CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE 2026 WHAT TO GET FOR THE MG FAN IN YOUR LIFE THIS FESTIVE SEASON
DECEMBER 2026 / No. 467
THE ART OF SUBTLE:
HOW A NEAT MGB ROADSTER IS PACKING A POWERFUL PUNCH
WIN £5,990
A fantastic Viking cruise worth
.
See inside for details.
* only available in the UK
Viking Roundel 50mm.indd 1
● AUTOMOBILIA ● OUR MGs MGF UPDATE ● EVENTS ● TECH Q&A ● ALL THE LATEST MG NEWS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE
CHERISHED FOREVER: A LONGTERM LOVE AFFAIR WITH A FIFTIES TF
NEW SECTION ON THE CARS OF AUSTINROVER, ROVER GROUP AND MG ROVER final 001_Cover_MGE_Dec 26.indd 1
OWNED FROM NEW: BOUGHT TO REPLACE A COMPANY CAR IN 2003, AND STILL LOVED...
‘AN INDEPENDENT PUBLICATION’
DECEMBER 2026 ISSUE NO.467 £6.99
PLUS
20/08/2026 07:28
KELSEYmedia
KELSEYmedia
MINI R50 HOW ROVER GROUP DEVELOPED A BMW LEGEND 13/10/2026 17:10
BASED AT THE MG OWNERS’ CLUB HEADQUARTERS IN SWAVESEY, NEAR CAMBRIDGE, THE CLUB WORKSHOP OFFERS A COMPLETE RANGE OF SERVICES TO MEET ALL YOUR MG REQUIREMENTS l l l l l l l l l l l l l l
4 WHEEL LASER ALIGNMENT EQUIPMENT AIR CONDITIONING SERVICE & RECHARGE TYRE FITTING & BALANCING TUNING & ENGINE MODIFICATION VEHICLE INSPECTION FULL OR PART RESTORATION BODYSHELL PREPARATION & PAINTING ACCIDENT RECOVERY & REPAIR ALL TYPES OF ELECTRICAL WORK RADIO FITMENT WINDSCREEN REPLACEMENT SERVICE FULL RETRIMMING SERVICE LOAN CARS OTHER CLASSIC MARQUES WELCOME
MG Workshop Octagon House Swavesey Cambridge CB24 4QZ Mon – Fri: 8.00am – 5.30pm Saturdays by prior appointment
01954 234001 mgworkshop@mgownersclub.co.uk
www.mgworkshop.co.uk
MG ENTHUSIAST DECEMBER 2026 VOLUME 56 NO.12 ISSUE NO.467
www.mgenthusiast.com Kelsey Publishing Ltd, The Granary, Downs Court, Yalding Hill, Yalding, Kent, ME18 6AL, UK EDITORIAL
Editor: Craig Cheetham mg.ed@kelsey.co.uk Design: Focused On Design Ltd. Regular contributors: David Knowles, Peter Simpson, Jim Jupp, Andrew Ralston, Tom Barnard, Rob Hawkins, Malcolm McKay, Monty Watkins, Malcolm Robertson, Gregory Owain, Kevin Jones
CLASSIFIEDS
Talk Media Sales Claire Meade-Gore: 01732 445301 clairemg@talk-media.uk
0906 802 0279 (premium rate line, operated by Talk Media Sales on behalf of Kelsey Publishing Ltd.Calls cost 65p per minute from a BT landline; other networks and mobiles may vary. Lines open Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm). Email: cars@kelseyclassifieds.co.uk For all transport titles, you can also view and upload ads via www.motorfreeads.co.uk Kelsey Classifieds, Kelsey Media The Granary, Downs Court, Yalding Hill, Yalding, Kent, ME18 6AL, UK
PRODUCTION
Distribution in Great Britain
ADVERTISEMENT SALES
Talk Media Sales Production and Design Manager: Nick Bond production@talk-media.uk
MANAGEMENT
Managing Director Phil Weeden Subscription Marketing Director Kevin Mccormick Retail Director Steve Brown Fulfillment Manager Andy Cotton Events Manager Kat Chappell Print Production Manager Georgina Harris Print Production Controller Kelly Orriss, Hayley Brown Subscription Marketing Manager Dave Sage
SUBSCRIPTIONS
12 issues of MG Enthusiast are published per annum UK annual subscription price: £116.88 Europe annual subscription price: £140.88 Rest of World annual subscription price: £152.88 Subscriptions contact details UK subscription order line: 01959 543 747 Overseas subscription order line: +44 (0)1959 543 747 Toll free USA subscription order line: 1-888-777-0275 UK customer service team: 01959 543 747 Customer service email address: cs@kelsey.co.uk Customer service and subscription postal address: MG Enthusiast Customer Service Team, Kelsey Media, Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincolnshire, LN9 6JR,United Kingdom Find current subscription offers online: shop.kelsey.co.uk/mge Find available back issues online: shop.kelsey.co.uk/ mgeback Already a subscriber? Manage your subscription online: shop.kelsey.co.uk/myaccount
Seymour Distribution Limited 2 East Poultry Avenue London EC1A 9PT Tel. 020 7429 4000 www.seymour.co.uk
Distribution in Northern Ireland and the Republic Of Ireland Newspread Tel: +353 23 886 3850
Kelsey Media 2026 © all rights reserved. Kelsey Media is a trading name of Kelsey Publishing Ltd. Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden except with permission in writing from the publishers. Note to contributors: articles submitted for consideration by the editor must be the original work of the author and not previously published. Where photographs are included, which are not the property of the contributor, permission to reproduce them must have been obtained from the owner of the copyright. The editor cannot guarantee a personal response to all letters and emails received. The views expressed in the magazine are not necessarily those of the Editor or the Publisher. Kelsey Publishing Ltd accepts no liability for products and services offered by third parties. PRIVACY NOTICE Kelsey Media takes your personal data very seriously. For more information of our privacy policy, please visit www.kelsey. co.uk/privacy-policy. If at any point you have any queries regarding Kelsey’s data policy you can email our Data Protection Officer at: dpo@kelsey.co.uk.
