1974 MG B GT V8

First registered on the 12th July 1974 and delivered to Appleyard of Bradford, this delightful factory V8 car is supplied with a British Motor Industry Heritage Trust certificate to prove its credentials as one of just 2,591 production V8 cars built. 

While ‘TWW 758M’ has only been in the seller’s hands since May 2021, its previous owner had it for forty and it was re-shelled by Lightcliffe Motors of Halifax in the early 1990s using a rust-free factory shell imported from California.

It was further restored in 2022-23 by Vitesse Motor Services, a Rover V8 specialist, with a bare metal respray in Arctic White. The same firm also fitted a lightly modified V8 engine, a black leather interior, refurbished mechanicals and much more as part of the £15,000 bill.

Originally finished in Damask Red, the recent restoration saw a professional change of colour to Arctic White, which was an inspired move as it looks absolutely stunning in its new hue.

The paint was applied with an unusual degree of care and skill too, and the whole ensemble looks spectacular, not least because Vitesse obviously took great care in reassembling it as the panel fit is excellent. 

That care taken is reflected in other, smaller, ways. Like the subtly smoked clear front indicator lenses that complement the excellent - and almost completely new - chromework. 

The 14-inch factory Dunlop wheels are in a fine condition and they‘re fitted  with a full set of new Falken tyres. 

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

The black Britax sliding fabric roof fits very well and opens and closes as it should. It’s a clever design that offers convertible-quantities of fresh air when the weather is good, and almost coupé-like weather sealing when it isn’t. It’s got a useful – and attractive – Perspex wind deflector, too. 

Other nice touches include V8 mudflaps, good badges, a hefty rear tailpipe, and rubber-faced overriders.

The owner made a significant investment of both time and money, but it was worth every hour and every pound note he put into it because the finished car is nothing less than sublime.

As for flaws, there is some light rust and pitting to the steel wheel rims (the composite Dunlop wheels have a cast alloy centre rivetted to chromed steel rims), and the mounting bolts on the rear wings for the bumper are corroded.

If you want an illustration of how carefully thought-out the restoration was, just take a look at the seats because the driver’s and passenger's seats have been rebuilt with new foam and webbing, but the older black leather seat covers were retained to maintain the car’s light patina. 

That’s a lovely touch and one that goes to the heart of the quality of the car you’re thinking of bidding on.

If you, like us, believe the devil is in the detail, then you’ll take it as read that the rest of the interior is every bit as good as that seat.

And your faith would be rewarded because it is. Charming and nicely broken-in, if you like your cars with a dash of romance this is perfectly judged.

Not that that’s damning with faint praise because there’s nothing here to criticise. The seats are comfortable and supportive. The carpet is very good and lifting it up shows solid metal floors and new soundproofing. New rubber mats have been fitted on top too, so it’ll stay looking this good for a long while yet.

The door cards are excellent, and the dashboard is even better. There’s a thick-rimmed Mota-Lita steering wheel too, plus a leather gearknob and a modern stereo.

The boot is solid, well-trimmed, and contains a full-size spare wheel.

If we are being picky – very picky – then the mounting screws for the storage pocket in the passenger footwell are rusty, the seat runners aren’t as good as the seats, the trim on the offside rear quarter is torn, and the headlining is wrinkly and stained.

So probably only the latter point really needs your attention.

As you might expect of a firm that specialises in the Rover V8, Vitesse extensively, but mildly, modified the engine with the following:

• 3.5 SD1 cylinder heads with larger inlet vales and hardened valves seats
• 3.5 SD1 pistons, which raise the compression to 9.35:1
• New 3.9 EFI camshaft kit from Rimmer Bros, crankshaft inspected and fitted with new bearings
• Big-bore stainless-steel sports exhaust with tubular manifolds and a single rear silencer
• Hi-torque starter motor
• Electronic distributor with sixteen switchable advance curves 
• Free-flow air filters (the originals have been kept and are available if required)

The result, the seller says, is a car that “drives very well, with much improved acceleration compared with standard MGB V8 engine. It sounds wonderful but is never raucous.” 

Given the factory cars could reach 60mph in around eight seconds on their way to a top speed of 125mph, we suspect this one might better both figures.

The restoration also saw the MGB fitted with a new galvanised fuel tank and new front and rear brakes. The heater box was also rebuilt with an uprated heater core and a modern twin-speed fan. 

January 2024 saw it serviced and fitted with a brand-new clutch including the slave cylinder and pipework.

As you can see and hear in the video, it starts on the button and makes an incredible noise when you rev it. As the owner says, it isn’t raucous, but the engine noise is definitely way more exciting than standard - and as for the sublime exhaust note...

On a more practical note, the oil pressure gauge reads well and there are no warning lights illuminated, weird noises coming from the engine, or clouds of blue or black smoke coming out of the tailpipe.

The engine bay is nicely finished without being so overly detailed you’re afraid to use it. The emphasis has clearly been placed on engineering a driver’s car and the engine bay reflects this.

After carrying out some repairs to the chassis and sills, Vitesse treated the underside with Waxoyl. 

The MGB’s MoT certificate is valid until January 2025 and it, like so many before, was issued with no advisories.

It’s good to see that the recent Vehicle History Check shows the change of colour from Damask Red to Arctic White, but the paperwork is otherwise clear.

As for the rest of the paperwork, we are told that it was a company asset for the previous 40 years.

However, while that means any invoices would have been put through the company books, it also ensures that it was almost certainly maintained on a no-expense-spared basis. 

There are plenty of invoices from the nigh-on three years the current owner has had it and these arise from that professional restoration in 2022-23, so there are plenty in there to get your teeth into.

Most of us will have thought about restoring a classic – and the sensible ones among us will look at cars like this and appreciate the advantage of letting someone else do the heavy lifting.

Sure, you’ll miss out on the excitement of specifying a car to your own tastes but when it’s been done as well as this one has, that’s not such a great loss, is it?

Which means the only other thing you’ll miss out on is having to pay the big bills. 

How big? The work you see here cost the seller around £15,000, or three grand less than our lower estimate – and even if it reaches the £25,000 we think it might fetch with a following wind, you’ll still be quids in overall.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at the Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment. To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.