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