A review of The MG RV8 Sports Car, covering development, important features, and technical data of this the ninth model in the new MG range.
In this Article, I offer a nostalgic look at the MG RV8, one of an elite group of classic cars, which was manufactured during the period 1993 to 1995.
Furthermore, the concept of the RV8 was conceived in 1988 after British Motor Heritage began production of new MGB body panels.
In 1989, Mazda launched the MX-5, which rekindled demand for smaller sports cars.
As a result, using new body panels, MG decided to set in motion the redesign of the MGB.
The body styling of the RV8 was such that it represented a departure from the MGB's initial design, and yet still retained the look and feel of the original car.
Hence the MG RV8 was born.
The engine chosen was the 3.9 litre, 16 valve, fuel injected, V8 version of the Rover 3.5 litre V8 unit, as used in the MGB GT V8, with a compression ratio of 9.3:1.
The rear leaf springs, boot lid, doors and rear drum brakes were all retained, whilst the suspension was slightly undated.
A limited slip differential was fitted to ensure that all the power was not allocated to just one rear wheel, and that both wheels received powered motion.
Although only 5% of the components of the 1962 MGB were used in the production of the new car, it was still reminiscent of the original.
Specification of the RV8 included:
- Lucas fuel injection
- Servo assisted eleven inch disc brakes at the front and nine inch drums at the rear
- Five speed gearbox with synchromesh on all forward gears
- Independent front suspension using coil springs, and a live axle with leaf springs at the rear
- Five bearing crankshaft
- Rack and pinion steering
- Headlights from the Porsche 911, and specially designed rear lights
- Rear track was increased and wider wheels were employed The MG RV8 was launched at the Birmingham
Motor Show in 1992, as a two door, two seater convertible, and was targeted at established enthusiasts who would welcome the revival of the MG marque.
The build quality was excellent, and it was the first body shell of any MG to be galvanised, and the first MG to have a fitted mohair hood.
The cars' interior was to such a high standard, with leather and Elm veneer for the dashboard and door panels, that the press nicknamed it "The Poor Man's Rolls Royce".
However, Rover faced a problem in that the £26,000 price tag was way above what the target market was willing to pay.
The selling price of the RV8 was pitched at a premium to take account of the fact that the supply of body panels would never exceed some 15-18 per week, which meant that the car could only be regarded as a low volume, specialist entity.
It was designed, not for volume production. but simply to re-establish the name of MG in preparation for the launch of other volume convertibles, such as the re-launched MGF.
Consequently, rather than abandoning the project, the car was presented at the Tokyo Motor Show in 1993, where it was an immediate success.
So much so, that over 1,400 of the RV8's were immediately ordered.
When reviewed at the time of the launch, the MG RV8 was regarded as being rather old fashioned, since it still retained a solid back axle and rear drum brakes, inherited from the original MGB.
When production ended two years later in 1995, only 1,983 cars were built, of which 1,583 were exported to Japan alone.
It is interesting to note that, during the period 2000 to 2010, as many as 700 of these Japanese exported sports cars were re-imported into the UK and Australia.
This marked the end of the MG RV8
Perhaps this stroll down memory lane might have answered, or at least shed light on, a possible question:
Which MG Sports Car is Your Favourite?
However, should this question still remain unanswered, I will be reviewing, in some detail, in future articles within this website, the entire range of MG sports cars which were featured in the memorable era spanning 1924 to 1995.
I hope you join me in my nostalgic travels "down sports car memory lane".
