1974 MG BGT V8

Fresh from restoration that was completed only a month ago, Richard, the vendor, describes this 1974 MGB GT V8 as being “the best in the country.” Well, we obviously haven’t seen them all but having examined this one in great detail we suspect he might be right…

Finished in Aston Martin Tungsten Grey Metallic with a Mulberry leather interior, the fit ‘n’ finish on this one is unparalleled. You see, Richard is a huge James Bond fan and he decided to create the sort of car that 007 could use to tool around London in, something a little less precious than his DB5 but one that is still suitably powerful and luxurious.

Given the MGB GT V8 had been a favourite since childhood he went ahead and bought one before commissioning a meticulous restoration with the aim being to ensure that “there is not a part on this car that has not been restored or replaced or made better”.

Keen to get cracking on his next project – he’s a man who derives his classic pleasure from building his ideal car - he estimates he’s spent £54,000 on it in total, which means someone is probably going to get an absolute bargain.

The work started around five years ago by having Enviro Strip acid-dip the bare shell twice in to remove any traces of rust. It was then carefully and meticulously rust-proofed and painted by a BMW-approved bodyshop before being painstakingly reassembled.

Keen to preserve the car’s originality as far as possible, Richard opted to have the bumpers rechromed rather than replaced. It was the same for all sorts of other fittings, including mundane stuff like nuts and bolts, which led to a big bill from Derby Plating Services. But it, like the one for the bodywork, was money well spent as it all looks terrific.

As was the invoice for refurbishing the 14-inch Dunlop alloy wheels, which look sensational. They’re fitted with a matching set of high-quality 175/80R14 Continental tyres too, all of which are like new.

There’s a newly restored Weathershields sunroof too, which opens and closes as it should, sealing tightly against the elements while still giving an almost complete open-air experience when it’s open. Mind you, Richard did tell us that an awful lot of time went into getting it to fit this well, so none of this should come as a surprise.

Work to do? Well, the boot lid and the bottom of the driver’s door sit a little proud when closed. This is probably due to the new rubber seals, and we suspect time might soften them, allowing the panels to settle into place. But, why not pop along and decide for yourself?

The Mulberry leather interior is trimmed with grey piping to match the coachwork. It’s a discreet touch That’s entirely in keeping with the care and thought that’s gone into every aspect of this car’s restoration.

Plump and comfortable, they’re also of a much higher quality than were fitted to the car at the factory with back in 1974, and given how recent the restoration is, they’re obviously still in an unmarked condition. Matching door cards and a central armrest add further style, as does the co-ordinating gear-lever gaiter.

It’s all leather too, even the backs of the seats and the door cards. Richard tells us that the only vinyl in the MGB is on the dashboard; everything else is genuine cowhide.

Antique Red carpets act in a supporting role and they’re just as good as you’d expect in a car that’s been barely used since they were fitted. Dynamat soundproofing has been fitted underneath them, and this has been very neatly done, cutting individual strips to sit in between the corrugations in the floorpan. More Dynamat was used in the headlining and wheelarches.

The walnut-rimmed steering wheel adds a wonderfully tactile touch and serves as a neat counterpoint to the sombre black dashboard. Not that the latter is in any way a disappointment because its condition, along with the instruments and switches that lie within it, is every bit as good as you’d imagine.

The original Radiomobile radio has had a Bluetooth conversion, making it smartphone compatible. The speakers have been hidden under the dashboard too, making this the ultimate in stealth installs. Nor does his fastidiousness end there because Richard even asked his trimmer to make a protective cover for the base of the aerial to prevent it getting scratched from anything that might be placed in the boot. Clever, huh?

Obviously, the boot is as clean and well-appointed as the rest of the interior and contains a matching spare Dunlop alloy wheel.

Given that almost everything in here is either new or fully restored we can’t imagine that even the most finicky of owners will find much to do.

A few subtle changes have been made to help the MGB meet the demands of 21st century motoring including a custom Radtec cooling system and alloy radiator and a Wosp Performance high-torque starter motor. A stainless-steel exhaust too, and this one was used to create the pattern that the MG Owners’ Club will be using in future.

The gearbox experts Klassic Transmissions rebuilt the gearbox, while RPI Engineering supplied the bits for the Rover V8 engine and Gee’s Automotive Engines did the machining work to the block and cylinder heads.

As you can see, it starts promptly with good oil pressure. It revs beautifully too, and if the engine note is a little underwhelming (luxury and civility come with a cost…) then the exhaust note is every bit as impressive as you’d hope for.

The engine bay is very clean. Nicely ordered too and discreetly dressed, it would be a pleasure to work on that iconic V8 engine.

As for the underside, it is probably the cleanest we can recall seeing in a long time. Feast your eyes on it and just imagine the amount of work that went into making it look this good.

NB: The majority of the original V8 parts have been retained and come with the car.

You’d expect a £54,000 restoration to produce a fair amount of paperwork, and you’d be right. Please set aside a while to leaf through it all or, better still, why not pop along to see the car in person and check the MGB’s history file while you’re here?

As well as a thick stack of invoices and bills, the MGB comes with a clear recent vehicle history check.

What it doesn’t have is a current MoT certificate, and while it is exempt by virtue of its age, we would strongly encourage the new owner to have it MoT’d at the earliest opportunity. The cost of an MoT is a small investment when offset against the purchase and upkeep of any classic vehicle, and it gives an independent, third-party assessment of the car’s condition, which not only provides reassurance to the owner (and any subsequent purchasers) but might also be invaluable in the event of a bump when negotiating with the police and any interested insurance companies…

Everyone knows and loves the MGB and few models are as revered as the GT V8 - and if that’s what you’ve got your eye on then this has to be at the very top of your shortlist.

More a continuation car than your average restoration, it is beautifully spec’d and finished to a very high standard, which means it’s a classic that bears close scrutiny with both your head and your heart; with a total investment of around £54,000 to bring it to this condition, our estimate of somewhere between £30,000 and £40,000 represents a useful saving when you consider what it would cost you to commission one yourself.

As for the vendor’s claim that it’s “the best in the country”, we don’t know. What we do know is that it is a bonnie little thing and certainly right up there with the very best you’re ever likely to come across but don’t just take our word for it; why not make an appointment to come and see it and decide for yourself?

But we do know that James Bond would definitely love it.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays 9am-5pm, 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’.