1974 MG B GT V8

• Rare and sought-after chrome bumper car, one of only 2,591
• Supplied new on 04/07/1974 finished in Tundra Green with an Autumn Leaf interior
• Fitted from new with Overdrive, seat belts, V8 mud flaps, alloy wheels and Avon Turbosteels
• Hardly used by its first owner and sold in 1987 with just 1,087 miles
• The next three owners also used it lightly. Current warranted mileage now 4,425
• Would benefit from some engine bay detailing which would not spoil its originality
• V5c, MOT history, original production card, owner's manual and two sets of keys

After ten years in production and ten years of both the press and public crying out for the MGB to be given the power its more than capable chassis deserved, in 1973 (some years after engineers such as Ken Costello had proved it did fit) British Leyland eventually succumbed and dropped their in house Buick-derived aluminium Rover V8 engine into the bay that could have been designed for it. In an instant, power leapt from a respectable 98bhp to a very healthy 137. With a comparatively low compression ratio, the V8 was in a totally unstressed state of tune and with a negligible weight increase over the iron block and head B-Series unit (the B GT V8 weighed in at a negligible 7lbs more than its 4 pot sibling and a massive 228 lbs less than the car it directly replaced, the MG C), the rest of the car could mercifully remain pretty much as it was. Even the twin SU carburettors were utilised although treated to a redesigned inlet manifold and lobster claw air cleaner arrangement to avoid the cost of a bespoke bonnet. This was crucially important to BL who were still smarting from the engineering and production nightmare that was the MGC which required redesigned suspension and yet was still perceived to be an inferior driving machine to the car that spawned it.

This remarkably original MGB GT V8 was built in June 1974 and dispatched on the 04/07/1974 by MG dealer Kennings Limited. It was factory finished in Tundra Green with an Autumn Leaf interior and was originally ordered with Overdrive, stereo, auto seat belts, heater, V8 mud flaps, and Dunlop cast-alloy wheels fitted with a set of Avon Turbosteels all of which the car retains to this date. It's presented for sale today with a warranted mileage of just 4,425!

Very low mileage cars nearly always have a tale to tell and PTP 542N (originally SAJ 683N) is no exception. Several months into the first owner's tenure and with just 1,078 miles on the odometer, the V8's unique Dunlop composite steel/alloy wheels were stolen. The owner evidently took this event very badly as, following their replacement, the MG was moved to a garage on his estate and, sadly, never driven again. With his passing in early 1987, the estate and indeed the MG were sold at auction, the mileage recorded still at just 1,078 and still sitting happily on its replacement wheels. The car was purchased by Alexandra Motors of Portsmouth, who presumably prepared it for sale after those years in the garage and subsequently sold it in July 1987 to its second custodian, a Mr Ponton of Hampshire. During Mr Ponton's ownership, the MG was used sparingly increasing the odometer reading to just 3,932 miles. In April 2011, the decision was made to sell and the car passed onto its third owner Mr Foat of Bognor Regis. Some three years later he, in turn, decided to move the MG on and, in May 2014 at just 4,059 miles, it was purchased by its most recent owner who has a penchant for totally original, low mileage classics and added to his collection storing it correctly and using it only occasionally.

All the usual paperwork is in the car's history file including the V5c logbook, copies of previous logbooks, the current MOT, previous MOT's, DVLA MOT history, old tax discs, DVLC correspondence, insurance valuations, various invoices, the original production card which is exceptionally rare, the V8 owner's manual and two sets of keys.

Although in lovely original condition, a little fettling and detailing to the engine bay would bring the car to the next level and, given that top examples of this model are now making substantially more than the estimate suggested here, this low-mileage, well-historied, four-owner V8 should amply reward the remedial tidying-up now required. What a great find!