Description

1974 MGB GT 4.6 V8

Factory V8; current owner since 1982; a well sorted track car that has been steadily developed over the years; 4.6 V8 race engine with 350bhp and 357lb/ft; Borg Warner T5 box; Quaife differential; Wilwood brakes; rear roll cage; road legal with a current MOT; driven to the sale 

This MGB GT V8 was first registered in June 1974 and is a genuine factory produced model which makes it quite rare: according to the V8 Register, only 2,601  MGB GT V8s were built between December 1972 and July 1976, this car being number 1699 which makes it one of the last chrome bumper models.

It has had five owners to date, our vendor acquiring it way back in 1982. During his long ownership the car has been modified for use as a road legal competition car, suitable for use in sprints, hillclimbs and other events.

In 1994 and 1995 the car was entered into the ‘road-going modified class’ of the Peter Best Phoenix Petroleum Challenge, winning the event both times and also winning the National Championship outright in 1995. The car was always driven to and from events and comes with an album of photos showing it competing at venues like Silverstone, Cadwell Park, Castle Coombe, Donnington Park etc, where it often came 1st in Class.

There are invoices on file for work done to the car in June 2005 by MG Motorsport of Bovingdon, Herts. This included a full body restoration with various new panels; rear arches slightly pulled out to accommodate wider tyres; MG special tuning front and rear spoilers; louvred bonnet; reinforced suspension pick-up points; tow points front and rear and a bare metal repaint, the bill for this lot coming to £8,508. Documents on file state that the car was race prepared by Beer of Houghton as recently as March 2015.

The engine currently in the car was built by JE Developments in February 2013 with Stage 1 heads, fuel injection and various other upgrades, a rolling road dyno sheet confirming that it is a 4,601cc Rover V8 which produces 350bhp and 357lb/ft. Since the engine was built, it would appear from the MOT history and the odometer that the car has only covered around 6,500 miles.

The gearbox is a Borg Warner T5 (five-speed). The rear axle is a standard MGB V8 unit with a Quaife differential and anti-tramp bars. The suspension is conventional MGB V8 with various aspects uprated for competition use. The brakes have uprated AP discs with Wilwood four-pot calipers at the front, while the rear has standard drums with uprated shoe material. There is also a brake bias bar although this is not adjustable from inside the car once set.  

As you can see in the photos, the car has various other competition features such as Riguard bucket seats; Schroth race harnesses; rear roll cage; RaceTech instruments; Mocal oil cooler; inboard fuel lines; 15” Minilite alloy wheels shod with nearly new Uniroyal RainSport tyres; plumbed-in fire extinguisher; electric cut-off switch etc.

It also appears to have a DTA Race Electronics engine management system with a user manual and various power cables/connectors. There is also a user manual for the RaceTech instruments. We are told that it also has a Tracker theft recovery system fitted (lifetime subscription).

Previously registered as ATU 869M, it became 8204 MG in December 2015 but this number is being retained and the car is being sold with the registration number CCA 396M, as shown on the current V5C which records it as an MGB GT V8 with Historic Vehicle tax status and 4,600cc capacity. It has an MOT until February 2023 with no advisories recorded and was driven some 30 miles to the sale.

It has been starting promptly and running well as we have moved it around on site, with a very fruity exhaust note. Okay, the paintwork on the roof and the bonnet is a bit dull but it will shine up beautifully with a good machine polish, the last two photos showing what we achieved in just 10 minutes with some T-Cut and elbow grease.

The car was recently insured for £25,000 but is on offer here at a very modest guide price because the long-term owner is now in a care home. We are told that a substantial spares package (diffs; gearboxes; exhausts; headers; wheels etc) will also be made available to the winning bidder by separate negotiation if desired. Comfortable enough to use as a fast road car, it is no doubt capable of winning some silverware on the track too.

For more information contact James on 07970 309907 or email james.dennison@brightwells.com