Go on – explain yourself, then…

OK. I am a sucker for a heroic failure and the MGC is just that. But with modern tyres, a few suspension tweaks, a fuel delivery colonic and exhaust upgrade the MGC suddenly becomes the car it should have been, a barnstorming tourer. Plus I have owned an Austin 3 Litre and I want to know what the engine can do when tuned.

I drove an MGC some years ago and it was, well, horrible… I remember the gearchange being particularly unpleasant. But a Rover V8 under the bonnet? Now we’re talking! Yes, you lose the sharpness of the original ’B in the corners, but that lusty powerplant turns it into a real long-distance cruiser. Horses for courses really.

As the owner of a ’72 fourbanger, I can honestly say that I wouldn’t change it for the world. This ‘baseline’ ’B drives beautifully, with enough grunt to keep up with modern traffic without sacrificing handling to a heavier lump. It’s cheap to own, too – even an engine rebuild on my ’GT a couple of years ago was remarkably cheap to do.

Admittedly, the MGB doesn’t do it for me at all. Handsome it is, but I’m just not keen on sitting in one or driving one... unless it’s an MG RV8. OK, so it doesn’t handle like a TVR but it sure sounds like one and I think Rover did a superb job on the styling. The sumptuous cabin is well worth squishing yourself into, too. Proper bonkers Brit.

If you desire big ’B bang from small bucks outlay, the cool Seventies rubbered-up model is definitely the way to go. It may have a Range Rover’s ground clearance and seat covers from a Seventies Draylon suite, but the essence is still retained and it does feel like an earlier model once you’re in position and sat behind the wheel.