WHEN NEW ZEALAND BUILT THE MGB
Three decades ago, Rod Brayshaw brought the classic MGB back to life with a New Zealand–built original. In Britain, production of the MGB had officially 15 years earlier. From his Palmerston North base Rod would produce nine examples of this revered ’60s sports car, including three V8s, which are believed to be the only dealer-sanctioned eight-cylinder MGB roadsters in the world.
Brayshaw built the first MGB in November 1988, and the final one was completed in July 1990, long after the last of the chromium bumper models was made at MG’s Abingdon factory in England.
In October, Rod will mark 50 years of vehicle restorations in New Zealand. Now in his 70s, Rod is winding down and finishing off customer cars by hand.
This was an impressive project that could have produced more Kiwi MGBs.
“I did have a further order for 10 more cars but New Zealand Motor Corporation [NZMC] sold out and the order was cancelled,” said Rod.
Australia assembled 9000 MGB roadsters with the 1800 pushrod B-Series engine in the late ’60s and early ’70s with
