MG ZT-T in the States with a V8.

"norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback" (norskracer98) 04/30/2015 at 17:37 • Filed to: None

3

16

If I remember correctly it was a 4.6 Mustang engine that was put in it. Only one in the US and I’m not entirely sure how it’s here with PA tags on it.

Doug DeMuro > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 04/30/2015 at 17:40

0

So cool.

Bozi Tatarevic > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 04/30/2015 at 17:40

0

Interesting, I will have to look into this

Leon711 > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 04/30/2015 at 17:43

0

it is the modular v8 installed longitudinally for RWD in a car designed to be transverse & FWD

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Leon711 04/30/2015 at 17:45

0

IIRC it was converted to RWD somehow.

Leon711 > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 04/30/2015 at 17:48

0

I think it had the stang 6 speed and was available with an auto too. as for how? It was conceived in rovers dying days, so I guess they said “fuck it why not?” and starting hacking away.

MultiplaOrgasms > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 04/30/2015 at 18:00

1

Apparently the chassis was based on some early FWD research by BMW. One notable feature was the presence of a central stiffening tunnel, and the suspension was largely based on BMW components adapted for FWD. This probably eliminated the need to reengineer large parts of the chassis for RWD, and thus allowed fairly easy implementation. The reengineering was outsourced to Prodrive btw.

MultiplaOrgasms > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 04/30/2015 at 18:03

1

Relevant

swaptastic > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 04/30/2015 at 18:28

0

You are correct 4.6 L modular V8. Here a listing from 2004 http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php…

Edit - More recent listing from Jalopnik 2011 http://jalopnik.com/5822893/for-19…

ranwhenparked > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 04/30/2015 at 18:56

0

The ZT-T and 75 V8 were indeed both RWD. They were probably cheaper to produce too, since the suspension changes required meant that MG Rover didn’t have to pay the usual per-car royalties to BMW.

ranwhenparked > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 04/30/2015 at 18:58

0

I know how it got titled. Someone brought one into the US, either driving up from Mexico or on a temporary import permit, then registered it in Pennsylvania - which was really easy, “MG” being in PennDOT’s drop down menus and all, given the massive numbers of Bs sold in Doylestown alone in the ‘70s.

It is of course still completely illegal where the federal DOT is concerned.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > ranwhenparked 04/30/2015 at 19:04

0

Probably temp import since it’s RHD.

ranwhenparked > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 04/30/2015 at 19:06

0

I also recall that there were a number of MGs and Rovers left stranded in Michigan when MG Rover Group went bust. They had been shipped over in late 2004 for a round of cold weather testing, and were just left there and I think were auctioned off somehow by PwC after a while. Don’t know if any ZT-Ts were in the mix, think they were mostly running prototypes of Powertrain’s new diesel engines, but don’t really remember.

Svend > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 05/09/2015 at 13:53

0

The Rover 75 V8 isn’t illegible till 2027 and the MG ZT till 2028 under the 25 year rule so not sure how this one got across. Maybe they got it across as a show-car or because it was produced in small numbers as a small production batch.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Svend 05/09/2015 at 14:06

0

They had a piece of paper in the window but I didn’t get a picture of it to remember what it said.

Svend > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 05/09/2015 at 15:01

2

This one is quite an early one but still too early for import even into Canada.

The facelifted ones later on look better.

Rover 75 estate V8

I really miss the MG SV also

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Svend 05/09/2015 at 16:06

1

Yeah this was a 2003 or 2004, can’t remember which.