Winter on ITV: Dr Ethan Winter's 'beautiful' vintage car looks like a 'toy', but what model is it?
It was a bit small for 6 foot 3 actor Richard Armitage!
Winter’s leading man Dr Ethan Winter arrived on ITV in style this week, with the “brilliant forensic pathologist” turning up in a rather luxurious car.
Richard Armitage’s latest character zoomed into action in his unusual vintage car, which left many viewers searching for the model and make.
Fans of the new crime drama will know that Dr Ethan Winter is a charming, gifted, and – cough, cough – wealthy coroner. He lives in a swanky apartment top to toe in glass, with stunning views over Bristol’s Clifton suspension bridge.
But it’s not just his clothes and home that look expensive… Dr Ethan Winter’s car is the sort you would do a 360-degree turn to get a better look at.
So what model is the iconic car in Winter? Here’s what you need to know.
What car does Dr Ethan Winter drive?
Dr Ethan Winter drives a green MG B GT, a car manufactured in 1973. Actor Richard Armitage describes the vehicle as “beautiful”.
Admitting he was “nervous” about getting behind the wheel, he told us: “Yes [I was nervous]! I didn’t realise until I started watching the first few cuts of the show how small that car is compared to how big I am!
“In the very first scene, when Ethan gets off the cliff, dumps his stuff in the back and gets in, I thought it looked like a toy car. It was difficult to get in, I’m nearly 6’3″, so my knees were round my ears!”
He added: “There was no power steering, so it was hard driving around corners, and I couldn’t get in while wearing his big coat. Even getting out elegantly and then putting his jacket on was challenging. But I grew up driving a Mini, so I’m used to tiny British cars. It was a lovely car though and the kind of thing I’d draw as a kid. It reminded me of my dad’s Triumph, which I used to polish the chrome on.”
Dr Ethan Winter is in good company with his love for vintage cars. Inspector Morse was famous for driving a Jaguar Mk II, while Jim Bergerac preferred a Triumph Roadster. Scandi Noir fans will know The Bridge’s Saga Norén zipped about in an unique, olive-green vintage Porsche. Iconic!
What model is it?
The MGB GT, registration PUD298L, is a 1973 classic car finished in Mallard Green. It has a 1,798cc petrol engine, upgraded to 1,840cc with Stage 2 modifications, and a manual transmission.
The car has covered approximately 70,000 miles. The owner purchased it in April 1973 and retained it until 2023, when they sold it in Norfolk. The sale price remained private. The car changed hands again three years later, in 2026, when it sold in Lymington following its appearance in Winter on ITV.
In 2004, Oselli reconditioned the engine at a cost of £2,589. In 2019, the owner spent a further £690 on upgrades and replacement parts, including a distributor, electronic ignition, uprated rotor arm and starter motor.
The car also features wood trim throughout the cabin.
What is the MGB GT famous for?
The MGB is a two-door sports car which was manufactured from 1962 until 1980 by the British Motor Corporation (BMC), and later the Austin-Morris division of British Leyland. It was marketed under the MG marque.
It was announced as a four-cylinder soft-top roadster, with later variants including the MGB GT three-door 2+2 coupé (1965–1980), the six-cylinder sports car and coupé MGC (1967–1969), and the eight-cylinder 2+2 coupé, the MGB GT V8 (1973–1976).
Replacing the MGA in 1962, production of the MGB and its variants continued until 1980, though fixed roof GT models ceased export to the US in 1974. Sales for the MGB, MGC and MGB GT V8 combined totalled 523,836 cars. After a 12-year hiatus, the MGB re-entered production as the heavily modified MG RV8 with a limited run of 2,000 cars before its final replacement in 1995 by the MG F.
The MGB achieved a 0–60 mph (97 km/h) time of just over 11 seconds. It remains a popular choice for collectors due to inexpensive and readily available parts and simple mechanics.
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