RV8 Spares Deal
News of MG Rover unloading its RV8 spares operation broke in a week when the embattled Midlands car maker faced far more serious issues with greater press coverage - not least the controversy over its financial management and the launch of two V8 powered models! However for RV8 enthusiasts the announcement that Baldock based Brown & Gammons was taking over RV8 parts stockholding and distribution was far more interesting. Although the formal line from MG Rover had been it "intended fully supporting the model", as the tenth anniversary of the launch of the RV8 had passed, they decided the best solution was to pass the stockholding, distribution and re-supply operation to an MG specialist with capabilities and experience of handling RV8 spares and even better, one with practical day to day experience of servicing the model.

Brown & Gammons, a familiar sight facing the wide high street in the market town of Baldock. Considerable funds have been invested over the years in improving the showroom, well equipped workshops, parts stores, customer counter and reception, and offices of this well known MG specialist. (Photo: Victor Smith)

In addition to transferring the whole of MG Rover's stock of RV8 parts to B&G (covering some 752 part lines of which 521 are live), MG Rover is also supplying B&G with all the RV8 technical data and the remaining tooling so that B&G will be able to consider priorities for re-manufacture as stock levels of essential parts become low or NLA. Whilst the deal has continued supply undertakings whenever RV8 parts run low, each re-manufacture project will be subject to both need and viability considerations. This is inevitable for a low volume model which is characterised by many owners running their RV8s as second cars, often with low annual mileages and consequently low servicing and spares needs. Funding some projects could easily involve an investment of £20,000 or more, so commitments to a 100% "parts pick" for the next period were unrealistic but as Malcolm Gammons notes "the reality is if we can maintain a good supply of RV8 parts, we have happier customers - and that is what we are about".

V8 Register - MG Car Club

Brown & Gammons workshops and parts counter are tucked away in a quiet yard off the wide high street. (Photo: Victor Smith)

Re-manufacturing RV8 windscreen surrounds is one of the first projects already underway as B&G has been replacing them since they first started to see rusted-out surrounds five or six years ago - but now the stock of replacements is virtually out. Malcolm commented "we know the problems with these units, so the new surrounds will have far better rust protection both inside and out. B&G has the tooling but found it is in a horrendous condition so it needs substantial repair and refurbishment before renewed use is possible". A series of other projects is also under consideration.

A longer report based on a meeting with Malcolm Gammonsis available