MEET THE OWNER – PETER COBB AND HIS MGB LE ROADSTER
27th March, 2020
Peter Cobb finds the best aspect of driving his MG ‘is when you get it out on the B-roads in Surrey where I live, with the hood down it transports me back to the ‘eighties.’
He also regards his car as having ‘its own personality’ – not to mention the fact that KEW 157 W is one of the last cars to be made in Abingdon.
The LEs were introduced in late 1979, and the specification included alloy wheels a la the Triumph Stag and a Bronze Metallic (Roadster) or Pewter Metallic (GT) paint finish decorated with gold stripes.
The former cost £6,445 the latter £6,937, with 998 on sale to the public and two examples destined for British Motor Heritage.
It should not be forgotten that the closure of the Abingdon plant in October 1980 really did mark the end of an era, for the 18-year lifespan of the MGB saw incredible social changes.
When the first examples made their bow in 1962, it was still a time when a sports car conveyed the image of Brylcreem, cravats and flat hats.
The Beatles were still a comparatively unknown Liverpool beat combo while an MG equipped with winding windows and external door handles were still a novelty.
By 1980 BL was preparing for the launch of the Mini Metro, Adam Ant was topping the charts – and the demise of Abingdon meant a possibility that the octagon badge might not be revived.
The debut of the MG Metro still lay 18 months in the future and meanwhile, enthusiasts feared the end of the affordable British open-topped two-seater.
The last Midget 1500 was built in December 1979, the final Triumph Spitfire ten months later while the end of TR7 production was fast approaching.
For those reasons alone, the 420 LE Roadsters and 580 LE GTs represented an instant classic and Peter’s car is ‘Number 245 of 420 I think’.
He is an MGB devotee of long-standing – ‘I’ve had four of them now – two back in the ‘eighties – a Roadster Mk. III and a Jubilee GT and two years ago a GT - and now this LE’. KEW 157 W joined the Cobb fleet last year and was acquired ‘from a small garage up in the Midlands; it spent most of its life in Hertfordshire’.
The mileage was low – ‘only has 16,500 miles on the clock would you believe?’ - and the MOTs date back to the 1980s. Peter remarks ‘eight owners sounds a lot, but it’s not - which is probably why it’s in good condition today’.
That said, ‘it needed quite a lot of work engine and body spent quite a lot of money and time on this to get it to a reasonable standard’.
His LE boasts an overdrive plus a ‘stainless steel exhaust with a mid-through box gives it that distinctive MGB sound’.
The public reaction to the LE is best described as ‘amazement initially, then they ask what model it is and questions etc.’
And this is hardly surprising, as the Cobb Roadster is a reminder of just why the B was one of the most important British cars of its era. Not to mention one of the most enjoyable.
With Thanks To – Peter Cobb Why choose Lancaster Insurance? Here at Lancaster, we love classic cars as much as you do and we understand what it takes to protect them for future generations.
We have links with some of the top classic car clubs around the country and some of our policies even offer discounts of up to 25% for club members.
Other benefits of classic car insurance through Lancaster can include:
- Historic rally cover
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Give your classic the protection it deserves and get a quote for your MG today.
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