Keith Wheeler wrote:
> There were a few droop snoot MGBs built. (Anyone know how many?)
> Supposedly
> I don't know if any droop snoot MGBs survive.
> I've always wanted to build a replica of one of the LM cars. Very
> nice looking 'Bs.
1963. An MGB with licence plate 7DBL was prepared for the "Le Mans"
race fitted with a special nose cone designed by Syd Enever. The car
won it's 2 liter class even after getting stuck in sand for 1 hour and
25 minutes. Average speed 92 mph.
7DBL was then entered in the "Tour de France Automobile" still
outfitted with the streamlined nose. The car was running fourth behind
two Ferrari GTOs and a 2 liter Porsche when it crashed. I have found no
record of damage to the nose.
1964 7DBL sans nose cone was raced in the Monte Carlo Rally. The car
won the GT category and was 17th overall.
Car # BMO541B was built for "Le Mans" "retaining the streamlined
nose section" (1). "Photographs show it's non-standard and singularly
ugly droop-snoot bonnet shape." (2) There was a problem during
scrutineering when one wing was found to be a different shape than the
other. "The reason turned out to be an unintentional inequality between
the wing built specially for this car and the one handed down form 7DBL"
(2) Indicating that the nose was perhaps damaged in the "Tour de
France" accident. The car finished the race with an average speed of 99
mph. Top speed timed was 139 mph at the end of the Mulsanne straight.
BMO541B was entered in the "Tour de France Automobile" with the
streamlined nose. The car blew a head gasket and was forced to retire.
1965 A new car # DRX255C was prepared for "Le Mans" it too sported
the extended snout nose. This time with louvers on the right hand side
of the bonnet. "Part of this nosepiece incidentally, dates from
1963 and is the only component to have seen three Le Mans." (3) This
car placed 11th which made them second in class, at an average speed of
98.26 mph. There is an undated photo of this car at a later time race
prepared, without the streamlined nose.
"Three different cars raced at "Le Mans" in 1963/64/65 but each used the
same nose." "The MGA, MGB and MGC" by Graham Robson
(1) "The BMC/BL Competition Department" by Bill Price
(2) "Car" article Sept, 1964 from "MG MGB 1962-1970" by Brooklands
Books
(3) "Motor" article Oct 16th, 1965 from "MG MGB 1962-1970" by
Brooklands Books
It looks like there was only one nose cone which was used only
on the cars prepared for long distance road events. I have seen a note
stating that the factory used fiberglass wings on the rally cars to cut
down on replacement costs. I have seen no other evidence of this
practice, but it makes sense that an alloy, one off nose would not be
subjected to rally abuse. There is a picture of Syd Enever hammering
the grille openning of the 65 Le Mans car. My guess is that by the end
of the 65 season the nose was in poor condition and was scrapped when
the car was prepared for rally use. But who knows what might be lying
around in someones lock up?
The reason I spent so much time researching this subject?
I built a replica of 7DBL to vintage race.
regards Kelvin.
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