1994 MG RV8

Like many RV8s, this car initially went to Japan, so has lived a good deal of its life in a far more sympathetic climate (check out the pictures of the underneath). Brought back to the UK in 2014, the MG has had two owners since repatriation, the first keeping it slightly less than a year. In England it has been garaged and regularly serviced, though has needed no major work. It was the property of a diligent and knowledgeable owner now deceased.

The MG is finished in Woodcote Green - pearlescent, no less - an extra-cost option colour that became very much associated with the model. And very handsome it looks too. As you look through the pictures, don’t confuse the way the light plays with the pearlescentness with inconsistencies in the finish. The quality and shade of the paint remain consistent across the body of the car and across different materials; steel and plastic. It retains a good gloss with only a few very small blemishes; a couple of tiny touched up scratches around the boot lid area, and some faint hairline scratches from fingernails in the door handle cavities. There is a little (very) light weathering around where the hood fits, but nothing to really detract from the impression the car makes. There are a couple of small dents; on the bonnet (nearside front), and on the same side rear wing.

Panel fit is very good - better than an MGB (especially around the boot lid), with panel gaps that remain narrow - and parallel - around doors, boot and bonnet. That deep front spoiler too sits nice and straight. For such a deep apron, it is remarkably scuff/stone chip free. Seam welds are tidy, showing no signs of corrosion.

Being an MG, the model couldn’t be expected to totally eschew chrome trim, and what brightwork that remains (tail light trim, handles, scuttle top vent, and those oversize Rover badges) is in very good condition. The chromed filler cap is in top condition, as is its rubber mounting.

Black textured plastic takes the bright metal’s place on the wing mirror mounts and outer door capping. It remains firmly mounted (as do the mirrors) and runs right around the edge of the cockpit without cracks or warping.

The black windscreen surround shows none of the bubbling from underneath that sometimes affects such finishes. And the rubber strip below appears very supple and healthy.

All in all, a rather good-looking roadster.

The interior of the RV8 feels more substantial, more chunky and more cosseting than that of an MGB roadster. (I know we keep referring back to that model, but it’s easy to think that this is simply a B with a V8, which it isn’t.) The sand/mushroom-coloured leather has a gentle patina. One or two small scuffs and scratches show up on the relatively light-coloured hides, but the overall condition is good. There is some normal handling wear/marks to the top of the gear stick and the hand brake, and a small mark on the arm rest but the centre console is pretty scuff-free, especially considering its colour.

The floor carpets, as well as those on the door bottoms and flanking the transmission tunnel, are clean and tidy - as are the mats on top, though, understandably, the latter shows a little more wear.

By the way, the boot carpets are also good - clean and remaining their original black. The spare wheel,is rust free, while its tools are retained in the proper bag.

Back in the cabin, all instruments are likewise present and correct. The burr elm woodwork gives a more upmarket feel to the RV8’s cabin, giving a more ‘touring’ feel perhaps. It retains a high gloss and shows a rich grain with some very nice figuring along the door tops and across the dashboard. The lacquer is lifting in a couple of places on the glovebox lid, but the overall impression of the woodwork is still very good.

The (original) black canvas hood remains in excellent shape, retaining all of its colour on the outside. Underneath, there are a few (water?) stains, but the material is intact and appears strong. It buttons down quite easily under the tonneau cover and the back window unzips without resistance. Its steel frame retains almost all of its black coating, with only one or two light brushes of surface rust around joins, It folds up and down smoothly and easily managed by one person.

The underside of the RV8 is very confidence-inspiring. From this perspective you get a good idea of just how robust this car is. The undersealing and weatherproofing are very largely intact and there is a distinct lack of rust on the underside of the body and along the crossmembers holding everything in place. The underside of the fuel tank is dent free and the bottoms of the doors smooth and clean.

On all four wheels, the suspension components appear sturdy and free-moving, with wishbones and springs looking strong and pretty clean. Rubber gaiters look to be in very good shape and there is no corrosion on brake or fuel lines - nor indeed the exhaust, which looks very healthy. The cast-spoke split rim wheels are a nice feature. They too are in very good condition (a few very minor scuffs) with plenty of life left in the Continental tyres.

On lifting the bonnet, you are presented with a very smart engine bay; no signs of leaks and virtually no rust, save along one small edge. You’re in no doubt what the motor is; the black EFi plenum chamber housing puts the big MG badge front and centre, and each rocker cover has 3.9 stamped on it. All ancillaries look strong and in good order, both the alternator and the brake master cylinder are free of corrosion or oil stains, while hoses and leads look in especially good condition; supple and showing no cracks or signs of perishing. The distributor cap assembly is likewise clean and its attendant leads are supple and new-looking.

There is some light (and inevitable) oxidation on fuel rails and elsewhere - alloy components, but everything appears to have been very well attended to. It’s unlikely that remedial servicing will be an issue here.

According to the MOT records, the MG has seen only light use over the past few years - around 900 in 2017, 550 the next year, and then some 1700 in 2019. As well as the original Japanese owner’s manual and such, the MG retains sundry invoices from its life in the UK - small jobs - such as a fan belt adjustments or a cooling system flush and replacement with Evan’s waterless cooling fluid (2015), The MG had a new battery in 2016 and suspension bushes/mounts in February 2016. Many parts came via MGV8Parts.com. More significantly, the RV8 had a full set of Spax dampers in 2019.

Reassuringly, the MG also carries a British Motor Industry Heritage Trust certificate to prove its authenticity. As well as notes on the model’s specifications and development, the history file also contains a fully printed out owner’s manual in English.

This is a very robust example of a sought-after MG variant. It isn’t a concours car - nor does it claim to be - but its underlying solidity and usability make it a very desirable choice, and should reassure anyone that, in classic car terms, it’s a sensible buy. In what is a very popular colour combination for this model - and with that very tidy motor, we think this RV8 can command a value of between £15,500 and £20,000.

Viewing is always encouraged and this particular car is situated in Yorkshire; to arrange an appointment, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to to ask any questions or make observations on the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

This vehicle is not with us at The Market’s HQ, which means we have had to rely on the owner’s description of it, in conjunction with the photographs you see here, to compile the listing.

With this in mind, we would encourage potential bidders to contact the owner themselves and arrange to view the car in person, or to arrange a dedicated video call in which they can view the car virtually and ask questions.