For 1974 US federal regulations mandated low impact bumpers which led to some seriously non collectible vehicles being built like the Volvo 240, aand US spec Jenson Healey, FIAT X1/9, MG B and MG Midget.

The Mark III MG B was introduced in 1972 with the biggest benefit being a new and improved heater for the occupants.

In 1974 chrome bumpers were replaced with steel reinforced rubber items that formed part of the restyled nose at the front. Apparently in MG circles these bumpers are referred to as ‘Sabrinas’ a name derived from a well endowed British model Norma Ann Sykes who was better known as Sabrina in her acting career which started with a small role in the 1955 film Stock Car.

To complete the transformation from cool low slung roadster to the dork car look US Federal regulations mandated a minimum height for head lights and so the MG like many other sports car manufacturers that decided to simply raise the ride height of their cars rather than start with new designs or heavily restyled versions to meet the regulations.

Like Concorde sports cars as they had been known were effectively ruled out of the market in the USA, manufacturers did not seriously look at the Sports Car market again until the late 1980’s and early 1990’s and since then the minimum ride headlight regulations have been dropped.

MG B manufacture came to an end in 1980 and MG did not replace it until 1992 when 2000 limited edition MG B like R8’s were manufactured.

Thanks for joining me on this ‘Norma Ann Sykes’ edition of ‘Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres’, I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !