History of the MGB V8, MGC & MG RV8
MGB GT V8
Between December 1972 and September 1976, some 2,591 V8 MG’s were built, these sold for 2,400 pounds each. The car was supplied with a Rover 3.5 litre motor, which is still found in a lot of V8’s today. The car was launched to the public in August 1973. It is worth noting that out of the 2,591vehicles produced between December 1972 and September 1976 when production finished, 1,839 cars were constructed with chrome bumpers and 752 were built with black impact absorbing bumpers. In 1976, British Leyland announced the long awaited Rover SDI and four weeks later the MGBGT V8 ceased production.
MG RV8
The rebirth of the MG in the 1990s drew warm applause. By the summer of 1992 pictures were being released of what was being called “the MG that never was” the RV8. The rv8 took up where the MGB left off. Using the remanufactured MGB bodyshell as a basis, Rover developed a car that had classic overtones, elegant furnishings and exciting performance.. The 2000 RV8’s produces sold out quickly and commanded premium prices.
MGC GTS Sebring racer
The last cars from BMC Corporation were ready before the 1967 production MGC they were based on. they were raced as prototypes, which meant they had to bear more than a superficial resemblance to the production version. The first car with a 2004cc MGB engine and 150bhp (111.9kW) @ 6000rpm came ninth in the 1967 Targa Florio. In 1968 at Sebring ‘it won its class, was third prototype and 10th overall with a 3.0 litre engine
Another car was built with an aluminium engine, and they raced again at Sebring in 1969, the final appearance of works cars under the flag of British Leyland , not BMC
MGC GT and Roadster
The MGC GT shared the same body shape as the GT V8, except for a bulge in the bonnet to accommodate the long six-cylinder motor. The engine consisted of 6 cylinders in a straight line with a capacity of three litres. The motor that was used was from the Austin Princess, which after a few modifications, became the power unit for the MGC. The MGC was launched in 1967 and ceased production in 1969. Some 8,999 were built 4,542 Roadsters and 4,457 GT’s. None of these cars were initially brought to Australia. The new price in 1967 for Roadsters was 896 pounds and 1105 pounds for the GT. One VIP customer worthy of mention, is his Royal Highness, Prince Charles, who took delivery of a MGC Roadster in 1969 shortly before his investiture as Prince of Wales. The car, registered SGY 776F, is still in the Royal Vehicle Fleet.
At the end of production, there were approximately 170 unsold vehicles these were bought by London’s largest MG dealer, Universal Motors which enhanced them and were subsequently sold at various types of ‘MGC Specials’
