MGB Revealed - Frontline Developments

New
It was 1962 when the first MGB rolled
off the production line. Few realised
the impact it would have on the motor
industry or the sheer volume of MGBs that
would be sold the world over.
These cars offered great performance
and reliability way ahead of their time.
Combined with fabulous styling, a highly
advanced monocoque construction
and production car build-quality, it very
quickly became the only choice of sports
car within its category. A total of 514,834
MGBs were sold, with a large percentage
destined for America. It seems the MGB
filled the gap between the exotics and the
far less capable vehicles of its day.
LM 25 cast alloy front suspension wishbones and
uprights
www.mgcc.co.uk
50th Anniversary
MGB Revealed
Fifty years on, the MGB has proved
its innovative and futuristic design. It still
provides a driving experience to match
many modern vehicles. Include the fact
that virtually every component from the car
is still available on the shelf from retailers
and also the large support network from
the MG Car Club and our regional centres,
you are hard pushed to find a better classic
car to own and enjoy.
One of the world’s leading MGB
specialists, Frontline Developments, has
been improving the original designs of
the car for 20 years, providing owners
with vastly improved suspension, brake,
transmission and engines.
Now Frontline Developments, in
conjunction with British Motor Heritage,
has taken the original concept and designs
of the MGB, combined them with the best
of every part that they have developed,
added more innovative changes and placed
them all into one car; the LE50.
We are very proud to be involved
in this project and were delighted to be
introducing it to you at MGLive! last month.
The LE50 (Limited Edition 50) is a oneoff
production run of 50 handbuilt MGB
GTs.
In essence, the car appears like a period
early MGB GT, that is until you take a closer
look. The level of detail in the design and
construction of these vehicles is staggering.
The car has been created to deliver the
1962 criteria, but to 2012 standards.
This means not only an incredibly high
level of production engineering, but also
dramatically improved performance,
comfort, build-quality and reliability.
When we asked Frontline’s design
team what the motivation was to create
such a car we were delighted to hear their
feelings and the driving force of the project.
‘One of the world’s greatest production
cars is coming to a 50-year milestone and we
wanted to mark the occasion with something
that would not only celebrate the fantastic
designers, engineers and technicians
involved in creating the car, but allow future
generations to enjoy the experience of
Billet alloy, 4 pot calipers weigh in at less than 1 kg
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LE50 MGB
Recreation of the original MG Le Mans wheels
fitted as standard
Hand built chassis still built in the UK
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owning an MG for another half century. The
LE50 retains the character, spirit and feel
of the original car but offers the comfort,
performance and reliability now expected of
a new car with very high levels of trim and
additional features making it a true everyday
vehicle.’
The LE50 will be built in Abingdonon-Thames
on a bespoke British Motor
Heritage MGB GT bodyshell and powered
by an all-new 215bhp aluminium twin cam
engine weighing a mere 85kg. Combine
this with the new aluminium 6-speed
manual gearbox, suspension, brakes,
cooling system and even the seats, the
reduction in weight of these cars will be
quite substantial so expect very exciting
performance.
www.mgcc.co.uk

www.mgcc.co.uk
LE50 MGB
6 speed aluminum gearbox 6 gears packaged into a gearbox virtually the same
size as an original
With less weight to control, the
suspension and braking systems have
been completely re-engineered and offer
unrivalled comfort as well as handling.
This really is adding up to be the everyday
classic MG of the future.
The engine itself will be built using a
billet crank shaft and connecting rods with
Teflon coated, forged alloy pistons. All
engine management will be undertaken by
a bespoke ECU (Engine Control Unit) and
run a host of Lambda, water temperature,
air temperature, crank, cam and throttle
position sensors. This means that fuelling
will constantly be monitored and adjusted
to the driving style and conditions, resulting
in not only fantastic performance, but
incredible fuel economy to boot.
You will instantly notice the incredible
level of thought and detail given to the
interior layout and trim. Although very
similar to the original so as not to lose its
soul, practicality and daily usage have been
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LE50 MGB
a key focus in the design. It seamlessly joins
together to give a very luxurious sports car
with a huge amount of character. If any of
you visited the Frontline Developments
stand at MGLive! you will know what we
mean by detail!
Smiths has resurrected the drawings
of the original 1962 gauges and re-created
these to the same specifications but to
match the new engine and running gear.
This means that instead of the rev counter
running into the orange at 5,000rpm, it
is now clear all the way to 7,800 before
warning to change gear. Similarly, the
speedo has changed its maximum speed
from 100 to 170mph for those customers
who intend to travel on the Autobahn!
The cars will be manufactured as twoseaters
with the unusable bench seat in
the rear removed. This has been replaced
with a far more attractive rear deck area
offering cavernous luggage space and
allowing more light into the cockpit. The
materials used are far away from the
original with not a slither of vinyl on show.
Instead an alcantara head lining, dashboard
and crash rail are standard fit with options
of alcantara or Connolly hide to cover the
seats, doors and panels. Wilton carpets
line the floor with a mass of billet alloy
switch gear catching the eye on the dash.
Up-to-date sound and heat proofing has
been used throughout the car to eliminate
unwanted cabin noise and heat build-up
in the summer months. Heated seats and
windscreens are part of the options list,
meaning that this is a practical choice of
car throughout the seasons. Other current
features that make daily driving far more
attractive range from electric windows
and Xenon headlights through to a superb
Harman Kardon sound system.
Customer production of chassis
number 001 will begin in January 2012
to coincide with the 50th Anniversary, but
orders are being taken by Frontline now.
Each car will be delivered with an official
LE50 commemorative British Motor
Heritage engine bay plaque, certificate and
MG Car Club approval stating the chassis
production number, customer and build
information.
Later this year we will be featuring the
first test drive of the LE50 and we will give
you our in-depth report on the car, 50
years on. We can’t wait!
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An early 1960’s photo of the Abingdon Factories MGB Line
www.mgcc.co.uk