Marque: MG - Company History & Models - Cars By Brand

Past: The first MG version of BL’s five door family hatchback arrived in 1983 and was powered by a 1.6 litre ‘R’ Series engine, fed via twin Weber carbs and driving through a close ratio, Volkswagen-derived five-speed ‘box.

Replacing the 1600 in 1984 was the fuel-injected 2.0 EFI, featuring a two-litre ‘O’ Series overhead camshaft engine delivering a peppy 115bhp.

Present: Admirable performance, generous interior space and easy maintenance come as standard. Yet these models are still little known and under-rated, so are often overlooked and usually inexpensive, representing excellent value.Weber carb models were rarely ran right however.

Future: Interest in the few remaining examples is sure to increase but as novelty value mostly and as good as the car is, it won’t become a classic.

Past: Launched in 1959, Farina-styled Magnettes didn’t provide as sporting a drive as the previous ZA/ZBs, and so failed capture the imagination of MG fans. All the same, these upmarket if deliberately ‘badge-engineered’ Morris Oxfords were fair cruisers, comfortable and well-equipped. Improved considerably in 1961 with the MkIV and discontinued in 1968, they were built in relatively small numbers.

Present: Not a patch on the ZA/ZB to drive with far inferior running gear, the Magnette is a slightly tweaked Oxford rather than a Cortina GT rival but a nice relaxing sporty family classic. Many boast MGB power which is a good mod.

Future: As time goes on the biggest problem is going to be finding one to buy; already the earlier Mark IIIs are almost extinct. Prices of good examples bound to creep up but not for us really.

Always an underrated car, the MG Montego was a worthy rival to similar jazzed up products from Ford and Vauxhall and, in its Turbo form, blisteringly fast and extremely unruly. Unlike the tetchy poor starting Weber-carb Maestro, the Montego was much better sorted when launched in 1984 complete with talking dashboard (which was mercifully only fitted for a few months), but it was the Turbo that established the MG Montego as a sports saloon of genuine quality. Post-1987 cars have better-sorted torque and suspension,
plus a more comfortable interior, but by then the curse of Austin-Rover’s image had blighted one of the most promising post-war MGs that promised a good deal.

The MG-badged Metro did not meet with universal favour with certain Abingdon enthusiasts but it has as much right to carry the Octagon badge as the (Austin A60 derived) MGB! A respectable 72bhp was wrung from the ubiquitous A-Series engine and MG Metro owners were further treated to alloy wheels and jazzy red(!) seat belts. The following year a turbocharger became an option, which boosted engine output to a highly useful 93bhp plus as it retained same high compression cylinder head meant little turbo lag. But old style four-speed gearbox was not an entirely welcomed. Post 1985 facelift models were at last fitted with a VW-derived five-speed unit and 16 years after the last MG Metro left the factory they are becoming fairly collectable yet scarce.

Past: Introduced in 1983 and lightly facelifted in ‘89, the Metro Turbo produced excellent performance.

By adding a Garrett AiResearch turbo, the 1275cc engine made 93bhp (the highest powered production version of the A Series unit) yet cleverly without the usual turbo lag of that era.

Present: Although not as fast as today’s pocket rockets, the Turbo is still revered for its well-engineered engine.The lack of a fifth gear annoys but the handling is still good enough to enjoy a serious punt across country.

Future: Survivors are be few, due to corrosion and cannibalisation (for the engine - they make Minis really fly!) and the car has yet to achieve genuine classic status. Perhaps it may never (it’s our favourite Metro) but as a practical run-around classic or cheap club racer the Turbo works a treat.

Past: Holding true to the MG tradition of spicing up a family saloon with a performance package resulted in the MG Montego. It had the comfort, space and practicality of the Austin version, but the MG was naturally usefully faster and more upmarket. Power courtesy of a fuel-injected, two-litre version of the ‘O’ Series unit. In late 1988 the car was redesignated 2.0i and was fitted with the Turbo version’s revised suspension.

Present: Fun to drive, practical and dirt cheap, an MG Montego can make sound sense as an alternative modern classic or cheap daily driver with good performance and handling. Rust is the enemy; check carefully when buying.

Future: Numbers dwindle as the ‘tinworm’ takes its toll, and in a few years these cars will be very difficult to find. But that won’t make any Montego saloon a true MG classic in our eyes!

Past: The RV8 was intended to be the most powerful, exclusive, and luxurious MG ever. Built to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the MGB, it was made by Rover Special Products (RSP), and featured Rover’s potent aluminium V8 engine enlarged to a full fat 3.9-litres, with multi-point Lucas fuel injection and was a totally different animal to the original BGTV8.

Present: The ultimate MGB, and a superb modern classic to own with a touch of modern Morgans about it – it’s fast, refined and well appointed. Many RV8s originally exported to Japan have now been have been ‘repatriated’ to UK.

Future: RV8 will always be regarded as a particularly special MG but prices little different to normal MGB. Much gen and help is available about the model RV8 specialists and this will ensure its survival for many years to come.

Past: In 1953 the ZA was regarded as a thoroughly modern sporting saloon, featuring clean styling and BMC’s torquey, B-Series engine, equipped with twin SU carbs. Rack and pinion steering plus independent front suspension meant trim handling, and the cars were well liked as a poor man’s Jaguar.

Higher compression ZB Magnette of 1956 was the fastest 1.5-litre saloon of its time. Revise with upmarket Varitone model featured that year.

Present: Still highly regarded, not least because the ZB’s successors were nothing like as sporting. The Z series models remain eminently practical for a family – a beginners’ MK2 Jaguar? – although performance isn’t notable.

MGA tune or later MGB engine are popular retro fits, plus Ford gearbox.

Future: Asking prices are set to increase as good cars become coveted.

Past: Replacing the much-loved MGA, the new, unitary construction 1.8-litre MGB roadster was well-received if hardly cutting edge, even for 1962.

Fastback GT arrived in 1965, and Mark 2 revisions came in 1968. The strange rubber bumpers and increased ride height on later versions were due to catering for vital USA. market. Further detail changes were made until the model’s discontinuation in 1980.

Present: The ‘B’ is still widely regarded as the most practical classic sports can you can buy. Handling is a little ‘soft’ and Bs are not quick but lots of upgrades are available. Rubber bumper cars ride better and top value.

Future: Will always be loved, but with so many around prices will only increase for genuinely top cars. Fine club and spares support so are always easy and cheap to own and run.

Past: Successor to the Big Healey, the three-litre, six pot MGC of 1967 was produced in roadster and GT forms but they didn’t sell in huge numbers. Press criticism of nose-heavy handling and lazy performance largely killed it.

Revised gearing in ‘68 only real change to the car’s short lifespan.

Present: MGC is easy and pleasant to drive but is no hot rod. These cars are highly prized today by MG enthusiasts, because of their lazy nature and fine touring abilities while good modern tyres have negated many of the handling quirks. Good as autos, too.

Future: The rarely encountered MGC will increasingly be seen as more desirable than the MGB on which it was based and so prices are destined to rise due to rarity and its notorious past.

Not as easy to restore as an MGB however. Period tuning gear coveted.