The MGB GT V8 Sports Car

A evaluate of The MGB GT V8 Sports activities Auto, masking advancement, crucial capabilities, and specialized data of this the eighth design in the new MG vary.

In this Posting, I offer a nostalgic glance at the MGB GT V8, a person of an elite group of typical cars and trucks, which was created in the course of the time period 1973 to 1976.

In the latter section of the 1960’s, a amount of sporting activities motor vehicle makers have been experimenting with the concept of introducing a big motor to a little automobile.

At the forefront of this pattern was the AC Cobra and, to a lesser extent, the Sunbeam Tiger.

In the United kingdom, the current modest sports autos with their similarly little engines ended up out of contact with the important export marketplaces.

The initially versions to attempt to break the mould were the Triumph GT6 and MGC, but both of those unsuccessful.

Ken Costello, a properly highly regarded personal entrepreneur, realised the probable of introducing a larger sized motor to the MGB.

In simple fact, the car was initially created to use a V4 engine, which was more substantial than the B-Collection device at last decided on.

In the early 1970’s, he was productively marketing and advertising some 200 MGB convertibles and GT’s with a 157 bhp version of the Rover V8 motor, and at a high quality to the advertising selling price of the later on MG manufacturing product.

MG subsequently questioned him to generate a prototype MGB GT V8 sports activities car using the Rover 3.5 litre V8 motor which they had not too long ago designed.

He modified this motor to produce a unit that developed an extraordinary 180 bhp. Nevertheless, prior to the ultimate launch of the new MGB, the supply of Rover V8 engines to him was withdrawn (to prevent opposition).

In 1968, with the arrival of British Leyland, MG made a decision to fit an substitute motor into the MGB in reaction to the faults produced with the MGC.

They experienced the decision of two diverse V8 engines – the Rover 3.5 litre device, and Triumph’s have 3 litre unit as utilized in the Triumph Stag.

Nonetheless, the latter engine was beset with specialized difficulties, these types of as heads that tended to warp owing to incorrect head gaskets that restricted the flow of water, so leading to overheating.

On the other hand, the Rover motor effectively run a quantity of vehicles, such as the Land Rover and Morgan Furthermore 8. In simple fact, it was to begin with equipped to the Rover P5B 3.5 litre saloon auto, back again in 1967.

In addition, it was resolved to integrate this motor only in a fixed head coupe model.

The cause guiding this was that, considering that the US was found as the principal export market place, the introduction of their stringent emission and security rules could consequence in the demise of the convertible.

An additional purpose was that fixed head coupes had been frequently perceived as being additional stylish than the corresponding convertible.

Nevertheless, for use in performance automobiles, the unique V8 motor would require modifications to strengthen the block, together with further improvements.

Considering that the Rover V8 engine made use of an aluminium block and cylinder heads, it really weighed a lot less than the metal B-Series unit made use of in the MGB.

The car’s engine bay could easily accommodate the Rover unit without having the significant chassis modification essential when the substantial 3 litre, 6-cylinder motor was additional to create the MGC.

The final result was that the presence of the V8 motor did not, in any way, adversely have an effect on the managing attributes of the motor vehicle, as was the situation with the MGC.

However, MG decided that a less extremely tuned variation than that made by Ken Costello would be proper.

The last version that was employed in manufacturing created 137 bhp at 5000 rpm and 193 lb/ft of torque, and two SU carburettors were extra.

It has been recommended that the purpose the business selected a Rover engine with a decrease compression ratio and a correspondingly lower 137 bhp output was to produce, for internet marketing uses, a separation involving the new MGB and the more highly-priced Triumph Stag.

In 1973, the MGB GT V8 sports activities automobile was released.

The primary criticism at the launch was that equally it and the normal MGB BT ended up much too alike, externally, primarily since the new car or truck expense more.

No remaining-hand push styles of the MGB GT V8 ended up at any time constructed for export to the US.

British Leyland indicated that creation capability would be inadequate to fulfill the extra needs of the US industry.

An alternate rationalization was that BL administration was concerned that the new MGB would draw notice absent from other products currently being made, in particular the 3 litre, V8 engined Triumph Stag.

The simple fact that the new auto experienced to be withdrawn prematurely was connected to it remaining released through the throughout the world gas crisis of 1973, which was the dying knell for several huge engined vehicles.

Unfortunately, the MGB GT V8 athletics motor vehicle was no exception, since it returned only 20 mpg.

In addition, considering the fact that Rover did not offer the V8 engine in a variant that happy US emission polices, this precluded it from export to the US, a very important and essential market place.

In the beginning, the new motor vehicle was perfectly acquired by the motoring push in the British isles but, by 1976, and the introduction of black polyurethane safety bumpers, revenue plummeted.

In simple fact, in 1976 when manufacturing finished, only 176 of the autos were being developed.

This marked the close of the MGB GT V8

Probably this stroll down memory lane may have answered, or at least drop light on, a probable problem:

Which MG Sports Motor vehicle is Your Favourite?

Nonetheless, must this problem continue to continue being unanswered, I will be reviewing, in some detail, in future posts within just this internet site, the complete range of MG sporting activities automobiles which have been showcased in the unforgettable period spanning 1924 to 1995.

I hope you be a part of me in my nostalgic travels “down sports auto memory lane”.