The MG RV8 Sports Car

A evaluate of The MG RV8 Sporting activities Auto, masking growth, crucial characteristics, and technological knowledge of this the ninth product in the new MG variety.

In this Short article, I supply a nostalgic glimpse at the MG RV8, 1 of an elite group of classic automobiles, which was created through the period of time 1993 to 1995.

Subsequent the demise of the MGB in 1980, Rover determined to revive the MG brand name identify by redesigning the primary auto to develop what they felt would be the supreme MGB.

In addition, the idea of the RV8 was conceived in 1988 after British Motor Heritage began output of new MGB overall body panels.

In 1989, Mazda introduced the MX-5, which rekindled demand from customers for lesser sporting activities automobiles.

As a outcome, utilizing new body panels, MG made a decision to established in movement the redesign of the MGB.

The entire body styling of the RV8 was this sort of that it represented a departure from the MGB’s original layout, and but continue to retained the glance and come to feel of the original motor vehicle.

Hence the MG RV8 was born.

The motor chosen was the 3.9 litre, 16 valve, gasoline injected, V8 model of the Rover 3.5 litre V8 device, as utilized in the MGB GT V8, with a compression ratio of 9.3:1.

The rear leaf springs, boot lid, doorways and rear drum brakes were all retained, whilst the suspension was marginally undated.

A restricted slip differential was fitted to guarantee that all the electric power was not allocated to just one particular rear wheel, and that both of those wheels obtained driven motion.

While only 5% of the parts of the 1962 MGB have been used in the manufacturing of the new automobile, it was nevertheless reminiscent of the authentic.

Specification of the RV8 provided:

• Lucas fuel injection
• Servo assisted eleven inch disc brakes at the entrance and 9 inch drums at the rear
• 5 speed gearbox with synchromesh on all forward gears
• Independent entrance suspension using coil springs, and a live axle with leaf springs at the rear
• 5 bearing crankshaft
• Rack and pinion steering
• Headlights from the Porsche 911, and specially intended rear lights
• Rear monitor was elevated and wider wheels ended up employed

The MG RV8 was introduced at the Birmingham Motor Demonstrate in 1992, as a two door, two seater convertible, and was targeted at set up fans who would welcome the revival of the MG marque.

The establish top quality was superb, and it was the initially entire body shell of any MG to be galvanised, and the first MG to have a equipped mohair hood.

The cars’ inside was to these kinds of a superior conventional, with leather-based and Elm veneer for the dashboard and door panels, that the push nicknamed it “The Very poor Man’s Rolls Royce”.

However, Rover confronted a trouble in that the £26,000 price tag tag was way earlier mentioned what the concentrate on industry was ready to pay.

The offering price of the RV8 was pitched at a top quality to consider account of the simple fact that the provide of system panels would hardly ever exceed some 15-18 per 7 days, which intended that the vehicle could only be regarded as a small quantity, professional entity.

It was developed, not for volume production. but merely to re-establish the name of MG in preparation for the start of other quantity convertibles, these kinds of as the re-released MGF.

As a result, rather than abandoning the venture, the car was offered at the Tokyo Motor Display in 1993, in which it was an quick accomplishment.

So a great deal so, that about 1,400 of the RV8’s have been promptly requested.

When reviewed at the time of the launch, the MG RV8 was regarded as remaining relatively aged fashioned, considering the fact that it nevertheless retained a sound back again axle and rear drum brakes, inherited from the initial MGB.

When manufacturing ended two many years afterwards in 1995, only 1,983 cars were being constructed, of which 1,583 were exported to Japan by yourself.

It is appealing to note that, in the course of the period of time 2000 to 2010, as many as 700 of these Japanese exported sporting activities autos were being re-imported into the United kingdom and Australia.

This marked the conclude of the MG RV8

Probably this stroll down memory lane might have answered, or at the very least lose mild on, a feasible question:

Which MG Sports activities Vehicle is Your Favourite?

Nevertheless, really should this concern nevertheless keep on being unanswered, I will be reviewing, in some depth, in long term content in just this website, the entire vary of MG sports automobiles which have been featured in the unforgettable period spanning 1924 to 1995.

I hope you sign up for me in my nostalgic travels “down athletics motor vehicle memory lane”.