1973 MGB GT V8 Review - The Ultimate Classic British Muscle Car

[@alexanderstass2873]

From 1973 to 1976 they produced only 2591 cars. There are only a few original lefthand for marketing purposes out there. These are British manufactured with an 1965 Italien Pininfarina design and a great american Buick 215cui V8. They said back that time and already to the 4 Cylinder that this is " The poor man's Aston Martin" ....but I tell you what, this is the greatest and cheapest copy of a AC Shelby Daytona Cobra from the late 60's. I just love it

[@robcrissinger776]

What drug are you on COBRA not It's a nice still underpowered even w V8 Shelby Cobra 3-4 times the horsepower and times the torque. A fiero isn't a Ferrari And a 215 v8 isn't a Shelby Cobra 😂

[@PhilipShand]

alexanderstass......The motor is a Rover 3.5 ltr V8 which was originally a Buick motor but considerably re-engineered by Rover engineers in-house.This motor was subsequently used in many vehicles under the Leyland umbrella,both cars & trucks.

[@rogerwatt8491]

Great video! My interest is that I was a professional car photographer, MGB GT owner and founder member of the MGOC when the V8 came out. When it arrived for photographing, it had the V8 badges taped over and a 50 mph sticker on the tailgate as we were in the middle of the fuel crisis back then. I had the car for a week, only took the tape off the badges when photographing it, drove it hundreds of miles, loved it and promised myself that I'd own one as soon as I could . . . which I finally did in 1977, keeping it for three years before moving on to Porsche 911s and then BMWs when the kids came along. I loved the BGT V8 and it remains the car I most regret selling. PS: I also owned an MGC GT before the V8 but not for long as I just didn't enjoy driving it one bit . . . especially compared to all the cars I was photographing back then.

[@wukongdukong16]

The rover V8 uses a aluminium block and aluminium cylinder heads. And it’s quite a small V8 and because it’s light it’s a really popular engine to put in our smaller British cars. Me and my dad made a Sebring mgb and put a rover V8 in it. There a easy car to tune up and get more horsepower as well. Loved the video as well hello from across the pond

[@TheGoldenDrive]

oh wow thats awesome. A rover v8 would make the MGB even more fun

[@cormotorcars5393]

The V8 is 20kg lighter than the 4 which really surprised me.

[@bobdadruma]

I grew up working on these cars. they are awesome fun.

[@TheGoldenDrive]

That’s awesome

[@cantorbernie]

As far as I know they were not imported into the USA. A few made it to Canada. Quite a number of MGB owners have dropped V'8's into their cars, but to find an original factory MGB factory V8 - well it's those proverbial hen's teeth. Hugely collectible!

[@cormotorcars5393]

Sorry for a few mistakes. 1. Old Buick motor used till 2003 and not 1993 in Land Rovers 2. Rear drum brakes rebuilt. Not calipers. 😎

[@colinmorris2604]

Great video had my mgb for 30 years makes me smile even today. and I am am 6.1 well done

[@chasephotos4780]

Love your enthusiasm and appreciation for this jewel of a car.

[@TheGoldenDrive]

Thanks so much, it really is a fun car

[@robcrissinger776]

The MGB GT wasent a Pininfarina designed car. The roof lines were thier work. The article also neglects to tell you a man named Ken 15:54 Costello designed and installed the buicks v8 and sold many. The engineers at Leyland couldn't do it said it wasent possible Ken had done it anf started selling them Leyland saw them ruining around he make some for them and they started buying all the engines they could get from the stated effectively killing his thriving business His was lighter and at least 20 more Hp

[@starfox_wr-45e93]

Cool cars. I believe The MG/Rover group bought the V8 rights/design from GM back in the day and continued development. This was *THE* V8 to have for British hotrodders. We used to put this engine it into EVERYTHING 🤣🤣 Two of my favorite swaps I saw were into a ford sierra Cosworth RS500 replica by Top Boss Tuning and an BMW E30. Both were Twin Turbo converted 😃

[@TheGoldenDrive]

Ooooh that’s awesome to know, I didn’t know you put it in everything haha. And that sounds like a really cool swap

[@threalMrT76]

The Buick 215 was actually an early all aluminium engine , that Buick wasn't able to make successful in their own cars, so it was shelved. The story goes that Rover, in the early 1960s (independent company at the time) went to the U.S. to find an engine they could buy as a design to compete with the then new Triumph 2ltr 6cylinder . The Rover engineers that went to Buick saw the 215, a deal was done and this saw the birth of the "Rover V8". First used in the P5B (b for buick) at 3500cc. Fast forward to the early 1970s and now with Rover, Triumph, M.G. and others within the British Leyland group, a tuner called Ken Costello fitted a Rover V8 to an MGB. BL took note of this and built the MGBGTV8. Sadly labour's strikes and supply problems meant that it would only last from 1973-1976 (2500 ish were made). And yes only 7 in LHD, used for evaluation in the US and then sold to Europe. A rare car that most of us MGB owners would love to own

[@pierrelessard2346]

As an MGB enthousiast, The Bristish Leland badge was intalled at the factory only on the passanger front wings. Not on the driver side .......

