1972 MG B V8 Roadster

There is only one factory-assembled MGB V8 roadster in existence. It was built by and for Don Hayter, former MG Chief Engineer at Abingdon, from a surplus roadster bodyshell and a test MGB GT V8 engine sometime around 1980.

This isn’t it.

What it is, though, is someone else’s very good attempt at exactly the same thing – a roadster with some real V8 grunt to match its handling dynamics, balance and poise.

The vendor has had the car for around 15 years and is selling because he doesn’t get to use it much these days. He was in the motor trade himself and so, over the course of the 9000 miles he’s covered in the car, he’s done most of the basic servicing and maintenance personally.

He bought the car in pretty much the same condition you see today from MG specialists, Former Glory.

It had just 500 miles on the clock at the time.

The man who created this vehicle was an RAF jet engineer. He bought the 1972 donor roadster, replaced the body with a Heritage shell, sourced the Rover 3.5litre V8 engine and spent a great deal of time and money replacing, refurbishing or restoring practically everything on the car.

(There’s no paperwork for the Heritage shell, only word-of-mouth from the builder, but the vendor is sure that he would have done everything properly, with no expense spared, and therefore has no reason to doubt his word. You can, of course, check the numbers and see for yourself).

We can report that this is an expertly built, properly cared-for car in excellent overall condition.

It drives very well indeed, has impressive brakes and suspension, and exhibits all the fine handling characteristics that made these cars so popular in the first place.

The difference with this one, of course, is the power under the bonnet. The vendor assures us that it “goes like the wind” and can even serve up some wheel spin at 60mph.

And the added bonus is the glorious sound of that big V8 going about its business.

The builder did all the right things to ensure that the mechanicals of the car could handle the extra power, as evidenced by receipts for a w/w V8 rear axle and uprated suspension and braking kits.

It’s very unusual, it’s great fun and it’s been put together by someone who truly knew what he was doing.

What’s not to like?

This is undoubtedly a fine-looking car.

The red paintwork is rich and lustrous in most places and the panels are properly aligned and largely free of any dinks, dents, scuffs, folds, nicks, ripples, warps or creases.

The panel gaps and shut lines are crisp and tight.

The chrome work has held up very well and is as bright and shiny as you’d like it to be.

The knock-on wheels, too, wear their years very lightly, and the tyres appear to have plenty of life left in them.

The car has always been kept warm and dry in a garage and is, as far as we can tell, rust free aside from the totally standard bloom of superficial rust dust on some mechanical components.

The hood is in exceptional condition, fits snugly, keeps the elements at bay, and goes up and down easily and correctly.

We noticed a slight drop to the driver’s door when opening it and a few cracks in the rubber trim at the base of the ‘A’ pillars.

We also noticed that the bonnet is a very slightly different shade of red to the rest of the car.

But that’s about it.

Everything else is pretty much all good.

The good news continues unabated on the inside, where the black leather seats with red piping are in fine condition, and are both comfortable and supportive.

The carpets, mats, door cards and roof lining are in top nick.

So, too, is the dashboard, where the wood veneer has all the shine and richness of a Sheraton side table.

The steering wheel looks, and feels, very good, as does the gear lever, handbrake and centre console.

As far as we can tell, all buttons, toggles, switches, levers and knobs do exactly what they’re supposed to do.

The vendor tells us that the radio can occasionally be a trifle temperamental.

With that V8 as a soundtrack we don’t think you’ll spend much time listening to the radio.

There is a battery isolator switch behind the driver’s seat.

A peek under the floor carpets in the car and in the boot reveals…..no rust whatsoever.

There is a spare (wire) wheel in the boot.

All in all, it’s a very handsome cabin and a fine place to spend some quality motoring time.

This car appears to be very solid underneath, possessed of a great deal of mechanical and structural integrity, and free of anything other than wholly superficial rust.

The (very full) engine bay is a clean, tidy and authentic place.

The vendor has recently changed the battery. A new fuel filter will have been fitted by the time the car is sold.

The car comes with a very thick wad of bills, receipts and invoices covering most of the virtually countless bits and pieces sourced and fitted by the previous owner.

We can imagine that he was easily the best customer MG Hive of Wisbech, Cambs, ever had.

It also comes with a handbook, manual, and loads of old MoT certificates and tax discs.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of this and other paperwork to support our claim that this car has been maintained to a very good standard.

We think you really don’t get many of these to the pound.

As a model that doesn’t officially exist, this 1972 MGB V8 Roadster is in the ‘hen’s teeth’ category of rarity.

We can vouch for the fact that it drives well, pulls strongly across the ‘box, retains the handling for which the model was famed and doesn’t make any puzzling grunts, wheezes, rattles, moans or clunks.

And, unlike its standard roadster brethren, this one has the power to embarrass all but the very hottest of hatches at the traffic lights.

It’s a bit special for several reasons - for its exclusivity, for its condition, and for the amount of fun you’ll assuredly have in it.

We have the confidence to offer this rare car for auction with an estimate of between £18,000 - £23,000.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon. To arrange an appointment 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, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.