A 30 year old V8 diary from 1974

A 30 year old V8 diary from 1974
Dave Wellings (Black 0974) from Yorkshire, well known to many V8 enthusiasts as an authoritative source of information on V8s, has kept a detailed vehicle history of his car which is interesting - not least the number of gearboxes in its early life! This extract is of the early years before Dave acquired the V8 in April 1986. (Jan 05)


Black 0974 at Little Langford Farmhouse near Salisbury prior to setting off for Beaulieu in 1986. The stainless steel coversills were fitted from new by University Motors. (Photo: Dave Wellings)

To me, a vehicle history is very important, so when I bought my factory V8 in 1986, I did quite an amount of research in order to get the full picture of its life in those first 12 years. My MGBGTV8 was completed on 5th November 1973, but it wasn't until May 1974 that it was sold by University Motors in Epsom. The Pre Delivery Inspection took place on 2nd May 1974. What follows is derived from service documents and invoices, and now 30 years on, gives an interesting picture of running a new V8 every day.

13 Jun 1974 - first service at 1,215 miles.
1st Jul 1974 - front wheel balanced.
14 Jul 1975 - service at 12,000 miles.
13 Feb 1976 - gearbox replaced under warranty at 15,400 miles.
4 Jun 1976 - service at 18,000 miles.
4 Mar 1977 - at 26,009 miles, clean carburettors, check brakes, lubricate fans and check wheel alignment.
15 Apr 1977. 26,869 miles, first MOT indicating an 8,956 miles pa average.
30 Jan 1978 - at 30,525 miles check water loss, radiator repair, new top & bottom hoses, new Otter switch and gear box replaced again. Each had lasted only 15,000 miles.
8 Mar 1978 - at 31,311 miles check water loss and new hoses.
27 Jul 1978 - new MG badge.
3 Aug 1978 - new exhaust, two new armrests, minor body repairs and new rear bumper.
25 Oct 1978 - at 35,256 miles a new brake master cylinder.
20 Apr 1979 - at 37,664 miles an MOT, new clutch master and slave cylinders.
3 Aug 1979 - at 39,738 miles new distributor cap, new stop lamp bulb, and new clutch plate, cover and bearing. (Engine out for the third time).
4 Dec 1979 - service at 42,238 miles with a new windscreen, new HT leads and clean carburettors.
23 Apr 1980 - at 44,481miles new fuel tank sender, new reversing lamp switch, new gearbox (the third gearbox), new hoses (again), new clutch cover and new fanbelt. Then at 45,038 miles an MOT, front wheel balance, clean battery lead, new number plate lamp bulbs and new brake pads.


V8 Register - MG Car Club
3 Jun 1980 - at 45,953 miles a new clutch pedal and master cylinder (the second).
30 Jul 1980 - at 47,384 miles a new fan motor.
17 Sep 1980 - service at 48,320 miles, clean carburettors, new wiper blades and new brake linings.
7 Oct 1980 - at 48,662 miles a new clutch master cylinder (the third).
24 Dec 1980 - at 50,524 miles adjust brakes, new exhaust and new offside courtesy light switch.
15 Apr 1981 - at 52,015 miles an MOT, radiator repair, new wheel centre and new n/s rear damper.
5 Nov 1981 - at 54,874 miles the V8 was eight years old and a below average mileage of under 7,000pa. Clean carburettors, new wiper motor, new brake shoes, new windscreen (number 2), clean battery terminals, new axle oil seal, clean overdrive filters and new rear wheel cylinders.
27 Nov 1981 - at 55,048 miles new n/s front damper.
22 Apr 1982 - at 57,767 miles an MOT.
This is where the history gets hazy. There was another MOT in April 1983, but this was conveniently lost by the second owner as the car was sold in November 1983.
In 1984 refurbished wheels and new door panels were fitted, with a fan override switch.

The next documentation is in 1985:
18 Sep 1985 - at "48,251" miles, an MOT.
25 Nov 1985 - sold again to the this third owner who was known to me and really into MGA's, and so on 5 April 1986 I was able to buy it from him. At that stage he was not aware of the mileage anomaly as he had not obtained the documents which I later obtained from the first owner. I contacted the second owner about the lost mileage. He was very evasive - obviously, and claimed that he had fitted new speedometer. Right. I estimated that there was at least 20,000 miles clocked, so in May 1986 I reset the mileage to 73,050 to better represent a true picture.
Finally: 16 Sep 1986 - at 77,803 miles an MOT.

Since April 1986, the history file has been meticulously maintained. What this early history shows is that original UK sourced components did not last too well. The mileage even in regular use was not excessive at around 7,000 pa. Even so, the engine was out four times in six years, three new gearboxes, and continuing cooling problems, and hydraulic cylinder problems. I ran the V8 for 4 years, covering another 9,000 miles before taking it off the road for a bare shell rebuild, and in that time, it passed each MOT without problem and the only component to be replaced in that time was the starter solenoid. It never lost coolant and the clutch and gearbox were without fault.

What can we learn from this? It was far more reliable as an old car than it ever was as a new car. Components did not last particularly well in the 70's and 80's, and one should always be sceptical about the mileage of an MGBGTV8. It is still rare to see one which has done over 100,000 miles. In addition to my notes above, the paintwork was badly vandalised in Cambridge just before I bought it. Every panel had been scratched with a sharp object. It has also had three knocks. One was at the front when an ambulance reversed into it in London, a second knock was to the rear which was put right when the rear bumper was replaced above, and a harder knock from behind in 1986 just after I bought it which gave me the benefit of another new bumper and rear end respray. Quite a history!

Update: Dave Wellings has sold this car to Stuart Mumby, an MG enthusiast in Yorkshire. (25.7.08)