MG
(1924 - today)
Brand:
Country:
United Kingdom
The ‘Morris Garages’ initially built sports models based on Morris models from 1923. With the ‘Midget’ in 1929, MG laid the foundation for later successes. Like many other English sports car manufacturers, the brand experienced its heyday in the 1950s and 1960s, when the Americans were crazy about small, sporty two-seaters. The MGB is regarded as the most successful car of its kind. From the 1980s onwards, MGs were merely offshoots of cheaper corporate models. Several attempts to revitalise the sports car tradition failed. The brand rights have been held by China since 2006.
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For the 1934 Tourist Trophy in Ards (Northern Ireland), MG built seven NE racing cars based on the Magnette NA. Because the regulations prohibited superchargers, the K3 models that had been successful the previous year could no longer be used. In just four months, a sports car with extremely high compression was created that was capable of winning. The experiment was a success and Dobson drove the MG NE to the finish line in first place. A test drive in the NE replica based on the NA gives us an idea of how he felt behind the wheel. This driving report tells the story of the MG NE and shows a NE replica based on the NA in many pictures and with sound samples.
Competing against the displacement monsters from Italy and Germany with just 1.1 liters? That could only go wrong. But on the 1000 miles from Rome to Brescia and back, the little MGs prove that refinement is on a par with sheer power. One of the three factory cars from 1934 has survived in remarkably original condition, despite having traveled halfway around the world several times. This article recounts its history and the success story of the MG K3 Magnette in general.
Every list of classic racing sports cars must include one brand and one type: the MG K3 Magnette. Not only did it make a decisive contribution to MG's reputation, it also cemented England's reputation as a motorsport nation in the 1930s. Because they won races, lots of races, these MG K3s.
In addition to the Midget series, MG also built two larger cars with 6-cylinder engines, namely the Magnette and the Magna. The latter was in principle the largest. Very quickly, so many Magnettes and Magnas were produced - with the letters F, K, L and N and additional numbers after the letters plus other letters for the different versions - that it became increasingly difficult to identify the different types from the confusion of letters and numbers. In any case, it got to the point where various Magnettes had heavier engines than the larger Magna.
MG is a well-known brand; almost everyone who is interested in old cars is familiar with the MGA or MGB models. However, the British car manufacturer also produced cars that hardly anyone remembers today. One of these is the MG VA, or MG 1 1/2-Litre, as it was known at the time. And it was also available as a particularly rare Tickford version. This driving report tells the story of the pre-war car and shows it in historical and current pictures.
The MG brand is and was primarily known for light and compact sports cars. However, MG could and wanted to do things differently, and in the second half of the 1930s it took on the competition from SS Cars and Bentley with the SA and WA models. The SA and even more so the WA were luxurious touring models that were just as comfortable as they were sporty. However, the cars were not cheap and so they remained rare. And they still are today. This report describes the history of the MG WA and shows an example in many photos, supplemented by rare sales brochures and historical photographs.
The chassis of the MG-T series were well suited for the construction of specials. There was a whole series of these race track-optimized vehicles in Australia, one of the best known being the Patterson-Brydon MG TC Specials. This article describes the development and racing history and includes pictures from then and now.
The MG TC is one of the most popular classic cars ever. This is due to its shape, which dates back to its pre-war ancestors, but also to the rustic and gnarled sportiness it displays. Appearances in the movie Love Story contributed to the fact that the TC is considered by many to be THE classic car. 10,000 were built, and just under half have probably survived. Our report summarizes the history, past and present driving impressions and is richly illustrated and documented.
In the early 1950s, the MG TD offered sports car fun and dynamics for little money. Those who wanted more power were helped with factory tuning kits. The recipe worked and the TD sold almost 30,000 units, mainly in the USA. Today, the MG TD is a popular classic. This driving report shows an MG TD from 1951 and describes the history of the compact sports car, supplemented by current and historical photographs, four sales brochures and the original owner's manual.
In 1953, the "MoMa" selected ten cars and invited the public to a "non-commercial car exhibition" in New York, which paid homage to the vehicle design of the time. Curator Arthur Dexler presented American, Italian, French, English and German automobiles from the brands Porsche, Aston Martin, Simca, Siata, Lancia, Cunningham, Nash-Healey, Ford, Studebaker and MG, which certainly sparked discussions about the quality and future orientation of car body designs. This report describes the circumstances of the exhibition at that time and shows all ten vehicles presented in over 100 historical and current pictures, supplemented with many vehicle brochures and the original exhibition catalog from 1953.
