The badges fitted to the MGB changed repeatedly across the production run, reflecting the car’s journey from BMC through British Leyland to the final years, and an incorrect badge on an otherwise well-restored car is one of the most immediately visible details to anyone familiar with the model. Understanding the badge history for each position on the car is essential before ordering.
Grille and Boot Lid
On roadsters from 1962 to 1969, the boot lid carried the classic slim chrome-plated MG octagon, a three-piece set comprising the separate letters M and G with the octagon surround, with the paint colour of the car forming the background. A one-piece MGB script sat above the octagon. The octagon fixings were originally spire nuts, changed to push-on fixes from chassis 91380 in 1966. On the GT, the MG octagon sat at the lower right of the tailgate with separate MGB letters to the left and GT to the right, all three on a downward slant towards the centre.
The MGC used the same arrangement with a C replacing the B. From the start of the GHN5/GHD5 series in 1970, the roadster acquired a one-piece plastic MG badge with silver letters and surround on a black background. This was used from a similar style but did not extend beyond the edge of the letters as the earlier three-piece type had done, it became a one-piece plastic style for the 1970 model year. The GT received the same silver-on-black plastic badge at the lower right of the tailgate from 1970, alongside a new BGT badge at the lower left with raised silver outlines and black centres on a downward slant.
From 1973, the GT tailgate badging changed again to a one-piece wing-style metal badge with the MG octagon and BGT letters, initially with BGT embossed in light blue, later in black, all on a silver background. This wing badge continued to the end of production.
In January 1975, the plastic boot lid and tailgate badges were replaced by metal badges in gold on a black background to mark MG’s fiftieth anniversary, the gold treatment appeared on the limited edition Jubilee GT as well as other cars manufactured during 1975. The MGB script above the roadster boot lid badge was discontinued at the same time.
From January 1976, the badge changed to silver letters and surround on a black background, and this specification continued to the end of production, with the exception of the 1980 home market Limited Edition models, where the MG letters and octagon appeared in red on both roadster boot lid and GT tailgate.
Front Grille
The grille badge changed with each grille design. The pre-1970 slatted grille carried a shield-shaped badge with silver letters and octagon on a red background. The 1970 to 1972 recessed grille had the MG badge fixed in the centre of the recessed grille panel, with red and silver as the dominant colours and a black line in the surrounding trim. The 1973 to 1974 honeycomb grille used a traditional shield with red background.
On rubber bumper cars, the MG badge was located at the top of the centre bar of the combined bumper and grille, silver on red initially, gold on black during 1975, then silver on black from January 1976 onwards, with red on the 1980 LE.
C-Post and House Badges
C-post badges on the GT were officially fitted from September 1976, to conceal the body seam where the C-posts meet the roof panel after lead-loading was discontinued, though some cars received them before this date. A corporate British Leyland badge was fitted to each front wing from the start of the 1970 model year.
The first type had silver letters and the Leyland symbol on a dark blue background, secured with blind fixes from inside the wing. From May 1972, a simpler self-adhesive type was introduced with light blue letters on a silver background, and from this point only one badge was fitted per car, always on the passenger side wing. The British Leyland badge was deleted entirely in December 1977. Union Jack enamel and chrome badges, chequered flag self-adhesive badges, and chrome and stainless GB letter sets are available alongside the main badge range.
All badge fixings, including push-on fixes, blind fixes, spire nuts, and pop rivets, are available individually.