John (MGmagnette@aol.com) berates us for using Rover engines in MG V-8
conversions. He (or someone else, as the posting gets a bit muddled
here) also cites that if we want an MG with a V-8 engine, we should buy
a TVR.
John, you seem to be writing from a British point of view. Here in the
States, we never had the luxury of being able to buy a new MGB-GT V-8,
and we still don't have the luxury of buying any of the new TVRs. Our
Government seems to know what's good for us, and will let us have all
the bloated, wasteful SUVs we can stand, but the TVR, new Alfa, Fiat
Spyder, MGF, Elise, etc, etc. are all OFF LIMITS! All we are allowed
are the emasculated Miata and Z-3, neither of these has the glorious
Rover V-8.
One of the few pleasures left for us Yank sportscar nuts is to hotrod
our cars. Although I am an originality nut on my own cars, I can really
appreciate the MG V-8 conversions, and if I had not stumbled upon and
bought one of the 15 Factory GT V-8 cars in the States, I would be
converting a car right now.
Besides, most of the V-8 donor Rover saloons will NEVER be restored here
in the States. Due to a lousy dealer network and inappropriate design
for US driving habits, these cars were not and are not popular over here
(outside of a very few Rover enthusiasts). Most are rusty, crunched, or
waiting for the crusher because no one is beating down the gates of the
junkyards to rescue them. Better that their V-8s should live on in an
MG as God and Ken Costello intended, than to be smelted down to make
more Ford Explorer parts!
(Rant mode off, I welcome dissenting opinions as I stand here in my
Nomex skivvies)
Paul Kile
1962 MGA 1600 MkII (The Hangar Queen)
1974 Factory MGB-GT V-8 (The Rustbucket)
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