Police Review: MG "B" GT V-8
as published in British V8 Newsletter, Volume XV Issue 3, December 2007
Re-printed unedited by exclusive written permission of "Police Review".
This article originally appeared in their August 17, 1973 issue.
road test report by W. R. Taylor
Pursuit or enforcement cars of the two-seater variety are slowly gaining in
popularity and probably the majority of cars of this type that are in service
with Police Forces are MG "B" GTs. This car combines a businesslike appearance
with a reasonable performance, and is capable of carrying a surprising amount
of equipment. Now, announced this week, we have a new model, which should make
this one of the finest enforcement cars available - the MG "B" GT V-8.
External appearance is unchanged except for the cast aluminum wheels and
the V-8 motif on the grille and rear panel. Under the bonnet lies the 3.5
litre Rover V-8 engine, basically the version used in the Range Rover and
fitted with a low compression head this allowing the use of 3-star fuel. To
permit the existing MG bonnet to be used the carburetor layout is altered
to place it near the bulkhead, but, in spite of the tight fit, items needing
regular attention are reasonable accessible. The performance is exceptionally
good, though because of the quietness and smoothness of the unit this is
not appreciated. Acceleration is vivid, but there is no "kick-in-the-back"
and the power coupled with well-chosen gearing gives first-class top-gear
flexibility - the car will accelerate smoothly, and continuously, from 18
m.p.h. in overdrive top.
The ratios of the gearbox offer a really worthwhile range of speed in
each gear. The gearbox is basically that used in the MG "C" buy Laycock
overdrive on top gear is fitted as standard - and is necessary. One problem
that exists with this car is that the tachometer must be watch closely when
accelerating hard as it's not too difficult to over-rev the engine due to
its quietness. I'm glad that British Leyland decided against using the
Rover "S" gearbox on this car as it's just not up to the type of work it
would get and the "C" gearbox has a nice short "gate" that permits very
fast changes if desired.
British Leyland have followed through with all the components on this
car and have rated the suspension - and brakes - to the performance. The
suspension gives a firm but not a harsh ride and is free from pitch and
choppiness on practically all surfaces. The standard of ride is very high
for the type of car. This suspension, coupled with the rack and pinion
steering and the radial tyres, gave the MG "B" GT V-8 exemplary handling
and roadholding even on wet roads. The steering is not heavy and offers
good feel and precision and is quick to respond to the demands of the driver.
Lockheed brakes are used, discs at the front and drums at the rear,
and have vacuum servo-assistance. The brakes have a fine positive feel
about them that add to confidence and their power certainly matches the
performance of the car. They maintained their good standard of efficiency
throughout the test and there was no measurable fade after the fade test.
Getting in and out of the GT V-8 is no more difficult or easier than
the MG "B" GT, or any other car of this type, but a worthwhile improvement
in the seating is immediately noticed. The new seats are very comfortable
and answer many of the complaints of the past; a good eight-hour stint at
the wheel was not particularly tiring. Control layout as far as the gear
lever, pedals, and steering wheel were concerned was quite good and the
switches for the Police equipment were handy. But the remaining switches
for the standard equipment of the car seem to have been scattered around
without much thought. The handbrake position close to the driver's seat
is not particularly easy to use but this would be cured by the use of a
"fly off" type. Some of the important warning lamps are partially obscured
from the driver by the lower edge of the instrument panel, while the use
of a white warning lamp for the heated rear window is almost dazzling at
night. There is no convenient interior light to allow the crew to write
in a natural position.
The rear tailgate opens upwards, and in so doing, obscures the beacon.
The large aperture that is left permits easy access to the rear floor and
the equipment. The carpeted rear floor, supplemented by the back of the
occasional seat being folded down, provides a surprisingly large area for
carrying cones, signs and the like. A further advantage is that equipment
stowed at the front end of this floor is also easily reached from the
driving compartment.
The test car was equipped with a roof sign surmounted by a beacon and
the sign was of a triangular shape with the "V" pointing forwards. During
the test the opportunity was taken to remove the sign and beacon and go
through the entire data procedure again. It was perhaps unfortunate that
during the period I had the car there was little or no wind and, certainly,
both sets of test data were obtained with other designs - top speed was
unchanged and the difference in the acceleration times were so small that
it could virtually have been time lost in the gear change so, at least,
on this car and under those conditions, the roof sign had no detrimental
effect on performance.
Comment: This car is very difficult to fault; it goes well, stops
well, and handles well in the dry and the wet. It is so perfect for
police work it could have been designed specifically for the job.
Recommendation: Traffic, with particular emphasis on enforcement.
Abridged specification
Engine: Eight cylinders in two banks of four, set in 90 degree "V"
formation, 3,528cc. Compression ration 8.25:1 delivering 137 b.h.p.
(DIN) at 5,000 r.p.m. Twin S.U. HIF6 carburettors, S.U. electric fuel pump.
Transmission: Four-speed gearbox with synchromesh on all forward
gears and Laycock-type LH overdrive operating on top gear. 9.6 in.
diameter single dry plate diaphragm clutch hydraulically operated.
Floor-mounted gear lever, direct acting. Three-quarter floating rear
axle with hypoid final drive with ratio of 3.070:1.
Brakes: Lockheed hydraulic with vacuum servo-assistance. Front,
10.7 in. diameter discs. Rear, 10 in. diameter drums with one leading
and one trailing shoe. Handbrake operates rear drums through mechanical
linkage.
