale was a staunch advocate of the 'Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday' philosophy. Viewed by foreign manufacturers as a key element in unlocking the lucrative West Coast market, he wielded considerable influence. Thus, his plan to run a three car MGB squad in the 1964 Sebring 12-Hours elicited a very favourable response from BMC. With a stock of suitable 'salt water' donors at his disposal, Qvale selected an Old English White car and an Iris Blue one to accompany '114'. Entrusted to BMCD Competition Department Manager Joe Huffaker, the trio's preparation was greatly aided by the arrival of four BMC Special Tuning engines as well as a host of other BMC Competition parts including: close-ratio gearboxes, conjoined fuel tanks with quick release fillers, uprated suspension components, glassfibre hardtops, roll-over bars, Marchal head- / spotlights, harder brake pads / linings and a quick lift jack plus associated brackets per car.

Settling on a hare, rabbit and tortoise race strategy, Huffaker rebuilt the three cars' engines to different specifications. Thus, while the white (sprint) car ran on twin 2-inch SU carburettors and the blue (endurance) car utilised standard valves and a lower compression ratio, the single Weber-fed '114' struck a happy medium. Clad in specially pressed BMC lightweight aluminium panels (wings, doors, boot and bonnet) the triumvirate were repainted in their original colours. Driven by Ed Leslie (whose last Sebring outing aboard the BMCD Lightweight Jaguar E-type had resulted in a class win) and Jack Dalton, '114' was allocated race number '47'. Qualifying 40th out of 67 runners with a time of 3 minutes 41.6 seconds, the red roadster outperformed both its white '46' (3 minutes 45.8 seconds) and blue '48' (3 minutes 48.4 seconds) team mates. Settling into a consistent sub 4-minute rhythm on race day (21st March), the three looked to be in good shape until a back axle failure forced the '46' to retire on lap 15. Escaping any such mechanical maladies, '47' and '48' romped home in 17th and 22nd places respectively. Only beaten in the 2-litre GT class by a factory entered Porsche 356B 2000 GS and a Porsche Abarth Carrera, '47' also finished some three laps ahead of the Roger Penske / Jim Hall Chevrolet Grand Sport.

Not allowed to rest on its laurels, '114' was purchased by Ernie Rodrigues, (manager of Qvale's Walnut Creek dealership) on the basis that it would make an ideal first race car for his son Gary! Used by the latter to secure his SCCA driver's ticket, the MGB endured one uncompetitive E modified class outing at Pomona before being converted to Production spec by Hollywood Sports Cars (a process that involved the removal of its lightweight panels and Weber etc). Competing in a variety of regional and national events over the next four years, Rodrigues Junior teamed up with his old SCCA instructor Bill Young for a six-hour enduro event at Riverside on Independence Day 1968. After a brilliant first stint during which he goaded '114' from 55th to 4th place, Rodrigues could only watch in horror as Young rolled the car just four laps later. Scheduled to appear on the following Friday's 'Johnny Carson Show' to promote James Garner's new 'Grand Prix' film, the battered MG required 160 hours worth of straightening. Accompanied by Huffaker and Rodrigues, it appeared on stage at the allotted time only to have one of its mag-alloy Sebring wheels clouted by Carson during a simulated pitstop. Bent chassis notwithstanding, Rodrigues won his class next time out but felt compelled to sell '114' when a USAF posting took him overseas.

Passing through the hands of novice racers Buzz Moore, Randy Sharp and John McEwen, the red roadster's SCCA career came to an abrupt end when the latter gentleman smashed it into the Turn 11 wall at Sears Point during 1979. Deciding that the original bodyshell had been irrevocably compromised in racing terms, McEwen put a somewhat denuded '114' up for sale. Still retaining various parts from its Sebring days including the conjoined fuel tank, adjustable shock absorbers and Smiths Chronometric tachometer, the MGB's mortal remains were acquired that same year by racer and machine shop proprietor Butch Gilbert. Despite chancing upon the car's original lightweight Sebring panels (save for a front wing) at Hollywood Sports Cars in 1995, Gilbert did not commit to a restoration until January 2003. Destroying the factory 'Sebring' bodyshell on the basis that it had been too heavily modified / damaged, he resurrected '114' around another early MGB tub. Reputedly brought as close to its original Sebring specification as possible, '114' boasts an early MGB 18S block, close-ratio gearbox, uprated suspension, stronger brakes and LSD. Appearing at a number of high profile historic events in the USA, the restored racer had its glovebox signed by Kjell Qvale and Ed Leslie during the 2004 HMSA MG Sebring Reunion. Sold by RM Auctions in August 2004, it entered the current ownership later that year. Fettled to the tune of £4,000 by Surrey Sports & Classics in March 2005, it has since participated in the Goodwood Revival. Described by the vendor as being in "100%" condition with regard to its engine, gearbox, electrical equipment, interior trim, chassis, bodywork, paintwork and wheels / tyres, this historically significant MG is offered for sale with detailed history file, MOT certificate valid until March 2007 and FIA HTP papers.