When I was looking around for an MGRV8 in January 2023 apart from the car i eventually bought there was another for sale but way out of my budget at nearly £50k. It was a very low mileage nightfire red car being sold with its private number plate M5 MGR.
After becoming the owner of a Nightfire Red MGRV8 the service book recorded that the first owner of the car was Mr Ralph Stanley and his wife Iris and that original registration number of the car was M5 MGR!
After some googling it would appear that the address of the low mileage M5 MGR was the same as the address of Mr Stanley that originally bought my car. That M5 MGR car was being sold from the estate of Mr Stanley’s estate who had recently passed away.
It would seem that Mr Stanley kept the original number from my car when he sold it and put it on his second Nightfire Red MG RV8 that he aquired a year later!
I am now the owner of his first car which has a replacement reg number M414NOG.
Since my retirement I have become a bit of an MG fanatic now owning 3 MG cars. I bought
my RV8 earlier this year M414 NOG and am trying to trace its history and I notice in the
handbook that as above its first owners were Mrs Iris & Mr Ralph Stanley of the above address.
They bought the car from the ALL ELECTRIC GARAGE GROUP, Harbourne in October 1994.
They only had the car a short while before the ROVER GROUP became owners of the car (my car) in December 1994? …….. why?
I am wondering whether the Stanleys were not happy with the car (which was actually made in August 1993 – over a year before being registered to its first owners … the Stanleys!). Did they return it for some reason to the garage and subsequently the maker – but kept the original number plate M5MGR for his next car that was recently sold in 2023 ………. which incidentally must be one of the finest examples of this model with such a low mileage of just a few hundred miles.
If I am correct any problems with the car must have been eventually sorted as Rover sold the car in July 1995 – and which is still in excellent condition (see my blog at www.mgrv8.info ).
The small text in the ad above reads …… Private sale – one owner from new, ultra-low mileage UK spec MG RV8 in Nightfire Red – SOLD
VIN 1296 with only 1,500 recorded miles and registration M5 MGR. Treasured car, ordered new by the owner and delivered on 26th
January 1995. This UK specification car has many of the later production upgrades including the R380 gearbox and is in a totally
‣ unmodified original condition. Paint, bodywork, interior leather, wood trim, carpets and windscreen are all in perfect condition and car has been garaged since purchase. Comes with an original full MG branded tool kit, hood cover and brand-new spare parts: 4 additional new 17 inch alloys, tyres, hood cover, full car covers, some MG merchandise and old Car Club magazines. Recent £1,000 recommissioning service by MG specialist, including fluid change with all new hoses and more. MOT expires in July 2023. Desirable cherished registration number, a large history file including original sale paperwork, brochures etc. Sale following a family bereavement.
Full range of photos available on request including spare parts. Offers over £48,000 ono. 221229 & 230201
Location: Warwickshire
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