Part of the Classics World family www.classics world.co.uk
www.kelsey.co.uk
www.facebook.com/MGEnthusiast
e’ve got a varied spread of MGs in this month’s issue, spanning over sixty years of the brand’s history. Each of them has a story to tell, whether it’s Peter Ward’s spectacular V8-powered MGB or Paul Pinkham’s TF 1500, which was brought back from the brink of extintction. But for me, there’s one car that really stands out, and that’s Mark Wroe’s remarkable MG ZT 1.8T that he has owned since new – it was never his intention when he bought the car to replace a company Alfa Romeo, but other cars have come and gone since he drove the ZT out of the showroom, and it has stayed around. It’s a classic case of car that gets under your skin and never leaves you. That passion drives many car enthusiasts – in many ways, we’re all cut from the same cloth, even if the objects of our desires are varied and different. That’s why we also try and keep variety a central theme in MG Enthusiast – we’ve seen a huge boom in interest in our Z Car features of late, for example, but we also like to feature older models when we can. Also, if you’ve owned your MG from new then we’d love to hear from you, as you’re bound to have some special memories. We do have a shortage of feature cars in the pipeline, though, so if you have an MG that you’d like to have featured in the magazine, please drop me a line on the email address below. It can be scruffy or concours, owned since new or owned for just six months. Every car has a story, so if you’d like to see your MG in the mag, we’ll make it happen. Whichever era of MG floats your boat, you’re bound to appreciate car things under your Christmas tree, so this issue we’re also bringing you our Christmas Gift Guide, which contains some great ideas for main gifts or stocking fillers for the MG person in your life, from as little as £2.75 up to £200 – you might want to leave the magazine lying around, opened to page 28, so that your better half can have a good idea of what might make your festive season even more special. As ever, thank you for your continued support and enjoy the issue!
W
Craig Cheetham Editor mg.ed@kelsey.co.uk
Buy MGE print and, at a discounted rate, digital issues at: https://shop.kelsey.co.uk/MGE www.mgenthusiast.com
final 003_Editorial December 26.indd 3
MGE DECEMBER 2026
3
13/10/2026 17:12
DECEMBER 2026 VOLUME 56 NO.12 ISSUE 467
14
Our MGs
BL/Austin Rover/Rover Group Enthusiast
69
50
OUR MGs Craig takes a reality check – is anyone in the market for a low-mileage, very early MGF, because it just isn’t being used?
4
MGE DECEMBER 2026
final 004-5 Contents December 26.indd 4
MINI R50 How the BMW MINI was much more of a Rover Group car than many people believe – here’s its story
www.mgenthusiast.com
13/10/2026 17:13
R KEEPING THEM IN THE CLAN UNDELOUIS SEVENTEEN GOING HOW YOUNG READER BUG... CONTRACTED THE MG
HOW ONE YOUNG ENTHUSIAST HAS KEPT THE FAMILY'S ZRs ON THE ROAD
HAS
HEART OF A LION! ON THE ROAD IN A VERY SPECIAL V8POWERED MGB ROADSTER
SCRAPYARD DOG!
MIGHTY FINE MIDGET FATHERAND
464
ALL THE LATEST GLOBAL MG NEWS
GO!
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE RETROINSIPIRED HOT HATCH?
OCTOBER 2026 / No. 465
NOVEMBER 2026 / No. 466
SEPTEMBER 2026 / No.
