Special Edition Classic 1981 MGB GT V8 Heads to ‘Market’
Rare ride was built by Abingdon Classic Car Company after closure of MG factory in 1980.
Online U.K. classic car auctioneer The Market will offer an extremely rare 1981 MGB GT V8 SEC this month, one of just five “Special Edition Classic” MGBs made, in an online sale running from May 21-28.
Built from the final, unsold MGBs to leave the MG Abingdon factory before its closure in 1980, the “SEC” series of one-off sports cars were built by a collaboration between British Leyland, MG Owner’s Club, and The Abingdon Classic Car Company.
The team who engineered each car consisted almost entirely of former MG employees, who stripped back standard MBGs to install a luxury interior, upgraded performance, and the reintroduction of classic design elements, converting the humble MGB into a luxury car for the specialist market.
With just two of the five SEC cars known to have survived, The Market will auction the only GT V8 SEC made, registered “SRT 856W,” and finished in black, with a guide price of $34,300 to $48,957.
‘This is a car for the serious MG enthusiast and it’s an absolute showstopper.’
“The level of finish and quality of this car is nothing like any other MGB. It’s more like an Aston Martin,” says Tristan Judge, director, The Market. “The SEC cars hold a special place in MGB history but few people are aware of them. With such small numbers made even less remain, which means one thing; rarity. This is a case of try to find another! It’s simply impossible, this is it.”
The original sales invoice from The Abingdon Classic Car Company shows that the first owner was Kay Shoemakers Ltd of Kendall, Cumbria. The car then spent a period of time in Sweden. The current owner, who has owned the car for three years, used it regularly in Europe before repatriating it to the U.K. last year.
The car’s high specification combines classic looks with upgraded performance. Under the bonnet is a V8 engine (in updated Rover SD1 form) complete with its five-speed gearbox. The interior features black leather hide, Bedford cord headlining, Wilton wool carpets, leather and walnut veneer dashboard, and door cards and seats in matching black leather with red piping.
Classic features that have been reintroduced include a chrome bumper in place of rubber, an earlier grill, and lowered suspension to pre-1974 specifications.
Extras ordered at the time of purchase include the period glass ‘sun hatch’ roof, limited edition alloy wheels, map pockets, stainless steel exhaust system, and bespoke Moto-Lita steering wheel. The car also benefits from Protectol corrosion protection and improved soundproofing.
The original invoice for the car totaled just over $16,000, significantly higher than the standard model price at the time of approximately $6,700.
“There’s little doubt that this SEC has been cherished from the word go,” adds Judge. “It is highly original with first-class provenance, including the original factory purchase details. This is a car for the serious MG enthusiast and it’s an absolute showstopper.”