Hi Guest!
Hey - did you know if you click on the title of a thread it will take you to the first unread post since you last visited that thread?
but were afraid to ask: 
STOP!! Never post your email address in open forums. Bots can "harvest" your email! If you must share your email use a Private Message or use the 
smilie in place of the real @
Pretty Please - add it to our Events forum(s) and add to the calendar! >> 
Bret - No offence was taken, I put it down to my narrow minded view of how the brand was being perceived across the world, its all too easy to forget, that for many, MG did indeed die in 1980. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
1980MGBLE - So many truths in there, particually the analagy of BMW not wanting the MGF to compete with their Z3! This is also the reason they killed off the Rover 600, which was wiping the floor with the BMW 3-series in UK sales at the time.
However, knowing many of the Longbridge staff from many divisions, from engines, paintshops and even the X-Power division - I have never met such a dedicated bunch of individuals so commited to keeping the cause alive.
Whilst re-engineering at the MG Metro level was not as prominent, the latest range of MG Zed cars are significantly a different drive to the Rovers upon which they are based with the TF and SV not even being based on a Rover of any kind?
I was lucky enough to have a sit-in with the organisers of a rally to drum up support outside the gates of Longbridge. Several hundred cars turned up in support outside the gates and gridlocked Birmingham for several hours - we made it live onto Sky TV and had the local Police authorities in support. It put tears into the eyes of many of the factory workers, some of whomb had been around since before 1980, and other were 2nd or even 3rd generations of their families who had worked there.
We all know the end result, British Aerospace paniced and sold it to BMW, killing some development programs, then BMW asset stripped the company, sold Land Rover to Ford for ÂŁbillions, re-engineered the Rover-designed new Mini and kept it for themselves along with its factory... leaving MG-Rover to struggle on with a huge debt no development programs and a hefty rent to pay for using the Rover name.
I agree the last of the management didnt do the best job they could and I have no idea what the future will hold... but I do know that my car was built on a factory line by true brand enthusiasts - many of whomb also contributed to the 'X-Power' sub-brand of enhancing the standard models, creating aftermarket items and pushing the motor-sport side.
Its a shame we never got to see the replacement MG ZS, nor the new range of cam-less engines, nor the electro-petrol hybrid MG TF with 200bhp. The TF and ZT coupe's were also frozen, but nigh on ready for production.
So many nearlies, so many echo's of MG's past from before and after 1980. Maybe its this uphill struggle that makes MG what it is, knowing that we have found cars that we can get pure pleasure out of, knowing that we can go upto another MG owner and say hello, and maybe even make a friend (I've done it with hundreds of them!).
Be it a re-enigneered Rover 25 into an MG ZR or an Austin Cambridge re-engineered into an MGB - I'm sure we'll all continue to drive them until they go bang /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
I have to admit I am really impressed to see such a site still supporting the brand after 25 years, congratulations to you all!
1980MGBLE - So many truths in there, particually the analagy of BMW not wanting the MGF to compete with their Z3! This is also the reason they killed off the Rover 600, which was wiping the floor with the BMW 3-series in UK sales at the time.
However, knowing many of the Longbridge staff from many divisions, from engines, paintshops and even the X-Power division - I have never met such a dedicated bunch of individuals so commited to keeping the cause alive.
Whilst re-engineering at the MG Metro level was not as prominent, the latest range of MG Zed cars are significantly a different drive to the Rovers upon which they are based with the TF and SV not even being based on a Rover of any kind?
I was lucky enough to have a sit-in with the organisers of a rally to drum up support outside the gates of Longbridge. Several hundred cars turned up in support outside the gates and gridlocked Birmingham for several hours - we made it live onto Sky TV and had the local Police authorities in support. It put tears into the eyes of many of the factory workers, some of whomb had been around since before 1980, and other were 2nd or even 3rd generations of their families who had worked there.
We all know the end result, British Aerospace paniced and sold it to BMW, killing some development programs, then BMW asset stripped the company, sold Land Rover to Ford for ÂŁbillions, re-engineered the Rover-designed new Mini and kept it for themselves along with its factory... leaving MG-Rover to struggle on with a huge debt no development programs and a hefty rent to pay for using the Rover name.
I agree the last of the management didnt do the best job they could and I have no idea what the future will hold... but I do know that my car was built on a factory line by true brand enthusiasts - many of whomb also contributed to the 'X-Power' sub-brand of enhancing the standard models, creating aftermarket items and pushing the motor-sport side.
Its a shame we never got to see the replacement MG ZS, nor the new range of cam-less engines, nor the electro-petrol hybrid MG TF with 200bhp. The TF and ZT coupe's were also frozen, but nigh on ready for production.
So many nearlies, so many echo's of MG's past from before and after 1980. Maybe its this uphill struggle that makes MG what it is, knowing that we have found cars that we can get pure pleasure out of, knowing that we can go upto another MG owner and say hello, and maybe even make a friend (I've done it with hundreds of them!).
Be it a re-enigneered Rover 25 into an MG ZR or an Austin Cambridge re-engineered into an MGB - I'm sure we'll all continue to drive them until they go bang /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
I have to admit I am really impressed to see such a site still supporting the brand after 25 years, congratulations to you all!
