[Healeys] MGB GT V8

[Patrick & Caroline Quinn]

G'day

 

I have had the pleasure of testing both the MGB GT V8 and the RV8, both of
which were fitted with the basic Rover all alloy 3.5 litre V8.

 

Yes while the ancestor of the Rover V8 may have been the Buick/Oldsmobile
engine there are few similarities. I would say about the same as the Repco
Formula One engine of the 1960s that also had the same origins. The Rover V8
was fitted to a whole range of cars like the Range Rover, Land Rover, Rover,
TVR and even Morgan.

 

Yes they are quick, but not in an excessive way, more in a touring way.
Don't expect pavement ripping acceleration, but on the open road the MGB GT
V8 it's a great car of the period. My advice is to check the bona-fides of
the car because there were many home conversions done. If however the
conversion was done by Costello you should think positively about the car
because these were done under the watchful eye of BMC/Leyland. Costello's
conversions eventually led to BMC/Leyland decided to produce the production
version.

 

The RV8 is a different car again and in my opinion not as pleasant as the
MGB GT V8. Lots of fan noise and while it has such modern accoutrements as
air it's not fun to drive.

 

In case you're thinking there is no similarity at all to the V8 fitted to
the Triumph Stag.

 

Hoo Roo

 

Patrick Quinn

Blue Mountains, Australia

 

From: Healeys [mailto:healeys-bounces at autox.team.net] On Behalf Of Simon
Lachlan
Sent: Saturday, 30 May 2015 1:51 AM
To: 'healeys'
Subject: [Healeys] MGB GT V8

 

Somewhat off topic but anyhow, here goes........

There may be an MGB GT V8 for sale locally. My wife had a regular one years
ago. (1800cc?) It was OK but it seemed to me that it just looked like a
sports car but didn't really behave like one.

But a V8 would be a different story? 

1)      Our driveway is narrow. A 3000 goes through like a greased pig, but
most cars are too fat. Is a B wider than a Healey?

2)      The 3.5 ex Buick engine......isn't that the one that TVR bore out to
4.6?

Seems to me that the 3.5 would offer up some serious power if sufficiently
tweaked? Or am I thinking of a different engine?

I think it's the same engine that Rover used to put in their cars. Police
3.5s went like rockets considering the cars' weight.

Any comments would be welcome.

Thanks,

Simon

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