NEW Frontline MGB Restomod With 350hp V8! FIRST DRIVE Review

This is the Frontline Developments V8 MGB - a restomod classic completely re-engineered to maintain authenticity but evolve the driving dynamics and daily usability of this classic icon. With 350hp from a naturally aspirated V8 in a car that weighs just under 1000kg the MGB V8 from Frontline Developments is as fast as it is beautiful...very!
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[@JDSFLA]

Now that is a cool car. All I want is a wheel, some dials and a stick shift. In a world where car reviews spend 80% of the review covering the "tech", the simplicity of an analog everything is so appealing.

[@shankarbalan3813]

Absolutely. In today’s world cars are like a fridge or a laptop with an engine and wheels.

[@allensaunders449]

Cars are tech objects now too for the most part

[@lbowsk]

Yep. When I win the lotto I'm buying a '71 911E and a 1945 Piper Cub. I'll drive the 911 to the grass strip. And I'll be smiling all day.

[@MGRracing]

You don't want a seat and pedals and a chassis? 😅 .

[@johnnytheirishman3387]

Is anybody else here absolutely loving the British countryside scenery in MR JWW videos! Stunningly beautiful

[@jamespink4202]

It's the Cotswolds, I loved it so much I moved from Kent to be here. I ride bicycles, an old Velocette and a fast cars around here. Bliss! 😏

[@marksmith8732]

Im from Cheshire but I moved to Florida 30 years ago ,so for me it makes me very homesick.

[@johnnytheirishman3387]

@@jamespink4202 sounds fantastic! Cheers

[@AS102305]

Absolutely fantastic

[@jamcarz8982]

I’m from Tennessee and I love the UK. Would love to have a home there one day!!!

[@LaurieMB]

That intake manifold is truly spectacular! Stunning car and back story.

[@ozeskiman]

What a stunning car. Who doesn't love an MGB? And this car has been given a new life. How cool is the choice of colour. Cars and guitars. Thanks for bringing it to our attention.

[@dr.robertt.mullaneiii1561]

I've owned two MGBs in my day, and I loved their simple beauty, especially the way they came so cheap! One thing they did lack was power enough to become exciting. But they were not about speed; that was okay. They were fun enough. Period.

[@THESLlCK]

nothing I love more than coachbuilts like this. Especially modern coachbuilt cars

[@Peter-pi4zo]

Would have been nice to know a few technical details such as what type of engine? Rover, Chevy or Ford? Amazing car beautifully done.

[@johnp8625]

Modernised classic 4.8-litre, Rover V8 engine with an optimised induction system

[@justaguy1451]

This is simply gorgeous. You are a lucky guy, Mr JWW.

[@tutelarius]

When James says 'set a spot of context' my wallet runs away.

[@williamrogercummings9607]

Very cool, well done resto on the MGB, which is an Icon. Thanks, James.

[@Vinttro]

We love your restomod features. Great work. ✌🏼

[@bb-nq5qc]

Been watching you a very long time.. this is one of the best videos you have produced in every manner of reference.

[@johnnysmith863]

I drove a custom made V8 MGB Roadster for many years and loved it (built by The MGB Hive in Wisbech). It wasn't a patch on this thing though! The interior in particular is stunning. Nice work Frontline!

[@gene978]

Much Appreciated JW. What a Beauty I think it’s priceless it’s so beautiful.

[@Watson1973]

Been a big fan of Frontline MGBs and now I know they accommodate V8 engines. I’d save up for that restomod option rather than the mazda engine they use.

[@Sangamkr]

These Restomod series are making me fall in love with classic cars with different perspective and aim to own one. any plans to review a classic mini cooper Restomod, James?

[@christopherg9806]

Phenomenal choice of colors, details... I LOVE that it is very muted and only softly rumbles when you get on it.

[@maxmacdonald4440]

For around 100k, an analogue bespoke experience like this seems very appealing compared to buying a modern mass produced sports car in that bracket

[@user-dn3yk2qu7f]

Buy an RV8 and add Hoyles engine conversion and a tune, et voila less than $30k, blumin awesome

[@adrianharrison5208]

@@user-dn3yk2qu7f very good point

[@John-G]

What makes you think it was around 100k? With 300 hours just preparing the bodywork I think you'd be looking at a lot more than that.

[@bield7]

Beautifully engineered and executed, but OMG - that steering wheel 😳

[@nigelparker5886]

Black May have looked ok...but white looks a bit trashy!eh? Still may be a reason for wanting that look?

[@bield7]

Can’t think what it would be!

