RV8
concept, development & production - a talk by John Yea & David
Bishop in 2003
Video recording of a talk by John Yea and David Bishop in 2003 available
on a USB memory stick so you can see and hear a first hand account
of what really happended as the RV8 project progressed through the
concept, development and production creating a modern classic sportscar
to keep the name of MG alive as a modern brand in the 1990s.
Buy a recording of the talk on a memory stick. More
Posted: 220315 |
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RV8
- an extraordinary manufacturing project
In 2003 a group of V8 enthusiasts listened to a fascinating
story from John Yea and David Bishop of what had inspired the
RV8 development team to undertake an extraordinary low budget
project - creating a modern classic sportscar to keep the name
of MG alive in the 1990s as a modern brand. It was an extraordinary
tale from two enthusiasts who had been so closely involved and
had a pivotal role in the project - they commented "projects
like that just don't happen like that anymore". The talk
is available as a video recording. |
The
availability of MGB bodies from the BMH Body Plant, then located
at Faringdon, and fuel injected V8 engines were clearly the
essential inputs but it needed enthusiasm, imagination and dedicated
hard work to make it happen. Many of our fellow V8 enthusiasts
contributed to the project including Roger Parker, the late
Trevor Taylor and Ron Gammons together with the leading specialist
parts supplier, Moss Europe.
John Yea said "I don't think a retro type car built in
an old body will be seen again because manufacturers don't keep
old tooling any more - it's just binned, gone for ever!"
He related how tracing the tooling for the RV8 project was a
key part of their work. Timing too was a factor for vehicle
conformity - another six months or so and the RV8 might not
have met the increased "drive by" noise limits - it
was really that close!
The Q&A session (Part 2 on the recording) was interesting
too. So far as RV8 spares are concerned it is never going to
be easy with a small volume car, but the good news is John Yea
and David Bishop both have an interest in RV8 spares - the have
their own RV8s!
This recording of the RV8 Talk at a hotel in Buckingham in June
2003, part of the V8 25th Anniversary Week of events, was made
and processed by Dr Gavin Bailey. He had to reduce the quality
of the recording a little so the two parts would fit on a CD
which was used at the time in 2003 to make copies available
to V8 Register members. Today copies are supplied on a USB memory
stick. |
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