Pre-development
V8 rallied by Brian Field
"It's
a flyer" on the Harry Platter Eppynt with a 1st in Historic. Brian has been
known for his penchant for getting airborne over humped bridges!
Harvest
Gold 0097 was one of two prototypes Brian bought from Bill Price at Abingdon with
Special Tuning parts from the USA - Holley, Isky cam and lifters, flowed heads
with sodium filled valves, a Stag distributor with twin contact breakers, and
much more. Brian undertook to develop the car for competition to keep the name
of MG prominent. He converted it to RHD. Posted:
161030 |  | Brian
Field campaigned his MGBGTV8 (Harvest Gold 0097) for well over 20 years in the
RAC, Welsh, Scottish, Manx and Irish rallies and had many successes including
winning the RAC historic class in 1990. He was still rallying the car in the 1990s
at 80 but in 2002 decided that it was time for the V8 to go as at 86 he no longer
felt he could exercise the machine in the style it was used to! It was sold to
an enthusiast in Yorkshire for historic rallying.
Brian's competition history
with his V8 was extraordinary for an amateur entrant - he did racing and hillclimbs
as well as rallies. See
our online article | | Harvest
Gold 0097 was originally a works LHD V8 pre-production development car
fitted with the North American emission equipment and used for the US engine
emission tests. It was purchased by Brian, converted to RHD and then prepared
for rallying with modifications included fitting the stronger SD1 gearbox, an
uprated backaxle with a Salisbury limited slip differential with Watts linkages,
14 inch Minilites for 185 x 6 inch rubber, a dual circuit braking system uprated
with DS11 pads upfront and VG95 linings at the back, the V8 engine with a Holley,
a stainless steel exhaust system and a protective shield for the fuel tank. It
had a fully plumbed-in fire extinguishing system. There were twelve Minilites
shod with various rally and road tyres. Inside, it was fitted with a Halda twin
meter, hi-back rally seats and four point full harness, and a roll over cage.
Some of the original parts were still available as spares - the original engine
in the same state of tune, V8 gearbox, six original V8 wheels and the original
back axle. The car was registered with the RAC MSA for Post Historic Rallying. |
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