[@mitchellschwartz2148]

Right? Couldn't find a wrap in a color that matched?

[@artistnyc123]

Black if no other choice but wood matching the shift knob would be best.

[@44Angelblue]

Agreed! I assume it's to co-ordinate with the equally ill-advised white stripes on the front wings... Which also looks very odd. But each to their own. Stratocaster matching or not!!

[@hanoiboy9839]

That is what you call a super nice MGB with a cool V8. Very aesthetic indeed and the motor in it is stunning !

[@sidrennie9433]

Beautiful! 350 horses... wow! Love it!!!

[@kirk911constantine]

I truly love great restomods and this one is a beautiful example of a restomod done right. Beautiful color. Great interpretation of what an MG GT should be.

[@paullytle1904]

Not a gt a roadster

[@keithprinn720]

for me a restomodded TR6 please.

[@buddafingahz9057]

I've always liked these MGBs and this is one of the nicest I've ever seen. It looks so classy, especially the interior. Thanks for posting.

[@ryanguercio7061]

Love this unique beast. You need to get a restomod for the channel and the bunker. Awesome work

[@jjefferyworboys8138]

Lovely, probably the best Restomod I have seen.

[@ericheine2414]

He told us zero about the motor. He told us zero about the rear end. Let's just assume he used the BMW motor. You went with the stock rear end. And if you bang gears it splits the spiders. The body twists and the doors chip the paint. The wire wheels are crap. It goes to 110 fast but you wouldn't want to hang out there. The clock runs backwards because you changed the ground but didn't reverse the polarity at the clock. One battery or two? Lever shocks or tube socks? Lever with 3/4 valving? And you had to relocate the oil filter. That's a quick casket.

[@kendutchess]

This is the coolest MGB I have ever seen. My older brother used to drive a 1966 MGB. I loved that car. I think that the paint is called Shoreline Gold, or perhaps, Aztec Gold. These colors were first used by GM/Chevrolet. They were developed by DuPont.

[@Frieghtliner1975]

My 72 GT is Harvest Gold. Not rare... but, a little uncommon.

[@aaronpickard6993]

What an amazing way to spend a Sunday 👌. Thank you for the hospitality and fantastic review 🙏. Have you managed to get the VW moving yet?

[@TheFRiNgEguitars]

That stunning intake is something I could look at for hours! ..and it looks good on the car!

[@atimko123]

Especially love the "Eames Chair" inspired seats & headrest. Safety & Beauty.

[@jrarsenault1937]

Exceptional take on affordable trend setter from a half century ago restomod. Wish there was a tonneau cover, half on over passenger seat cuz fasteners are all there to complete ths classic flavor. And having a small lightsource over the camera to bring up the shadow detail under the hood would have been nicer on otherwise jawdropping engone bay. Kudos to the Strat inspired details. Had a MGB and MGA as two first cars in 70s, with I had time n resources to replicate this jem.

[@zzhughesd]

OH MY GOSH omg it's just so beautiful an engine bay, the weight too, under 1 tonne

[@SBKPete]

Stunning 😍👏🏻 I’m gonna take a punt and suggest that it might be Eric Clapton’s beautiful car

[@shanehnorman]

Mmmm . . . Slowhand's Strats are typically sunburst, black or white. He's not into flash finishes.

[@javierjuncadella3876]

Very cool... I had a 1964, 4 cyl and oil carbs! Fond memories for sure...

[@mv3116]

Wish every manufacturer had an classic series!

[@kings3803]

That's the next car I am building after my classic mini. Love it.

[@StandingUpForBetter]

Beautiful! WOW! I had an MG and loved that car. It had a manual and some serious crackles and pops. It was not the fastest thing in the world but it was fun to drive. Because of its size I felt like I was driving a go cart which gave you the sensation of speed at lows speeds. I can just image how fun this thing is to drive. This is why I was looking at a Miata but sign me up for an MG like this! Thank you for letting us know about this gem of a restomod company.

[@Bmwm340i]

Another top video James. 👍

[@bigncornfed1]

You take an incredibly simple car, add time, effort, and creativity into it and BAM! There isn't a Lamborghini made today that I'd rather have! Frontline is to mg what Singer is to Porsche!

[@rennkoop7317]

Outstanding !!

[@tarustrader]

Absolutely beautiful and well done. I love it.

[@LucianoPavarotti-]

About 3 months ago i drove one of these up and down a street and i'm 14 this was the most memorable and amazing experience i've ever been through

[@LucianoPavarotti-]

When i get a job i'm gonna resto one of these no doubt about it!

