Drive in an MGB GT V8

[@garyjones5406]

Almost forgot how notchy MG boxes were till I saw the driver shift down from 3rd to 2nd.....oh the memories....3 blown heads , broken engine mounts , worn front wheel splines leading to wheel disappearing into a river at 70mph , cold , leaky , rusting ...I loved it .

[@HamPaula]

I bought a new Glacier White GT V8 in August 1973 - reg HFF 416, sold her in 1982, bought her back in 1985 and resold her in 1991, wish I hadn’t as I miss the car enormously. It’s still about and appears mint according to MOT history. Would love to be reunited with her. The late Barry Sidery-Smith dealt with all the sales, bless him.

[@superpuddlestomper]

I have the joy and privilege of getting to drive our friend's '73 standard to car shows on occasion here in the States. I never tire of it. Thank you for sharing your video.

[@brettsalter3300]

Beautiful piece of machinery mate! Hope you get many, many enjoyable miles in it.

[@nodeloc1955]

Geez l would be grinning like a Cheshire cat if l had that baby.What a sound track no need for a radio....lucky guy.

[@septimuspugwash6991]

Oh my Lord - sweet, sweet music from that whoofly, growling V8!

[@mikegilchrist5181]

You’ve caught the sound perfectly. I also enjoy the slight whining sound from the drivetrain. Thanks for sharing and please post some more.

[@mjsnz1]

Thanks…that was the plan and then along came Covid…

[@mikegilchrist5181]

@@mjsnz1 I had the 4 cylinder BGT and after that the TR7 V8 (converted - not original) in South Africa. Sold now because I moved to the UK. I'm not likely going find another because of rust issues. But the performance and sound ......... your video makes it all so tempting - thanks.

[@mjsnz1]

It is a Rover V8 bored to 3.9 litres with higher lift cams and a set of ss headers but still running 2 x SU carbs

[@martinlang9615]

Years ago, cruising at 100 on the Bruce Highway in Queensland Australia, I could see a rapidly approaching low small car. It couldn’t overtake as it was too dangerous at the time, once clear, this thing FLEW around me with my jaw dropping in my lap I had never seen such acceleration.

[@gjmob]

The Bruce Highway in FNQ is so bad that you can't go 100kmph

[@marknelson5929]

Sounds terrific! I gather it has a 5-speed box in it, either LT77 or something else? I had a converted 1973 BGT in UK a few years ago (now back in Oz) which was done by an ex RAF fighter pilot who served in the 1970s/80s. He bought a fellow squadrons pilot 1.8 litre BGT in 1979, ran it like that till around 1990 when he dropped in a Rover SD1 V8 and its LT77 5-speed box, along with brake upgrade etc. It was a wolf in sheeps clothing as it looked like your bog standard 1.8. I bought that car off him in 2006 in Suffolk. Loved that car, so much fun. It was miles better than the factory built V8s.

[@mjsnz1]

Sounds a fun car. Mine was an original chrome bumper factory car, running the std 4 speed gearbox with O/D..however the engine was bored out to 3.9 litres, had a flowed set of cylinder heads and stainless full length extractors, but still ran SUs. It also had telescopic shocks and re rated springs, everything bolt on so easy to take back to stock. The car went very well and was amazingly economic on a long trip. I said was as the video was made to help sell the car...it worked. Thanks for the comments.

[@LeeFrancis-f6y]

No 4 speed plus overdrive in 3rd and fourth

[@S7EVE_P]

Beautiful car, beautiful weather....living the dream...I love it👍

[@mjsnz1]

Good ones are hard to come by...and getting very rare...you just have to keep looking and make sure the body is good

[@scotthouchen1916]

Love it 10 ways from Sunday. Great automotive mechanism!!!

[@elroyfudbucker6806]

Choice car bro, eh? Top sounding exhaust.

[@thejerseyj1636]

I've always loved the B GT's, and this one sounds fantastic !!! However... Find better roads!

[@johntaeb99]

Limited options on the North shore this is as good as it gets

[@dreamdiction]

MG MGB GT V8 Coupe (Phase IV) Weight: 1145 kilograms (2524 lbs) Engine: 3,528cc V8 cylinder Power: 137 bhp at 5,250 rpm Torque: 193 lb ft at 2,900 rpm Top speed: 125 mph (201 km/h) 0-60 mph: 7.7 seconds

[@daveshongkongchinachannel]

The base model with 1.8 twin carb actually sounds rather nice too but the Rover V8 is in another league altogether. What I wouldn't give to be able to own one of those.

