1980 MG B Limited Edition One Owner Fully Documented

-1980 MGB Limited Edition
-One Owner
-71,733 Miles
-Original Window Sticker
-Original Owners Manual
-All Maintenance Records Since New
-Dealer Installed Air Conditioning
-Overdrive
-Original Tire Changing Tools
-Original Black Paint
-Original Stowage Bag for Boot and Tonneau Cover
-Recent Brake and Fuel System
The Limited Edition was a marketing endeavor between B-L and the U.S. distributorship in Leonia, NJ to boost slipping sales in the North American Market. The production period of the North American version LE was 1979-1980. When I asked Don Hayter how it was that it was assured that the cars were always black, he stated that there was an agreement between Leonia and all North American dealers that the LE kit would be only installed on black cars and to buy a black car of that time period, it had to be a Limited Edition only. There were 6,668 produced in the two years of production.
The ironic thing about the LE kit is that it is partially made up of parts manufactured in the U.S. The front air dam and luggage rack were made in the U.S. and then shipped over to England for packing into a kit that was then shipped back to the U.S. with the cars selected to be LEs, which were then installed by the selling dealer. This is why some LEs do not have a luggage rack. The dealer no doubt pulled it from the kit to put on another customers non-LE car.
As the B-L listing (below) shows, the following items make the Limited Edition unique as compared to the other MGB models of that time period. it must be also noted that the North American model came only in the Tourer body style and not the GT.
Front air dam
L.E. Five spoke alloy wheels, manufactured by GKN, with MG hub center appliqus
Silver lower body stripes
Luggage rack
Leather covered, padded, three spoke steering wheel with a special center hub. This uses the same MG applique as the wheels
A Limited Edition dash plaque installed on the glove box
Items NOT part of the kit, as has been stated by some people, is Cocoa floor mats, overdrive, or air conditioning unit.
Finally, there were the UK-market LE models. These were not quite the last 1,000 cars built. These cars were made between August and October 1980, but they were stock-piled and only released for sale in January, 1981. There were 580 GTs, all with cast alloy wheels and painted Pewter Metallic with silver lower body stripes, and 421 roadsters all painted Bronze Metallic with gold lower body stripes, of which 208 had wire wheels and 213 had cast alloy wheels. The last roadster, #523001, and the last GT, #523002, were both completed on 22 October 1980 and went straight into BLs Heritage collection at Gaydon, England.
Reproduced Memo to Dealers for MG B Limited Edition Cars
79PA-35
July, 1979
To: All Jaguar Rover Triumph Zones, Distributors, and Dealers
Subject: MGB Limited Edition
The following part numbers are listed for your convenience as a reference listing for you when in need of information concerning the MGB Limited Edition.
PART NUMBER DESCRIPTION
BLM 105226 MGB Limited Edition Silver Stripe Kit
BLM 105100 Luggage Rack
BLM 105110 MGB Black Front Spoiler
JRT 800113 MGB Limited Edition Dash Plaque
BHH 2421 MGB Limited Edition Steering Wheel
CHA 748 Boss St/Wh
BHH 1994 Motif St/Wh
BHH 2451 Road Wheel
BHH 2269 Nut Road/Wh
88-160053 Spring Center Trim Retainer
CHA 747 Motif Road/Wh
ICI 122 Black Paint