[@boykinlp]

I had a 1970 model MGB for 2 years when I was in high school back in the late seventies. That model had the split chrome rear bumper. It also had the original wire wheels, 1800cc engine with dual carburetors, and an eight track player for music! When watching this video, I found it funny when they mentioned the bicycle handlebar covering used to wrap the steering wheel. Why……because I did the same thing with mine! The only difference was mine was black in color. I remember doing the wrapping myself. Great Memories!!

[@tuclance]

fantastic car sound and the village!

[@chrisn9995]

That engine is a work of art.

[@RRSmurf]

What the hell is a smile gland 😂 Gorgeous car!

[@kougerat5388]

It's because of channels like this I don't get much done anymore !

[@jordanmontana4415]

It looks fantastic I love it. I had an MGB I restored it it was red, but I always want to change the engine but I just didn’t know how cause I always had so much trouble but that is a fantastic MGB. Thank you for sharing.

[@JonBlondell]

This is functional art. So cool.

[@stankeebler6696]

How nice. My first car was a 1966 mgb gt roadsture what a car.

[@pashakdescilly7517]

The roaster was the MG B, the coupe / hatchback variant was the MG B GT

[@spinfish99]

THIS. This is why I subscribed

[@adriandeb2710]

Sounds and looks great

[@joaoluistavares6046]

This is a great peace of art.

[@maxxedredlineproductions]

The MGB GT has always been one of my dream cars!

[@markgilbertson1564]

Caveat Emptor. They were very badly made and hideously unreliable.

[@louiejonesponation]

​@@markgilbertson1564 Could be worse, could be a French Car...

[@marinamartinez6886]

Nice. I had an orange 74 MGB, such a fun car.

[@JavierBonillaC]

It is one of the most beautiful cars I’ve seen. Esthetically it is gorgeous.

[@autoroom21]

So much cooler than that electric one! As an MGB V8 owner myself I approve

[@RemiPut]

Wow beautiful car James 👍

[@donelmore2540]

I’ve loved this company for a number of years. An acquaintance of mine owned a business called “XKs Unlimited” in San Luis Obispo, CA.. I mentioned Frontline to him and it took him a couple of minutes to remember them, but said they did a nice job--“If you want a $70K MGB!” He’s been on Jay Leno’s Garage a number of times with builds that he has done.

[@justindtackett]

I have a 79 midget 1500. This was inspiring.

[@moodiblues2]

My first car was a British Racing Green, Sunbeam Alpine. I loved it, but couldn’t afford to keep it running back then. How I wish that the Brits would again produce such great cars. I bet they’d sell.

[@martiniv8924]

Nice 👌🏻 Loving the Gold 👌🏻😎 reminds me of Aztec Gold !

[@thejonathanrath]

that paint is beautiful.

[@sebestiantan1]

Absolutely stunning 😍

[@randyc5650]

A guy had an MGB with a 289 with a 4 speed when I was in high school around 1967. It had a dead miss and could still beat almost anything on the street. It went through clutches often and you had to pull the engine to change plugs.

[@footey7670]

Sweet job lads 👍🏻👊🏻🇨🇦🍻

[@johna1160]

So, we were told about cute stuff like handle bar wrap and guitar case lining, but were never told maker of V8... Not exactly Harry or Tyrrell caliber.

[@YoshixVR]

I really miss mine... Such a beauty!

[@chuckhelson3744]

Total attention to detail. This girl is sweet… but the performance has a bite. Definite 👍👍

[@smithjones3548]

To the untrained eye, this V8 install looks as if it came off the assembly line that way. One of the cleanest swaps/installs I've ever seen.

[@ThePaulv12]

Well I think the install looks hideous. If I were to do something like this, I'd do it so it looked it came out of the factory with V8 from the era with period factory valve covers, period style radiator, aircleaner etc. It's just another tactless restomod similar to putting an LS in a Jensen Interceptor in my view. There's no accounting for taste and I don't think this has much of it.

[@smithjones3548]

@@ThePaulv12 To each his own, it's his money.

[@benmarr352]

MG made a Rover V8. It didn't have 350 bhp though

[@tristantheobscure8505]

1:34 I believe there was a saying once - something like "grace, pace, and space," - or was it just me?

[@Greebstreebling]

In the early eighties, I had an MGB GT with the standard 1798 cc engine. I used to drive from Chilton nr Didcot to my place of work in Woodley Nr Reading. Nearly every day as I struggled up the hill out of Goring-on-Thames, sometimes reaching a heady 40 mph, a V8 MGB would effortlessly zoom past. I would've liked one, but as a schoolteacher it was way out of reach. That was 50 years ago, when ordinary folk knew nothing of climate change.

