Randy Forbes
Dedicated Member
- Joined
- Jan 30, 2017
- Points
- 44
While I think a lot of you know me through the Z3 & M Coupes & Roadsters affiliations__well, maybe 1 or 2 of you do__but did you know that I've had a lifelong connection with British sportscars too? I'll try to make this brief...
At age eighteen (18) I bought a brand new MGB in 1973; I put $950 USD down and (with my father's co-signature) got a loan and my payments were $97.33/month.
While there are a great many stories about youth and that car, suffice it to say that I sold it after 2-yrs, following my 2nd license suspension! Once reinstated, there was a succession of MGBs & MGB GTs that followed (some 15-16 examples in all) until the year 2000.
In 1978, I bought a 1957 Austin-Healey 100/6 2-seater (most were 2+2; not quite as sporty looking in my opinion) and I still own that car to this day.
Going back to 1973, I didn't even have my MGB a full month before news of the MGB GT V8 reached the American Press; I believe it was the October issue of Road & Track where I saw the announcement__just think how much faster I could've lost my driving privileges with that, as ALL my infractions were for speeding! In any case, the V8 version of the GT was never destined for our shores, but I'd lusted for one ever since. I even put a Buick 3.8 ltr V6 into a '71 GT about thirty (>30) yrs ago.
Well, at long last, a dream has been realized! Though I'm still waiting on it to be delivered from the west coast to the east coast, I've finally found a factory built 1974 MGB GT V8! I don't have very good pictures of it yet, so until then, these will have to suffice. I can't wait to park this among our BMW Z3 & M Coupes, the Healey & M Rdstrs!
At age eighteen (18) I bought a brand new MGB in 1973; I put $950 USD down and (with my father's co-signature) got a loan and my payments were $97.33/month.
While there are a great many stories about youth and that car, suffice it to say that I sold it after 2-yrs, following my 2nd license suspension! Once reinstated, there was a succession of MGBs & MGB GTs that followed (some 15-16 examples in all) until the year 2000.
In 1978, I bought a 1957 Austin-Healey 100/6 2-seater (most were 2+2; not quite as sporty looking in my opinion) and I still own that car to this day.
Going back to 1973, I didn't even have my MGB a full month before news of the MGB GT V8 reached the American Press; I believe it was the October issue of Road & Track where I saw the announcement__just think how much faster I could've lost my driving privileges with that, as ALL my infractions were for speeding! In any case, the V8 version of the GT was never destined for our shores, but I'd lusted for one ever since. I even put a Buick 3.8 ltr V6 into a '71 GT about thirty (>30) yrs ago.
Well, at long last, a dream has been realized! Though I'm still waiting on it to be delivered from the west coast to the east coast, I've finally found a factory built 1974 MGB GT V8! I don't have very good pictures of it yet, so until then, these will have to suffice. I can't wait to park this among our BMW Z3 & M Coupes, the Healey & M Rdstrs!
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