The sun is shining, the flowers are blooming, and the birds are singing. If you trust the weather man you could even believe that it’s finally spring, and what better way to celebrate the start of the season than with the burble of a vintage V8 and a classic car photoshoot in the beautiful Yorkshire countryside. Enter John Day, and his stunning factory original 1974 MGB GT V8.
History Repeats Itself
They say that history repeats itself, and that’s certainly true when it comes to John’s ownership of factory V8 MGB’s. This is his second, and who can blame him when you look at these photos? The shining deep red bodywork, the smart black interior, and that timeless wood rimmed steering wheel simply scream British classic. Fire the thunderous V8 in to life and this thing begs to be driven. So it was that the classic car gods smiled upon us we set out across the Yorkshire countryside, the GT only momentarily hesitant before clearing its throat and charging across the landscape with a speed that belies its near 50 year age.
Good Vibrations
Speaking to John it’s clear that he’s a perfectionist when it comes to the GT. Having bought the car just a few months ago, work has already begun turning a sound car in to something special. He’s corrected some minor detailing that wasn’t factory spec, and there’s more to follow. The engine has had a fettling, and the wheels/hubs were balanced on the car to give a very smooth ride.
Apparently the long drive home from purchasing this car was quite a vibratory affair before the balancing was sorted. So it seems appropriate as we rattle over some of Yorkshire’s finest potholes that we discover the Beach Boys cassette that came with the car is stuck in the head unit. Good vibrations indeed.
Short Shift
Not withstanding the potholes and endless Beach Boys, the GT is a joy to drive. The mighty V8 engine gives all the power you’d ever need in the real world and the short throw gearshift is superbly precise and snappy after all these years. A new throttle cable has made acceleration immediate, and the brakes are reassuringly efficient. This is certainly not a modern car, but it isn’t difficult to drive at all.
As we breeze this beautiful classic car onwards along the back lanes of Yorkshire, we draw smiles from many of the people we pass and I’m as thrilled as ever by the reception classic cars seem to receive amongst the general public. Warmed by the sun and already wearing two layers less than I started the day with, I start to feel that spring could really actually be here. I don’t know if it’s the heat, or the intoxicating backnote of petrol fumes, but I decide it’s probably a good idea to sell a kidney and buy an MGB GT.
Join the Club
John and his MGB GT V8 are proud members of the Yorkshire Thoroughbred Car Club, a friendly club with a large variety of cars counted amongst their members. Please take the time to check them out if you’re a fan of classic cars in the Yorkshire area.
If you’d like to join the ‘Supercharged’ club by having a photoshoot of your own classic car in Yorkshire or beyond, get in touch with us and see what we can do for you. You can even find us on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with all of our adventures.
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