A critique of The MGB GT V8 Sports Vehicle, covering enhancement, crucial options, and technical info of this the eighth product in the new MG array.
In this Posting, I provide a nostalgic glance at the MGB GT V8, one of an elite team of common cars and trucks, which was made through the period 1973 to 1976.
In the latter component of the 1960’s, a quantity of athletics vehicle makers ended up experimenting with the idea of including a massive engine to a tiny auto.
At the forefront of this trend was the AC Cobra and, to a lesser extent, the Sunbeam Tiger.
In the Uk, the present modest sports activities cars with their similarly small engines have been out of contact with the major export markets.
The very first products to check out to crack the mould have been the Triumph GT6 and MGC, but both equally failed.
Ken Costello, a effectively respected non-public entrepreneur, realised the opportunity of adding a greater motor to the MGB.
In reality, the motor vehicle was at first made to use a V4 engine, which was larger than the B-Collection unit last but not least picked out.
In the early 1970’s, he was properly promoting some 200 MGB convertibles and GT’s with a 157 bhp model of the Rover V8 motor, and at a top quality to the promoting cost of the later on MG creation product.
MG subsequently asked him to deliver a prototype MGB GT V8 sporting activities automobile applying the Rover 3.5 litre V8 motor which they experienced not long ago created.
He modified this engine to develop a unit that made an amazing 180 bhp. On the other hand, prior to the remaining start of the new MGB, the provide of Rover V8 engines to him was withdrawn (to avoid competition).
In 1968, with the introduction of British Leyland, MG determined to fit an option engine into the MGB in reaction to the issues made with the MGC.
They had the preference of two distinct V8 engines – the Rover 3.5 litre device, and Triumph’s personal 3 litre unit as utilized in the Triumph Stag.
Nevertheless, the latter engine was beset with specialized issues, these kinds of as heads that tended to warp because of to incorrect head gaskets that restricted the flow of drinking water, so leading to overheating.
On the other hand, the Rover engine successfully powered a number of automobiles, these types of as the Land Rover and Morgan In addition 8. In point, it was initially equipped to the Rover P5B 3.5 litre saloon car or truck, back in 1967.
Additionally, it was made the decision to include this engine only in a preset head coupe edition.
The purpose powering this was that, considering the fact that the US was noticed as the principal export marketplace, the introduction of their stringent emission and security polices could final result in the demise of the convertible.
An additional rationale was that preset head coupes were being normally perceived as being more classy than the corresponding convertible.
Even so, for use in functionality vehicles, the primary V8 engine would require modifications to bolster the block, with each other with even more enhancements.
Due to the fact the Rover V8 motor utilised an aluminium block and cylinder heads, it basically weighed fewer than the steel B-Sequence unit made use of in the MGB.
The car’s motor bay could simply accommodate the Rover device without the need of the considerable chassis modification required when the substantial 3 litre, 6-cylinder motor was added to generate the MGC.
The result was that the presence of the V8 engine did not, in any way, adversely have an effect on the managing qualities of the motor vehicle, as was the case with the MGC.
Having said that, MG made the decision that a significantly less remarkably tuned version than that created by Ken Costello would be correct.
The last variation that was applied in output produced 137 bhp at 5000 rpm and 193 lb/ft of torque, and two SU carburettors ended up included.
It has been suggested that the rationale the corporation selected a Rover engine with a lessen compression ratio and a correspondingly reduced 137 bhp output was to produce, for promoting applications, a separation between the new MGB and the much more expensive Triumph Stag.
In 1973, the MGB GT V8 athletics automobile was launched.
The most important criticism at the launch was that the two it and the common MGB BT were being as well alike, externally, particularly because the new motor vehicle price tag far more.
No still left-hand drive products of the MGB GT V8 were at any time designed for export to the US.
British Leyland indicated that manufacturing potential would be insufficient to fulfill the supplemental requirements of the US market.
An alternative explanation was that BL management was worried that the new MGB would attract interest absent from other versions becoming made, especially the 3 litre, V8 engined Triumph Stag.
The fact that the new car had to be withdrawn prematurely was connected to it staying launched for the duration of the globally gasoline crisis of 1973, which was the dying knell for numerous significant engined vehicles.
Regrettably, the MGB GT V8 sports automobile was no exception, given that it returned only 20 mpg.
In addition, because Rover did not provide the V8 motor in a variant that satisfied US emission laws, this precluded it from export to the US, a critical and essential market place.
Originally, the new motor vehicle was properly obtained by the motoring press in the British isles but, by 1976, and the introduction of black polyurethane protection bumpers, revenue plummeted.
In simple fact, in 1976 when generation finished, only 176 of the cars and trucks have been designed.
This marked the conclude of the MGB GT V8
Probably this stroll down memory lane might have answered, or at least get rid of light-weight on, a possible concern:
Which MG Sporting activities Car or truck is Your Favourite?
However, need to this dilemma nevertheless keep on being unanswered, I will be reviewing, in some detail, in foreseeable future article content in just this web site, the complete variety of MG sporting activities autos which were showcased in the memorable period spanning 1924 to 1995.
I hope you be part of me in my nostalgic travels “down sports vehicle memory lane”.