1994 MG RV8

There have been a number of British manufacturers who have taken their smaller, less powerful motors out of their sports cars and dropped a nasty, fire-breathing V8 in its place. We know what “Texas Carroll” did first to the AC and then the Sunbeam Alpine. Small car + big engine = fast and fun.

MG tried it briefly, in 1973, till the end of production in 1980 by sticking a Buck V8 in the MGB GT.

In the late ’80s, MG was part of the Rover Group an offspring of British Leyland. The Rover Group was selling a plethora of cars in every segment but one—the small sporty roadster.

Mazda handed the world the Miata in 1990. The MG name still existed but it was synonymous with boring little boxy cars, but there were still fond memories of the spunky little sports car. So the Rover Group decided to give it one last try, it would be the swan song of the MGB. They created the MG RV8. It was the MGB platform with a Rover 3.9-liter V8 shoehorned in.

Ex-MGB workers were yanked out of retirement and put back in harness to get on with the new project. Even the old MGB bodies were used as a starting point for the new clay models. This was a low budget redo.

The new roadster was larger than a B but the bumpers were nicely integrated into the body compared to the previous rubber numbers. The 3,950-cc Rover powerplant was matched with a Rover R380 5-speed gearbox. In the front, there was independent double wishbone suspension with coil springs, while at the back end telescopic shocks and an anti-roll bar. But the new MG still only had discs up front and made do with drum brakes at the back.

However, one piece of MGB nostalgia that was not carried over to the new RV8 was the price tag—this was no longer an inexpensive sports car. When the car became available to the British public in 1993, it was being offered at £26,000, which was higher than other more exotic British marques. But it was a big hit in Japan with 75% of production heading to their shores The rest stayed in the U.K. All cars were right-hand drive, since no plans had been made to reenter the U.S. market.

It’s now been two years since the RV8 has been allowed in the U.S., but you certainly won’t see one at every Cars & Coffee. They will remain a rare sight.

When I picked the car up for a drive it was parked next to a chrome bumper B. You could see the lineage and the increase in size. Rover was trying to create a more substantial car. Looking at the rear fender in profile, with its accent line and tail light, you almost see a mini Bentley. The interior is a rather posh location with large amounts of leather and polished wood, which makes it un-characteristically MG. Gauges are now VDO instead of the oft-maligned Smiths.

Turn the key and it’s not the peppy sound of 4 cylinders coming back at you, it’s 8 rumbling badass cylinders making themselves known. Gear shifts are short and tight and acceleration is most definitely not MG, but you know you are in a heavier car and there is more weight out front, but you are still in command of a sweet handling little roadster GT…that is until you hit a bump, then it is all teeth-rattling MG. But I guess you have to allow it a bit of it’s past to show through. It’s the MG of your past, grown up and given a fashion makeover. The only question is are you too grown up to have a play date with it?

Specifications

Valuation

Price then: £26,000

Price today: $14,000- $25,000