In the last part of the series we left the car ready to begin the final part of building. With close attention to detail a spectacular finish is now achieved featuring luxury leather, carbon fibre, and designer steering wheel. The original concept of a classical MGB bodyshell brought right up to date to receive a complete make over in power, transmission, suspension, brakes, body refinements and colour, and finished with a fabulous interior makes this the most desirable classic and modern sportscar.

  Starting with the exterior and the overall appearance of the car, the bodyshell itself features no dramatic changes that would detract from the aesthetics of the original design, but there are many subtle changes which become evident as you look more closely. The theme of the colour is silver and chrome, and so the paintwork is finished in Mercedes Brilliant Silver with a highly polished alloy windscreen frame, and original bodywork chrome and stainless steel. The overiders are omitted to keep the lines clean. The bonnet features two banks of slotted louvers to assist with underbonnet cooling and to hint at the awesome power beneath. The front grill is fitted with a polished stainless steel mesh and the V8 badge imitates the original V8 GT detail. The air vent intake has a polished stainless steel mesh and the wiper arms and blades are also highly polished to complete the effect. Tinted glass is used all round to good effect. Probably the most striking first impression is the wheels and these are composite three part lightweight alloys made to the exact diameter, width and offset to maximise size in the wheel arch clearances. The rear wheel arches were “lipped” to provide an extra 7mm each side, and by using a wire wheel axle with steel wheel hubs it was possible to increase the outset of the rear wheels to give a more sporty appearance. The theme continues at the rear of the car, where the subtlety of the omitted rear overiders and discreet V8 badge are contrasted by the two polished tailpipes of the zoom tube silencers.

The uncluttered, professional finish gives the impression of a modern production vehicle where millions of pounds have been invested in achieving a neat and practical installation for both ease of working and evocative appearance. The RV8 style stainless steel manifolds emerge through the flitch panels to link up with a complete bespoke twin silencer exhaust system adding to the aesthetic appearance as well as the performance. Note the use of Allen headed machine screws to fix the manifolds to the heads.

 The RV8 servo / master cylinder assembly bolts neatly to the late MGB pedal box and provides all-important dual circuit braking. The large chrome pancake air filter cover a four barrel down draught Weber carburettor which in turn bolts to a 390 Offenhauser single plane inlet manifold to deliver fuel to the 4.6 litre Stage 2 engine. Ignition is supplied on a completely separate wiring loom to the Lumenition Ignition Management system. This loom feeds the ECU (computer) which is sited under the driver’s seat and controls the pre programmed ignition advance curve. The ECU is given information of the engine revs by the distributor, and then a pre set delay is activated before signalling the Optronic amplifier which in turn feeds the performance coil, and onwards through to the spark plugs. An engine map sensor is also included to determine throttle position and with this included a 3D map is used to give precise ignition tuning by plotting every possible combination of throttle position and engine revs.

Engine cooling is all standard V8, with the addition of a separate engine temperature sender to activate the cooling fans. Made from highly polished aluminium, this adjustable sensor makes it easy to control fan start and stop temperatures.

Luxury Interior

 To do justice to the excellence of the mechanical specification, and to compliment the theme of silver and chrome a luxurious interior was specified using real carbon fiber, supple light grey leather, and special design features to create the ultimate MG interior. The seats are the club executive sports recliners; with rouched grey leather faces and built using the new seat frames with twin post headrests. The seat faces are light grey with the seat walls and backs in dark grey, and this feature is carried through to the headrests which are a new design created to make the best of this colour contrast. The chrome theme is brought into the interior, and most distinctively the light grey vinyl doors show this off in the two parallel chrome strips, early type chrome door handles, and chrome door remotes. These combine to give clean lines, and as there are no window winders as electric windows are fitted, the door finish is striking and uncluttered. Stainless steel door seal retainers at the lower edge at the door threshold complete the effect. The doors are fitted with puddle lights and red “door-open” warning lights. The scuttle panels, rear quarter panels, rear cockpit panel are all grey vinyl and are fixed using bright chrome screws and cups. The carpet is of similar shade to the seat walls and backs, and so between seats, carpets and panels the two shades of grey are well balanced. The Dashboard and Centre Console create a unique feature combining highly polished carbon fibre with specially commissioned instruments with silver faces and black lettering beneath chrome bezels. The Centre Console reflects carbon fibre and chrome in the interior light, ashtray, and gear stick surround. The base is the club leather one piece console, covered in light grey leather with padded console armrest. A six track CD/radio and four speaker sound system is installed and the switches for the electric windows are neatly positioned either side of the interior courtesy lamps. The stunning effect is completed with the fitment of a Momo carbon fibre shift and Momo Millennium Steering wheel from the Club Accessories range.

 

Still to come.

 The engine has been started and sounds fantastic with the two tailpipes burbling. The car now has to cover one thousand miles of running-in before going onto the rolling road for final ignition mapping and carburettor setting, at the end of which we look forward to some serious test driving to experience what 265bhp feels like with fully sorted handling.

For details of any of the components used in this project or for further information, telephone MGOC Spares & Accessories on 01954 230928 or 01954 231318