[@CuriousNun]

Please do as much Restomod as you can JWW. Thanks.

[@taooflovepassionandcomedy8722]

Fabulous design reborn. There is a market for them. even with smaller engines MG is a wonderful car.

[@Carsaddiction]

That is beautifully finished and at 960kg it should be fun!

[@davelinkson1]

Lovely engine! I have an MGBGT with subtle upgrades/improvements and slightly breathed on engine, personally, I still prefer my coupe with it's Sunroof!

[@-1..]

*_The most beautiful video ever_*

[@skylabx2000]

Good stuff

[@timorgano]

It looks like it from the exhaust manifolds, but is it still the Rover V8 in there? 4.1 litre suggests the bigger bore for new heads, which makes me wonder which heads

[@nigelbrown2274]

wonderful, wonderful, wonderful

[@MrSrimera]

Be a good idea to tell us what engine it is !!! ???

[@allensaunders449]

Reimagined cars are fast becoming my favorites

[@kenmason9354]

Love it.... 👏

[@costafilh0]

Perfect 👌

[@peter911C1]

Awesome MG B ....simply beautiful ...all parts fit ...only the white covered Steering Weel don't match ...

[@bobnoblesjr.465]

That car is awesome! Would have liked to have heard the engine, maybe from the end of the exhaust. Great video!

[@hosoiarchives4858]

Amazing color

[@Josh_Wright]

Restomods are a great idea, with the main benefit being you can have a classic that's somewhat reliable 😅

[@bonniedrasco8166]

Absolutely, the price is the killer for the average man though and that’s a shame, would like to see and dare I say it as I love everything about petrol but electric versions that you could still change gear yourself to keep these cars fully future proof to rally against the green brigade

[@Josh_Wright]

@@bonniedrasco8166 James May funnily enough actually reviewed a fully electric MGB, you should go check that out

[@justaguy1451]

I've always thought that replicas, modern takes on classic cars made more sense, since originals are pretty much unaffordable and their greatest appeal is just the design anyway. Not to mention that the line between original and replica is very blurred these days as one can no longer find original spare parts for old cars, having to resort to customized parts, often 3d printed. Some cars considered as original have only the original chasi and not much more. Not even the metal is original.

[@davislane3204]

What a beautiful car

[@ErikB750]

Frontline already did a very nice job with the MG LE50, a version to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the MGB. It featured a Mazda driveline, IIRC

[@benrochford8769]

Awesome car! Love the MG anyway but a reimagined one ticks all the boxes

[@stanbest3743]

There are some things on that car I really like 🙂. Personally i would lchoose a 150 ish HP K series in my dream restomod MGB.. Plenty of go, no weight and able to return 50 MPG. Old English White with red interior, but skip the red soft top. But its not my money or car.

[@pinslayer4579]

I tore the spoked wheels apart with the factory engine in my MGB . That V8 will most likely tear the car in half........ can't believe it handles well being that nose heavy not to mention traction issues even with a 4 link suspension. Is a nice clean install i only question function.

[@Phnyxen]

So you didn't know, that the alu Rover V8 - which I surmise it is - weighs 20kg less than the original 4 cyl. cast iron heavyweighter? Regarding the suspension, I am sure that has all been updated on this one. Which all sums up the shortcomings of a video like this: With no technical details at all it resembles a fashion show more than a car review.

[@alanwayte432]

Frontline do amazing work I have been fortunate to drive their Abingdon edition 0-60 in under 4 secs, air con power steering, amazing quality leather interior under £90k think more Singer details than expensive MG, on my test drive they could not have been more helpful

[@raypurchase801]

I've bought loads of goodies from Mr. Fenna's Frontline, for my restomod A35. Nice people. Very helpful.

[@michaelgakanga]

I was like...red pinstripes on the front fenders...hmm this is interesting. Then you mentioned Stratocaster and I was like yeahhhhhhh! Then you opened the storage box and I lost it

[@Jazzifiant]

WOW ! What a beauty ! Those Eames styling seats are magnificent addition to the car ? Where that can be find ??? Cheers

[@chipperkeithmgb]

Bought one in 1973 still got it

[@anthonycunningham4598]

That’s hot!

[@lunytrickz]

Love the restomod ! but could U explain the Vette GrandSport like white stripes?

[@hernancortez7732]

Beautiful car