[@tomsmith2209]

Very nice bit of kit.

[@douglasgreen437]

Incredible V8..

[@BlaiddDrwg2]

Love the sound!

[@Aly_Son.2000]

What a dream of a car

[@fuzzy8mike]

Great sound !

[@vikos78]

Don't leave your foot on the clutch at trafic light. The graphite bearing will thank you for this.

[@ColinH1973]

Sounds lovely.👍

[@Aly_Son.2000]

4:29 ❤

[@TK42138]

Superb sound.

[@matthewcaesar3795]

That’s a beautiful car and sounds the goods! I’m in Australia and have been looking for one for a while, is it best just importing one?

[@ThisIsVinecessary]

Have you got one yet? If not I suggest you do import one. Even shitters are going for stupid money now days...

[@05Rudey]

An awesome car.

[@danb.3397]

Didn't hear if you mentioned anything about the driveline and any tweaks you did. It sounds healthy.

[@mjsnz1]

The video was to help promote the car for sale. It had very solid interest and sold well. The driveline and gearbox were standard MGB GT V8 and coped beautifully. I was always gentle with the car in 1st and 2nd gears as I figured the massive torque of this more powerful engine might cause some issues, but it never did.

[@danb.3397]

​@@mjsnz1 So I'm guessing you put in a 215 aluminum engine with the standard gearbox and diff. Don't blame you for taking it easy. Just because we're here, I have my 1970 GT with Ford 5.0 driveline and Mustang suspension on the road now and there are no worries about "taking it easy".

[@jamesdean8900]

Im buying one soon. Ill be doing this myself and I can’t wait!

[@garagedhq8947]

Awesome sound!

[@simonbarnwell7787]

You need a bigger Road mate , all those traffic lights were driving me crazy .

[@mjsnz1]

Haha...agree... the video was made to help sell the car...it worked and has had so many views I just leave it up. I took the car for a huge roadie a few years back...around 4000kms all over NZ.

[@pralhadmundargi6503]

Technology and the cars were was so different in those days.

[@peterpowder8546]

Riding that clutch a bit? 🥴

[@arttafil6792]

Nice BGT! It’s almost as fast as my 02 Audi A4 3.0 V6 Quattro. I’ll guarantee it’s more enjoyable to drive even though the Audi has more creature comforts.

[@00Dusty]

ive seen a few of these here in england rusting away and id love to restomod one but the interior looks so small how do you find it with a passenger?

[@mjsnz1]

It is snug but I think pretty typical of that era of British cars....I’m 6 foot and felt I had heaps of room...did some big drives and loved the effortless way the car demolished the miles

[@clooperman3745]

A lot of people say the ex Buick/Rover V8 wasn't a good engine, change the engine oil every 3000 miles and coolant of the correct type yearly and they will cover very high mileage, neglect or abuse them and they wont.

[@truthseeker8483]

I had a P6B with one...ran beautifully especially if you let it breathe with better exhaust /air cleaner and more fuel....A Policeman was impressed how fast in accelerated haha

[@CybreSmee]

God, Ive been looking for one of those for years. Its not for sale by chance?

[@mjsnz1]

I actually did the video to promote the sale...it worked and the car sold very quickly...good luck finding one

[@The-Enthusiast47]

I'm getting into classic car driving and the B might be first pick even if it's a 1600 model

[@Pietervdv]

1800 you mean.

[@DD66]

I love how everything else just accelerates quicker 😅

[@richardhoulton4016]

0-100kph is around 8 seconds stock. So they were “quick” for their time, but never “fast”. But who really cares when you can get that sound track without endangering your licence?

[@jettrink7510]

I got a thrill out of driving mine with four cylinders... or course I had to double clutch 3rd gear.

[@mjsnz1]

Ive sold the car, so sorry can't give any more info re the steering wheel

[@chunkchunk9948]

Thank you for replying, I've been watching this video on repeat just for the sound of it.

[@mjsnz1]

@@chunkchunk9948 I miss that bit too...

