10 Popular MG cars that rewrote the game

10 Popular MG cars that rewrote the game

The MG marque is almost 96 years old and its history is full of cars which are still revered to this day. MG has been in the business of manufacturing some of the most sought after cars from the day it was set up, the tradition continuing today in India with the Hector and the ZS EV. Let’s look at some of the most popular MG cars through history:

1925 ‘Old Number One’

It was the first car to be modified significantly under the leadership of Cecil Kimber (who is credited with the spark that created the MG brand) and proudly paraded a MG badge on its nose, which for most people makes this the first ever MG car. The on-off racecar was built for the 1925 racing season and won the gold medal in its class at the M. C. C. Lands End cross-country race. Nowadays, the company uses it to showcase its sporting heritage and it is currently on display at the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust Collection in Gaydon, UK.

Photo courtesy Auto Zer

1928 MG M Type Midget

The M Type Midget is credited with making the MG brand synonymous with sportscars for the next six decades, at the least. The Midget used the ‘to add speed, add lightness’ mantra to the T. It’s diminutive size, an overall weight of just 508kg was backed up by some sweet handling characteristics and a peppy four-cylinder engine capable of breaking the 100kmph mark. MG engineers did tack on a supercharger to a smaller engine to make a particular experimental version of the M Type Midget to achieve speeds in excess of 100mph (160kmph)!

Photo courtesy AutoWP

1955 MGA 1500

The MGA’s flowing design was more than enough for most sportscar enthusiasts to fall in love with it, but then it was also successful at many professional racing events. The first showcase of the car’s speed and reliability came at the 1955 Le Mans 24 hour race where two of the three prototype cars finished in a respectable fifth and sixth position. It was one of MG’s most popular model of the era thanks to the attention its design grabbed over in the USA.

Photo couretsy Marc Vorgers/ClassiCar Garage

1962 MG 1100 Saloon

Though a badge engineered BMC 1100, the MG 1100 Saloon was one of the best selling MG cars of the early 60s. MG differentiated their version of the car from the other five companies also selling the same car by offering better equipment and a dual-carb version of the 1.1-litre, four-cylinder engine. The 1100 was best known for its ‘Hydrolastic’ suspension inspired by the Citroen 2CVs mechanically connected system. A plush ride without compromised rolling characteristics made the 1100 very popular among family buyers.

Photo courtesy Car-from-UK

1965 MGB

The MGB, mostly in its convertible form, was the poster car screaming mid-life crisis. It featured on an episode of Friends titled ‘The One Where They All Turn Thirty’, where Ross buys one to relive his days of lost youth. The MGB was the replacement for the hugely popular MGA and it excelled instantly. Pininfarina lent his design magic onto the roadster/convertible to create the MGB GT hardtop 2+2 seater, many versions of which went to gain stardom in rally races across the world. Production of the MGB lasted 15 years!

Photo courtesy Marc Vorgers/ClassiCar Garage

1985 MG Metro 6R4

The 6 cylinder, Rear engined, 4-wheel drive MG Metro was MG’s effort to boost the not so sporty Metro’s image among customers. The 200-odd ‘Clubman’ homologation specials built to let this racecar qualify to compete in the famous (or infamous, depending on how you look at it) Group B of the WRC are some of the most sought after cars from MG’s more modern lineup. The decision to use a naturally-aspirated engine instead of turbocharged engines like the other Group B cars robbed it off of its competitiveness, but it was quick and desirable nonetheless.

Photo courtesy Old.News.Club

1995 MGF

The MGF marked the marque’s return to manufacturing sportscars at a large scale after over a ten-year hiatus. Developed under strict budgets and scarce resources under Rover management, the affordable MGF used a mid-engined layout and ‘Hydragas’ connected suspension to offer unmatched performance and handling characteristics. Its popularity made MG manufacture the car till 2002.

2001 MG ZR

The MG ZR surprised both the media and the buyers with its combination of sportiness and value. Built on the underwhelming Rover 25 platform, the ZR hatchback had a range of peppy petrol engine options (including the range topping 158bhp, 1.8-litre version), torque diesel engines and both manual and CVT transmissions to appeal to a wider audience. Couple the sportiness with a MG-signature aggressive pricing and roomy interiors, and it sold like hot cakes!

2004 MG SV

This was a halo car that MG could have done without considering how dire its finances were, but enthusiasts will agree the SV and SV-R have a prominent place in the company’s history. Built on a chassis originally designed by famous Italian coachbuilder De Tomaso, the sportscar featured a complete carbon-fibre body on top and a 4.6-litre V8 engine from the Ford Mustang under the hood. Coupled with a five-speed manual transmission, it was a lairy but fun car to drive. Only 50-odd units of this halo car were made.

2013 MG3

The MG3 was one of the first cars from the brand under new management and harked back to the time when it made fun, sporty cars which didn’t cost a bomb. The fresh design, peppy 105bhp engine, huge range of cosmetic personalisation options and very aggressive prices made the MG3 very popular among younger buyers in the markets it was sold in, including the UK.