'Safety Systems Vehicle number 1' was built by MG's engineers at Abingdon with Body Experimental at Longbridge to represent British Leyland at the road transport safety conference at Washington DC in 1972.

This MGB GT was one of British Leyland's first safety cars and showed how safety requirements of US federal law could be applied to a sports car.

It has a sobriety-testing computer and a roof mounted panoramic rear mirror along with passive seat belts, air bags and anti-lock braking, plus more advanced ideas like full power braking and hydraulic anti-roll suspension, all developed by Lockheed.

Foam filled cavities contribute to structural strength and SSV1 is fitted with Dunlop's Denovo 'run flat' tyre. Low-mounted bumpers re-appeared on later BL SSVs.