MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical - Are factory V8s slow?

I've spoken to a few people who've said words to the effect "of course, the V8s were never really that quick".

This strikes me as a bit strange. I'm actually pretty impressed with the performance of my standard V8, and I don't really have much incentive to try and get more power out of it. It's great for overtaking, and has a higher top speed than I'll ever need.

Has anyone else come across this opinion? Does anyone know where it started? My guess is that people have read that this was a low compression 'detuned' V8, and assumed that it didn't have any poke. I know the actual bhp is fairly low in relation to the cubic capacity, but the torque is pretty impressive. And surely, when compared to contemporary cars at the time, the perfomance on paper is pretty healthy?

I'm not really bothered if people think the car isn't that quick: I'm really happy with it personally (in fact I'd go as far as to say it's the best car I've ever owned). I'm just curious as to how this opinion got started.
Darren Ainsworth

>>"of course, the V8s were never really that quick". <<

Some truth in that!

The advantage of a big lump in a small lightweight car is not simply the 'more speed' aspect. It's the understressed lack of effort quality about such a configuration that appeals to me and no doubt many other drivers of cars of this type.

When the six-cylinder MGC first appeared back in the 1960s, the largely clueless UK motoring press completely missed this point [still running true to form even today... :-) ], expecting a 'faster' version of the MGB. The really appealing point of the MGC was lost on them to a man ... and woman..., an understressed long legged cruiser. A job it and the later V8 GTs performed well even by todays standards.

For a long journey, which would YOU prefer to drive. A highly stressed say blown 2 litre, like a Subaru, or a lazy understressed V8 MGZT ? Both have similar bhp outputs.

No contest for this particular enthusiast, whilst both cars have appeal, horses for courses and all that.
John McFeely

The original factory figures were (if I remember rightly)

0-60: 7.5s
Top Speed : 125mph


That's quick now, let alone 30 years ago !

j w mcglynn

Darren,

Thats comparable with a MGF and relaxed at same time, and easily tuned for a lot more and still relaxed.

When you consider low cost insurance etc - perhaps the rumour was started to put others off the scent of the best MG ever.

Paul
Paul

I guess you would have to ask the question; compared with what? Even though the conversion cars being built today have more power, the factory V8 was quite a kick for any British car of it's day. Especially when you compare the price of a MGB V8 to a Jajuar,Morgan +8 or Daimler SP250.
Good power, great balance, low price= fun!
FWIW
Kelly
Kelly Combes

I think you're right Darren, about the personal predudice, ie "its 'detuned' therefor a bit gutless".
The point was that the V8 did't need to be 'tuned' when it's in a tiny little car like an MG. As John implies, the power to weight ration was so high, they could set the thing up with other criteria in mind.

This preduce was not helped by an almost entire lack of promotion by Leyland. Most people have never even heard of the MGV8.
I've always got the impresssion that Leyland really did not want the MG and from Day 1, was looking for any excuse to shut them down, they were bought to eliminate competition with triumph. ie lets put on heavy rubber bumpers and take the torsion bars off AND raise the ride height. There were/are about 1000 better ways of meeting the American collision regulations, if you want to. There was even an MG with a periscope (for safety apparently)And off course the faviourite, we need the V8 engines for something (anything) else. Or the V8 will never meet American emmission regulations etc etc.. .

Anyway, next time someone has a go tell them its all about power to weigh ratio. ie how many Locomotives do you see on the race track?.
Peter

I'd noticed that the V8 has a fairly healthy power to weight ratio!

What amazes me is that this sort of assumption is never made about the Triumph Stag or TR6, but the MG V8 is quicker than both of them. Having had one short go in a TR6, I found it a somewhat underwhelming experience.
Darren Ainsworth

Darren,

If you think that's underwhelming , you should try a Stag....preferably an automatic !!

I have an MGB V8 roadster..admittedly its modified and has I guess 200+BHP, and more importantly, loads of mid range torque, but I have also driven 'standard' V8GT's in the past.....there is really no comparison between the Triumph and the MG.......the Stag is REALLY slow,....... but I have to admit it has a better exhaust note than the MGBGTV8.

Mike
Michael barnfather

in an MG book , I think by Mccomb, there is a story of a factory GTV8 - picked at random from the production line ( so I recall the story goes anyway) and taken by journalists over the france to try it out. 138MPH was attained.
The V8 was not underpowered. Had it been given the P6 160BHP engine it would nearly have matched contemorary E type jags on the road.
In the real world the V8 is miles faster than a 1800CC B, as noted by others - the torque is doing the talking here! not low compression ratios..another story from the same book, I think relayed by John Thornley - great car pull away in 4th gear and in less than a mile you were doing well over 100mph, we had never made such a fast car....