Suspension: Front, independent with coil springs and lower wishbones
mounted to a cross-member assembly with lever-type shock absorbers with
double levers to carry the top end of the swivel pin. Anti-roll bar.
Rear, tube type axle with three-quarter floating drive shafts, rubber
mounted semi-elliptic springs. Lever-type shock absorbers.
Steering: Rack and pinion.
Tyres: 175HR-14 radial.
Battery: 2 x 6 volt connected in series, 67 amp/hr. Alternator
standard.
Measurements: Wheelbase, 7 ft. 6.5 in. Track, front 4 ft. 1in.
rear 4 ft. 1.25in. Length 12ft 10.25in. Width with driver's door
fully open, 7 ft. 8in. Minimum width required for driver to get out
of car, 6 ft. 9in. Turning circle 33ft. 6in. Kerb weight, 2,427 lb.
Equipment on test car: Rood sign with beacon on top of it. The
sign was triangular with the "V" to the front with "Police" on each
side of the "V". The rear part of the sign was divided to show
"Police" and "Stop". Signs and cones. First aid box. Police equipment
switch panel. Certified speedometer. Heavy duty rear springs.
Road Test Data
Weather during test period: Both wet and dry with occasional
very light breeze. Temperatures, 8-16 deg. C.
Performance tests on dry tarmacadam dual carriageway. Brake
tests on dry concrete carriageway.
Maximum speed in gears (at 5,200 r.p.m.): 1st, 40 m.p.h.; 2nd,
60 m.p.h.; 3rd, 94 m.p.h.; top, 120 m.p.h.; overdrive top, 123 m.p.h.
Acceleration through the gears (mean of four runs): 0-30 m.p.h.
in 3.2 sec.; 0-40 m.p.h. in 4.7 sec.; 0-50 m.p.h. in 6.8 sec.; 0-60
m.p.h. in 9 sec.; 0-70 m.p.h. in 11.7 sec.; 0-80 m.p.h. in 15.1 sec.
Acceleration in gears (mean of four runs) in seconds:
| 3rd | Top | Overdrive | |
| 20-40 m.p.h. | 5.2 | 7.1 | 9.4 |
| 30-50 m.p.h. | 5.3 | 7.6 | 9.2 |
| 40-60 m.p.h. | 5.3 | 8.1 | 9.7 |
| 50-70 m.p.h. | 5.5 | 6.8 | 9.3 |
| 60-80 m.p.h. | 6.1 | 7.6 | 10.2 |
Overall fuel consumption under simulated operating conditions:
Town patrol work, 12.5 m.p.g. Town and rural control work. 17.6
m.p.g. Rural patrol work, 25.4 m.p.g. High speed and motorway,
20.9 m.p.g.
Overall fuel consumption for entire test period, 19.9 m.p.g.
Instrument correction: Speedometer at 30 m.p.h., accurate.
Speedometer at 60 m.p.h. 1 per cent fast. Distance recorder, accurate.
Brakes: Footbrake at 30 m.p.h., 88 per cent. Handbrake at
20 m.p.h., 37 per cent. Steering: Turns of steering wheel between
locks, 2.25.
Price: £2293.96.
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In the original publication of this article, Police Review included two photographs
of their test car. One photograph was a driver's-side three-quarter-view shot that
included the police roof sign and beacon. The car's registration plate number was
visible: "GOF 88L". A second photograph was taken from behind the car, looking into
the cargo area through the lifted tailgate. Various equipment, including traffic
cones, were viewable. From this camera angle, the roof beacon was also fully visible
through the tailgate glass.
Our copy of the article is a faded black-and-white photocopy, and the photos aren't
very clear. Dear reader, if you have a photo of an MGB GT V8 police car, please
share it with us!
In the meantime, we hope you enjoy the following photos...
British V8 file photo of a 1972 MGB GT which belonged to the Sussex Police Force (photographer unknown)
A white MGB GT V8 braves the "test hill" at the historic Brooklands race track. (Photo by Ken Smith.)
Note: the test hill at Brooklands is historically interesting. It was put into service in 1909. This steep, 352',
one-lane, concrete strip was used by England's early car builders for testing climbing and braking ability.
An MGB GT V8 remembered...
(transcribed from the original handwritten letter from John Dupont to Ken Smith,
dated 15-8-1983)
I still find it hard to believe that the day the MGB GT V8 was announced -
15th. August 1973 - at least one fifth of what would prove to be
the total production had been made. My V8's chassis number is 534.
I collected my car on 7th. September 1973 and what a wonderful feeling
it was driving it home. However I was soon to return to Earth as when running the
car in, the internals of the speedo broke up. Worse was to follow, as I was flagged
down and told that the brake lights were flashing on and off. Having put these two
items to right I was driving in West Sussex - petrol rationing had just come into
force - when a white MGB in full Police regalia indicated for me to pull in.
Remembering that a 50 m.p.h. speed limit was in force I thought I was going to be
booked for speeding. "The speedo must be faulty Officer" seemed like a weak excuse.
However, they wanted to look at the car - their first sighting of an MGB GT V8.
The police driver said would I mind if some of his colleagues saw it as well. I
said no I wouldn't mind and the next thing police cars were arriving from all
directions!! In fact a mini concourse with bonnets up.
In conclusion the V8 is a great car.
John Dupont.
This article is part of a set of two! If you enjoyed this article, check out:
"Police Report"
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