MGB RV8 GT Coupe - Its a Famous MGB!
Currently being prepared
Built to order by Maidstone Sports Cars
Multiple Magazine features
Appeared on BBC Top Gear
RV8 styled fixed head coupe
Huge V8 grunt
Massive history file
[Click images to enlarge]
Here at QuickandBig.com we are absolutely delighted to offer for sale, our unique MGB RV8 GT, back in the day this was a famous MG, having been in multiple Magazine features and even on BBC Top Gear. .
I know the purists will not be happy, but perhaps this Maidstone Sports Cars (MSC) built RV8 Coupe, is the car MG should have built alongside the 1990’s RV8 convertible. It was built, using a 1977 donor, by MSC’s 1995, with a 3.9 litre (240 bhp), fuel injected Rover V8 (reported to have been subsequently rebuilt and further upgraded since), 5 speed uprated gear box, uprated breaks and suspension. Contemporary Magazine articles list its performance as 0-60 mph in 5.2 seconds, with a top speed of 145mph. MG Enthusiast Magazine said it was a match for the contemporary Porsche 911.
It was built as the first one of a series, of MGB RV8 GT Coupes by Maidstone Sports Cars (we believe 5 in total were built, and at least 2 are overseas), having been commissioned by Dave Mitchell. In its huge history file, it’s original build spec and costs catalogue its development. The invoices for the conversion alone add up to over £23,000 (£56,000 in today’s money). Since then, again documented in the file, an additional £25,000 has been spent on further upgrades and maintenance. We have since spent a further £10k plus, on a full repaint.
There are some pictures and narrative about our RV8 Coupe on the MSC’s website below:
http://www.maidstonesportscars.co.uk/projects/rv8-gt/
According to their web description (and the previous owner) it has subsequently been upgraded to a 4.6l, Rover V8, however the paper work that accompanies the car, doesn’t confirm this. The big V8, does however pull like a train, and sounds absolutely awesome. We have been lucky to have had a number of Rover V8 powered cars (including TVR’s etc), and our MG RV8 is the best sounding of them all, anybody that hears it, wont believe all that noise is coming from a classic MG. A link to its exhaust note is below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MRXyuQ-oeg
Our rare MG’s last lucky owner had it for around a decade. It was built to be driven and its great to see that its travelled around 20,000 miles since it was built, and not just sat under a dust sheet. We have a picture of it, in use as a daily driver back in the 90’s, with a huge roof mounted spoiler (you have got to love the 90’s) and a contemporary mobile phone (brick) on the dash board (no hand free calling in those day)!
Back in the day, our stunning MGB RV8 was a famous car, it was featured in three different Magazines, it was the cover car in “Retro” and “MG Enthusiast” Magazine and also featured in “Enjoying MG” the Owners Club Magazine. Copies of all three accompany the car.
Alongside another of Maidstone Sports Cars more crazy creations (4x4 MG / Range Rover Convertible) it was driven by Chris Goffey in an episode of BBC Top Gear from 1996. Please see the link below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKkjRHoShhE
With the current “restomod” trend, you could spend ten times as much as our car, on a newly reimagined MGB V8 creation. A number of been in the motoring press recently, like the ones featured in the Piston Heads article below:
Originally our MG was white, when it was “restomoded” 30 years ago, it was painted in a very 1990’s, metallic (almost candy flip) green. We have just spent a significant sum, having it repainted, by prize winning classic restorers, Bushell’s Restorations, in classic Old English White. This was a heart over head decision, financially we should have polished and sold it, but we think it looks much more classy in Old English White.
Our example is unique and beautifully presented. I can’t believe it was converted nearly 30 years ago, it really is a credit to MSC and its enthusiast former keepers, our RV8 Coupe was clearly a labour of love! It is ready to show and enjoy, it also sounds absolutely awesome! It is a very cool road car that can be taken to the track for a bit of fun!
Our VR8 Coupe comes with a huge history file of receipts, information and around a hundred photographs recording its build. The file is a Petrol Heads idea of bed time reading. The file also included records for numerous services, in the last 1200 miles, it’s had replacement manifold gaskets, HT leads, plugs, clutch master / slave cylinder, full service, rear springs etc.
240 HPP, the private registration comes with the car (its valued at £3,000), the plate is part of its story, it was on Top Gear and the magazine photoshoots, and is of course relevant to its original 240bhp V8. According to the odometer our unique MG had covered 99,455 miles, it was first registered on 09/08/1977 and is registered as a Historic Vehicle, and as such is MOT and road Tax payment exempt. We have just had it MOT’d for its next owners peace of mind, it was passed with no advisories and does not expire until April 25.
Its previous owner, continued to have an annual MOT inspection, a number of old MOT’s accompany the car, and its most recent was passed with no advisories and does not expire until 29/05/24.
The spend and spec are documented in detail in the comprehensive folder that accompanies the car. Some of the spec is summarised below:
- MGB GT, 1977 rubber bumper, with sun roof, photographs in the file of it prior to conversion.
- Shell stripped, modified to accommodate V8, genuine RV8 bumpers / front wings / lights and bespoke steel rear quarter panels fitted by MSC’s.
- 240bhp, 3.9i Rover V8, lightened balanced, Rovercraft RC87 cam with high rev cam followers, heavy duty rocker arms, chrome molly pushrods and remapped ECU. Built by MSC.
- Large bore stainless steel exhaust / through wing stainless headers.
- 5 Speed, uprated LT77 gearbox, custom prop shaft and Quaife LSD.
- Wilwood, 4 Pot front brakes.
- Acusump large capacity, piston oil reservoir.
- Front Bilstein shocks, Koni’s to the rear.
- Largely period interior with Acusump pressure gauge, leather MX5 seats, electric sun roof (is it the only MGB with an electric sunroof?), central locking, alarm / immobiliser, power cut off and period Alpine Radio Cassette CD auto changer.
- Mini Lite type 15 inch alloy wheels in shadow chrome, shod with new Toyo Proxes 225/15/50 all round.
All of the above work (and much more) is documented in its fascinating history file.
To summarise our unique MG RV8 GT Coupe, is an opportunity to acquire a stunning, and fast piece of MG history. Its really modern looking, and you would never know what lurks under the bonnet unless you heard it, or it comes thundering past so you catch a glimpse of its, exhausts and wide rear arches.
It will have an independent 90+ point pre delivery inspection, for the new owners benefit. It is of course HPI clear and a full HPI report will be available to potential purchasers.
Many thanks for wading through our lengthy description, we believe it’s better to describe our cars fully. It is not in our interest to waste your time or ours with inaccurate descriptions. It does of course have the odd age related imperfection, but for its age and mileage it’s simply stunning!
Our unique MG RV8 Coupe, really does tick all the QuickandBig.com boxes being: quick, perfect for the road / track / show’s, had huge amounts spent on it development, super rare, appreciating in value and very, very cool.
Please visit the photographs and our terms and conditions again as they form part of the description, and use the “contact us” tab at the top of the page, to arrange a viewing / test drive by appointment. Any inspection is of course welcome. Part exchange particularly if its quick, big or unusual is a pleasure.
