British With A Dash Of Muscle: Oldsmobile V8 MGB GT For Sale

By Max Holder Feb 26, 2019

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By Max Holder Feb 26, 2019

Britain’s most popular sports car enjoyed several decades of production despite limited power potential, but with a V8 perhaps this is the engine it always needed

BMC, or British Leyland as it was later known, sold over half a million cars during its 18-year life span, and it was never hard to see why. Its vehicles were mostly attractive, always cheap, and full of fun, a trio of characteristics that manufacturers across the world have attempted to replicate.

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During its life the typical B-Series plodded on from beginning right to the very end, with a quick hiatus to the MGC with a straight-six and of course the Buick-derived Rover V8. A car for every taste then.

Perhaps that's not the full story, as what we have here is rather unique, but also very close to the real thing. For those of you who know the story, the small block V8 engines used in Rovers from the P5B right up to P38A Range Rovers was, you guessed it, the Buick V8. Albeit quite heavily modified by the turn of the millennium.

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The car we have here is advertised as having an Oldsmobile 215ci engine, which madly enough is actually the direct predecessor of what became known as the Rover V8. Perhaps the seller is not aware of how coincidental this fitment is, as the 1974 vehicle was actually available from the factory with essentially the same engine. The cue to suggest this isn’t a factory model are the rocker covers that appear slightly different, along with the more obvious signs like the Chevrolet-derived gearbox. Most evident, however, is that the MGB ‘Factory’ V8 was never actually officially exported to North America in period.

Aside from technical alterations the vehicle it looks to be in fantastic condition, with the added rarity of being just one of 1246 vehicles imported to North America back in '74. The only logical step remaining is to register your bid here.