In 1954, the AR team tested the MG TF, the successor to the TD. This test is interesting not only because of the fact-based comparisons with the MG TD tested 3.5 years earlier, but also because of the 34 photos taken during the test drives. This test is therefore probably the best documented in photographic terms of the 1950s. Incidentally, the AR testers were positively impressed by the gnarled Englishman and even attributed educational potential to it.
The MG TF is the last evolutionary stage of the famous T-series, which began before the world war and ended with the TF in 1955. The TF was not only more powerful than its predecessors, it is also rarer than its two post-war colleagues, the TC and TD. This report goes back to its history and describes driving impressions. It is supplemented by many pictures, original brochures and technical data.
Between 1954 and 1960, the Microplas company built lightweight and sporty plastic bodies, which found their way onto a wide variety of chassis and thus provided the basis for interesting and historic specials. One of these specials is the MG Mistral from 1956, which Thomas Matzelberger uses in historic racing. This report looks back on the activities of the Microplas company, describes the 1956 MG Mistral and shows it in many pictures.
The MG A Coupé led a somewhat shadowy existence, given the popularity of the open version. Less than 10% of the MG A stock are closed versions. On a winter rally, however, the fixed roof has tangible advantages and so the choice of the coupé as the basis for a rally car was certainly a logical one. Add to this a Judson supercharger and a Quaife limited slip differential and there's nothing to stop you enjoying the snow. This report shows an MG A Coupé from 1959 modified with contemporary accessories and describes the driving impressions with the performance-enhanced vehicle.
Four-cylinder engines with two overhead camshafts could be counted on one hand in the 1950s; apart from Alfa Romeo, this was only available in large-scale production at MG. The MGA Twin Cam offered 50% more power than its simpler production brother, but cost less than many equally fast competitors. Nevertheless, it was not a success. This driving report is about an MGA Twin Cam from 1959 and shows the car in current and historical images. A sound sample is also included.
In the summer of 1960, the magazine 'hobby' had the mechanical engineering student and world record holder in the 110 m hurdles (Sportsman of the Year) test the MG A. The result was an entertaining and informative driving report that beautifully characterizes the strengths and weaknesses of the English sports car. This report reproduces the "restored" original wording of the test report at the time and is illustrated with the magazine illustrations and contemporary pictures.
In 1961, the magazine 'hobby' "cross-examined" affordable sports cars. Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint, Fiat 1500 Spider, MG A, MG A Twin Cam, Triumph TR 3, Porsche 1600 and 1600 S, as well as Sunbeam Alpine and Mercedes-Benz 190 SL were contrasted and compared. And the winner? Read for yourself! Let's just say that although the most expensive car was almost twice as expensive as the cheapest, the best sports car scored just under 3% better than the worst. This report edits the comparison test of the time and supplements it with many contemporary photos and sales brochures of the vehicles involved. To revel in!
Sports cars and mass-produced vehicles are at the top of the classic car hit parade in Switzerland. What they have in common is driving pleasure and individual looks. Led by the Volkswagen Beetle, this article briefly describes and shows pictures of the ten most popular classic classic cars in Switzerland.
The MG A was built in over 100,000 units from 1955 to 1962 and was particularly popular in the main export market, the USA. Today, the MG enjoys a loyal fan community that appreciates its sporty yet robust virtues. The MG A is one of the most beautiful convertibles of the late fifties anyway, as our richly illustrated report shows.
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MG A - Safely Fast
The MG A is one of the most beautiful sports cars on the road today. It impresses with its elegant lines and robust construction and has therefore become the classic of choice for many classic car fans.
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MG B - Rock'n'Roll with strings
In 1962, the MG B set out to inherit its successful predecessor. With its attractive self-supporting bodywork, it was in tune with the times, while the technology was largely derived from the MG A it was replacing. Customers were delighted and bought almost 400,000 convertibles and a further 130,000 coupés (GT) between 1962 and 1980. To this day, the "B" is one of the most popular classic cars. This vehicle report describes the history of the MG B and shows the car in over 130 pictures and three sales brochures.
Compact external dimensions, a high-torque engine and selective weather protection - this proven formula has been used for decades to produce driving pleasure in series production. This was also the case with BMC, whose second-generation Austin-Healey Sprite was produced from 1961. Additional sales incentives were the 12-month warranty and the already low maintenance costs. The original test report from 1962, which is reproduced in this article and accompanied by historical images, clarified whether it deserved the title "sports car" and which ingredients make up a Sprite.
