Great eights
History has proved that the US was not the only player in the creation of some of the world’s greatest V8 combustion engines.
British car makers also saw their appeal, but initially their main uses were in the luxury sector, which resulted in some surprisingly fleet, mid-century Q-cars.
What you won’t see here are the likes of Jensen’s CV8 or AC’s 428, because their V8s were American-designed and built.
But you will find that around half the following cars are powered by the once-ubiquitous Rover V8, in various forms.
Its GM roots are well known, but it was a British company that not only bought the tooling and manufacturing rights, but successfully adapted the unit for a very different market – and myriad applications, too.
So here are 22 cars powered by all-British V8s, from Standard to McLaren, in chronological order.
1. 1937 Standard Flying V-Eight
Launched in 1937, the Flying V-Eight was Standard’s response to Ford’s new V-8 22hp model.
Its home-spun V8 engine was the union of two Standard Ten sidevalve blocks on a common crankcase with a total displacement of 2686cc.
Delivering drive through a four-speed gearbox to the rear wheels, the Flying V-Eight could achieve a top speed of 80mph – in reality, exceeding the humble abilities of its basic chassis.
Production only lasted until 1938.
2. 1958 Daimler Majestic
The option of a V8 engine transformed Daimler’s otherwise dated Majestic into a spacious, comfortable and well-equipped road-burner.
When powered by Edward Turner’s all-new, 4.6-litre, hemi-headed V8 engine, which was 50% more powerful and 20% larger than the model’s standard straight-six, the Majestic’s servo-assisted, four-wheel disc brake set-up became a necessity.
Weighing just under two tonnes, the Majestic could accelerate from 0-60mph in 9.7 secs, and on to a top speed of 123mph – remarkable performance for the time.
3. 1959 Bentley S2
Replacing the six-cylinder S1 model in 1959 was the Bentley S2, powered by Crewe’s new all-aluminium, 6230cc, L-series V8.
Sibling to the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II, the S2 retained its predecessor’s separate chassis, but came with improved air conditioning, thanks to the engine’s extra power, as well as standard power steering.
Of the 1863 S2s produced, almost all wore standard factory bodies, with the usual coachbuilt exceptions from companies like Park Ward, Hooper and James Young.
4. 1965 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow
Rolls-Royce’s Silver Shadow was its transformative follow-up to the by-then-ageing Silver Cloud III.
The Cloud’s separate chassis was replaced by a monocoque body produced for Rolls-Royce by Pressed Steel, and the Silver Shadow’s suspension and brakes were operated by a daringly advanced hydropneumatic system licensed from Citroën.
Carried over from its predecessor, though, was the L-series V8, initially mated to a four-speed automatic transmission, offering 0-60mph performance of 10.9 secs and a 115mph top speed.
From 1969, the Silver Shadow V8’s displacement grew to 6.75 litres, where it remained until production ceased in 1980.
5. 1967 Daimler V8-250
Originally launched as the 2.5-V8 in 1961, shortly after Daimler had been subsumed into the Jaguar empire, the facelifted V8-250 of 1967 was a more upmarket version of Jaguar’s straight-six-powered 240.
However, it was the Daimler’s Edward Turner-designed 2548cc V8 that really set it apart from the Jaguar, the engine being lighter, smoother and torquier than the 240’s ‘six’.
Both the V8-250 and Jaguar’s 240/340 Mk2 models were replaced by the all-new XJ6 in 1969.
6. 1967 Rover 3.5 Litre saloon/Coupé
An evolution of the six-cylinder Rover 3 Litre (P5), which launched in 1958, the 3.5 Litre (P5B) was introduced 1967 and became the first UK production car powered by the Buick-derived (hence the ‘B’ suffix), all-aluminium Rover V8 engine.
Produced with a choice of four-door saloon or Coupé bodies, the 3.5 Litre was often termed ‘the poor man’s Rolls-Royce’, because of its opulent interior, generous equipment and overall refinement.
No surprise, then, that it provided sterling service to a host of British Prime Ministers, from Harold Wilson to Margaret Thatcher.
Production ended in 1973 after 9099 Coupés and 11,501 saloons had been built.
7. 1968 Morgan Plus 8
In 1968, Morgan became the first external manufacturer to employ Rover’s Buick-derived V8 engine to power one of its cars – the new Plus 8.
