1994 MG RV8

Imported to the UK from Japan in 2007, since then this MG RV8 has covered a total of 11.502 miles. To that, add 26,468 miles (42,596 km) in the Land of the Rising Sun. That makes it a low-mileage example, with it having covered an average of just 1,225 miles per year since 1994. The major benefit of this history is that thanks to the lack of salt on most Japanese roads its cars don’t tend to rust as those over in here Blighty do. 

“I’ve owned the car for around 3 years,” explains vendor, David. “Probably covering no more than 1000 miles in that time. The RV8 has been trouble-free in my ownership, other than requiring a steering rack replacement, as well as regular servicing and MOT tests. The maintenance costs have been low”.

David says that generally, the exterior and interior are both in good shape and that the underside is absolutely solid. “The engine starts first time and runs beautifully. It’s a great sounding car, with a beautiful roar elicited from its 3.9-litre Rover V8. The ride is excellent and very comfortable – it’s one of my wife’s favourite cars”.

The RV8 does have an EZ power steering unit fitted but it doesn’t currently work. “Having recently spoken to another RV8 owner, I was told that the switches to the left of the steering wheel under the dash have something to do with how to set it up – I never got round to doing it, though”.

As well as this, the car comes with a hard top. “That’s fairly unusual,” says David. “The interior is bespoke too. Usually, you find that it’s standard cream leather on these cars. Also, in the boot, there is a bag with a glass wind deflector that sits behind the rear seats”.    

So why is the RV8 up for sale? Well, a change in storage conditions has brought about his decision. “Space has become a big issue. The site where the bulk of my cars are housed has become a bit of a mess, with other businesses there that are just not suitable for classic car storage”.
 

MG did a fine job of bringing the B’s body shell bang up-to-date by integrating sculpted body-coloured bumpers, as well as more modern lights and alloy wheels. It’s instantly familiar and yet visually more masculine (helped also by the bonnet hump) than its earlier iteration. 

This example’s body remains in good shape. Panels look to be nicely aligned and the Oxford Blue tone really suits the 8’s lines. “It does have a few scratches, which I was planning to get sorted,” says David. “Unfortunately, my preferred body-shop guy was unable to do the works before the car came down to Bonhams|Cars Online”. 

As stated, the car comes with a rare hardtop. This lends an extra dimension to its character, allowing the soft-top to be transformed into a tin-top coupe by the owner should the desire arise. As can be seen in our photographs, there is a little bit of damage on its offside lower rear edge where it has warped slightly. The hood too, has a couple of little 1/2-inch splits on the nearside lower rear panel and generally, could do with a thorough clean. Also included is a smart tan-coloured tonneau cover. 

Each alloy wheel remains supremely clean; they are shod in Michelin rubber at the rear with Avon items at the front.  
 

The RV8 has an interesting factory interior, in that it’s finished in Black leather piped White. Matched with Black carpets and set against highly contrasting wood veneers, it makes for a quite a striking cabin environment.

In terms of hides, the leather has a good patina but would no doubt benefit from a fresh feed. The door cards in particular could do with a touch of detailing titillation.

A radio cassette system is fitted with discreet black speakers set into each door. The soft-top headlining is still holding up reasonably well, while the hardtop’s is pretty much immaculate.

Lift the carpets and you will find clean, solid metal. That’s also the case in the rear where the boot floor looks to be in similarly excellent condition. A spare wheel and jack can also be found there.  

It’s worth noting that the heater doesn’t appear to be working. “To be honest, I’m not sure if that’s the case as the car has only ever come out in good weather, so I’ve had no need for it,” says David.
 

This RV8 is said to be in fine driving health. It comes having had a relatively recent service and a similarly fresh MOT ticket, too. The V8 fires first time and sounds deliciously throaty (see from 4min 25secs of our Video, above) with a potent sounding exhaust note.

As stated in the Overview section, the EZ power steering unit isn’t currently in working order but could actually turn out to be a relatively easy fix. The engine bay has a light coating of grime and a bit of surface corrosion on one or two brackets but generally looks to be in good order. That said it could benefit from a bit of detailing.  

As David intimated, the underside looks very solid and well protected, backing up the fact that this car has been used as a fine weather warrior since its repatriation.

A UK odometer was fitted shortly after the car came to the UK, replacing the original Japanese item. 
 

Japanese imports don’t tend to come with much in the way of history and that is also the case here. Included in the car’s slim history file is its V5c Registration Certificate, which confirms its date of first registration as 01/09/1994 and its date of first UK registration as 29/03/2007. It also shows a total of three UK owners, including David, since the latter.

You will also find a couple of invoices from its time in David’s ownership, including one for £324.85 (dated 11/09/2025) for an MOT, service and fitting of new front wheel bearings at Old Forge Motors Ltd, Harrogate. That MOT test certificate is present and runs until 26/08/2026.

A recent online vehicle history check is present and shows no known issues with outstanding finance, theft or having been written off. It also records the car’s importation back into the UK. The original MG RV8 handbook is present, as is a Spring/Summer 2022 Hagerty UK Price Guide.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos to support our claim that this MG RV8 was imported to the UK in 2007 and has been well maintained since.
 

The MG RV8 was a little hamstrung by its more potent direct rivals when new. Compared to them, it seemed like a throwback to a somewhat less sophisticated time.

Today, it’s thankfully free from those in period comparisons and can now be viewed for what it is and that’s a damned fine open-topped, sports tourer. The ingredients are all there: MGB styling with a more modern fit’n’finish, allied to that superlatively punchy Rover V8 engine. It is perhaps closer in spirit to the car the ‘B should have been all along.

We’ll leave MG aficionados to argue that one and instead, focus on what this Japanese import offers, which is a salt-free driving history until 2007 followed by enthusiast ownership in the UK ever since.

It also comes with a rare hardtop and a bespoke interior. Oh, and V8 goodness a-plenty. We estimate that somewhere between £14,000 and £17,000 should secure this dashing Oxonian. 

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