The MG Midget was a descendant of the Austin-Healey Sprite, but could not keep up with the German competition in terms of sportiness, at least according to the testers of the magazine 'hobby'. Nevertheless, they found many positive features. This report reproduces the original test report from back then and is illustrated with historical images and three sales brochures.
With its commitment to the soft (comfort) wave, MG has now also prepared itself for the big leap to the continent: The new MGB has what it takes to compete with the successful Alfas, Porsches and Fiats. Although the MGA has little in common with the MGB in terms of appearance and technology, their characters are strikingly similar. The Hobby test, which was published in the first issue of 1963, assessed the strengths and weaknesses of the two-seater at an early stage and, above all, missed the typical English character, but at the same time praised the new comfort features.
Squeezing into the 3.5 meter short and just 1.35 meter narrow MG Midget with a wheelbase of just over two meters is reminiscent of the small sports cars of the pre-war era. And when you set off, there is little to protect you from the roaring windstorm that hits you. A good 50 years ago, however, the MG Midget and its twin brother, the Austin-Healey Sprite, were the gateway to the world of sports cars and therefore extremely attractive. And they still are today, as this driving report with many historical and current photos shows.
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MGB Berlinette - "Haute Counure"
The most Italian MGB was not built in Turin, but in the south-east of Brussels. There, Jacques Coune did not simply put a roof on the roadster, but transformed it into a filigree Gran Turismo. This short article introduces the MGB Berlinette and shows it in many pictures.
MG engineers began thinking about a successor to the MG B as early as 1964, just two years after the launch of the sports car. Pininfarina was commissioned to design a completely new chassis with independent suspension and a 1.3-liter engine. The result was the MG prototype EX234, which for various reasons never made it into production. This report describes the history of the MG prototype and shows it in many pictures.
Cars like the MG Midget derive their appeal more from the subjective driving experience than from their objective performance. On the highway, the 55 hp midget outruns every mid-range sedan. However, no closed car in the world offers this inimitable mixture of airstream, driving pleasure and driving noise. This historic test report from 1966 confirms this.
Originally, a six-cylinder version of the MGB was not planned at all, but the departure of the Austin-Healey 3000 caused those responsible at the British Motor Company to rethink. However, the result did not convince all critics, as the heavy Austin in-line six-cylinder weighed heavily on the front axle of the compact sports car. Today, of course, the MGC is viewed very differently and has become a sought-after classic. This driving report goes into the history of the MGC GT and shows an example in many current and historical pictures.
Anyone who enjoyed driving a British sports car, but also wanted to use the car in everyday life and occasionally transport something, was offered a new alternative at the end of 1965, the MG B GT. The technology and most of the components were shared with the open-top MG B, but the coupé was visually brilliant and is still one of the most popular classics today. This driving report describes the history of the MG B GT and shows the coupé in current and historical pictures, as well as in the sales literature.
As early as 1965, MG presented the Coupé GT, a practical two-seater with a large tailgate. The Österreichische Auto Revue took a look at the sports car in 1971 and gave it a healthy maturity and was pleased with the overdrive. This article reproduces the original wording of the test at the time. The report is illustrated with many archive photos and five sales brochures from the time.
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Test MG B - stiff breeze (ZQ)
In the fall of 1971, the AR test team took on the MG B, a very popular model with over 250,000 units already built at the time. The conclusions reveal the character of the vehicle: "As an uncompromising two-seater, it appeals to young or young-at-heart drivers who place little value on comfort and high performance, but enjoy the wind blowing, the engine whirring and the car following the course more or less exactly on bad roads. Although the MGB of today has made progress compared to the first version, it still embodies the typical characteristics of the old English sports car school, which has fewer and fewer followers. It's actually a shame that we've become so "soft", because it's precisely vehicles like this that bring some color into the increasingly uniform image of the ever more perfect but also ever less individual everyday cars."
As early as the mid-sixties, MG offered the GT, an extremely practical coupé with a tailgate that could take a lot of luggage and was still sporty. However, the four-cylinder coupé was not really sporty, so MG initially produced a six-cylinder version. However, this also left open the desire for more sportiness, which could only be fulfilled with the MGB GT V8 of the seventies. Even if only for a short time. This report portrays one of the rare eight-cylinder coupés and tells the story of the fastest production MG of the seventies.
When the term "rubber boat" is used in connection with cars, it usually refers to the MGB from 1974 onwards, which was not necessarily made more attractive by bumpers aimed at the US market. To this day, it sells worse than the version with the chrome radiator grille. But is it really the worse car? This driving report focuses on the third-generation MGB GT and shows it in many current and historical pictures as well as in the sales literature from back then.
