YT was an export-only model so a rare sight in the UK (Gareth Tarr).
Superb K3 – the most desirable MG of all (Gareth Tarr).
The MG range continued following the
closure of the famous Abingdon factory in 1980 with high performance versions of the standard Austin/BL cars – Metro, Maestro and Montego. Only a sprinkling of these exists today but one high- powered variant provided a very noisy highlight on the Mercedes-Benz World track – the mid-engined Metro 6R4 rally car.
At the turn of the millennium MG/Rover’s short-term owners BMW sold out to the infamous ‘Phoenix Four’ and more sporty MG versions of the existing Rover range were created, collectively referred to as ‘Z cars’. Most fascinating of these cars is the ZT 260. with a Ford Mustang engine and rear-wheel-drive. Some of these displayed at Brooklands sported a special badge depicting the Mustang pony racing across the famous octagonal badge. This period saw the appearance of the only super-car model in the marque’s history – the MG XPower SV and a couple of these appeared at Brooklands. This was another car with an Italian heritage, being derived from the De Tomaso Biga which morphed into the Qvale Mangusta before gaining a ‘British’ identity.
Some would say that today’s Chinese-made
MGs are a shadow of the marque’s former glories. We should however remember that its origins were as sporty versions of Morris saloons and that it has always made higher performance versions of those cars alongside the more traditional roadsters. Today there is not a current MG roadster in the range and, for the first time, the MG 3, GS and new XS are original MG designs and not a product of badge-engineering. At the recent Shanghai Motor Show the stunning E-Motion coupé electric car concept was unveiled, giving hope that by the time MG reaches it’s centenary it will have a sports car back in the range.
Gareth Tarr and Tim Morris
With approximately 30 collectors’ motor car sales per year throughout Europe and overseas, the Bonhams team puts the most authoritative connoisseurs in the automotive market at your disposal. Our regional offices and network of national and international representatives work together to give each auction the maximum marketing, publicity and exposure to the collectors’ car market world-wide.
For further information about buying or selling at auction or to discuss your motor car with one of our specialists just call 020 7468 5801 or email
cars@bonhams.com
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