THE INSIDE LINE ON THE NEW MG
HOW A UNIQUE AND SIGNIFICANT ZT WAS BROUGHT BACK FROM THE DEAD
ALL THE LATEST GLOBAL MG NEW S
SON TEAM BUILD MAKES FOR A COOL FIRST CAR
CARS NEW SECTION ON THE OF AUSTINROVER, ROVER GROUP AND MG ROVER 001_Cover_MGE_Sept
PRESSING DEADLINE IT TO ZED 25? DID THE OLDEST ZT MAKE
TAKE AN IN LIFE BEGINS AT 40! WE 800 AS DEPTH LOOK AT THE ROVER IT HITS A MAJOR MILESTONE
* only available in the UK
TROPHY HUNTERS HUNTER GIRL RACERS TAKE TO THE TRACK IN THEIR TF
NEW SECTION ON 20/08/2026 THE CARS 07:28 OF AUSTINROVER, ROVER GROUP AND MG ROVER
Viking Roundel 50mm.indd 1
MG CYBER CONCEPT THE INSIDE LINE ON MG's SLEEK NEW ELECTRIC COUPÉ
RANGE ROVER P38a HOW ROVER GROUP SHIFTED THE BALANCE FROM UTILITY TO LUXURY
final 001_Cover_MGE_Nov 26.indd 1
14/07/2026 09:17
26.indd 1
6
KELSEYmedia
KELSEYmedia
RACEINSPIRED EXPRESS THE MG VAN WITH A HIDDEN TWIST
NEW SECTION ON THE CARS OF BL, AUSTINROVER, ROVER GROUP AND MG ROVER 09/09/2026 08:48 FINAL 001_Cover_MGE_Oct 26.indd
PART OF THE FAMILY A VERY SPECIAL YB TELLS ITS STORY
‘AN INDEPENDENT PUBLICATION’
.
See inside for details.
● TECH Q&A MIDGET BATTERIES ● NEW PRODUCTS ● OUR CARS: MG TFS ● AUTOMOBILIA
‘AN INDEPENDENT PUBLICATION’
WIN £5,990
A fantastic Viking cruise worth
KELSEYmedia
KELSEYmedia
PLUS
OCTOBER 2026 ISSUE NO.465 £6.99
● MGB SUSPENSION UPGRADES ● OUR MGs ● AUTOMOBILIA ● ZEDFEST REPORT ● ALL THE LATEST GLOBAL MG NEWS NOVEMBER 2026 ISSUE NO.466 £6.99
NO.464 £6.99
SPECTRAL POWER TURBO ENGINE MEET THE ZR WITH AN MG6
PLUS
‘AN INDEPENDENT PUBLICATION’
SEPTEMBER 2026 ISSUE
PLUS
EVENT REPORT V8 ENGINES ● ZED25● AUTOMOBILIA ● MAINTAINING ROVER FIX ● NEW PRODUCTS ● MGF HEAD GASKET
KELSEYmedia
KELSEYmedia
AUSTIN ALLEGRO WAS IT ALL AGGRO, OR AHEAD OF ITS TIME?
1 10/08/2026 21:50
PAGE 72
BACK ISSUES
MISSED AN ISSUE? HERE’S HOW TO GET HOLD OF THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY. 6 NEWS All the latest MG news from around the world, plus the latest UK model updates 14 MGB ROADSTER V8 Peter Ward’s drop-top MGB might look fairly standard, but it packs a powerful punch 28 CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE The best presents and stocking fillers for the MG people in your life this festive season
28
36 ONE OWNER FROM NEW Mark Wroe’s remarkable ZT 1.8 Turbo has only ever had one owner – him. And it still looks factory fresh! 50 BL/AUSTIN ROVER/ROVER GROUP ENTHUSIAST MINI R50 How the BMW MINI was much more of a Rover Group car than many people believe 56 MG TF 1500 Paul Pinkham rescued an unfinished project in the early 2000s, and has spent the past 25 years getting back to tip-top condition
36
69 OUR MGs Craig takes a reality check – is anyone in the market for a low-mileage, very early MGF? 72 BACK ISSUES How to get hold of the one that got away 74 SUBSCRIPTION OFFERS Ensure you get you copy of MG Enthusiast every month – and save money!
