1973 MG B GT V8 Pre-Production

Unfortunately due to health reasons owner Malcolm Bailey is no longer able to drive the car, so it’s time for it to go to a new home. ‘I’ve owned it for 10 years,’ he says. ‘I’m on the committee of the MG Car Club’s Abingdon Works Centre and have always used it for events that we organise.’ In that position, Malcolm was naturally interested in a well-documented pre-production example, it is noted that by this later stage of prototype, most things are as per production cars. Those with longer memories will note we sold a very early prototype GT V8 which had the Costello-style exhaust setup, this one has a production style routing.

The main body of work to convert the car back to police specification was carried out by the previous owner, but it’s Malcolm who commissioned a local MG specialist to carry out the restorative works necessary to bring it up to the excellent condition that it’s in today.

This included a full bodywork restoration carried out in 2011 (please see photographs and receipts in the History Highlights section, below), which included new front wings, sills and castle rails, front valance and other necessary welding works. It was then re-sprayed in the correct BLMC Police White paint, and had a reconditioned gearbox fitted.

‘It drives very well,’ he says. ‘It’s quite fast and everything does what it should. There’s only one issue and that’s that the overdrive has to be used manually, as it there’s a problem with it skipping out.’

After its time with the police as a demonstrator, GOF 88L was decommissioned in late 1973 and sold as a private car in September of that year. The V5 document (again, please see the History Highlights section) shows eight former keepers. In its time with them it’s been located in Scotland and Manchester, as well as in a number of southern counties.

‘Oy, you’re nicked!’ For looking at my lovely motor vehicle, geezer. And it is lovely. The body had a comprehensive restoration and it’s been done to a very high level. It’s not quite the very best we’ve seen, but it’s definitely up there and that’s a big compliment.

Panel fit is very good and the Police White paintwork still looks very elegant indeed. The only issue we could find was a small paint run above the near side wheelarch, but that’s small beer indeed. All badges look new, chrome is generally without blemish (although being picky there’s a touch of light pitting on the o/s rear overrider) and the Dunlop alloy rims are in excellent condition.

Up top the police-sign covers are easy to fit and well constructed, doing their job of wrapping up the signs and lights perfectly.

There’s a lovely period ambience inside. Just look at the pictures and then compare them with the period article in The Police Review, to see just how closely it resembles the car back then.

Traffic cones sit pride of place in the rear, accompanied by a cornucopia of Seventies traffic officer ‘gear’ including hats, badges, coats, breathalysers, signs, height gauges and even handcuffs. Someone has been very busy and attentive at the Autojumble! Pull your eyes away from all that and you’ll find a very smart interior.

However, it’s straight back to it that you’re inevitably drawn. The correct Police radio and speaker are in place, and there’s even a hidden mini disc that will play the correct police ‘chatter’ through the central speaker – talk about going to lengths....

Inside the glove box is a power switch that cuts power to the lights and siren, which is a legal requirement and when combined with light/sign covers allows the car to be used on the public roads.

A Category 1 Alarm and immobiliser were fitted in April 2010 although the alarm has since been removed.

Check out our video below and you’ll see that with blues and twos firing it’s quite a presence – more than enough to have the bad lads scarpering. As an MGB GT V8 in its own right, it’s also a good ‘un. The engine fires nicely and pulls well with a lovely V8 rumble, while gearbox, brakes and suspension all feel excellent, as they should.

With Police regalia visible you can’t run this car on the road as is. However the good news is that with its well-constructed covers in place, and power to the lights and siren cut, you most certainly can.

How easy would it be to revert to standard spec for the other 360 days of the year? Well we think with a bit of simple ingenuity you could, but be aware that the police sign and light housing on the roof is bolted through it.

The underside itself is in good nick (no pun intended), and is protected with a thick protective wax covering. There’s a bit of (very light) surface corrosion here and there, but it doesn’t look like anything to worry about and should clean up easily.

All the suspension components still look fresh, as do all the running gear’s rubber protective gaiters and dust caps. While under the bonnet it remains nice, clean, dry and as well presented as a recent restoration which has completed little mileage should.

Owner Malcolm Bailey has produced a comprehensive list of the works carried out on the ‘B GT V8 since 13/08/2009, as well as associated costs that match with the huge number of invoices included in the history file. In addition, parts bought separately (and again costs) are again included in a separate spreadsheet.

The total spend on the vehicle since that time totals £23,079.22, with a separate tally of £19,529.58 within that total for labour provided by Hampshire-based MG Specialist Ashley Motor Repairs.

Big-ticket items include a new: 

• stainless steel exhaust system and downpipes
• suspension system, all round
• braking system
• rear axle   
• steering rack, starter motor and fuel pump

In addition there’s a receipt for a reconditioned gearbox (£700) and this was fitted when the bodywork restoration itself was completed at a total cost of £9973.79. There’s also a receipt for an engine rebuild in its time with a previous owner.

The above is simply a summary of the larger works completed, so it’s worth thumbing through the list to see everything that was done at the time. Also included are some pictures from the restoration, a parts catalogue and of most interest, the period road test of the car by W.R. Taylor in The Police Review and various other magazine articles written through the years.

There’s also a British Motor Industry Heritage Trust certificate issued on March 29, 2010 that details make, model, chassis and engine numbers, as well as exterior and interior colours, and factory fitted equipment. Under ‘Other Information’ there are such factory notes as a build record that states ‘on loan Police Trial 5 February 1973’.

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 proven historical interest and has been restored and then maintained to the very highest standard.

‘Mee-maw, mee-maw, mee-maw. Come in, come in, this is the law!’ Sorry I couldn’t resist it, but rest assured I’ll refrain from nipping into full-on Z-Cars repartee.

Buy this MGB GT V8 though, and you’ll have an instant talking point. It’s absolutely pitch perfect for any classic car show, Hagerty’s Festival of the Unexceptional (except of course, it is) or even for television work. And the owner will vouch for there being a great ex-police-car club scene.

Its previous two owners have gone to great lengths to ensure that it’s absolutely spot on, and period correct. With its current owner no longer able to drive it, this needs to go to a new custodian who can.

That someone will be buying a lovely slice of British motoring, and police, history. Couple that with its excellent condition and we think between £18,000 and £24,000 ought to secure it.

V8-powered white fuzz nirvana awaits.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located at The Market’s Abingdon HQ; 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’.

If needed, please remember we have a network of trusted suppliers we work with regularly and can recommend: Classic & Sportscar Finance for purchase-financing, Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car, AnyVan for transporting it, and Footman James for classic car insurance.

BORING, but IMPORTANT: Please note that whilst we at The Market always aim to offer the most descriptive and transparent auction listings available, we cannot claim they are perfect analyses of any of the vehicles for sale. We offer far greater opportunity for bidders to view, or arrange inspections for each vehicle thoroughly prior to bidding than traditional auctions, and we never stop encouraging bidders to take advantage of this. We do take a good look at the vehicles delivered to our premises for sale, but this only results in our unbiased personal observations, not those of a qualified inspector or other professional, or the result of a long test drive.

Additionally, please note that most of the videos on our site have been recorded using simple cameras which often result in 'average' sound quality; in particular, engines and exhausts notes can sound a little different to how they are in reality.