Of course, its not a REAL MG!

[stevedee]

This came up recently in a light-hearted conversation over a beer, when the subject of our new S5 was mentioned.

Initially, I agreed 100% with this pronouncement.

After all, back in the day, I had a 1964 Austin Healey Sprite MkIII. Even though it had been in a fight with an aggressive tree, and didn't look like it, surely it was essentially an MG Midget MkII?

Well no, it wasn't, because as far back as 1952, MG was absorbed into the British Motor Company. So the MG Midget was really a BMC MG Midget, and mine was a BMC Austin Healey, probably built in a different factory.

Going back still further to 1935, an MG was just a Morris. And even when the badge was created in the 1920s from "Morris Garages" ...it was just a badge, and owned by Mr Morris.

However, it could be argued that the Chinese company 'MG Motor' do now make real MGs.

So I've changed my mind!

 

[Ian Key]

It's difficult to define what a proper car from a particular manufacturer is. In the past the engine and running gear could be made by one and the bodywork and trim by another and companies have always been absorbed or sold by others.

PS. Your Sprite was made in the MG factory in Abingdon.

 

[TimothyN]

My Rover was a BMW and all the better for it...

...and the indicators worked, so no-one knew it was a BMW.

 

[Rei]

I've got some door sil protectors that I need to fit, which say Morris Garages on them. I thought it was a nice bit of history.

 

[stevedee]

When we were in the showroom, buying our car, I looked up & saw a hanging sign with the MG badge/logo. Underneath were the 2 words: Get More

I pointed out to the sales lady that that just looked wrong. She said its been driving her nuts since she started the job, 12 months ago!

I wonder if the original, in Chinese, would have been: More Get

And didn't it occur to anyone that GM stands for General Motors?

 

[BPM06]

My Rover was a BMW and all the better for it...

...and the indicators worked, so no-one knew it was a BMW.

Aren't indicators an optional extra on BMW's?

 

[T1 Terry]

Aren't indicators an optional extra on BMW's?

What BMW owner would pick out an option like that, next they'll be offering rear view mirrors All those extra things to go wrong, probably not covered by warranty and no BMW technician would know anything about their operation ..... and the mirrors would create wind resistance........ Never hear anything so silly in my life

T1 Terry

 

[Lovemyev]

No - The indicators are factory fit, it’s the column switch that has been removed, as they don’t get used !

 

[TimothyN]

I've got some door sil protectors that I need to fit, which say Morris Garages on them. I thought it was a nice bit of history.

Am I right in thinking that the last (pre BMC) Morris was the Minor and the last Austin the A30 (or, arguably, the A35)?

What was the last BL?

 

[Lovemyev]

Am I right in thinking that the last (pre BMC) Morris was the Minor and the last Austin the A30 (or, arguably, the A35)?

What was the last BL?

The last distinct
marque badges used by British Leyland (BL) disappeared with the Morris Ital in 1984, but the overarching Austin Rover Group continued using badges like Rover, Austin (on the Metro/100 Series until 1997), and MG, with the very last cars wearing the core BL badges being the MG Metro/100-series, ending by the late 1990s as the group streamlined into just Rover Group, eventually becoming <</MG Rover

 

[WoNkY]

If you ever think your job was pointless, remember that there are people fitting indicators to BMW cars.