1993 MG RV8

This MG was purchased by the current owner as a gift for his wife from auction as a great example of a genuine UK market car. A vast majority of the 1983 cars went to Japan originally, it is believed that only 307 RV8’s were originally delivered in the UK. It has been owned since new by MG enthusiasts which is why the car is in such amazing condition. The previous owner had the car since 2011, again purchased from another fellow enthusiast, to replace another MG. They took the car on European trips to attend race meetings and rallies which initiated the name “Notre Talisman” sign written on the boot edge.

The car has been taken care of by classic car specialists during the previous owner’s time and sympathetically and expertly maintained by a team of mechanics and engineers under the current owner’s time with the car. The MG is part of a wider collection of 10 cars and has been regularly detailed and cleaned, above and underneath, to negate the effect of road salt contributing to corrosion, of which this car has none. A previous owner also fitted power steering which helps with low-speed manoeuvring.

The car has always been garaged and only used for special trips and events during the previous owner’s time with the car. During the current owner’s time the car has been kept in a dehumidified and heated warehouse with inspection pits to ensure the car has been kept in excellent mechanical condition and to also ensure the bodywork and interior has been kept clean and ready to go at any time. The car has also been regularly started and driven to keep the engine and drivetrain in good working order.

The exterior of this MG is in very good condition, it has been kept clean and free from road grime and salt throughout its life from multiple different owners. The paint work retains its deep ‘British Racing Green’ lustre as if it were sat in the showroom back in ’93. There are a very small number of stone chips on the front of the car, but these really don’t detract from the overall aesthetic and the rest of the body is in exceptional shape.

All exterior details have been kept in great condition as well and the light lenses front and back, plastics and rubber aspects of the exterior are all in good condition too with the latter two looking near new in the fact that there is no splitting or fading. The wheels are the original items, and the chroming is very good with only a small amount of lacquer peel around the outer lips. The tyres are also in good condition with plenty of tread and life left in them for future owners to enjoy.

The fabric hood follows the condition of the rest of the exterior in that it is in fine condition, looking very well taken care of. The deep black colour is indication that it has been treated with good quality cleaning products designed to extend the life of the material. The mechanical operation works smoothly, and it clips into place without issue.

The interior of the MG is very impressive and pouring over the photo gallery, you’d be hard pressed to see any imperfection in the carpet, dash or upholstery. We mentioned a bit of general wear to the gear knob, which prompted the vendor to locate their limited edition Burr Elm gear knob and put it in the post to us! So the winning bidder can expect the lovely little addition to the auction.

The leather on the seats is in exceptionally good condition with no rips, tears or staining, it looks almost showroom fresh. One of the main features in the interior of the car is the walnut effect dash which again looks fantastic with no lacquer peeling, chips, dents or scratches. The dials and switches are all on good condition with all labelling clear to read with again no fading. The steering wheel, which surely sees the most amount of contact in the car, is in fine condition as well, if you needed a sign that this car has been well looked after, the original steering wheel looking this good is as good a sign as any.

To match the British Racing Green paint work, the walnut effect dash and the black trim highlights, the beige upholstery and carpet gives a typical classic British sports interior. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, the carpet is again in great condition, with no rips, tears or staining, being regularly cleaned and maintained has given the carpet a longer life in the car. Looking up at the inside of the hood, you’ll see the metalwork of the folding mechanism, which is not scratched, chipped or bent and retains all its paint which means it has not started to corrode or deteriorate. The fabric of the inside of the hood is just as good as the exterior mirroring the care taken on the outside.

Lastly for the inside of the car, the boot space is very well kept also, the pneumatic lifters are in good condition and show no signs of leaking holding the boot lid up for ease of access. The black carpet is in good condition and neatly trims around the full-size spare wheel underneath, which itself is in fine condition with a near new tyre with plenty of tread and the chroming and condition of the rim itself looking to be high quality. Just to round off the quality of the interior, the metal work underneath the carpet in the boot looks brand new.

Getting to the good part of the car, lifting the bonnet reveals the 3.9 Litre V8 powerplant, as previously mentioned, the car has been enthusiast owned all its life and meticulously and regularly detailed. Looking at the engine, it shows no signs of having even started its that clean. All wiring, hoses, pipes and belts in the bay are in fine condition with no components showing signs of lost paint, road grime, or dirt build up, it looks clean enough to eat your dinner off. With the low miles this car has covered and the regular maintenance it receives, it’s safe to say this engine is in its best health ready to be used anytime to give the best performance it possibly can.

Looking underneath the body and it’s important to say first off, that the car has been waxoyled to keep the chassis in the best possible condition for years to come. It’s clear to see the evidence of the waxoyling and its reassuring to see that the care afforded to the topside of the car has not stopped at the sill line. All suspension components underneath the car look to have lasted very well and show no signs of serious corrosion. There is little damage from stone chips underneath and bearing in mind the low mileage this corroborates the good condition of the underside.

The car has been enthusiast owned throughout its life and due to the low mileage, has only required regular servicing items. During the current owner’s time with the car, it has been taken care of by in house mechanics and enthusiasts as part of a larger collection. The history file contains many MoT records but there has been minimal work needed to keep the car in good working order.

• Front suspension kit, polybushes, IRS kit 100mm, drive shafts/flanges, CV joints, hubs and bearings, stub shafts, brake discs/pads, diff unit rebuilt, prop shafts
• Master clutch cylinder, service, rear wheel cylinder – Brown & Gammon Ltd – 24/03/15
• New battery – Euro Car Parts – 22/10/2022
• Front shock absorbers – Brown & Gammon – 19/12/2013
• New starter motor – Evans Halshaw – 24/05/2004
• Service items, new battery – Rugby Classic Motor Garages – 05/05/2006

Despite its reception on launch the RV8 is widely seen as the ultimate derivative of the MGB model line. Its strong performance figures relaxed long distance cruising ability and good looks are making a significant comeback on the classic car community especially with the loyal MG fans. This example, being a genuine UK car that has been treated with the utmost of care and enthusiasm, has resulted in a car that is just as good as it was when it was new.

When weighed up then, the 3.9L Rover V8 soundtrack, plush interior, drop top, immaculate exterior presentation and mechanically condition coupled with the 59 years of heritage from the MGB, this RV8 is an enticing prospect for a usable classic. It should also be seen as an investment opportunity due to the few left on the road from its 1983 number built (& even less from the 307 original UK cars!).

This car can be seen as an example of the what the British sports car industry could produce in its heyday and it’s not hard to see that this car will continue to bring joy and value to its owners for many years to come.

We think this will fetch between £20,000 - £30,000.

Viewing is always encouraged. This particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays between 9am-5pm, to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.