As the MGB was availible in GT trim.. we can include the 124 coupe in this match up. We have seen the X vs lotus and Porsche and Lancia vs Lotus and Opel GT, lets see how these true rivals stack up in the hearts and minds of GRM
In the Yellow Corner:
And in the Red Corner:
FIGHT!
Fiat all day long. Massively more modern, built by a company that still exists, so parts are still made- instead of having to buy reproductions of poorly designed parts built at lower quality in the orient.
And you can look all day, but you won't find a single Lucas part on the Fiat. Which is the only good thing you can say about Magnetti Marelli, but...
Fiat. I've got a thing for Fiat coupes since I grew up riding in the back of one or another...
Fiat.
Eh, parts availablity for the MG is excellent, and they're tough, fun, good little cars. The Fiat is more modern, no doubt, but I do loves me some MGs.
Fiat 124
Love the 124, but the MGB has more support.
MGB is a great second.
BTW you took my FIGHT thread idea
B, no question.
I've been following these battles for a few days now. Is it a bad thing that I have a car from one side of all of the battles so far? This one is a recent purchase and is currently residing in the barn waiting for it's turn in the shop. B for the record
MGB.
For me, if I'm going Italian, FIAT is not it.
Pininfarina 2000 Spyder with Inezione!
FIAT for me!!!!!!!!
Had both but my 124 was a slushbox (because of that I didn't have it very long) so a performance comparison is not really valid. I heart my B's but the Fiat did have a certain verve the B did not. The B's controls are much better laid out, the Fiat's bus style steering (Italians must be built weird) and too long shifter didn't thrill me (that's in the M/T versions I drove). I guess, on reflection, I'd stick with the B even as anachronistic as it is.
MGB
No to the Fiat 124 but yes to the Pininfarina Spyder
Make mine navy blue with a tan interior/top.
Practical considerations and the wonderful driving dynamics of the 124 Coupe aside, I'm going to resort to being a specifications whore. My vote goes to the 124 Coupe for the DOHC engine, five speed transmission, four wheel disk brakes. 1968 was a good year.
BGT. They speak the same language, whether we communicate or not.
I own this MGB. I've always admired the styling of the B, but I happen to believe the FIAT 124 Spider is the best looking sports car ever built. Something about its proportions "work" for me. I like the looks of the 124 Coupe too. I've owned a 124 Spider along with a 124 Sedan.
But I am also a "steering guy". I like cars that steer nicely, probably because that is the control system you use all the time when driving. And even thought the MGB is primitive, it does have nice (rack and pinion) steering action. The 124 Spider and Coupe have a worm&roller-style steering box that feels much more "dead" to me.
If roadster, I would go with the B. In coupe form it would be very close but I think I would go for the Fiat.
Tough call. I've owned both in roadster form. I'd give a slight edge to the MG due to simplicity and charm.
As coupes, the FIAT wins hands down for me, due to styling. I particularly like the dash in the coupe, which is different from the ragtop.
As others have pointed out, it depends on whether you are asking GT versus coupe or NON GT versus roadster....it can sometimes make a difference what vintage you are asking about, too.
I'd probably go with the Fiat....then spend months kicking myself for not going with the "B". 2 VERY difficult cars to chose between.
Owned and driven each. My vote is Fiat for all the reasons previously mentioned. Much more modern car, way before it's time.
In 1973, about a month before the Arab oil embargo, I was driving a '71 Boss 351 that I I bought new and I was getting sick of not being able to turn the big pig. I shopped a number of cars including the 124 Spyder, the B and Jensen-Healey.
The 124 Spyder just felt like a better designed and put together car, so I bought one. The B and Healey looked and drove like tractors by comparison. The poor dealer had that 351 on his lot for about a year - muscle cars suddenly became the lepers of the automotive world thanks to doubling gas prices and rationing.
Drove the Spyder for 6 years and LOVED every minute of it. Only improvement I felt I needed to make was to upgrade the breaker points ignition to breaker-less because I could not keep a tune to save my butt with the points.
My vote is to the 124 Spyder. 
The MGB is the best of the British sports cars.
I'll let that hang out there for a minute...
The Fiat trounces it in every category except maybe the shifter feel. The Fiat's got some rubber/plastic bits in the shifter handle that dull some of the mechanical snick-snick compared to the Brit car. DOHC, 4 wheel discs, 5 speeds, one handed top operation...advantage Fiat.
All other things are equal. They both rust like there's no tomorrow, they both have electrical issues, and they both will leak all their vital fluids. 
cough: http://classicmotorsports.net/articles/drop-top-60s-roadsters/ cough:
Cliffs notes. The 124 beats all of its peers from sunbeam, alfa, datsun, MG and triumph.
Fan of both, own a B/GT. If a comparable 124 had come along first, I'd probably have gotten the Fiat. B has better support & there are more English car guys to hang around with. 124's got that sweet twin-cam & a sexier body. Like the man said ,"I wouldn't get rid of either one for eating crackers in bed."
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