Appreciate the MGBGTV8 more now as a long legged tourer

Peter Berry is a longstanding V8 enthusiast and member of the V8 Register. Here he relates how owning a TVR Chimera 450 alongside an MGBGTV8 has made him "appreciate the MG more now for what it is, a long legged tourer, rather than a 'point and squirt' machine."

It's a well cared for V8 in In Teal Blue and much loved by the whole family.


Contributor: Peter Berry
Posted: 141224
Following receipt of his copy of "RV8 - the Manufacturing Story", Peter Berry mentioned he remembers "the time when the RV8 project was developing with keen interest. He test drove one, and even arranged a similar test drive for my wife, but never owned one. Hugely impressed but it was way out of my price range at the time. I still have my original MGBGTV8, the 100th production number (Teal Blue 201), which I've owned for 30 years now.

Three years ago I yearned for something with real 'oomph' and opted to step into the world of TVR ownership. My wife and sons forbade me to sell the MG (I didn't really want to anyway) so my long suffering wife told me to go buy the TVR - as well! I've not looked back. My Chimaera 450 really
is an excellent car for the money and goes like stink! Although both cars share the same ancestry in terms of the engine (but very little else) it is strikingly different from the MG in so many ways. The odd thing is that this acquisition actually makes me appreciate the MG more now for what it is, a long legged tourer, rather than a 'point and squirt' machine. Suffice to say the two vehicles sit very nicely in my custodianship and I'm a very happy man with two fine pieces of British engineering sitting in my garage now. Picture attached, father and son, 16 cylinders and 8 litres!"
V8 Register - MG Car Club - the leading group for MG V8 enthusiasts at www.v8register.net