In 1962, Jacques Coune established his own coachbuilding firm to create body styles that were not offered in the ranges of various manufacturers. This was particularly true of the MGB, which was only available as a roadster when Coune began producing his MGB berlinetta. He produced 56 examples, one of the first being presented at the Brussels Motor Show in January 1964, just ahead of the factory’s own MGB GT coupe, which arrived the following year.
This early example left the MG factory on November 1, 1963, likely delivered to Ets P. Decrose in Brussels as a standard left-hand-drive roadster finished in British Racing Green with black interior and matching soft top. Being one of the first produced by Coune, it is one of just six examples to feature the all-steel “Jacques Coune” body. The car was first registered on June 25, 1964, with its first owner, and in 1967 was registered in Luxembourg to Dieter Pfeilstucker in Esch-sur-Alzette. The various photocopies of documents accompanying the car reveal that it was exported to the Netherlands in 1989 and sold in 1998 by C Banhart to Guy Kaïdo. The current owner, a prominent Belgian collector, bought the rare MGB Coune in 2008.
In 2006, the body was fully restored by Carrozzeria GranTurismo in Milan, while in 2009-10 another professional restoration was carried out by Classic Car Service Restorations in Antwerp, Belgium. The car is currently fitted with an upgraded engine with a performance-enhancing cross-flow cylinder head, and its original 1.8-liter engine (engine no. 18GUH24205) and gearbox, stored in a crate, will be delivered with the car.
(Introductory description courtesy of Bonhams Cars.)
