The gearknob is the second tactile contact point in any classic-MG cockpit alongside the steering wheel, and one of the most frequently touched components in the car and among the first to show wear, a cracked or tired gearknob and a split or distorted gaiter dating an otherwise tidy interior immediately while also being among the most straightforward things to replace. MGOC Spares stocks MG marque-branded gear knobs and unbranded patterns to suit any classic-MG interior styling, from the visible octagon-badge marque pieces for owners restoring a car to original visual specification, through to the polished hardwood, leather-wrapped, and competition-pattern knobs for cars built to a sporting or bespoke interior scheme.
Gearknob Patterns
Polished hardwood gearknobs match the visual character of a wood-rim steering wheel installation, with walnut and similar hardwood stocked in spherical and pear-shaped patterns, sealed and polished to the same standard as a quality wood-rim wheel and developing a patina over years of regular handling, with a walnut knob carrying the MG logo being the most popular traditional choice. Leather-wrapped gearknobs use a polished alloy or steel core with a fine-leather covering matching a leather-wrapped steering wheel installation, providing a warmer feel in cold weather, with aluminium and carbon-effect finishes also stocked. The teardrop-shaped knob with engraved gate markings is a classic period item used across many BMC sports and saloon cars including the MGB and other 1960s and 1970s British classics, stocked in two patterns suiting different gearbox installations. MG octagon enamel badges in cream-on-black and red-on-black clip into the recessed centre face of compatible knobs, both colour schemes being correct period MG liveries, with a self-adhesive MG badge available for flat-faced knobs without a recessed centre.
Overdrive Switch Gearknobs & Gear Lever Threads
The MGB went through several gear-lever specifications during production. The original 3-synchro gearbox lever had two bends with the top part and knob vertical, fitted with a black Bakelite pear-shaped knob, while on cars fitted with overdrive the lever had only a single bend at the bottom so the top and knob were inclined to the rear. From the MkII 4-synchro gearbox in late 1967 the lever became completely vertical with a ball-shaped knob, from August 1972 the knob became a larger pear-shaped corporate British Leyland item with the shift pattern under a clear plastic insert, and from June 1976 a new cranked lever was fitted with a larger mushroom-shaped knob which on overdrive cars incorporated the overdrive switch directly. Dedicated overdrive gearknobs incorporating the switch are stocked for both gearbox thread sizes, 7/16 inch for the 3-synchro and 3/8 inch for the 4-synchro chrome-bumper car, keeping the overdrive control exactly where it belongs without requiring a separate switch elsewhere.
These overdrive-switch knobs are MGB-specific items, as the MGA and Midget were never factory-fitted with overdrive and use different gear-lever threads. On the Midget the thread is common to both the 1275cc and 1500cc, allowing the same knobs to fit either engine.
Gaiters
Gear-lever gaiters are the leather, vinyl, or rubber covers that fit over the base of the gear lever where it emerges through the transmission tunnel, sealing the opening against draughts, exhaust fumes, and road noise, concealing the working parts of the gearshift mechanism, and presenting a finished visual appearance in the cabin, a torn gaiter being more than cosmetic. Original-style gaiters are stocked in black vinyl with the appropriate fitting clip arrangement for each application, alongside leather gaiters for owners specifying a higher-quality finish in colours matched to the interior trim, typically black with brown, red, and other colours available for specific schemes, and with contrasting stitching options. The gaiter profile differs between gearbox installations, the MGB 3-synchro and 4-synchro transmission tunnels using different gaiter shapes, the early oval-aperture chrome surround becoming circular from late 1967, and the chrome surround changing to a matt black epoxy finish at the end of 1975 then to a fully black gaiter ring from September 1976, while on the Midget the gaiter is specific to the gearbox housing, the 1275cc A-Series remote housing and the 1500cc Triumph single-rail housing taking different sizes that are not interchangeable.
Replacement gaiters fit using the original mounting arrangement, a metal retention ring at the lower edge and either a tie-cord or elastic at the upper edge around the gear lever, with longer gear-lever ring screws required when a centre console is fitted to clear the console, the short screw always used in the position nearest the dashboard in front of the gear lever.