MGB GT V8 better than 240Z

chrisvega

Well-Known Forum User
Just seen this on a FB thread.
Great advert, don't let the truth get in the way of good advertising copy, made me laugh.
Anyone ever owned/driven an MGB GT V8 to make a comparison ?

45614094_2124088017635268_3754421270679126016_n.jpg
 

Albrecht

Well-Known Forum User
Not owned one, but occasionally drove one which was owned by a neighbour.

Typical last knockings BL attempt really. MGB was still an early Sixties design and there wasn't that much scope to improve it. With more development the MGB GT V8 could have been a pretty potent machine, but too little too late and introducing it just when the OPEC Oil Crisis was about to hit was a kiss of death...

MGC GT was probably a better like-for-like comparison with HS30/HLS30, but - again - a fairly tall and heavy dated engine design and not enough development put into adapting the bodyshell and suspension to suit it. Could have been a real weapon if they'd got it right.
 

uk66fastback

Club Member
Necessitated the teardrop in the bonnet too, did the 'C'. I had a neighbour who had a couple of these - white and then damask. Sounded lovely, drank fuel (find me an old V8 that doesn't) and had cart-horse suspension at the back.

I was always intrigued by the plate he had on the white one - 1 YMU - which he had cut to about 7 inches or so long front and back.

Albrecht is right - typical BL product of the time - just pre-oil crisis - so couldn't have been more poorly timed. Always like the wheels though. Not sure the badge on the honeycombe grille as THAT big in reality!
 

AliK

Vehicle Dating Officer
Staff member
Club Member
3:30 to 5:30, but I doubt either of those cars have stock tune engines ;)


 

Rob Gaskin

Treasurer
Staff member
Site Administrator
Aaah yes Steve Francis (Datsun) and his mate - Castle Combe regulars. They tour around until they are together and then have some fun - both car and driver very quick. Far from standard - the Datsun is a V8 too. I have happy memories of 'Combe Trackdays with these guys.

I like this 'C' it's in an auction soon with the rally Datsun that Sean pointed out. Actually some interesting cars in that auction.

https://www.brightwells.com/classic..._source=CarandClassic.co.uk&utm_medium=portal
 

chrisvega

Well-Known Forum User
MGC coming up for auction looks nice Rob, dodgy colour scheme on front valence aside. Just the sort of car to buy, let someone else spend all the money on resto. and rally prep. and then buy it for half price if it sells at guide.
 

Rob Gaskin

Treasurer
Staff member
Site Administrator
Yep, I did some investigation and your figures are correct - you in the trade or something?
They were raced at Sebring, and Targo Floria not rallied.
Quite a few 'replicas' around like this though and when you think there were only ever 2 raced!
The external light fitment and covers I thought of copying on my trackday car to allow easy bulb change (no need to get into the wheel-arch)
 

ffastffreddie

Forum User
Had a V8 roadster since 1979. Last driven in 1982, now under some form of restoration. Sean will have seen the rolling shell in France - unless he had his blinkers on!
Toured extensively with Mr Jarman (bet you thought he was a Datsun man) who had a tuned 1800cc version. The V8 had more power, more torque and better fuel consumption.
The Datsun of course is more sophisticated but its designers had the advantage of starting with a clean sheet of paper whereas the MG was a development of all that went before, 1940s and 50s stuff.
Before slating the MGB V8 you need to think of the later versions of the Z, inevitably cars are developed into heavy, higher, slower versions of the original.
I've driven more than a few Zs, most of them tuned and they always give me a thrill but being a tintop they don't have the same "feel" as my roadster.
I realise the original poster referred to the MGB V8 which of course does have a roof thus rendering the comparison more valid.
Albrecht as usual has hit the nail on the head.
Cheers
Steve
PS is anyone still driving a bone stock 240Z, can't remember the last time I saw one
 

SeanDezart

Well-Known Forum User
Had a V8 roadster since 1979. Last driven in 1982, now under some form of restoration. Sean will have seen the rolling shell in France - unless he had his blinkers on!
Toured extensively with Mr Jarman (bet you thought he was a Datsun man) who had a tuned 1800cc version. The V8 had more power, more torque and better fuel consumption.
The Datsun of course is more sophisticated but its designers had the advantage of starting with a clean sheet of paper whereas the MG was a development of all that went before, 1940s and 50s stuff.
Before slating the MGB V8 you need to think of the later versions of the Z, inevitably cars are developed into heavy, higher, slower versions of the original.
I've driven more than a few Zs, most of them tuned and they always give me a thrill but being a tintop they don't have the same "feel" as my roadster.
I realise the original poster referred to the MGB V8 which of course does have a roof thus rendering the comparison more valid.
Albrecht as usual has hit the nail on the head.
Cheers
Steve

Hello Steve - yes, I remember the Jarman-blue Roadster collecting dust like my car...

And I thought that Mr J ran a Healey before moving directly to Zs when he discovered that Healeys handle like horse-carts on your dodgy Gloucs raods ?

I believed that the MGB was an all-new conception - it begins well enough :

The basic mechanical make-up of the MGB remained pretty much as before, but the structure was completely new. For the first time on an MG roadster (discounting the badge-engineered Midget), the bodyshell was an immensely strong monocoque, very effectively styled by MG’s Don Hayter, with assistance from Pininfarina.


And then goes downhill :

The front suspension and rack and pinion steering were carried over from the MGA, the whole assembly being mounted on a detachable crossmember. Of course, by 1962, this componentry was rather long in the tooth, being derived from that of the 1947 MG YA saloon, which was itself effectively a pre-war design. Not that this mattered, because the set-up had proven to be a delight in the MGA and continued to be so when installed in the MGB.


For the rear suspension, various kinds of coil spring arrangements were tried, but in the end the old enemy of cost management won the day, and the traditional arrangement of a live rear axle, sprung and located by simple leaf springs, was employed.


This somewhat agricultural solution was deemed to offer the best overall compromise between cost and effectiveness. The springing rates were much softer than the MGA’s, in order to achieve the comfort and civility the Engineers were chasing.


But I believe yours was and will be sufficently modifed under the skin to master the extra power ?

Like for like, stock to stock....I'd still prefer a European 240Z over the coupé V8. Surely the biggest competitor in the UK was the Capri 3.0 (power vs. price) and perhaps the Reliant Scimitar also ?
SE5 - 2469 (taking last known example, including Ogle GTE)
SE5a - 6635 (using 2500 & 4030 as first and last of 45 prefix)
SE6 - 551
SE6a - 3907
SE6b - 407 (plus a few development/prototype cars, last few dozen galv)
 

uk66fastback

Club Member
So that's an originally rubber bumpered MG with chrome bumpers on ... and black and silver plates on a T-reg - just looks wrong to me!

There was a damask red factory V8 at the NEC for sale on one of the dealer stands - restored but a a while ago and needing a few things - renovated wheels would have helped as it made the thing look a bit tatty - £22,995. Too much to my eyes.
 
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