Arriving soon: 1976 MG B V8

By Craig Ranson
By Craig Ranson

Managing Director – Bridge Classic Cars

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Due for arrival very soon we have a 1976 MG B GT V8 requiring a very sympathetic restoration.

MG began offering the MG B GT V8 in 1973.

The aluminium cylinder block and heads of the used Rover V8 engine weighed approximately 40 pounds less than MG’s iron four cylinder

Unlike the MGC, the V8 that provided the MGB GT V8’s increased power and torque did not require significant chassis changes nor sacrifice handling.

Both chrome and rubber-bumper GT versions of the V8-powered MGB were produced by the factory with production ending in 1976.

MG never attempted to export the MGB GT V8 to the United States. It chose not to develop a left-hand-drive version of the MGB GT V8 although the Rover V8 engine was offered in US-bound Rover models.

The P6 3500 was withdrawn after 1971 from the USA and the Rover 3500 SD1 only introduced in 1980 (its engine equipped with power-sapping emissions equipment) so that during the lifetime of the MGB GT V8 the engine was not being built in a federal version.

Abingdon built seven LHD models, sent them to America to achieve certification, and brought them back to the UK to be sold to mainland European countries.

Our MG BGT V8 is the third car built in 1976 and the 180th car from the end of production, which is why it is Black as the last 500 of the range were always Black.

The cars original owner bought the car in 1986 and had the car until he passed away and left it to a family member of the same name in March 2018.

There is mountains of paperwork for many thousands of pounds with the car and it has been kept tip top regardless of cost.

It had a brand new Rover engine 22000 miles ago when it had about 98000 on the clock in 2008. At that time a new speedo was fitted.

The car was totally restored many years ago and at that time had a brand new black interior piped in red with a wood dashboard.

She has a full length Webasto roof.

When we got her the car she was still in lovely condition considering when it was last painted, but there were age related marks.

She sits on Minilite wheels and the spare is its original V8 wheel. The other V8 wheels did not come with the car.

Although MOT exempt it will have an MOT as we feel it is the best way to fully evaluate the vehicles safety.

The car drives superbly. It is fast, smooth and a real drivers car.

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