The story behind the car…
On May 27th 1971, a Blaze (orange) left-hand-drive MGB GT went down the production line at the Abingdon MG factory. Ordinarily, such an event would barely have raised an eyebrow at the compact and always busy plant near the outskirts of one of the principal towns of the Vale of The White Horse. On this occasion, the car was surmounted by a large roof sign which proclaimed it as the 250,000th MGB. Moreover there was a special visitor to the plant that day; Austin Morris Chairman George Turnbull was on hand to place his hand paternally on the roof of this particular MG and smile for the cameras and flash bulbs.
The car itself was originally scheduled to be given the chassis number GHD5UB-252280G but, with some careful subterfuge, it was adjusted to become GHD5UB-250000G. As well as the photo with ‘Uncle George’ the GT was wheeled outside for pictures with many of the MG supervisors as well as ‘Miss MG’. The official press release quoted Turnbull as stating: “The MGB has proved itself a worthy member of the MG marque with record earnings both at home and overseas for sports cars. We have good reason to be proud of our record