I have a magazine advert from around V8 launch
"if youve just bought a Datsun 240Z, triumph stog, or Scimiter you won't want to know about this : the new mgb gt v8 £2... top speed 124MPH....

Derek Watson

And they still comfortably out-drag modern cars in top gear....my brother has a 2 litre Celica, and a friend a 300Z, both dis-appear in the rear view mirror when entering motorways , I've had to back off to let them catch up....the V8 power is effortless..I seldom take it beyond 3000rpm....no need..... the torque does it all.

Mike
Michael barnfather

How do you spell slow? Stag Had one
How do you spell fast? Corvette Z06 have one

Datzun 240 heavy car, engine has lots of torque
MGB V8 with the right gears in the differential can be fun to drive. with the stock gears it sucks!!!!
I went from 3:07 to GM differential 3:42 and it's better.
I much rather drive my MGB GTV8F F is for Ford 5.0 liter. I have 5 MG's the one with the blower is going to be for sale, I wasted lots of $$$$ for nothing
My RD 3.9 FI is going to be for sale next year, I just don't like it.
I will keep the orignal GT V8 (collector value)
The Ford 5.0 liter I will keep for weekends. The 3.4 FI V6 GT I drive it daily.
Fast car Larry

No that is not me, I only have one MGBV8.

It is the torque, plain and simple. That is also what sets the bigger V8's (SBF, SBC) even tronger than the buick/rover units. (No offense intended guys...) Sure 200+bhp out of a buick/rover is possible and many stock 302/5.0s are 225hp fromt he factory, but they are almost the same ft'lbs torque right from idle due to the cubic inches.

I HIGLY doubt people would call a MGBGTV8 in factory trim slow unless they own a Z06 like the lucky guy above.
Larry Embrey

ambling home yesterday on a twisty road I came up behind some sort of convertable Ferrari, with Reg No V8 WOW, clearly the site of a little old MG behind this chap on a twisty bit made him a little unhappy as when a straighter bit road came he shot away, I wonder what he thought as we came to a t junction and the little old mg was still in his rear view.... and I only have a stock SD1 motor... and was never out of 4th gear
Derek Watson

Actualy I've noticed that middle aged guys in new BMW's or young guys in utes (pick ups) will try to drag me off (about 1 in 3). You hear them rev hell out of their engines while the MG just burbles away, no stress no hassles, second gear straight to fourth (or fifth). Then when they eventualy catch up I like to pretend I've just noticed them "Oh you were having a contest?, sorry didn't notice". A bit cruel but what the hell ;)
Peter

Peter,

Nonchalant approach works for me everytime.

Paul
Paul

well we were late for an engagement but we did have an escort -

'Can she keep up ?' The man in charge asked in a slightly patronising tone. Cars were not the first thing on my mind but getting a senior person to the next engagement was the sole preoccupation. I didn't answer.

'Well - stay on your boss' tail then' ..his parting shot as he climbed into his BMW V8 and turned on the light. In the rear view, I just had time to notice he had picked up his mike and we were off.

Three minutes and on the autobahn; BMW,Merc,MG,BMW - blue lights, no sirens, ten paces between each car - speedo a longway round the circle - passenger's knuckles definitely a lighter shade.

You could see it on their faces. Middle class businessmen in their 140 mph saloons - 'British registered MG in police convoy - must be a film stunt -let's all join in. The convoy of 4 becomes a phalanx of 8 - the rear police car pulls alongside at an opportune moment to block off a sightsee-er and waves me to close up the 20 paces I have opened out. He turns on his siren and suddenly we are on our own again. The lead car opens out the big V8 and I do as I am told. The tacho is in the red but the Rover is not complaining.

The journey ended twenty minutes after it started with the usual line up; civic dignitaries, CEOs and the customary bunch of flowers. The BMWs are parked with their crews at attention in front. There is a noticeable smile on all the faces - can't be sure if its friendly but one peels off and comes over to me: ' Good car' he manages ' big american engine - I will park it with the Mercedes'

He had been surprised that we had been able to stay close together. He would have been even more surprised if he had known how many miles it had on the clock. The car was no worse for wear. I did not ask to take it on that sort of occasion again.

I think of it as understated power. It never ceases to surprise.

FWIW

RMW

This thread was discussed between 06/08/2004 and 20/08/2004

MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical BBS now