Bill:
We know you are a reactionary and love you for it. : )
The 73B has pretty much the same engine as the RBB cars. The
manifolding and carbs are very different, and do make the late cars in stock
condition something to be cruised in rather than driven the way an MGB
should IMHO.
The point is that with better induction and some easy suspension
work the RBB can be a very, very enjoyable car to drive. I spent 5 years
commuting in a RBB and really preferred it to my 65B. For a daily driver
the RBB makes a lot of sense, especially in parking lots.
For those with aching backs, the ride height and soft suspension can
be the difference between comfort and excruciating pain.
I'm building my 80 MGB to be a 100 mile a day commuter. It will be
lowered somewhat, but not to chrome spec as the canyon I run tends to have
big rocks in the middle of the road. I'm looking for a car that will be
comfortable, handle well and be able to keep up with 80mph highway traffic.
I believe the RBB car is a good place to start.
Kelvin.
>
> Now Kelvin, the 73 wasn't bad at all. The CBB had decent engines.
>
> The one I refer to as a Marina convertible had the same
> engine as the Marina:
>
> single Stromberg carb
> single valve springs - don't need anything more when you have:
> (non) - super-cam (from 1975)
> low compression
> high suspension
> about the same power as an MGA 1500 had in 1956
>
> They took a fine car, and they turned it into a joke, because
> they didn't
> want to spend the money to do a proper redesign, nor compete
> with their
> favoured Triumph models.
>
> The styling is a matter of taste, but the performance of the
> late cars is a
> matter of fact. If anyone says they don't mind the wimpy late
> engines, drive
> an earlier car in good running order _the same day_ and see
> if you feel the
> same way.
>
> I've driven a RBB that was lowered and had an early engine (I
> forget what
> they did with the brake booster), and it was a nice car. I
> still prefer the
> early styling, but that's just me, I'm a reactionary. But
> every time I drive
> an unmodified RBB I don't know whether to laugh or cry. The
> only way anyone
> could love one of those pathetic beasts is if they simply
> didn't care about
> performance (a valid stance, though probably rare among
> enthusiasts), or they
> didn't know the difference.
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