Based around the existing Plus 4’s architecture, with the 3.5-litre V8 prised into its narrow engine bay, a new cooling system, an uprated electrical system and even a collapsible steering column were introduced with the Plus 8.
Over the years, the model gained more power, thanks to successive increases in engine displacement, all the way to 4.6 litres.
During this time, the Morgan Plus 8 became the fastest-accelerating production car from 20-80mph due to its impressive power-to-weight ratio.
8. 1968 Rover 3500
The Rover 2000 (P6) had already been awarded the inaugural Car of the Year gong in 1964, due to its advanced design and engineering.
David Bache’s styling also blended just the right measure of modernity, without offending traditional Rover buyers.
Underpinning the Rover was an advanced chassis with de Dion rear suspension and all-round disc brakes that imbued it with real dynamic flair.
In fact, so competent was its chassis that it cried out for more power, something which was resolved in 1968 when it became the second Rover model after the P5B to receive the new 3528cc, all-aluminium V8 engine.
Initially only available with an automatic transmission, in 1971 the 3500 S model was introduced as part of the facelifted range, fitted with a four-speed manual gearbox.
9. 1969 Aston Martin DBS V8
Aston Martin’s DB6 replacement had always been conceived as a V8-powered car, but when the DBS arrived in 1967 it was only available with the DB6’s carry-over 4-litre ‘six’.
In September 1969, though, Aston’s own 5340cc V8 unit was ready to slot in to what would become known as the DBS V8.
Packing 321bhp and 330lb ft of torque, the new model was claimed to be the world’s fastest four-seater.
Easily identifiable today by its light-alloy wheels (instead of the wires of the DBS) and wider, 225-section Pirelli Cinturato tyres, the DBS V8 was made until 1972, after which it was replaced by the near-similar Aston Martin V8.
10. 1970 Range Rover
After returning to a stillborn Rover project for an upmarket Land Rover in 1966, engineers Gordon Bashford and Spen King developed a truly landmark model that effectively became the template for the modern-day SUV: the Range Rover.
The new model was initially only powered by Rover’s new 3528cc V8. Thoroughly utilitarian compared with later iterations, the first production cars’ vinyl seats and plastic dashboards were a far cry from the opulence of later versions’ cabins.
Built in ‘Classic’ form until 1996, the Rangie’s Rover V8 had grown to 4.2 litres by the time production ceased.
11. 1970 Triumph Stag
Born from a Triumph 2000-based concept by Michelotti, the 2+2 convertible Stag was an instant hit when it went on sale in 1970.
Since Rover’s V8 was deemed too tall to fit beneath the Stag’s low bonnet line, Triumph developed its own 3-litre, overhead-cam V8, planned as part of the slant-four engine design already seen in the Saab 99 and later Dolomite.
However, reliability issues – mainly linked with the design of the car’s cooling system – plagued the model initially, although today these are better understood and preventable.
12. 1973 MGB GT V8
Only available in MG’s fixed-head B GT, the V8’s installation resulted in a model with genuine Q-car appeal.
Despite having a lower output and compression ratio, versus similarly powered Rover saloons, prodigious torque of 193lb ft at 2900rpm made the B GT V8 an excellent tourer, its gearing offering a long-legged 28mph/1000rpm in overdrive-top.
Performance was still impressive for the time, though, with 60mph arriving in 8.2 secs from standstill, and on to a top speed of 124mph.
13. 1980 Triumph TR8
Another Rover V8-powered British Leyland car, the Triumph TR8 was conceived for the US market, with all but a very small number of the 2722 cars produced in left-hand drive.
Originally planned for launch in 1978, factory union strife and a series of marketing blunders meant that the TR8 didn’t hit the market until 1980.
Available as a convertible and a fixed-head coupé, the TR8 produced 133bhp (but a mere 18mpg) and was supplied with carburettors or fuel injection in the US, depending on the state.
14. 1983 TVR 350i
TVR’s Peter Wheeler felt that the wedge-shaped 280i model was prime for a power boost and predictably chose Rover’s V8 as a solution.
Initially launched as the TVR Tasmin 350i in 1983, the ‘Tasmin’ part was dropped in ’84 for the car to become the TVR 350i.
Producing 197bhp from its standard 3.5-litre capacity, the 350i devoured the 0-60mph sprint in just 6.5 secs on its way to a top speed of 130mph.
