GTV8 Bodyshell swap

[culminator]

I'm going to restore a recently aquired GTV8. It's a 73 factory car in appalling condition and indeed the original shell may well be past economical restoration. How acurate would a swap to a restored rubber bumper shell, with a chrome bumper conversion be?

Is there a better alternative than going down this route and are there any differences between those two shells?

Thanks
Mike

[MG Mark]

Mike,

Any particular reason why you are contemplating using a rubber bumper bodyshell? It is possible to use a rubber bumper shell and convert to chrome bumper, but bear in mind (IIRC) that you won't be able to use the existing suspension on it due to the different pick up points

Bit, but still ggod value when you remember that it is all new, details of the real McCoy that could save you a lot of hassle and would preserve the car with the correct shell: http://www.bmh-ltd.com/mgbshell.htm

MG Mark

[mgtony]

Just a shame that a new bare shell is not far off the price of a tidy V8.
If the car is in a really bad way, then whats worth salvaging except possibly the engine?
I believe the V8 engine will drop straight into a rubber bumper shell but only into the factory V8 chrome bumper shell.
I think your best bet would be to find a decent rubber bumper car, convert it to chrome and uprate everything to handle the V8 engine.

[culminator]

Thanks guys. Indeed, the most economical way of moving forward would seem to be the purchase of a rubber bumper shell and do a chrome bumper conversion. Suspension pick up points are the same as the GTV8 I believe.

Alternatively, I suppose I could just break the car and sell all the original v8 bits, but that would seem rather sad.

Whats a GTV8 shell in need of resto but with v5 and all paperwork including entire history worth?