V8 Price Guide
The price guide figures for the MGBGTV8 (chrome and rubber bumper) and MG RV8 models set out below are derived from adverts on the V8 website and from the price guide service on the Classic & Sports Car magazine's website for cars in "show" and "average" condition. See updated MGV8 price guide (March 2008).

MGBGTV8 prices
For many years now condition has been the main factor determining the price of MGBGTV8s together with the premium for chrome bumpered cars which seems to be around £1,000 to £1,500. The rationale for condition determining price is simply that bodywork refurbishment costs are very costly, so cars needing major restoration are often offered as low as £1,200 or £1,500. But even at those prices the differential with the price of a "show" condition car would, in many cases, not cover the commercial cost of a typical restoration.

Some of the V8s advertised on the V8s for Sale webpage on the V8 Website over recent months have appeared to have been exceptional value. In several cases the V8s were 70,000 mile cars in excellent condition offered at around £6,000 to £8,000 but it seems there may have been a temporary surge in good quality MGBGTV8s on offer which appeared to have been caused by a shake out by a few long term owners deciding to sell up. It is likely prices for good quality MGBGTV8s will rise over the next 12 months as the success of the V8 Website has broadened the understanding within the MG and classic car market that an MGBGTV8 is an amazing classic car package and exceptional value!

MG RV8 prices
The price guide for the RV8 shown above is a broad brush figure because the prices of MG RV8s in the UK are clearly influenced by a range of factors. The first factor is that UK spec cars do attract a premium (possibly between £1,500 and £2,500) over reimported RV8s which is not entirely logical because Japan spec cars do have a higher specification - they have air-conditioning fitted as original equipment. The other factor having a bearing on price is colour, particularly with reimported RV8s, because a high proportion of the RV8s exported to Japan were finished in Woodcote Green. Consequently reimported cars in colours other than Woodcote Green are relatively rare and attract a premium, typically between £1,000 and £2,500.

With RV8s a low or moderate mileage is important because many reimported RV8s have very low mileages. All RV8s appearing at vehicle auctions in Japan have an auction report which indicates the recorded mileage - very few are over 25,000km and many are less. The general consensus is the mileages shown on the auction reports are likely to be genuine but there are a few people who are not entirely convinced! For an RV8 to have covered only 15,000km in nearly eight years for example, suggests an average annual mileage of only 1,875 km (1,171 miles) which at an average speed of even 30mph means the car would have been on the move for only 39 hours a year! Possible, yes and there is certainly evidence of RV8s being polished and admired a great deal more than driven by Japanese RV8 enthusiasts. But in any case, the impact of low mileage reimported RV8s on the UK market is that of tending to reduce the mileages prospective buyers regard as the norm when looking for an RV8 - particularly for a reimported RV8, but to some extent this effect rubs off on UK spec cars too.

Where will RV8 prices go in 2007? Well by far the biggest factor has been the renewed demand from Australia once the RAWS block (for details of RAWS, see the link in the right hand column) was removed towards the end of the first six months of 2004. Demand from Australia rose causing a surge in RV8 prices as "back orders" were sought at the auctions in Japan.
See report on RV8 auctions in Japan (June 2007)

Prices feedback
Any members with views on V8 prices are encouraged to send them to the V8 Registrar at v8registrar((atat))v8register.net or by posting a note on the V8 Bulletin Board. We are planning to create an expanded table of price guides for both the MGBGTV8 and the MG RV8.

V8 Register - MG Car Club