15. 1984 Marcos Mantula
Shading the design of the original 1969 Marcos GT, but with a sleeker, more aerodynamic body, the Mantula was revealed in 1984, first as a Coupé and, two years later, as a Spyder.
Capacity from its Rover V8 engine grew from 3.5 to 3.9 litres, and brought outputs of up to 200bhp.
This led to sub-6-sec 0-60mph acceleration, as well as maximum speeds of up to 140mph.
16. 1990 Ginetta G33
Unlike many Ginettas, the G33 was only available to buy as a complete car, rather than as a kit of parts.
Powered by a 3.9-litre version of the Rover V8, the G33 was capable of hitting 60mph from zero in 5 secs, en route to a claimed 145mph top speed.
Unlike its predecessors, which tended to use a mix of chassis componentry, the G33 employed Ford Sierra Cosworth suspension all round, complete with adjustable dampers, and ABS-equipped disc brakes front and rear.
17. 1992 MG RV8
When Rover Heritage started to remanufacture MGB bodyshells, MG saw a golden opportunity to bring a much-needed roadster to market in double-quick time.
In fact, the MG RV8 model that materialised in 1992 was a significant evolution of the original B, with 95% of its panels unique to the car, along with a wider track and upgraded suspension.
Plus, of course, its 3.9-litre Rover V8 engine, which was never originally fitted to the MGB roadster (only the MGB GT V8), and imbued it with far superior performance.
Before production ceased in 1995, 1890 cars were built, all of which were right-hand drive.
18. 1992 TVR Chimaera
When TVR chief Peter Wheeler chose the name – that of a female fire-breathing monster – he certainly captured the essence of his new two-seater sports car when it launched at the Earls Court Motor Show in 1992.
Based around the more hardcore Griffith model’s backbone chassis, the Chimaera also used the Griffith’s Rover V8 mechanicals, with capacities ranging from 4 to 5 litres through its life, and power outputs from 240 to 341bhp.
Conceived as more of a tourer, the Chimaera used all-independent suspension by unequal-length wishbones with coil-overs.
19. 1996 TVR Cerbera
The third model TVR launched under Peter Wheeler’s management was to be its new range-topper, the Cerbera.
Weighing a mere 1100kg, the Cerbera was TVR’s first hardtop model, and also its first two-plus-two car, with marginal space for rear passengers.
It was also the first with truly home-spun mechanicals, its Al Melling-designed AJP8 V8 engine produced in-house, and available in either 4.2- or 4.5-litre forms, the latter capable of taking the car to a claimed 193mph top speed.
20. 1996 Jaguar XK8
Jaguar found its mojo once more with the XK8, returning to a car that many believed was more of a worthy successor to the E-type than the XJ-S had ever been.
Initially unveiled as a 2+2 coupé at Geneva in 1996, and joined soon after by a Convertible, the XK8 was powered by Jaguar’s new 32-valve, 4-litre AJ-V8 engine, delivering drive to the rear wheels via a five-speed automatic gearbox.
The XK8 marked a welcome return to traditional Jaguar values, including undercutting its rival’s pricing.
Small wonder that at its peak, 12,000 XK8s a year were leaving the factory.
21. 1996 Lotus Esprit V8
It said much for the confidence of Lotus in the Esprit that, after 20 years in the market, the company equipped it with its most potent engine ever.
The Esprit V8 used a detuned version of the Lotus all-aluminium 90° V8. With twin Garrett turbochargers, the double-overhead cam, flat-plane crank unit pumped out 350bhp, some 150bhp less than optimum, in order to protect its Renault-sourced transaxle.
Performance, as you’d expect, was scintillating, with a 0-60mph time of 4.1 secs, plus a top speed of 175mph.
22. 2009 McLaren MP4-12C
The MP4-12C (12C from 2012) was McLaren’s first production car since the last F1 had left the factory in 1998.
Revealed in 2009, but first produced in 2011, the mid-engined MP4-12C was built around a carbonfibre composite chassis, with a two-seater body designed by McLaren’s Frank Stephenson.
Powering the McLaren was a 3.8-litre, twin-turbocharged V8 – code name: M838T – produced by West Sussex-based Ricardo Engineering.
Delivering drive to the rear wheels through a seven-speed Graziano twin-clutch gearbox, the 12C could manage the 0-60mph sprint in 3.1 secs and achieve a top speed of 207mph.
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