University Motors MGBs

[Raymond Cork]

Hi,
Does anyone have any information on or own a 'University Motors MGB Special.
Thanks anticipation

[George Wilder]

Raymond
Is there such a beast?
I assume you are talking about the UK University Motors not John Twist' s well known repair and restoration shop across the pond.

University Motors in the UK was a major distributor for MG (back in the days when manufacturers has distributors and agents long before just in time) for London and the Home Counties. They had been so since the 1930s. My own MGB was supplied through University Motors to a local agent in High Wycombe when new.

University Motors brought up the remaining MGC stock when the model was dropped from the range. Approximately 200 cars, some roadsters, some GTs, which were sold off as University Motors Specials. There were many variations in the specials specification. Some had bodywork changes, some had grill changes, some had Downton engine bits, some had all the bits, some had virtuallynone. No records were kept which survived - the company ceasing to exist many years ago.

With the knowledge the company had in producing the MGC Specials they could well have produced the odd MGB Special. If so there is no documented history that is known to be available. I believe they did do one MG MGBGT V8 Special.

George

[John Watson]

At the MGB50 event at Blenheim we had Terry Sibley's MGCGT University Motors Special on display this was a 1969 car.
Never heard of a MGB U.M. Special.

[Raymond Cork]

Thanks for the replies and information provided, the reason for asking is that I purchased a very dilapidated 1971 MGB GT in 1989, I was informed by the previous owner that it was a University motors special, it was white with a blue roof and tailgate and had holes in the bonnet where the badge had been fixed( the Badge had been stolen some time previous during the craze of stealing car Badges). I had a Heritage certificate check carried out which confirmed it had been supplied to University motors but have very little other history.
I raised the question to see if there are any in existence.

Ray

[John Watson]

I have had this reply from Don Hayter, MGB Designer at Abingdon

"University Motors did buy some MGB ‘s & put in their own special trim ,specially rear seats area on GTs .They did some of their own advertising as well." Don H.

All we need to do now is find some more proof.
Regards
John

[George Wilder]

Interesting but how to find out more?