Which
number do I need to find for my registration with the V8 Register? If
you are registering a Factory produced MGBGTV8 you will need the Car
Number which is located on the small plate attached to offside inner wing
close to the oil filter (see the diagram in Box 1 below) from which you can read
off the Car Number. It is in the format GD2D1-NNNN G where "NNNN"
is a three of four digit number. Alternatively the three or four figure number
is usually set out on the Vehicle Registration Document (VRD) or the new Vehicle
Registration Certificate (V5C) in the EU format issued by DVLC Cardiff or
on the original Log Book for the car if you still have that in your possession.
If you are registering an MGBV8 Conversion or Costello V8, then you
will need the GHD number (MGBGTV8 Conversion) or the GHN5 number (V8 Roadster
Conversion) because there will be no GD2D1 plate fixed to the offside inner wing.

Identification
numbers and locations 1.
Car Number - a three or four digit number stamped on a plate secured to the
right hand inner wing adjacent to the oil filter with the prefix GD2D1
except for early LHD cars which have a prefix GD2D2. More
2. Commission number - stamped on a plate secured to the bonnet
locking platform. From around GD2D1 2710 G the Commission number was dispensed
with and the Body number started with "040". More
3.
Engine number
- stamped on the right hand side of the cylinder block located directly behind
the left hand cylinder head. This can be difficult to find - see large
location diagram. 4. Gearbox number - stamped on the
right hand side of the gearbox casing. More
5. Overdrive unit number - stamped on a plate secured to the
underside of the overdrive main casing. More
6. Rear axle number - stamped on the left hand side of the
rear axle tube near the spring seating. More
What
does the Car Number mean?
The Car Number comprises a series of letters and numbers presenting in code the
make, engine type, body type and the series plus of
course the serial number of the particular car. So
for an MGBGTV8 with the Car Number GD2D1-1089 G, the explanation of the
would be: G = MG, D = 3,000cc and
over, 2 = two door, D = GT body, 1 = 1st series or 2 = second
series, and finally 1089 is the serial number of the car. Source:
Parts Catalogue MGB, Tourer, GT and V8 up to Sepetmber 1976 AKM0039 February
1977 1st Edition supplied by BL, page 108 - A10. The table of data on that
page is incorrectly headed "not V8" but that is a mistake.
V8
Register records How are the V8 Register records arranged?
Well at an early stage we found it necessary to give all non-factory MGBV8s an
artificial Car Number to provide some rational structure for the V8 Register,
and adopted the following arrangement.
From
Car No | . |
To Car
No | Model/type |
0095 |
- |
2903 |
Factory produced
MGBGTV8s | 3000 |
- |
3999 |
MGBGTV8 Conversions |
4000 |
- |
4999 |
MGBV8 Roadster
Conversions |
5000 |
- |
5999 |
Costello MGBGTV8s |
6000 |
- |
6999 |
Costello MGBV8
Roadsters | | Back
to Registration
MGBGTV8
production Most authors of publications covering the MGBGTV8 quote
2,591 as the total production of the model. That output was spread over 5 years
ending with GD2D1 2903 G.
Year |
Output |
1972 |
3 |
1973 |
1,069 |
1974 |
854 |
1975 |
489 |
1976 |
176 |
Total |
2,591 |
The
deliveries were 2,584 to the Home market and 7 exports. There were no exports
to the USA. Production batches The production of the chrome
(CB) and rubber bumper (RB) MGBGTV8s was in batches. The Car Nos (or VINs, using
the present day term) of the batches provided by the late Geoff Allen (former
V8 Historian) are as follows:
. |
From Car
No | To
Car No | CB |
0099 |
0095 |
CB |
0101 |
1956 |
RB |
2101 |
2632 |
RB |
2701 |
2903 |
But
is the 2,591 production figure correct?
Most authors of publications covering the MGBGTV8 quote 2,591 as the
total production of the model - but is it correct? Well as information
has gradually come to light, the longstanding V8 Register Historian
& Archivist, Geoff Allen, believed there were more than
2,591 V8s! Geoff was at the Abingdon MG Plant for over 27 years, much
of it in Rectifications Department, so was particularly well placed
because during the weeks before the final close, he made a handwritten
copy of the production control and despatch books. Geoff examined
various records maintained at Abingdon and believed there were in
fact 2,600 MGBGTV8s. If you add another MGBGTV8 that came to
light back in the early 1980s - GD2D1 100 G (which Geoff was unable
to trace in the records he had studied) then there could be 2,601
MGBGTV8s! See
Geoff's note as V8NOTE300
What
are the names of the body colours used for MGBGTV8s built at Abingdon?
See our checklist What
were the body and trim colour combinations? This note is part of
the V8 Workshop Notes series of maintennace and spares information contributed
by members of the V8 Register of the MG Car Club. V8NOTE313
Comparative weights of MGBGT, MGCGT and MGBGTV8
Comparative
weights
Model |
Year |
Weight
lbs | MGBGT |
1973 |
2,380 |
MGCGT |
1968 |
2,615 |
MGBGTV8 |
1973 |
2,387 |
So
the MGBGTV8 was virtually the same weight as the ordinary MGBGT but much lighter
than the MGCGT - in fact much lighter by some 228lbs or just over 16 stones
(103.4kg). That is equivalent to the weight of a heavy person in the car
- and in the case of an MGC, most of that excess weight is up front!
|
Comparative
BHP/Ton
Model |
BHP |
BHP
per Ton | MGBGT |
84 |
79.06 |
MGCGT |
145 |
124.21 |
MGBGTV8 |
137 |
128.56 |
So
the MGBGTV8 has 3.5% more BHP/Ton than the MGCGT and a huge 62.6% more than
the ordinary MGBGT. We all recall the extraordinary sensation the first time
we drove an MGBGTV8, particularly if we had driven an ordinary MGB before! This
BHP/Ton increase helps to explain it - plus of course the smooth eight cylinder
torque.
| Copyright
reserved by the V8 Register
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