Not to be published until Wednesday 15th August 1973
MGB GT V8
GRANDEST TOURER - LATEST OF A LINE
The new MGB GT V8, with its lightweight 3.5 litre V8 engine and exceptionally high overall gearing, is the latest in a series of grand tourers to bear the MG octagon symbol. If it was the great international racing and record breaking successes over four decades that established MG as one of the greatest of sports car marques, it was with high speed tourers that the story began.
THE 'TWENTIES
Back in the early 'twenties, Cecil Kimber was a bright young Morris Garages manager mildly tuning and restyling the staid Bullnose Morrises of the day. He eagerly seized on the opportunity presented to him in 1924 when Morris introduced a new, long-wheelbase Morris Oxford. He took the chassis and made small but important alterations to produce the MG 14/28; the springs were flattened, the brakes and dampers were improved, the steering was raked down, the engine persuaded to give a little more power and on this much improved basis he mounted a superb polished light alloy four-seater open body set off by contrasting dark red or blue wings and matching button-pleated leather upholstery. It was a stunning outfit with its sloping windscreen and shiny wheel discs and it was a brisk seller at a realistic 375 pounds.
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THE 'THIRTIES
In the early 'thirties, MG toyed with touring cars with such confections as the 1100cc L-type Magna, but the preoccupation at that time was the full-blooded sports models, and it was not until the 1935 Motor Show that a new type of MG touring car was introduced. With a specification much closer to other models in the Nuffield Group than previous MGs, the SA had by the 1936 Show emerged as a smoothly styled long bonneted 2.3 litre touring car on classic lines and with an 80 mph maximum. Like many touring cars of the era it was on the heavy side, but offered considerable comfort and silence and, like the old 14/28, it was exceptional value for the money. It represented formidable opposition to William Lyons' somewhat similar SS Jaguars.
THE 'FORTIES
In a company as devoted to the principle of design progress as was MG, it was only to be expected that this first foray would be improved upon, and in 1938 the 2.6 litre WA appeared as a similarly styled saloon with characteristic tiny double rear windows. To match the larger engine there were improvements to the chassis, the axles and to the brakes and the car possessed an ability to cover long distances at satisfyingly high average speeds.
MAGNETTE
The war intervened and the success of the MG Midgets in world markets left little scope for touring cars until in 1954 the compact and neatly styled MG ZA Magnette saloon appeared. Powered by a redoubtable 1.5 litre B-series engine, the Magnette was a comfortable and acceptable four-seater saloon which proved unexpectedly suitable for competition work by virtues of the capabilities of its powerplant. Many enthusiasts mourned its passing as the last of the true MGs.
MGA AND MGB
But another true MG series was hot on its heels. The MGA of 1955 was the first
of a new generation of sporting models. It was followed by the fixed head
coupe which derived from it in 1956 which was, in turn, followed by the MGB
in 1962 which, itself, was supplemented by the MGB GT in 1965.
With a handsome and robust grand touring body which had received the attentions
of the Italian stylist Pininfarina, the MGB GT is a thoroughly practical touring
car, offering a 90 mph cruising speed and good fuel economy. It has dual purpose
character; the practical layout of the body with its big rear door gives access
to the whole interior and the 95 bhp engine proves equally happy pottering about
on shopping trips or hurrying along on international motorways.
MGB GT V8
But nothing is so good that it can't be improved and the car's structure is
so robust that it permits a much greater performance to be achieved. In 1971 the
men at Abingdon took a hard look at that lightweight V8 and went to work. The
new car is the satisfying fruit of their labours.
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A "V8 Register" meet in August 1983
The V8 Register Display as Silverstone in 2002
MGB GT V8 Press Release - Introduction
MGB GT V8 Press Release - "Description of the Car"
MGB GT V8 Press Release - "Development of the Body and the Engine"
MGB GT V8 Press Release - "Technical Specifications"
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