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Information on 1962/3 Atlantic series MGB V8 roadsters?


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#1 BritishV8

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Posted 17 October 2010 - 18:32

Tony Lowe posted the following query on my own little message board... but since a lot more people will see it here, I thought I'd take the liberty of re-posting.

PLEASE HELP, if you can!

In the 80's while over in California buying some rust free MBG shells to convert to race cars back here in New Zealand I picked up a very early car (pull handle) with remnants of a Buick V8 still in it. Huge flares,a modified fire wall to get engine further back but other than that factory MGB..

It had some parts of old stickers on it , " Atlantic Series , 1963 .. Monterey "was readable , like scrutineer labels??

The flare's and firewall modification were sound , practical but rather crude..

We recently had " Old Yellow " and a few other US based historic sports cars down in NZ for a rather wonderful Historic meet . At an after race dust flushing function the conversation turned to talk of some MGB's getting fitted with Buick V8's in the early 60's for a Northern Californian series , It may have only run for one or two seasons.

Has anyone any info at all if there were such cars or series ??

We had to drag it out from under an old building in Marina Del Ray that had been an old MG workshop and the car had been there since at least 1969 .
Any info would be great , I have never got round to rebuilding it, Not being able to find out any early history that would indicate the Atlantic Series Buick V8 powered MGB's ever existed I was going to throw a Rover into it and turn it into a modified special .BUT I keep worrying I might have missed something and could be destroying history . If they did exist a period resto would be in order.

tony lowe



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#2 BritishV8

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Posted 19 October 2010 - 18:22

Tony Lowe posted the following query on my own little message board... but since a lot more people will see it here, I thought I'd take the liberty of re-posting.

PLEASE HELP, if you can!


So... no one here recalls an "Atlantic Series" that raced in California during 1962/3?

#3 Ian G

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Posted 20 October 2010 - 05:16

Not trying to be smart but in the early 1960's what sort of series would allow a Buick V8 in an MGB?,especially as it was only just on the market.


#4 ray b

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Posted 20 October 2010 - 08:41

Not trying to be smart but in the early 1960's what sort of series would allow a Buick V8 in an MGB?,especially as it was only just on the market.


pre can am they ran pure race cars like cooper and lotus sports racers and others like old yeller and the scarabs in the U.S. Auto Club Road Racing Championship


#5 arttidesco

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Posted 20 October 2010 - 09:45

I have had a quick gander over at racingsportscars.com I think if your going to find any evidence of the MGB Buick going through the 60's Laguna Seca races might be a good place to start.

Since MGB GT V8 production did not start until 1973 and you have a modified racer, I wonder if for the Atlantic 1963 Monterey sticker race the car was running in a production class and the V8 and flared arches came later ?

If that is the case then I'd be surprised if your car was not listed somewhere on rsc.com Laguna Seca listings just a matter of working out which one.

#6 arttidesco

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Posted 20 October 2010 - 10:41

Kind of curious now here is a list of the MGB's raced at Laguna Seca from '63 - '64 with all the other available details taken from rsc.com :-

03 05 64

MGB B series - Jim Adams

MGB B series - Jack Dalton

20 10 63

MGB Hollywood Sport Cars - Ronnie Bucknum

#40 MGB 1798 B series - Blue - Kjell Qvale - Jack Dalton - DNA

#71 MGB 1800 B series Bob Byrd - Bob Byrd - DNA

19 10 63

A.C. Garter Snake 3500cc - white - Bill Chapman - Bill Chapman Probably not but interesting engine size ?

#40 MGB 1798 B series - Blue - Kjell Qvale - Jack Dalton - DNA

#71 MGB 1800 B series Blue - Bob Byrd - Bob Byrd - DNA

09 06 63

MGB - Ronnie Bucknum

Hope that helps :wave:

#7 BritishV8

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Posted 20 October 2010 - 15:27

Not trying to be smart but in the early 1960's what sort of series would allow a Buick V8 in an MGB?,especially as it was only just on the market.


Lots of crazy hybrids were racing in California in the early sixties!

Ian, here's a website that will blow your mind:
http://www.tamsoldracecarsite.net

And just one example car from it: a Buick 215 powered MG-TC special
Posted Image
(Details about Paul Cunningham's TC-V8, circa 1962/3: http://www.tamsoldra...Cunningham.html )

Crazy hybrids raced... but was an MGB V8 among them?

#8 Ray Bell

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Posted 20 October 2010 - 22:27

Originally posted by arttidesco
Kind of curious.....

.....A.C. Garter Snake 3500cc - white - Bill Chapman - Bill Chapman Probably not but interesting engine size?


Is that Porky Chapman?

#9 Ian G

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Posted 21 October 2010 - 23:19

Lots of crazy hybrids were racing in California in the early sixties!

Ian, here's a website that will blow your mind:
http://www.tamsoldracecarsite.net

And just one example car from it: a Buick 215 powered MG-TC special
Posted Image
(Details about Paul Cunningham's TC-V8, circa 1962/3: http://www.tamsoldra...Cunningham.html )

Crazy hybrids raced... but was an MGB V8 among them?


Thanks,i'll have a look on the W/end.