1995 MG RV8 Offers A Taste Of Old-School British Motoring

An MG RV8 has hit the used car market in the UK and it is one of just 1,983 examples ever produced.

In 1991, Rover decided to create an updated version of the MGB. The MG RV8 had a bodyshell manufactured by the British Motor Heritage, a 3.9-liter V8 shared with the MGB GT V8, and a limited-slip differential. The new car shared just 5 per cent of its parts with the MGB it was based on and, in theory, should capitalize on the resurgence of small, simple roadsters brought about by the Mazda MX-5.

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However, as Piston Heads notes, it launched with outdated features such as leaf springs and rear drum brakes and failed to sell in significant numbers. Of the 1,983 examples made, approximately 1,600 were sold in Japan but roughly half of those have since been exported back into the UK by local enthusiasts.

According to the listing, this particular MG RV8 was built in November 1995 on the last week of the model’s production, and was purchased by the owner of an MG Rover dealership. The car was kept by the dealer until 1998 before being sold to someone in Cornwall who kept it until 2015. It most recently resided in Dorset and has just 928 miles (1,493 km) on the clock, which probably makes it one of the lowest-mileage examples in existence.

The car has been expertly maintained over the decades and looks as good as it did when it left the factory. This is particularly evident in the cabin where the wood-trimmed dashboard and plethora of cream-colored leather parts show minimal signs of wear. The car has an asking price of £49,995 ($67,940).