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MGBGTV8
Press Car featured in Autocar road test in August 1973
John Fry has the rare press car Green Mallard 0124 with
the registration plate HOH 920L which featured in the roadtest
in the August 1973 issue of Autocar magazine. Later in 2015
the car was driven by Quentin Willson for an episode of a 13
part series of one hour programmes on Channel 5. He is seen
flying by on a straight country road saying "Ding Dong!".
The video doesn't seem to be available now but see our photo
screengrabs of the MGBGTV8 from Episode 6. 200414
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John
Fry recalls his MGBGTV8 in South Africa
John Fry says "it's amazing what one manages to turn up
through the lockdown!" He had found a copy of Safety Fast!
from July 1981 and had read the V8 Register's section in the
Register News part of the magazine. John says "on perusal
of the article I see it makes reference to my MGBGTV8 - Mirage
1675 - when I owned it in South Africa. The first owner
lived on Mull in Scotland". 200414
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Thames
TV feature on British cars at the motor show in 1973
In the video Tony Bastable and Richard Hudson Evans
take a look at the latest British offerings that were being
shown at the 1973 motor show at Earls Court. It includes a brief
view of the MGBGTV8 launched at that show. Keith Belcher says
"I haven't seen this film from 1973 before but it includes
an early MGBGTV8 - HOH 902L" It's a Pre-Production car,
Bronze Yellow 0113 built in March 1973 and first registered
in April that year. 200325 More |
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Peter
Beadle , parts manager with University Motors in Epsom in
the mid 1970s, posted on the V8 Bulletin Board that he had found
a link to a BL Directory of Approved Distributors & Dealers
(AKD8593) - an interesting document for those wanting to
know who were the British Leyland dealers (including MG) back
in 1973. The copy is Issue 3, November 1973 with 32 pages including
front & back cover. 200220
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MGBGTV8
Driver's Handbook editions
The MGBGTV8 Driver's Handbook AKD8423 was published in four
editions from 1973 (launch of the model) until 1974 (with the
launch of the rubber bumper model). Copies of the title page
and contents page for each of the four editions are in a note.
200219
MGBGTV8
Driver's Handbook editions |
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Looking
back to the 1970s - UNIPART Wax Shampoo
Victor Rodrig ues
says "in my MGV8 bits and collectables I still have this
unused aftermarket car-polishing wax dispenser which was offered
by UNIPART, the car and spares supplier as part of the British
Leyland group by the end of the 1970s. Despite the daring labelling
showing a female involved in car polishing works on an MGBGTV8,
it was used for the advertise the product!" 161108
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The
V8 is the absolute business!
In a short video Robbie Coltrane sums up why the V8 inspires
affection amongst motoring enthusiasts who can recognise the
subtle qualities and pleasures of the V8 engine - magical comments,
wonderful sounds. 070924
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Pre-development
V8 rallied by Brian Field
Brian Field campaigned his MGBGTV8 for well over 20 years in
the RAC, Welsh, Scottish, Manx and Irish rallies and had many
successes including winning the RAC historic class in 1990.
He was still rallying the car in the 1990s at 80 but in 2002
at 86 decided that it was time for the V8 to go as he no longer
felt he could exercise the machine in the style it was used
to! 021030
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MGBGTV8
road test report in Police Review
As
the new MGBGTV8 was launched in August 1973, the specialist
journal Police Review did a road test and reported its finding.
They were
keen on the MGBGTV8 saying "this car combines a businesslike
appearance with a reasonable performance, and is capable of
carrying a surprising amount of equipment. Now we have a new
model which should make this one of the finest enforcement cars
available - the MGBGTV8". 080331
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Six
years too late, comfortable seating, poor ride, excessive wind
noise, fast and economical - Motor Sport review in 1973
That was the frank verdict of Motor Sport on their 1,900 mile
road test of the new MGBGTV8 model in October 1973. Rather than
test the car immediately after its launch in August 1973, they
had waited for a lengthy 1,700 mile continental trip to test
the car in a demanding Grand Touring role. 101228
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