Did British Leyland Kill The Mg Sports Car?

                                             Did British Leyland kill MG sports cars?

Lord Nuffield according to history invented the MG sports car (Morris garages) for those who didn’t know what MG stood for.  He had the idea of a two seater sports car for the working class man? The brand became popular in the inter-war years of the 1920’s and 1930’s. 

The MG sports car was popular not only in Britain but America.  American troops stationed in Britain during WWII fell in love with the MG sports car in four door version and the two door sports roadster.  It is well to remember that although cars in general were becoming more popular post WWII sports cars were on there own.  The sports car had two seats and was meant for the single man who wanted to make a statement with what they drove!

There is an image in many people’s minds of a young man wearing a white silk scarf jumping into his MG and donning his leather driving gloves and pressing the start button on his Mg sports car and shooting off from a gravel driveway in front of a stately home!

This mentioned image to me is still appealing for the right occasion nostalgia is a great selling tool.  In recent years the most well known MG was the MGB and its smaller sister the MG Midget. I have worked on these 1960’s through to 1980’s cars many times. I do not profess to be an expert on all MG’s however through want or circumstance I do have some knowledge.

I believe in the 1970’s MG fell under the joint name of British Leyland based in Birmingham.  MG garages were no more, and BL stroke MG went forward! The MGB was produced with the American market in mind. It had an increased ride height and people friendly plastic bumpers or as American’s say fenders. This was the final version of the real MG car.  British Leyland were not content with destroying their own reputation they were adamant to bring all the names down with them!

In 1980 the MG sports car was finished it was announced by British Leyland. However due to falling car sales BL decided to resurrect the MG brand only in name.  The MG Maestro the MG Metro the MG Allegro! Please! And worse was to come. In the 1990’s British Leyland aka MG/Rover put the MG bade on all their model range as if it meant nothing!

The MGF and its ancillary letters was actually a two seat sports car unfortunately they used the horrendously made and designed “K” series engine that ate head gaskets like fuel! The looks of the car are in debate still today. I think the car was and is abhorrent and an insult to the eye.

On the upside of MG cars there is a growing surge of people wanting to buy real MG cars such as the MGB and the MGC and the MGB GT V8.  Luckily these cars are still around in the plenty to be brought and restored. Obviously they will cost a lot more to buy now than was ever intended by Morris Garages.

There is a thriving “Time trial” club world wide that loves to race MG’s just for the  stop watch and for fun of it. The MGB is a simple car in engineering terms with its “B” series OHV engine and its contact breaker ignition system. Simple to me as a Qualified mechanic but if you buy one to restore make sure you know an Auto Mechanic who is at least 40+

Lord Banks