[@denis9450]

You can still by a complete new body from MG Heritage

[@malcolmlane-ley2044]

I feel rather sad for the people who will miss the driving engagement and sound from such a car; an electric vehicle will never equal the stimulation.

[@mjsnz1]

Couldn’t agree more…the sound of a push rod V8 is truly evocative.

[@MeetJoeBlack55]

I think my college buddy had a MGC-GT with a V8 ???

[@mjsnz1]

MGC GT was the straight 6 Cyl version….nice engine but much heavier than the alloy V8 that was lighter than even the std 1.8 litre 4 cylinder

[@rosiehawtrey]

Two iron blocks - 1.8B (85/95/130hp (supercharger kit)) and 3.0C - the V8 is a 215cui buick aluminium engine, 3.5, and was a nightmare at first to cast for BMC because iron casting and machining very different to working aluminium. 80% of castings failed.

[@arttafil6792]

Which engine does it have?

[@mjsnz1]

It is a Rover 3.5 litre V8....all alloy...bored to 3.9 litres with extractors but still running twin SU carbs

[@arttafil6792]

mjsnz1, thanks. Did you ever think about installing a Ford 4.7 liter (289 cid) engine in it? It’s about the same weight but way more reliable and there are a ton of go-fast parts out there for it.

[@mjsnz1]

@@arttafil6792 I would be staggered if the cast iron 4.7 litre Ford was anywhere close to the all alloy Buick - Rover V8 which was lighter than the cast iron 1.8 litre 4 cyl stock MGB engine....The MG V8 also had the std cars gearbox and overdrive and really the Rover was already heaps of power for these and also for the chassis.

[@arttafil6792]

mjsnz1, another nice nine would be the Mazda Miata engine. The twin cam crossflow head is a free reviver it should be quite easy to pull an honest 150 bhp at the crank from it. That would give you the sound of a 4 cylinder while providing the power of a six. Plus it would accent the handling to a more neutral bias.

[@mjsnz1]

@@arttafil6792 Don't forget the alloy V8 is lighter than the cast iron 4 - hence the V8 is a better balanced car than the std and the torque from the V8 is massive and low down so with the V8 you get easy relaxed effortless driving and passing power plus the fabulous sound...all while retaining the car as it was ex factory.

[@kbrickell4732]

which country ?? south africa ??

[@mjsnz1]

New Zealand

[@michaelbuttner8076]

Great video, thanks.

[@Channel-os4uk]

Should have filmed it on some nice wiggly roads out of Wagga Wagga

[@mjsnz1]

Haha...to true..or around Whiritoa or Kuaotunu...I just did it as a video to help sell the car but given its popularity I've left it up

[@ethanstoyhunts2865]

Doing a supercharged MGB GT with a Gen III Coyote. Thinking of doing a widebody on the MGB. In the spirit of our two great nations. HEHEHE

[@mjsnz1]

Perfect...and the all alloy original engine is of course the US Buick that BMC purchased in the 60's

[@carldinebando4118]

@@mjsnz1 what engine did you use for it?

[@Andiakhyar95]

This engine sound similar with 1UZ-FE

[@stewartbrown4665]

Likes to undertake 😂

[@yan24to]

Epic

[@jimmeer]

Gearbox is unlikely to last long without more TLC

[@mjsnz1]

Hmm..make sure oil the best you can buy (HPR 30 Penrite for this car) and warm , match revs on down shifts, take care with 1st to second change and you wont have issues. Ive driven this car all over NZ and never an issue...been restoring and racing Classic and Historic cars for decades

[@kmmining1359]

Shouldn't it have a walnut dashboard?

[@mjsnz1]

Definitely not - the factory MGB GT V8 cars had the same back crackle finish as the 4cyl MGBs ...they also strangely had a slightly smaller speedo and tacho...and tinted windows

[@kmmining1359]

@@mjsnz1 Plenty of these MGBGT V8's have the Walnut dash.. perhaps it was an optional extra?

[@mjsnz1]

@@kmmining1359 I have never seen a 1973/74 chrome bumper MGB GT V8 with a walnut dash - you aren't thinking of the MG RV8 which came out in 1992? The had a walnut dash.MG RV8

[@984francis]

Funny how often in this type of video, there will be a burst of acceleration only to see the guy in front pull away!