1972 MGB GT Costello V8.
The MGB was Abingdon's most successful sports car ever in terms of numbers sold. The only area where it could have been improved was the engine - 1800ccs and 92bhp on a good day was not really enough to rival the Triumph TRs.

The MGC tried to solve the problem by putting a 3 litre straight 6 in the front but it was really a bit too heavy and compromised the design.

London based tuner Ken Costello solved the problem by using a Rover V8 from the P6 saloons - 3½ litres of reliable lightweight power. He built examples by buying new MGBs (roadsters and GTs) from his local main agent and changing the engines. Many still survive and are rightly prized by those who realise that this is what the excellent bodyshell was crying out for.

Costello used the saloon based V8, not the Range Rover unit used in the factory MGB GT V8; the latter had enough torque to go ploughing with, but was not really a sports car engine! . . .

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