The Austin Metro had everything it needed to be successful. Nevertheless, it could not overtake the classic Mini that it was supposed to replace. We have driven the English road flea in the rare "Moritz" version and show it in many photos, and show it in current and historical pictures, as well as in the sales literature of the time.
With the MG Metro 6R4, the Austin-Rover Group wanted to compete against Peugeot and Lancia and their Group B rally cars in the mid-1980s. In contrast to the competition, which relied on turbocharged four-cylinder engines, the Metro opted for a free-breathing naturally aspirated six-cylinder engine, but that was not the only difference to the prevailing opinion. Instead of 200 road-going versions to meet homologation volume requirements, slightly simpler versions were built for ambitious racers. This vehicle report describes the origins and technology of the MG Metro 6R4 and looks specifically at the "Clubman" version.
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MG RV8 - Quasi-factory restomod
With the MG RV8, Rover gave die-hard fans of the traditional brand exactly what they wanted. A car that looked like the roadsters of the sixties, powered by modern engine technology and elegantly equipped. Today, such a car would probably be called a "restomod", but back then Rover wanted to test the strength of the brand. Less than 2000 examples were built, many of which went to Japan. But some of the cars came back. This driving report tells the story of the MG RV8 and shows it in extensive photo material. Of course, a sound sample is also included.
Current market prices for MG
Roadster, 54 PS, 1250 cm3
Roadster, 54 PS, 1250 cm3
Roadster, 57 PS, 1250 cm3
Roadster, 62 PS, 1466 cm3
4-Door Sedan, 46 PS, 1250 cm3
4-Door Sedan, 46 PS, 1250 cm3
4-Door Sedan, 59 PS, 1489 cm3
4-Door Sedan, 69 PS, 1489 cm3
4-Door Sedan, 66 PS, 1489 cm3
4-Door Sedan, 68 PS, 1622 cm3
4-Door Sedan, 54 PS, 1098 cm3
4-Door Sedan, 59 PS, 1275 cm3
4-Door Sedan, 69 PS, 1275 cm3
Roadster, 68 PS, 1489 cm3
null, 68 PS, 1489 cm3
Roadster, 107 PS, 1588 cm3
null, 107 PS, 1588 cm3
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Auctioned vehicles of MG
| Brand | Model | Year | Status | Auction name | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arnolt-MG Cabriolet 1953 Sold RM/Sotheby's Gene Ponder Collection (September 22, 2022) |
Cabriolet | 1953 | Sold | RM/Sotheby's Gene Ponder Collection (September 22, 2022) | |
| Arnolt-MG Coupe 1954 Sold RM/Sotheby's Gene Ponder Collection (September 22, 2022) |
Coupe | 1954 | Sold | RM/Sotheby's Gene Ponder Collection (September 22, 2022) | |
| Arnolt-MG Coupe 1953 Sold Bonhams Greenwich (June 2, 2019) |
Coupe | 1953 | Sold | Bonhams Greenwich (June 2, 2019) | |
| MG Magnette NA 1 1/2-Litre Special 1935 Not Sold Bonhams Goodwood Revival 2014 (September 13, 2014) |
Magnette NA 1 1/2-Litre Special | 1935 | Not Sold | Bonhams Goodwood Revival 2014 (September 13, 2014) | |
| MG SA Tourer 1937 Sold Gooding & Co. Pebble Beach (August 24, 2018) |
SA Tourer | 1937 | Sold | Gooding & Co. Pebble Beach (August 24, 2018) | |
| MG TC Sports Racer 1949 Sold Bonhams Quail Lodge (August 24, 2018) |
TC Sports Racer | 1949 | Sold | Bonhams Quail Lodge (August 24, 2018) | |
| MG B Cabriolet 1965 Sold Artcurial Le Mans Classic 2018 (July 7, 2018) |
B Cabriolet | 1965 | Sold | Artcurial Le Mans Classic 2018 (July 7, 2018) | |
| MG Midget 1500 1980 Sold H&H Classics Buxton Auction (July 23, 2014) |
Midget 1500 | 1980 | Sold | H&H Classics Buxton Auction (July 23, 2014) | |
| MG MG C 1968 Sold Brightwells Classic & Vintage Cars and Motorcycles (July 13, 2016) |
MG C | 1968 | Sold | Brightwells Classic & Vintage Cars and Motorcycles (July 13, 2016) | |
| MG MG B 1967 Sold Brightwells Classic & Vintage Cars and Motorcycles (September 24, 2014) |
MG B | 1967 | Sold | Brightwells Classic & Vintage Cars and Motorcycles (September 24, 2014) |
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