End of the RV8?
Discussion
Thursday of last week was a land mark day for the venerable Rover V8, the last RV8 block was cast in Leeds 
. No more RV8 blocks will be cast at Hydro Aluminium Motorcast (formerly West Yorkshire Foundries)the birth place and home of the RV8 for so many years. Seeing the aluminium poured into the die for the very last time was quite moving, I'm sure all present realised that the British car industry really is dead. The RV8 as long been a symbol of all that was so good about Great Britain(dispite the original design been a Buick cast off)the once proud car industry,winning at football, afternoon tea, the whole way of life, everything.
Is this truely the end for this great British institution? will someone take up the fight buy up the rights and tooling? which would allow the RV8 to continue make the purist smile and the ground shake for many years to come.
>>> Edited by budd on Sunday 9th May 21:09
. No more RV8 blocks will be cast at Hydro Aluminium Motorcast (formerly West Yorkshire Foundries)the birth place and home of the RV8 for so many years. Seeing the aluminium poured into the die for the very last time was quite moving, I'm sure all present realised that the British car industry really is dead. The RV8 as long been a symbol of all that was so good about Great Britain(dispite the original design been a Buick cast off)the once proud car industry,winning at football, afternoon tea, the whole way of life, everything. Is this truely the end for this great British institution? will someone take up the fight buy up the rights and tooling? which would allow the RV8 to continue make the purist smile and the ground shake for many years to come.
>>> Edited by budd on Sunday 9th May 21:09
I don't think any of the engines currently available offer the same level of user friendliness and ease of installation that as made the RV8 so popular with low volume car makers and kit car builders alike. I accept that currently the RV8 falls short of the new emission regs , but surely with a fully managed ECU from the likes of ,MSD, Motec,AEM or the excellent Emerald M3D (which I'm currently looking at for my Griff)these emission level could be met.
Perhaps we should let the old warrior die a dignified death and herald in the new blood, but can't see the low volume manufacturers embraceing the new Jag motor in the same way as TVR, Morgan, Marcos or the many kit cars (particularly Cobra reps)did and in some cases still do.This engine saved TVR and carried Morgan through the bad times and I believe is still used in the new(ish) Marcos . The RV8 still as the virtue of light weight and a robust simple construction along with a wealth of tuning parts availible from repected suppliers,WILL THE ROVER V8 EVER DIE?
Perhaps we should let the old warrior die a dignified death and herald in the new blood, but can't see the low volume manufacturers embraceing the new Jag motor in the same way as TVR, Morgan, Marcos or the many kit cars (particularly Cobra reps)did and in some cases still do.This engine saved TVR and carried Morgan through the bad times and I believe is still used in the new(ish) Marcos . The RV8 still as the virtue of light weight and a robust simple construction along with a wealth of tuning parts availible from repected suppliers,WILL THE ROVER V8 EVER DIE?
Tim is right, the last production blocks destined for customer cars will already be out there. The blocks and heads cast last week will be held by Landrover as spares.Car manufacturers carry (new old) stock for years after production ceases.Marquis your points are quite correct, the big players in the car industry have no time for sentiment, why waste money making an old engine comply to the latest regs when a look through their engine range will provide something more suitable. I'm sure the Rover will continue to go from strength to strength in the hands of the die hard enthusiast 
Gassing Station | Engines & Drivetrain | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff