Being in the unique position of owning 2 MGB V-8s and a TR7 v-6 conversion
I feel that I have the best of both sides, vintage and modern.
The MGB V-8 is a rough old car compared to the 7s, but....for the pure
giggle factor the B takes it. It reminds me of a pre '63 vette, rough
around the edges but a lot of soul. It will not handle on paper with the
modern stuff, but I don't drive on paper. It has body roll, scuttle shake,
short suspension travel and everything else that my old TR4 and every other
pre 1977 English sportscar had.
It also has timeless styling and an exhaust note that will make the hair on
the back of your neck stand up. Comparing TR7-8s and MGBs only point out
that they both need a lot of refinement to measure up to todays standards.
Read the road tests from years gone by and then drive a decent well kept
example of the car they are testing. What you are reading doesn't always
match what you are driving.
BL went down the pipe because of poor management plain and simple. The MGB
had an 18 year run with no real changes. Even diehard MG fans were tired
of it in '80. The TR7 was a natural progression, but too late and buried
in politics.
As far as the TR8 being the better race car? I do believe that in GB there
is a series that MGB mod V-8s race in, how do they go? I would assume that
with some race prep the B V-8 would hold its own. MGBs are very
competitive in vintage racing.
Both cars are fun and both fill a niche, If you can't decide do what I did.
Buy a few of each.
Jack Emery
Glenburn Maine
'67 MGB V-8
'75 MGB V-8
'80 TR7 v-6
various other hot rods
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