Is the MGB great with a V8?

At Great Escape Classic Car Hire we run the largest fleet of MGBs and our cars cover amongst the highest annual mileages for these cars in the UK. We have experience of running MGB roadsters MGB GT coupes and V8 and 4 cylinder versions of these cars. Since the V8 conversion is high on many MGB owners' wish lists and with the MGB 50th anniversary approaching we thought we'd share our experience of running the 3,500cc Rover engined car as well as the conventional 1800cc MG engine.

MG always envisaged a larger engined MGB and there are factory versions of the car with the 3-litre straight six 'Healey' engine (the MGC, in coupe and roadster styles) and with the 3,500cc V8 Buick-derived Rover engine (in MGB GT coupe style only). These factory-developed models were never particularly successful, feeling hurried and under-developed.

Several specialists created V8 versions of the MGB, generally more successfully. The Costello version was probably the best resolved - using the 3,500cc engine - and appears to have influenced the factory to create the MGB GT V8.

The 3,500cc Rover V8 in theory makes a wonderful addition to the MGB. It is lighter than the 1800c engine so sits better in the nose of the car, it revs easily and it adds a useful dollop of extra power, typically 50 bhp (an extra 50%). The Rover engine is one of the best engines of the last 40 years, being highly tractable with smooth power delivery and a wonderful burbling soundtrack. So it is understandable that many owners consider dropping a V8 into the MGB, particularly the MGB convertible.

At Great Escape Classic Car Hire we have a 1971 MGB convertible V8 in burgundy metallic with a black leather interior. This car was retro-fitted with a V8 by a previous owner, although we're not quite sure who did the work. The V8 conversion does release a lot of the MGB's latent potential, providing brisk acceleration, a lovely soundtrack and the car is noticeably more nimble with less over-steer in corners. Our customers certainly love it, enjoying the extra power and the noise in particular. The Rover engine's ready torque and smooth delivery are a sheer delight that simply encourage down changes. Compared to the 1800cc engine, it feels willing and eager and yes, more sporting. Quite why MG didn't put more effort into a V8 engined version of the MGB, including a MGB roadster, is beyond us.

The problem, though, is that the extra power and improved weight distribution do tend to highlight the limitations of the MGB chassis. This is a beautiful car with a fairly antiquated chassis, but one that is quite well set up with 95 bhp and 1800cc at the helm. Sure, the steering is a little slow and the chassis doesn't like to be hurried, but the relative lack of power means that it is still great fun to drive because its limits can be explored at relatively low speed. That's an experience that is hard to replicate with a modern car.

The MGB V8, conversely, tends to highlight these limitations by the sheer ability of the 3,500cc engine. A proper V8 conversion in a MGB is about more than just replacing the engine. It needs suspension and handling improvements that match its increased performance. Racing versions of the MGB mean that such upgrades are available, albeit at a price. The MGB V8 at Great Escape Classic Car Hire has benefitted from such improvements, but it is not typical of most V8 conversions for sale.

Anyone considering a MGB V8 conversion should look very carefully at the extent of the upgrades to engine and handling but also pay particular attention to the quality of the installation. The MGB engine bay was not designed to take the V8 Rover engine, so it requires significant alterations to the chassis to accommodate the engine and the exhaust manifolds. Even with this work done, access to the engine bay can be extremely tight, turning simple repair jobs into lengthy tasks. On our own MGB we have also experienced significant problems due to poor work (we mean bodges) with breather hoses and other connections. This has led to reliability problems that have taken time to iron out - without access to a factory manual it can be difficult to trace exactly what the engine installer did and how to resolve it.

Any car that has been significantly adapted and modified after production poses a much higher risk to future owners than a standard factory car. It can, of course, provide much more enjoyment. Such cars do not benefit from the significant R&D investment required to get upgrades right and without a factory-approved 'map' to help rectify problems, issues can become expensive to resolve.

Much as we like the MGB V8 on the Great Escape Classic Car Hire fleet - and it certainly shows what the MGB could have been - as an ownership prospect we'd choose a spiced up 1800cc engined car any time. The MGB Owners Club offers endless options for extracting more performance and better power delivery from the 1800cc engine - these upgrades are relatively simple to install (compared to a V8 engine) and do not require significant adaptations to the car's basic structure. They're proven in thousands of applications and they are backed by lots of technical support.

For more information on hiring an MGB from Great Escape Classic Car Hire call 01527 893733 or visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/.

