Americans are famous for our muscle cars, Italians are known for their exotic supercars, and ze Germans are synonymous with over-engineered luxury. And the British? Besides building small and nimble cars, British automakers like MG were infamous for electrical gremlins and quality control issues that often led to unreliable, frustrating rides. The small, underpowered engines certainly didn’t help either.

Yet British cars like the MGB had a distinct style, one that is impossible to replicate, and some people have never gotten over the looks of these British automobiles. The Houston Chronicle reports on one Texas man’s obsession with his MGB, even going so far as to replace the aging Ford 302 with a brand-spanking-new crate engine.

Rob Ficalora was looking for a project car to introduce his two sons to the wonderful world of automobiles, and initially he looked for a kit car. Finding only Shelby Cobra kits though, Ficalora turned to the classified ads, coming across a 1976 MGB with an old Ford 302 engine dropped in it. After tuning it up he got the MBG roaring once more…but within a month he had yanked the engine.

The replacement is a 5.0, 345 horsepower Ford Racing crate engine with aluminum GT40 cylinder heads, an Edelbrock intake, and a Holley carburetor. Swapping an American V8 into a British classic takes a lot of work and borrowed parts, including a slave cylinder from a Toyota truck and side mirrors from a Chrysler Crossfire.

The modified rearend includes a plethora of parts from a 240SX, RS2000, Chevy S10 4×4, Camaro, C4 Corvette, and the list goes on. Ignition is controlled with MSD, and a custom crossflow aluminum radiator keeps things cool up front. The exhaust didn’t escape custom treatment, either.

This MGB Mutt is certainly a cool project car, and these two kids are lucky to have such a handy and involved father. The finished project brings it all together for a very clean roadster.