(From the press release for the second-generation "rubber bumper" version of the MGB GT V8 model.)
MG's "Factory" MGB GT V8 Model
Original MGB GT V8 Press Release
| article topic or title | photos | publication date | publication source | author |
| | | | | |
| MGB GT V8 - Preface | (1) | August 1973 | British Leyland | (unspecified) |
| MGB GT V8 - Description | (2) | August 1973 | British Leyland | (unspecified) |
| MGB GT V8 - Development | (4) | August 1973 | British Leyland | (unspecified) |
| MGB GT V8 - Background | (2) | August 1973 | British Leyland | (unspecified) |
| MGB GT V8 - Technical Specifications | (1) | August 1973 | British Leyland | (unspecified) |
Original MGB GT V8 Magazine Ads
| article topic or title | photos | publication date | publication source | author |
| | | | | |
| This Will Ruin Your Day | 1 | 1973 / 1974 | various (British Leyland) | (unspecified) |
| University Motors: V8 MGB GT & MGB | 1 | October 1973 | Classic Car | (unspecified) |
MGB GT V8 Fact File
| article topic or title | photos | publication date | publication source | author |
| | | | | |
| Technical and Service Notes | 29 | June 1973 | BL Product Training | (various) |
| MGB GT V8 Parts Catalog | 26 | (undated) | Moss Motors, Ltd. | (not applicable) |
| The Eleven Left-Hand-Drive Prototypes | 1 | September 08 | British V8 exclusive! | Curtis Jacobson |
| Factory MGB GT V8 Paint & Trim Colors | 4 | September 08 | British V8 exclusive! | Curtis Jacobson |
MGB GT V8 Magazine Articles
Most of the following articles were collected by veteran journalist Ken Smith for a book
he planned to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the MGB GT V8 model. Ken secured
permission to reprint the respective articles, but his book was never printed. Ken has
encouraged us to publish his collection here. Where possible, we've included original
photos with the articles. In some cases (as specifically indicated) original photos were
damaged, lost, or unsuitable for online use so we've endeavored to make appropriate
substitutions or additions. (Parenthetical entries in the "photos" column indicate "new"
photos.)
Initial Press Coverage of the MGB GT V8 Model
| article topic or title | photos | publication date | publication source | author |
| | | | | |
| MGB GT V8 in Six British Daily Newspapers | 1 | 15 August 73 | (various) | (various) |
| Look What's Gone Into the MGB GT | 5 | 16 August 73 | Autocar | A.D. Shanks |
| Auto Test: MGB GT V8 | 4 | 16 August 73 | Autocar | (unspecified) |
| At Last - V8 Power for the MGB | (1) | 16 August 73 | Motoring News | M.L.C. |
| MG B GT V8 | (2) | 17 August 73 | Police Review | W.R. Taylor |
| B-Sting: a look inside the new MGB V8 | 1 | 18 August 73 | Motor | Philip Turner |
| New Targets for the Old Firm | (1) | 18 August 73 | Motor | Philip Turner |
| Road Test: MGB GT V8 | 10 (+3) | 25 August 73 | Motor | (unspecified) |
| MG V8: Too Little, Too Late, Too Much | 4 | September 73 | Car Magazine | Mel Nichols |
| Behold the MGB V8 | 3 | October 73 | Aus. Motor Manual | Armstrong |
| Classics for 1974: MGB GT V8 | 1 | October 73 | Classic Car | (unspecified) |
| Tale of Two Vee's: MGB V8 vs Sunbeam Tiger | 4 | October 73 | Classic Car | (unspecified) |
| M.G.-B GT V8 Road Test | (2) | October 73 | Motor Sport | C.R. |
| MGB Improves with V8's Torque | (2) | 27 December 73 | Autosport | John Bolster |
| The B Comes Out of the Gloom | 3 | February 74 | Cars & Car Conversions | Fred Game |
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Later In The MGB GT V8 Production Era
| article topic or title | photos | publication date | publication source | author |
| | | | | |
| MGB V8 Goes Like A Shot From A Gun | (1) | 14 January 75 | Midweek Observer | Clive Birtwistle |
| Hey you with the squashy nose! | 2 | November 75 | Custom Car | Peter Dron |
Retrospective Views on the MGB GT V8
| article topic or title | photos | publication date | publication source | author |
| | | | | |
| Whatever Happened to the MGB V8? | 3 (+2) | June 79 | Old Motor | Chris Harvey |
| Muscles Galore: a tough car remembered | (8) | 18 December 82 | Motor | Roger Bell |
| Classic Choice: MGB GT V8 | 6 | December 82 | Thoroughbred & Classic | Graham Robson |
| Factory MGB GT V8 Racer Arrives (in U.S.A.) | 5 | May 00 | British V8 exclusive! | Jerry Richards |
| The Thames Valley Police MGB GT V8s | 3 | December 07 | British V8 exclusive! | David Willcox |
A Close Look at Example Factory MGB GT V8 Cars
| article topic or title | photos | publication date | publication source | |
| | | | | |
| Clive Wagerfield's MGB GT V8 prototype (#096) | (20) | March 09 | British V8 exclusive! | |
| Nigel Ricardo's 1975 MGB GT V8 | (11) | December 07 | British V8 exclusive! | |
| Kevin Richards' 1974 MGB GT V8 | (57) | December 07 | British V8 exclusive! | |
| Dave Wellings' 1974 MGB GT V8 | (31) | December 07 | British V8 exclusive! | |
Important Pre-Cursor to the Factory MGB GT V8: The Ken Costello MGB V8's
| article topic or title | photos | publication date | publication source | author |
| | | | | |
| Introducing the Costello MGB.V8 | 1 (+2) | September 72 | Costello Motor Eng. | Ken Costello |
| Costello V8: A Tiger in MG's Clothing | 1 | 25 July 71 | The Sunday Times | Maxwell Boyd |
| Costello V8: An MGB that Bites | 1 | 3 February 72 | The Sunday Observer | Gordon Wilkins |
| AutoTest: Costello MGB GT V8 | 5 | 25 May 72 | Autocar | (unspecified) |
| Bumbling B: first test of the Costello V8 | 1 | 2 June 73 | Motor | Tony Dron |
| Ken Costello and the MGB-V8 | 1 (+5) | August 96 | British V8 exclusive! | Robin Weatherall |
| Costello V8 MKII | (+2) | August 97 | British V8 exclusive! | David Michel |
B.C. ("Before Costello"): Early MGB Engine Swaps
| article topic or title | photos | publication date | publication source | author |
| | | | | |
| MGB Buick? | 3 | November 67 | Sports Car World | Al Lauder |
Note: literally hundreds of MGB V8 and V6 swaps have been documented in magazines. The article
"MGB Buick?" in Sports Car World is special because it featured an aluminum V8 conversion way
back in 1967. You can be sure that MG's management saw this article! We'll probably republish
other noteworthy articles as we obtain permissions and reproducible photos. Other interesting
"B.C." conversion articles include "289 + MGB = Fun" in Hot Rod Magazine (11/69) featuring a
Ford V8 conversion, "British Bomber" in Popular Hot Rodding, (2/72) featuring a Chevy V8
conversion, and "A Hot English Transplant" in Popular Hot Rodding (3/72) featuring a Buick V6
conversion.
