HIGHLIGHTS
- Less than 8,000 miles from new
- Completely original and unrestored
- Freshly serviced by renowned MG specialist
- Stunning throughout
THE APPEAL
Following the success of the Rover Special Products Mini Cooper, which completely reinvigorated the Mini brand when it appeared in 1990, the company’s Heritage Division began to look other icons from Rover Group’s past to determine what it might do next.
The answer came in the form of the MG RV8, a model that would keep the MG brand alive after the demise of the hatchback Maestro and saloon Montego models in readiness for the company's forthcoming new sports car, the MGF.
To fill the gap and reinvigorate interest in MG as a sports car brand, Rover Group decided to reincarnate the legendary MGB using a Heritage body shell and the 3.9-litre V8 engine from the Range Rover. That car would become the MG RV8 - and while it was always a very specialised vehicle that would never be sold in huge numbers, it achieved exactly what Rover Group wanted it to - to generate a huge amount of PR activity around the soon to be revitalised MG brand.
In total, just under 2000 RV8s were made in a production run that didn't quite reach three years. Of those, well over 70% were sold to Japan, where anything retro and British was eagerly snapped up by enthusiasts.
Today, a lot of them have come home and this is one such car, brought back to the UK in 2016 and owned and cherished by the vendor since.
THE HISTORY AND PAPERWORK
- All bills and invoices from new
- Imported from Japan in 2016
- Service book
- Handbooks
- Original Japanese papers
- MOT July 2023
The RV8’s current owner is a former Rover Group main dealership salesman and was his franchise’s MG specialist at the time of the RV8 launch - a title for which he had to take special training that allowed his dealership to be one of only a selected number that could sell the MG models in the UK.
Upon his retirement, he set upon finding the very best example of an RV8 that he could, and this is it - one of the very last ones built and imported from Japan six years ago. It has covered a warranted 7,700 miles from new, backed up by both British and Japanese paperwork that is supplied with it. It also comes with its original Japanese service book and Japanese RV8 handbook.
Also included are a selection of invoices pertaining to work carried out on the car, most of which has been done during the vendor’s tenure including a major recent full service at a cost of over £600. There are two sets of keys and the cherished registration number is included in the sale.
THE INTERIOR
- Hand-stitched Magnolia leather
- Walnut inserts
- Original overmats
- Rear tonneau cover
Inside, the RV8 is the very definition of British tastefulness. Smart Magnolia leather seats are offset by pale beige carpets and a matching clip-on tonneau cover, while the gear lever and gaiter are also picked out in Magnolia leather.
The dashboard features wood veneer inserts and the original MG-branded radio-cassette player - itself a collectors’ item - is present, functional and correct.
A set of original MG overmats are included and the cabin is all very well presented.
THE EXTERIOR
- Stunning Woodcote Green
- Flawlessly presented
- Perfect lattice alloys
- Excellent hood
A total of just five colours were offered on the MG RV8, of which one was truly unique to the model. that colour is Pearlescent Woodcote Green and it's the shade in which this car is finished. It's a beautiful hue with hints of bronze in certain lights and it really suits the RV8’s curvaceous yet muscular character.
It's absolutely flawless in its presentation with no noticeable marks or damage and it still has its MG Rover Japan sticker on the back bumper, which was supplied on all JDM models. The multi-spoke lattice alloy wheels are perfect and free from damage and the car is shod with good quality Michelin rubber all-round.
The manually operated hood is in similarly excellent condition, with no nicks or marks. The condition of this car is something else - you're unlikely to find one anywhere near as good.
THE MECHANICS
- 3.9-litre V8
- Manual transmission
- Newly serviced
- Uprated shock absorbers
Power comes courtesy of the venerable Rover V8 engine which is renowned for its torquey responsiveness and impressive dependability. The power is fed to the rear wheels via a Rover R380 five-speed manual transmission, which is a particularly strong unit also used in Land Rovers from 1994-2006, so is more than up to the job of handling the RV8’s power.
Unsurprisingly given its tiny mileage, the MG performs beautifully. It drives smooth, straight and true, the only deviation from standard being uprated front shock absorbers, which were fitted by the owner to help the car cope with the speed bumps in his village, of all things.
The car has just had a major service carried out by Brown and Gammons in Baldock, Hertfordshire, which is one of the UK's most prominent MG specialists with a peerless reputation.
SUMMARY
Listen up at the back, because this one is something special. An MG RV8 is a fairly extraordinary car as it is, but this one is as good as they get. It's barely used and in exceptional, beautiful and original condition. A true collector’s item and a genuine investment opportunity.
Notice to bidders
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