Where can I find the Car Number on an MGBGTV8?

Which number do I need to find for my registration with the V8 Register?

If you are registering a Factory produced MGBGTV8 you will need the Car Number which is located on the small plate attached to offside inner wing close to the oil filter (see the diagram in Box 1 below) from which you can read off the Car Number. It is in the format GD2D1-NNNN G where "NNNN" is a three of four digit number. Alternatively the three or four figure number is usually set out on the Vehicle Registration Document (VRD) or the new Vehicle Registration Certificate (VRC) in the EU format issued by DVLC Cardiff or on the original Log Book for the car if you still have that in your possession.

If you are registering an MGBV8 Conversion or Costello V8, then you will need the GHD number (MGBGTV8 Conversion) or the GHN5 number (V8 Roadster Conversion) because there will be no GD2D1 plate fixed to the offside inner wing.


Identification numbers and locations

1. Car Number - a three or four digit number stamped on a plate secured to the right hand inner wing adjacent to the oil filter with the prefix GD2D1 except for early LHD cars which have a prefix GD2D2.

2. Commission number - stamped on a plate secured to the bonnet locking platform. From around GD2D1 2710 G the Commission number was dispensed with and the Body number started with "040".

3. Engine number - stamped on the right hand side of the cylinder block located directly behind the left hand cylinder head. This can be difficult to find - see large location diagram.

4. Gearbox number - stamped on the right hand side of the gearbox casing.

5. Overdrive unit number - stamped on a plate secured to the underside of the overdrive main casing.

6. Rear axle number - stamped on the left hand side of the rear axle tube near the spring seating.

What does the Car Number mean?
The Car Number comprises a series of letters and numbers presenting in code the make, engine type, body type and the series plus of course the serial number of the particular car.

So for an MGBGTV8 with the Car Number GD2D1-1089 G, the explanation of the would be:

G = MG, D = 3,000cc and over, 2 = two door, D = GT body, 1 = 1st series or 2 = second series, and finally 1089 is the serial number of the car.

Source: Parts Catalogue MGB, Tourer, GT and V8 up to Sepetmber 1976 AKM0039 February 1977 1st Edition supplied by BL, page 108 - A10. The table of data on that page is incorrectly headed "not V8" but that is a printer's mistake.

V8 Register records
How are the V8 Register records arranged? Well at an early stage we found it necessary to give all non-factory MGBV8s an artificial Car Number to provide some rational structure for the V8 Register, and adopted the following arrangement.
From
.
To
Model/type
0095
-
2903
Factory produced MGBGTV8s
3000
-
3999
MGBGTV8 Conversions
4000
-
4999
MGBV8 Roadster Conversions
5000
-
5999
Costello MGBGTV8s
6000
-
6999
Costello MGBV8 Roadsters

Comparative weights
Model
Year

Weight
lbs
MGBGT
1973
2,380
MGCGT
1968
2,615
MGBGTV8
1973
2,387

So the MGBGTV8 was virtually the same weight as the ordinary MGBGT but much lighter than the MGCGT - in fact much lighter by some 228lbs or just over 16 stones (103.4kg). That is equivalent to the weight of a heavy person in the car - and in the case of an MGC, most of that excess weight is up front!
Comparative BHP/Ton
Model
BHP
BHP
per Ton
MGBGT
84
79.06
MGCGT
145
124.21
MGBGTV8
137
128.56

So the MGBGTV8 has 3.5% more BHP/Ton than the MGCGT and a huge 62.6% more than the ordinary MGBGT. We all recall the extraordinary sensation the first time we drove an MGBGTV8, particularly if we had driven an ordinary MGB before! This BHP/Ton increase helps to explain it - plus of course the smooth eight cylinder torque.

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 MGBGTV8 production
Most authors of publications covering the MGBGTV8 quote 2,591 as the total production of the model. That output was spread over 5 years ending with GD2D1 2903 G.

Year
Output
1972
3
1973
1,069
1974
854
1975
489
1976
176
Total
2,591
The deliveries were 2,584 to the Home market and 7 exports. There were no exports to the USA.

Production batches
The production of the chrome (CB) and rubber bumper (RB) MGBGTV8s was in batches. The Car Nos (or VINs, using the present day term) of the batches provided by Geoff Allen (V8 Historian) are as follows:
.
From

To
CB
0099
0095
CB
0101
1956
RB
2101
2632
RB
2701
2903

But is the 2,591 production figure correct?
Most authors of publications covering the MGBGTV8 quote 2,591 as the total production of the model - but is it correct? Well as information has gradually come to light, the longstanding V8 Register Historian & Archivist, Geoff Allen, believed there were more than 2,591 V8s! Geoff was at the Abingdon MG Plant for over 27 years, much of it in Rectifications Department, so was particularly well placed because during the weeks before the final close, he made a handwritten copy of the production control and despatch books. Geoff examined various records maintained at Abingdon and believed there were in fact 2,600 MGBGTV8s. If you add another MGBGTV8 that came to light back in the early 1980s - GD2D1 100 G (which Geoff was unable to trace in the records he had studied) then there could be 2,601 MGBGTV8s! See Geoff's note as V8NOTE300
What are the names
of the body colours used
for MGBGTV8s built at Abingdon?
See our checklist

What were the body and trim colour combinations?
V8NOTE313

This note is part of the V8 Workshop Notes series of maintennace and spares information contributed by members of the V8 Register of the MG Car Club.

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