[@rogerwatt8491]

Correct . . . as was the V8 badge.

[@paulbromley6687]

I had an MGB roadster 1.8 it was a brilliant car to drive for a twenty two year old kid. After a basic saloon it was like a rocket.

[@MT-dv8gl]

Great video and good review of the V8. Go easy on the gear shift and avoid stressing the gear train. This is an old lady, not a golf GTI. No burn outs...no boughnuts....go easy on her.

[@gregmooradian3711]

Beautiful car, especially that it’s been kept original. Very classy indeed!

[@elroyfudbucker6806]

Strictly speaking, at 3:20, the guest said that Buick supplied Rover & MG with the engines when in fact Rover bought the sole rights to manufacture the engines from Buick, who designed it, but decided not to put it into production; something to do with it being too small & being made entirely from aluminium. Rover, part of the huge BMC group, then went on to develop the V8 further, putting it into their own cars including Range Rovers & Land Rovers. Other manufacturers to use the V8 were Morgan in their Plus 8 & TAR.

[@altaclipper]

I'm not bothered by that little detail. If Buick hadn't created the engine in the first place, no one would have had it, so what's the difference?

[@bronzestarvue]

I had a 1980 MGB that was "restored" to look like a late 60's model, no big black bumpers, no side markers, with a Rover V8 and T5 manual transmission. Car was fun to drive in a straight line, but the stock suspension was a bit weak for the V8's output. I've read that the combo of the Rover V8 and 5-speed weighs about 40 pounds less than the OEM 4-cylinder and transmission, so no added weight up front.

[@gryphon123456]

My Friend has a regular MGB roadster. When properly maintained, these cars are one of the best driving experiences you can have!

[@TheGoldenDrive]

That’s so awesome

[@louk231]

I'm 6'5" and drove a B-GT for many years . There is a lot of room and my legs were usually positioned straight in the tunnel to the pedals. The interviewer hasn't reclined the seat which is why he is so close to the steering wheel.

[@RoadsUntraveled]

The SOUNDS :D Great video.

[@TheGoldenDrive]

I know right??!! Haha, thanks so much brother 🙌🙌

[@markherzog9484]

Legroom is fantastic, my buddy (6’2”) broke his leg skiing and had a full length cast, my MGB was the only car he could travel in the front seat and straighten his leg….TCY 237M, I miss you still….. black convertible 1974 chrome bumpers…..anyone seen it? I owned it from 1978 to c1984……

[@guyfairbairn6498]

Standard MGB's with the 1.8 engine have about 95bhp - they also made the MGC with a 3.0 straight 6 engine. The V8 was used in Rovers (P5, P6 and SD1), the Triumph TR8, I think some Lotus Esprit's and Range Rovers as noted as well. Also used in the Morgan Plus 8's. Amazing sound:) Some standard MGB's were converted to V8's later so a factory version is best I'm told!. You should also check out the Lotus 7/Caterham's.....

[@davidgerrard8661]

Factory version more valuable but my conversion has 3.9, higher compression motor, t5 tyranny, edelbrock 500 and tubular headers and wilwood brakes on uprated suspension and is a way better drive. Faster anyway 😁

[@petyrkowalski9887]

The Rover V8 is very tuneable as well… was used by TVR a lot. Ps. lotus never used it…they built their own.

[@p.istaker8862]

Lotus used their own V8.

[@ianactually]

Love your enthusiasm!! They're great little cars - even for big blokes :-D

[@paulbromley6687]

It’s a car that not only torques the torque it walks the walk too.

[@MGDriver99]

6 foot 3 inch and mine is one of the few cars I can sit in with my legs near enough straight. A smaller wheel would help but I think you hadn't quite found your optimum seat position. "I feel like a child again" - that's what it's all about!

[@georgepernicone]

There's a reason why the gas pedal and brake are so close together. In brisk driving situations it's beneficial to apply the brakes while increasing rpms to better facilitate downshifting into a curve for instance.

[@duncnt121scotty]

I have one , and the smiles only get bigger when !! :-)

[@TheGoldenDrive]

That’s awesome

[@tonyalderton9885]

I have one and I love it us much as you did. I also have a TR5 which has more power (150bhp in 1968). but a totally different drive.

[@TheGoldenDrive]

haha that's so awesome. The TR5 looks like it'll be a fun car to drive too

[@altaclipper]

They usually had a hood that was silghtly contoured to accomodate the engine. I saw one for the first time in real life a couple of months ago and I don't expect ever to see another one.

[@Chris-v4z1t]

The contoured hood was only on the Costello V8, (private converter). BMC moved the carburettors back to use a standard one.