Try Before You Buy MGB V8 Roadster

by Great Escape road tester Matt Nichols
I’ve always thought of early chrome bumper model MGB’s as an affordable alternative to the E-Type Jaguar. Back in the day they were sports cars built for the masses and these days that translates into an excellent entry into classic car ownership. The MGB is a sort of scaled down version of the Jaguar where everything has been slightly reduced from the width of the sills, which are not as wide or for that matter as tricky to clamber over, thanks to the more conventional chassis layout. Then there is the stylish dashboard, which is only a few dials and switches shy to be on a par. So OK it doesn’t quite have the sophistication and panache of an E-Type but then equally there are the much reduced running and maintenance costs when compared to its upmarket cousin.
Sit in the Cotswolds based MGB V8 and you know straight away that you are in a classic British sports car from the sweet smell of leather and a seated position that leaves you particularly close to the road and rubbing shoulders with your passenger. It is cosy no question but at the same time once inside there is plenty of space to give the driver enough elbow room to firmly hold and turn the thin rimmed steering wheel devoid of power assistance. And the passenger lots of lovely leg room to stretch out and enjoy the ride. Behind both seats is also some very useful space to stash soft bags and coats for an overnighter or weekend break if you don’t fancy your stuff sharing the boot with the full sized spare wheel and tyre.
Safely installed, roof down and the fixed seat belts suitably adjusted you find yourself peering underneath the sun visors and through the tiny windscreen giving the sensation of the car shrinking around you and feeling closer in size to the smaller Midget. Press the throttle a few times, turn the ignition key before thumbing the starter button in the centre of the dash, and the car grows back up in size once more as the silence is broken by the glorious resonance of the Rover V8 motor. An engine that generates a noise that has been turned up several notches by the single exit sports exhaust. Suddenly E-Type analogies seem far less appropriate and baby TVR ones much closer to the mark. This MGB is starting to come alive and we haven’t even turned one of its lovely looking 15” alloy wheels yet.
On the move I can confirm that Great Escape Classic Car Hire has done it again with this cracking Nightfire red MGB V8 convertible combining classic car styling and looks with the newer retrofitted Rover SD1 engine and 5 speed gearbox. The drivetrain combination enables you to purr along in a 30mph zone whilst listening to and sharing with passers-by that lovely V8 warble. Then enjoy a rewarding, best taken at half throttle, climb back up through the meaty feeling gearbox to snick it into 5th and cruise at 60mph with no more than 2,500rpm dialled in once back out on the open road. Keeping up with modern traffic is therefore no problem at all and slower road users easily despatched with overtaking manoeuvres that can be executed in 3rd, 4th or 5th gear depending on how much road you’ve got to play with.
This car genuinely travels along at a decent pace with no real effort offering great style and reasonable comfort. The distinctive engine note tracks your journey as you navigate country lanes and save for the crashing noises that indicate a broken road surface or dreaded pothole the ride is firm but not uncomfortable. There isn’t much body roll either and keep some power on through the bends and the 195 profile tyres hold on particularly well giving a nice neutral front to rear balance that marks this MGB V8 out as a very well sorted car. The non-assisted steering is also well judged and seems to feel the same whether stationary or on the move. In terms of classic car traits the only ones I experienced were the indicators not always cancelling themselves and a tendency for the engine to try and stall at junctions, something I compensated for by a couple of blips on the throttle under braking, any excuse to hear that glorious engine note once more.
Having started with pre-conceived ideas about how this car might feel out on the road the only conclusion I can draw is that it is very much its own car. The MGB V8 has a harsher ride than the E-Type Jaguar's I’ve driven and a soundtrack more akin to the TVR Tuscan. The handling is a joy and the ability to effortlessly cruise at 60-70mph quite uncanny. The heater works well with the roof down, a roof that also appears to fit nice and tightly once back up again. All the controls are easy to use and overall I thoroughly enjoyed my time with this classic British sports car and if in the market myself I think I might go all out for a V8 with Sebring body conversion fitted with slightly wider versions of the 15” alloys on this car just to fill the arches.
Verdict 1971 MGB V8 Convertible
Driving
Low revving V8 means decent pace can be easily maintained over a wide range of roads without any real effort. Ride can get a bit crashy if the road surface has broken up.
Engine
Rover V8 works well mated to the 5 speed gearbox and performs best in the mid-range
Performance
Surprisingly quick if you want it to be, but personally I think best driven as a characterful tourer
Brakes
Brakes are a match for keeping up a good pace but push on a bit harder and you may need to start the process of slowing down a bit earlier than you might say in a modern car
Handling
Very little body roll and firm ride mean this car will corner confidently at speed. Worth keeping some throttle on all the way through the bends so that everything stays nice and tight
Desirability
Prices are on the up with good ones fetching decent money these days
Pro’s
Entry level classic car that offers its own unique British sports car experience and easy access to spares
Con’s
Buying – The usual and with so much choice out there make sure you get the right one for you
Renting – None.
Overall 4/5

A Great V8

The Great Escape Classic Car Hire Rover SD1 Vitesse has been a bit of a star this year. It's featured in three classic car magazines so far, including a weekend tour of Suffolk organised by our sister company The Getaway Driver.

