When British Leyland took over BMC in 1968, a number of MG plans went out the window. Chief among them was EX234, a planned replacement for both the MGB and MG Midget. However, BMC had other problems by 1966, when American legislation was about to affect a generation of U.S. market cars. Higher bumper regulations foreshadowed the excesses of the 1970s, while seat belts (optional since 1962) were now required from January 1 1968. MG managed to defer the 1968 changes for four months, so cars sold until then were “late” or transitional 1967 models.

Meanwhile, creation of British Leyland meant that Triumph executives now called the shots, and MG would be demoted to fit with the Austin/Morris group instead of Jaguar/Rover where it properly belonged, with Triumph. While Triumph executives pushed the TR6 and Spitfire, the MGB was left to fend for itself through the 1970s, though it still outsold the other BL roadsters.

The new Mk II MGB carried three two-speed windshield wipers to cover the required percentage of the windshield, reflectors were fitted to the fenders and an engine driven pump injected air into the exhaust ports to diffuse unburnt fuel. The fuel tank now had a separate section and a sealed filler cap. A carbon canister under the hood was intended to handle excess fumes.

The most obvious change was inside the car, where the dashboard was completely revised with the so-called “Abingdon Pillow” replacing the glovebox with a puffy padded area. The glovebox would be missing until 1972, the toggle switches were now flimsy rockers and a recessed instrument panel faced the driver, along with a padded steering wheel.

U.S. cars had the heater control on the left and a square oil pressure gauge separated the speedometer and tachometer. The left hand stalk on the steering column operated the turn signals and headlight dipper while the right hand stalk operated the windshield wipers and the overdrive if fitted. The all-synchromesh 4-speed gearbox now had a round shift knob instead of the teardrop shape. The radio was moved down to the console. An alternator was fitted at last and the car was now negative ground. MGs built for the rest of the world would keep the original dashboard until 1972.

U.S. requirements slowed MGB production drastically and only 14,568 roadsters were built, with 12,540 being 1968 models and 9,169 Mk IIs bound for the U.S. At the same time, 7,242 Mark II GTs were built and 3792 came to America. The 1968 MGB roadster price increased to $2670 as the base, with $3160 for the GT.

Mk II color schemes featured black leather seating without contrasting piping, and all had black top, boot cover and tonneau. Interiors were all black except for the GT’s Sandy Beige or Metallic Golden Beige colors. Available 1968 MGB colors included Black (special order), Mineral Blue, Dark British Racing Green, Tartan Red, Snowberry White, and Pale Primrose Yellow. Grampian Gray and Sandy Beige were GT-only colors, while metallic colors were available only on GT models through late 1968. They included Metallic Gold Beige, or Metallic Riviera Silver Blue, which are rarely seen.