[@grassisbad3280]

I’ve got a 74 v8 they are awesome 0-60 7.2 sec . 125 mph top end which I’ve done . You have to watch them in the wet but even more fun to drive . You missed out mentioning the overdrive so they cruise 70 / 80 easily. They slightly de-tuned them for the mg the rovers had nearer 150 bhp . There was about 3200 made and just under 2000 were chrome bumper and were only made as GTs . British leyland badge is correct and the v8 badges were only put on the near side . But most people put badges on both wings / fenders . But the grin factor is what these are about and you don’t need car audio the engine noise is the soundtrack. 😎

[@TJ-Dives]

They were very very difficult to find insurance for. So not many were sold to Joe public in the UK. My mate hade a black one and his insurance tripled. He sold it and bought a Ford Capri which I think was also a big very fast engine. May have been a 3 litre or 3.5 litre. I remember some guy in town had a Jensen Interceptor and that was crazy. That beast had a 7 litre engine in it. These were the day's of Kawasaki 750 Honda 750 4 into 1. Kawasaki 1000 etc. I could go on but there was so much around back then. Lotus Europa and so on. Might even see a Gilbern, Scimitar, Lancia, Alfa 1750 junior. 😂 fun day's.

[@rogerwatt8491]

When I got mine in 1977, the insurance didn't increase much over that of the MGB GT it replaced.

[@joaobernardocosta]

i'd say the ultimate classic british muscle car is the jensen interceptor, but this one is pretty incredible too!

[@cybersurfer2010]

Nice little car!

[@tomedge1044]

2500 built all right hand drive, the BGT V8 was never sold left hand drive but are really nice example

[@TheGoldenDrive]

wow thats rare

[@JimCaronP71]

Crazy fun car

[@p.romvig4202]

Fun fact, the rover v8 are really close to a Buick small block. I always wanted to Buick turbo v6 swap a mgb gt.

[@Peter_Spang]

I daily my b gt as a mountain biker so they’re pretty sweet I can fit my bikes in the boot and have a damn good drive to the trails way too much fun best cars

[@mgbchuck6527]

[@davidgerrard8661]

Wheels are alloy centres w steel rims

[@rafranks1410]

The wheels are stock to the V8, and they are known as Jubilee wheels.

[@frankmgbguy4584]

Where is Zack Spencer? I'd love to see hime take it out for a review like some of the Porsches he does :)

[@barryphillips7327]

Buick built these engines 1950s American drivers were not trusting of the engine because it was/is All Alloy/Aluminium so it was not popular, 60s--70s Rover/BL were looking around in America and needed a better engine for their cars in the UK, the Alloy Buick V8 was seen and BL bought the rights to build these engines now since then they have been in too many British cars to list, ( my information could be wrong but this is what i have read/heard how this all happened ) Guessing the 1800 4pot engine about 60--65 maybe, the Alloy V8 is Lighter and has about twice the power, i know which i would have NO question about it, V8!! Yes it might ONLY be 137hp BUT unlike average American land yachts that WEIGH 2 ton +, the MGB GT V8 is Light weight, POWER TOO WEIGHT!!!! With light weight you do not need mega hp!! SU Skinners Union a British Company founded in the 1930s.

[@mgman6851]

The standard car produced 95hp. There were less than 3000 MGB GT V8s made .

[@TheGoldenDrive]

Oh wow didn’t know it was so rare

[@andrevandyck]

1600 chrome bumpers and 1000 rubber bumpers

[@torbjornandreasson]

Got One 😊

[@russparker1647]

Is this car for sale?

[@markherzog9484]

Standard MGB 4 pot petrol was only at best 85/90 Bhp…….the V8 was all about torque, not raw power as it weighed in around 1400kgs…..

[@robcrissinger776]

1400 kg is 3100 pounds the MGB GT didn't weigh over 3000 lbs. So much poor information in this whole conversation It's silly 😂

[@suspectedcrab]

Are you still getting a 370z?

[@TheGoldenDrive]

I’m getting the new 2023 Nissan Z.

[@suspectedcrab]

@@TheGoldenDrive Awesome. I can't wait to see the videos you make of it.

[@duncnt121scotty]

..

[@davidgerrard8661]

Rear drums, leaking cylinders probably

[@kgindustries2937]

The British iron is really fun to drive.

[@TheGoldenDrive]

So true

[@davidgerrard8661]

No chassis so they are light too

[@mtbwithjames8701]

3.9

[@PhilipShand]

You didn't play with the overdrive on the gearbox. Turns it into a 6-speed. I'm glad you found you don't need a massive motor to have a permanent grin in your face. See,us Brits know how to build cars that are fun to drive. Track down an Austin Healey 3000 & a Triumph TR 6. They also have overdrive gearboxes to play with. MORE fun.

[@stringer-ik1pc]

Seems an odd presentation of a beautiful old classic car .