So we thought it was about time we put some miles on the car ourselves. At Great Escape we generally use a selection of the cars as our daily drivers, partly to keep them active (particularly during the winter) and also to help us keep track of how well they are running.

The Rover was therefore pressed into service when we needed to collect some bulky parts for our project Alfa Romeo Spider. The parts - a new set of wheels and a leather interior - were down in deepest darkest Kent, 160 miles from our Worcestershire base. To complicate matters a little we also need to pick up some office furniture in Kingswinford near Dudley.

On a -6 degree Monday morning we fired up the lusty V8, warmed it through and hit the road. The Rover is fitted with the rare homologation special Twin Plenum version of the venerable Rover 3500 V8 and is fitted with fuel injection, so it pushes out a very healthy 190 bhp. This is mated to a five speed manual gearbox, that stirs the torquey motor along nicely.

We left rural Worcestershire, jostled with the traffic up the M5 then nudged along through endless traffic lights to Kingswinford. With the back seat folded the capacious Rover swallowed the big cabinet. Then it was back down to our Worcestershire base to drop the cabinet and hit the road south.

The Rover SD1 was designed to munch miles under the tutelage of senior executives who wanted comfort as well as pace. And 25 years after this example was made it still does the job admirably. The sports suspension is a little too bouncy but the big seats - which really are like an armchair - and light steering make long distances effortless. But it really is all about that sonrous V8 - it rumbles silently at 75, barely above tickover, with plenty of power available instantly. Only the slightly odd driving position - knees up, arms stretched - and the non-standard big bore exhaust fitted by a previous owner (which rumbles a little too much for our aging ears) detract from the overall experience. Oh, and the shockingly bad build quality - this is a car that feels like it could easily just collapse if the wind gets up too much. But you forget all that when you exercise the V8. It's a peach of an engine, smooth and very torquey, pulling from low revs right round to the red line in a seamless flow of power. Every gearchange is a joy as it brings the motor back to the start of the slope. The Rover V8 was so ubiquitous for so long that it is easy to forget just how good it was - good enough to power everything from Land Rovers to TVRs.

The rumbling Rover drew plenty of admiring glances from fellow road users and during our service station breaks. It really is a great looking car, possibly the best looking saloon car of the last 30 years. Sure, it's a pastiche of the Ferrari Daytona but what better inspiration can there be?

We circuited the M25, collected the parts (4 wheels and tyres, 2 seats and 2 door cards) with space to spare and headed back, fortunately avoiding the late afternoon snarl. The only hold up along the journey was an accident near the M23 - despite stop start driving the 25 year old car behaved itself and the temperature guage remained resolutely at 90.

In all we spent over 8 hours driving the big Rover and covered 370 miles at 30 mpg. Not bad for a brutish, big-horsepower supersaloon.

To find out more about the Rover Vitesse for hire from Great Escape Classic Car Hire visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/ or cal 01527 893733.

MGB V8 in the Cotswolds

We've gone and added another MGB to our fleet, this time a full fat V8 roadster to hire in Worcestershire for the Cotswolds. MG only ever got as far as dropping the burbly Rover V8 into the MGB GT, creating what for many was the car the MGB always aspired to be. Our MGB V8 is a roadster that has been professionally restored and retro-fitted with the Rover V8.

The latest addition to Great Escape Classic Car Hire's fleet means we now have seven MGs to hire across the UK, including 5 MGBs. The MG classic hire fleet includes MGB, MGB GT, MGB V8, MGA and MG TD, the widest range of classic MGs to hire anywhere in Britain. The new V8 is finished in beautiful Nightfire Red with a black leather interior and minilite wheels. The car is in excellent condition and perfect for touring the enjoyable driving roads and lanes of the Cotswolds.

The MGB V8 is launched onto our hire fleet at the same price to hire as our conventional 1800cc cars. To find out more call 01527 893733 or visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/.