Classic: MG RV8
Posted on 05-03-2016 to 18:00 by larssb – 32 Comments”
Not a better roadster than the Mazda MX-5? Oh, yes we do: an MG RV8.
Not necessarily better, but that was the question. Despite the lead-time of no less than eighteen years of his ancestor had evolved MG B still not completely error-free. Although he differed from his illustrious predecessor, only the doors and the same boot were interchangeable. In its type designation is “B” then also not more. But that V8 though, and that’s promising.
A deep gurgling roar, to start. Such as the MGB GT V8 that is also produced between 1973 and 1976. In the lean compartment housed Rover’s well-known 3.5-litre V8. The 137-HORSEPOWER, there were not very exciting, but the sound and that was a beautiful symbiosis with its looks. And looks were the decade before the appearance of the RV8 subordinate been at MG. There were some MG’s released, but that amounted to nothing more than badge-engineering of existing models like the Metro and Montego BL. Time for a real MG, but the plans for the MG F was already to simmer.
An enthusiastic team of Rover Group, the then owner of MG, broke on a return of a true MG, and thought deeply about it. Reverse. Typical British and very charming, certainly. Where Mazda with the first MX-5 over three years earlier, a modern interpretation of the ancient roadster brought, came MG in 1992, actually, with an ancient version of the modern car. Rover’s Special Projects Division, it seemed a good idea to have a old MG B substances, and a 3.9-litre Rover V8 in to bags. About dusting, we can still have it, but that last one is never a bad idea.
That dusting was explainable. For the revival of the British roadster was a limited budget available: only £ 5.000.000. Peanuts. Project Adder, as the intern was called, had a high Aldi-content, but thank god not the brush-sad-poor. The project was for a large part supported and run by enthusiastic former employees of MG. From engineers to assemblagemedewerkers, they were all of their pension and bingo afternoons released to the RV8 shape. A nice mix of old and new.
Where the veterans apparently striking at each other, tangling at the back of the RV8. Because it changed almost nothing: leaf springs and drum brakes. As they did that the one hundred year. On the front was the suspension-what more bijdetijds with double wishbones, disc brakes and an anti-roll bar. That was also for the body, this seemed very on the MG B, but was largely redesigned and adapted to the time. Just like the headlights, taillights, grill, and rims. In the end it was 95% of the RV8 new compared to the old MG B. And yet old-fashioned. Only in Britain.
Just like a typical aristocratic interior. The well-known Conolly leather was also here around folded and stitched. And anything that is not leather-wrapped, was of wood. Thick and shiny. That sophisticated interior was hand crafted, just as many parts of the body. British Motor Heritage Ltd. and Abby Panels Ltd. building large parts of the body, especially in the case of Abby mostly manually and with traditional craftsmanship. They were also allowed Rolls-Royce and Jaguar to their customers.
Buyers of the RV8 probably thought that they had accidentally along confused, because the RV8 was no bargain. In 1993 he went for ￡26.500 in the books. Serious money, for which you indeed received with open arms by the Jaguar dealer. Many Brits and a few Europeans who are in the market for such a fun toy also ran the MG showroom over. If you seriously sent had to be chose they would prefer a TVR. The RV8 sounded really fantastic and sprinted in six seconds to the hundred, but especially the vintage suspension behind threw quite a spanner in the works as the sporting qualities arrived. That was even the antique-embracing British.
The japanese, on the other hand not at all. When Rover Japan the RV8 introduced at the Tokyo motor show in 1993, this MG is immediately the hit of the show. Less than 1300 orders were listed there, and of the almost 2000 produced RV8’s, all RHD, went up more than 1500 copies to the land of the rising sun. A lot of thought over the years their way back to the UK and other enthusiasts in Europe or the USA. There are even some RV’s converted to LHD. Easier in the McDrive. Or you have to reverse through, then you will enjoy even more of the incredibly tasty V8 gegorgel. Because of how flawless and sophisticated, that has such a MuurbloempjeX-5.
Gallery: Rover RV8
”
“