Having got big engines and terrifying powerslides well and truly out of my system with an ancient BMW M535i and a turbocharged, 535i-engined 316, I moved on to front wheel drive last year with an eBay-spec Alfa Romeo 155.

Good points included the healthy 2.0 16v engine and quick 2.2 turn steering rack; everything else needed mending. Most of it still does, but unbelievably the 300 quid Alfa is now in daily use as reliable transport,

I admit it, I like MGBs. Okay it’s not something I’m proud of but it’s probably best I get it out in the open straight away. Since first being diagnosed with the affliction I’ve probably had more than ten bouts of MGB, some cases were worse than others. Full restorations, Heritage shells, V8s, Roadsters with dodgy Bermuda roofs, I’ve had them all, but my current project started off as the most boring of the lot.
It began life as a 1973 MGB GT, I got it six years ago and ran it around in standard form for the first two years. Then I found out the family history of the Rover 800 turbo engine.  It turns out the Rover engine was a development of the the O-series engine, and the O-series engine was a development of the original B-series engine. With an illustruisous family heritage like that I had to find out if the Rover
(T-16) engine would fit an MGB, well you would wouldn’t you.

PPC contributor Mike Coman has been building this Mini, to try and beat PPC editor Will’s V8 Capri, for longer than any of us cares to remember. If he ever gets it finished it promises to be a quick car. Mikey reckons that Will would be worried but he doesn’t think it’ll be finished before his Capri rots away to nothing.

Mikey has made up aluminium panels for both the doors and boot lid and a special bonnet too in a bid to shed all excess weight. All trim is surplus to requirements as well. The power source is going to put out a few more horses than the factory ‘A’ series engines 34bhp too.