| 50th
Anniversary of the launch of the MGBGTV8 in August 1973 |
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MGBGTV8
- concept- development and production - talk in 2002
For V8 enthusiasts, the late Don Hayter speaking on how
the MGBGTV8 was conceived and developed at the Abingdon Factory
in the early seventies was fascinating as it revealed how the
design genius and engineering skills of a dedicated team combined
to create a classic MG sportscar. The MGBGTV8 was brought into
production on a modest development budget at a time when the
dead hand of BL seemed determined to eliminate the initiative,
flair and independence of the Abingdon design and development
team and its ability to create new models of the MG marque.
Available as a transcript
Don
Hayter spoke at the meeting along with the late Geoff
Allen, his former colleague at the Factory who was in Rectifications
Department for best part of 27 years.
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Marketing
brochures for the MGBGTV8 launch in August 1973
The marketing brochures for the MGBGTV8 launch still look as
exciting as ever near 50 years later. Our collection has been
assembled from copies of original brochures loaned by members
so we can have a reference set available online. See also the
BL publicity photos released with press release package for
the launch on 15th August 1973.
MGBGTV8 brochures
& Press
release package with publicity photos &
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MGBGTV8
launch press articles and reviews
How did the motoring press receive the MGBGTV8 in 1973? More
Autocar front cover on 16th August 1973
Full description and road test of the MGBGTV8. More
Motor - at last an MGV8 on 18th August 1973
B-sting: a look inside the new MGBV8 by Philip Turner. More |
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Memorable
advert - "If you have just bought . . . this will ruin
your day"
Who can forget this advert - "at 124mph, the new MG is
practically the fastest thing on four wheels up to £3,000"!
Advert
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MGBGTV8
launched at the 1973 Motor Show at Earls Court
A video clip of a report on the 1973 Motor Show at Earls Court
in London opened by Princess Anne. The voice-over highlights
the "new uprated MGBGTV8". Two V8s were on the MG
stand - the first is Citron 798 in a dramatic display on a ramp
(see alongside) with the logo "the new 124mph MGB GT V8"
and the second is Aconite 799. A press car, Limeflower 118 (HOH
901L), appears filmed at speed on a circuit. Video
& Photos
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| 45th
Anniversary of the launch of the V8 Register in October 1978 |
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Founding
members at the first V8 AGM at Weedon Bec in May 1979
The first meeting of the V8 Register was held at the Crossroads
Inn at Weedon Bec on the A5 north of Towcester on the Saturday
of the MG Car Club's annual meeting at Silverstone in May 1979.
Above left to right: John Dupont, Alan Kingwell, Geoff Allen,
Jerry Bright, Charles Williams, Howard Gosling, Peter Beadle,
Tony Hilton, Victor Smith and Mike Maude-Roxby. Jim Gibson,
Tom Studer and Eric Prasse were at this initial meeting but
somehow missed the photo. More |
| 30th
Anniversary of the launch of the RV8 in 1992 & production
in 1993 |
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RV8
- concept, development and production talk in 2003
What inspired the RV8 development team to create a modern classic
sportscar to keep MG alive? In 2003 John Yea and David Bishop
gave a talk on what had inspired the RV8 development team to
undertake an extraordinary low budget project - creating a modern
classic sportscar to keep the name of MG alive in the 1990s.
It was an extraordinary tale from two enthusiasts who commented
"projects like that just don't happen like that anymore".
Available
as a video
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Project
Adder
The new MG - codenamed ADDER - was developed by the Special
Products team based at Gaydon and it was based on the MGB Heritage
bodyshell, then produced at the BMH Faringdon plant. The formation
of Rover Special Products in early 1990 saw their backing for
the development of the RV8. With subtle bodywork modifications
and a luxurious interior (with leather seats and Elm burr dashboard
and door cappings) plus a 3.9 litre V8 with a modern engine
management system and Lucas injection engine delivering 190bhp
at 4,750rpm through a five speed gearbox and a Quaife differential.
It went into production at Cowley and with sales in 1993. More
& RV8
Development Cars |
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RV8
launch at 1992 British Motor Show at the NEC
David Knowles recalls “on press day at the NEC, activity
around the Rover Group stand was building from early morning
ahead of the promissed major event, even if it was the worst
kept secret in the British car industry. A crowd gathered round
a Perspex-walled circular enclosure at the heart of the Rover
stand, keen to see the first MG sports car launch in the nineteen
years since the MGBGTV8 and then the closure of the MG Factory
at Abingdon." Rover said at the launch it was not in the
position to supply RV8s ready to be driven out of showrooms.
In fact the Cowley project team had only been established in
August and the first production cars were not ready for sale
until Spring 1993. |
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MG
RV8 Press Pack
Publication 4405 dated 1992 with 28 full colour pages. More
Checklist of publications. More
Archive material - press & magazine articles, brochures
& publicity, video clips and other archive material. More
Cedric Talbot's recollections. More |
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How
did the motoring press receive the MG RV8 in 1992?
How was the RV8 received by the motoring press because as a
new MG model the RV8 was part of the essential effort to keep
the MG brand alive in the years after the closure of MG
Plant at Abingdon. RV8
Press Pack
Autocar magazine with its pre-launch article "MG
lives!" in October 199s and Car magazine with its
test of the new MG RV8 in November 1992. More
RV8 articles and reviews in the motoring press near the
RV8 launch. More |
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Completion
of MG RV8 production in November 1995
The completion of MG RV8 production was the lead item for the
weekly report released by the Rover Group Cowley on 30th November
1995. "The 2000th and last MG RV8 was driven off the production
line on Wednesday 22nd November 1995. Although small in numbers,
the car provided publicity and a great deal of interest in Rover".
Report |
