Weird MG

[A993LAD]

Went to a car meet today. Spotted this MG with a sort of classic Aston vibe about it...

Never seen one before. Is it a thing?

Edited by A993LAD on Monday 13th January 09:52

[Huntsman]

Coune?

[A993LAD]

Nice one, cheers.

A Coune Berlinette it seems. 1 of only 50 built so a rare spot and a lovely little car being used on a damp British winter day which was nice to see.

[Peter3442]

Wasn't the design rejected by BMC/MG because it was too much like a Ferrari?

[Plinth]

The prototype car was done for Walter Oldfield (the manager of Nuffield Press) by Jacques Coune after they met at the 1963 motor show.
Oldfield had wanted a more ‘comfortable’ MGB (the factory GT version was still a couple years away).
A complete MGB roadster was delivered to Coune’s workshop in Brussels soon after and the Berlinette transformation was shown in early 1964.
It is not clear if MG themselves were officially involved with the process, but Sid Enever gave it a full analysis when it arrived at Abingdon, but it appears MG did not want to pursue it further.

Peter3442 said:

Wasn't the design rejected by BMC/MG because it was too much like a Ferrari?

My guess: probably because a huge amount of work was involved – lots of structural changes to the body - the roof and most of the rear of the car is fibreglass – which would not allow mass production. (…and possibly because of the way it looks…)

It cost £480 extra over a standard roadster and 58 were made.

[lowdrag]

There's something of an MG DB6 about the rear view.

[FlaminiaGT]

I see this car a lot around the Surrey car meets and catches me out, as from a distant side on it looks like a Lancia Flaminia Super Sport (Zagato cam tail version), but as I walk up to it, it’s a lot smaller.

[sideways man]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Totally agree, that’s really pretty.

But as it was based on a ‘C’ it needed a decent engine also

[HealeyV8]

I think that image was taken at the Black Swan meet as was this one:-



Two of them running around in the same circle.

[Shezbo]

A993LAD said:

Went to a car meet today. Spotted this MG with a sort of classic Aston vibe about it...

Never seen one before. Is it a thing?

That's a pretty car, as discussed with a decent engine it would be even better!

[HealeyV8]

Shezbo said:

That's a pretty car, as discussed with a decent engine it would be even better!

Well as it's a MGB with a body kit it should take the Rover V8 fairly easily.

[Church of Noise]

A993LAD said:

Went to a car meet today. Spotted this MG with a sort of classic Aston vibe about it...

Never seen one before. Is it a thing?

Interestingly, there was (as far as I recall) only 1 RHD Coune Berlinette, namely the one made for Walter Oldfield with the registration CBW 55 B
(now seemingly back with the Coune family: https://www.classicmg.co.uk/car/mgb-coune-berlinet... ).
This must be a conversion then.

[Ozzie Dave]

Conversion or not, that is really a nice piece of sculpture, if I had an MGB I would love to do that to it (or even better a roadster version).

[LordTwaddle]

If anyone has one of these and they’d be interested in selling it, let me know as I wouldn’t mind one myself.

[Mr Tidy]

Those 2 have both been to the Black Swan car meet in Ockham together!

Here's a photo from December 2018.



I suspect finding one would be a challenge as they must be pretty rare!

[mgtony]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/333674682696?hash=item4...

Hope you have deep pockets!

[Mr Tidy]

You could buy a proper sports car for that!

[sjabrown]

Lovely looking car, especially in grey.

[kimducati]

Church of Noise said:

Interestingly, there was (as far as I recall) only 1 RHD Coune Berlinette, namely the one made for Walter Oldfield with the registration CBW 55 B
(now seemingly back with the Coune family: https://www.classicmg.co.uk/car/mgb-coune-berlinet... ).
This must be a conversion then.

It's got a LHD windscreen wiper placement, so I would think you're right - the wipers are probably the only non bolt-on bit involved, so got left as they were.
Kim

[Peter3442]

mgtony said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/333674682696?hash=item4...

Hope you have deep pockets!

The ad says 'converted to a race car'. Sadly, it seems to have lost its elegance in the process.