56
76 TECH Q&A Peter Simpson on the subject of refreshing MGB rubber window seals 78 AUTOMOBILIA Andrew Ralston takes a look at Norev’s MG 1100 models 82 NEXT MONTH A fabulous ZT260 V8, a couple’s dream pairing of a YA and MGB Roadster, MG4 Buying Guide, how to prepare your MG for winter and a look at the Land Rover Freelander, much of which was developed alongside the MGF
www.mgenthusiast.com
final 004-5 Contents December 26.indd 5
MGE DECEMBER 2026
5
13/10/2026 17:13
MG NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD – with David Knowles
MG MODEL UPDATES
The MG3 is among other UK models which have benefited from a number of enhancements There is little fundamentally wrong with the current MG UK model range, but there is always room for improvement. At the tail end of September, the company announced a number of upgrades across much of the range: ● MG3, MG ZS and MG HS gain upgrades focused on everyday driving and ownership ● Refined Hybrid+ powertrain brings smoother, quieter driving to MG3 and MG ZS models ● Cabin and equipment enhancements offer greater comfort and convenience across all three ranges ● Upgraded models retain strong value, with prices starting at £17,995 for the MG3 ICE, £21,495 for the MG ZS Hybrid+ and £27,495 for the MG HS Aimed partly at improving performance and refinement, the MG3 and MG ZS receive upgrades to their traction motor and generator. The changes are intended to improve sustained performance, while reduced noise and vibration should create a quieter, more relaxed drive without compromising fuel efficiency.
6
MGE DECEMBER 2026
final 006-13 News December 26.indd 6
The 2027 MG HS also benefits from trim and drivetrain enhancements MG’s Hybrid+ system continues to use the same 1.83kWh high-capacity battery, allowing for a more electrified drive, with power delivered through a dedicated three-speed automatic transmission. MG says the combination of powertrain refinements will provide
“superior fuel efficiency alongside more immediate performance response – translating to punchy acceleration, confident overtaking manoeuvres, and a significantly quieter, more enjoyable driving experience for day-to-day journeys”.
www.mgenthusiast.com
13/10/2026 18:03
MG QUALITY CELEBRATED
MG Motor UK is justifiably proud of the company’s enhanced standing in the latest ‘What Car?’ awards. UK magazine What Car? is well known for its customer surveys, and the results are closely watched by the motor industry. MG Motor UK will therefore have been pleased to see its brand named ‘Most Improved’ in the latest National Reliability Survey, while also achieving a top-10 overall ranking. The MGS5 and MG5
finished in the top three places in each of their respective classes. In the 2026 What Car? Reliability Survey, MG rose to ninth place overall, with a score of 92.0%. The MGS5 EV achieved first place in the small family electric SUV class, while the MG5 was ranked third among all electric cars.
The survey considers repair costs and time off the road as well as reported faults, making the support available to owners an important part of the overall result. Alongside being named the most improved brand, MG therefore highlighted its investment in aftersales support as a factor in its improved reliability ranking.
The Most improved quality award comes close after the MG range scored highly in What Car? Main awards: MG4 EV Urban: Best Electric Small Car. MG HS PHEV: Best Hybrid Family SUV. MGS9 PHEV: Best Hybrid 7-Seat SUV www.mgenthusiast.com
final 006-13 News December 26.indd 7
MGE DECEMBER 2026
7
13/10/2026 18:03
MG LOGISTICS IN DAVENTRY The new MG parts warehouse and distribution operation in Daventry, Northamptonshire, opened with XPO Logistics in November 2025. Operating from 6am to 10pm, the site dispatches around 2,500 orders each day, with quality checks and computer-controlled storage helping to keep supplies organised and ready for delivery. For participating dealers, parts ordered before the noon cut-off can arrive before 8am the following morning, allowing technicians to begin work at the start of the next working day. MG says more than 96% of parts orders have been fulfilled first time during 2026, with overnight deliveries helping dealers prepare repairs for the following day. There has also been a 30% increase in the technical workforce, including the so-called ‘flying doctors’, who provide specialist advice to dealer workshops when dealing with more complex faults. William Wang, Managing Director of MG Motor UK and Europe, said: “Customer care and satisfaction sit at the core of our long-term strategy. We
8
MGE DECEMBER 2026
final 006-13 News December 26.indd 8
have taken a disciplined, investmentled approach to strengthening our aftersales ecosystem – across capability, infrastructure and operational delivery – to ensure we consistently meet and exceed evolving customer expectations. The progress reflected in this year’s reliability survey is a strong external validation of that strategic focus. “At its heart, this is about delivering meaningful, dependable support at every stage of the ownership journey. Our continued investment is driving faster parts availability, deeper technical
expertise, and robust mobility solutions that minimise disruption for customers. Together, these elements are building a more resilient, customer-centric support network behind every MG vehicle. “We will continue to scale and refine this capability as a core competitive advantage – ensuring our customers not only choose MG with confidence but remain with us for the long term.” Investment in MG’s physical infrastructure has been a key part of the company’s expanded aftersales programme across Europe.
EXPANSION OF KEY MG AFTERSALES SUPPORT While the mainstream media remains keen to focus on the decline of Longbridge as a UK manufacturing centre, MG still has a significant presence at the site in the form of the Cecil Kimber College MG Academy. The site’s footprint was doubled in 2026, allowing MG to increase delegate capacity four-fold. This follows the opening of a new parts distribution centre, covered in previous News pages, which provides overnight delivery services intended to speed up repairs and keep modern MGs on the road. The company has also expanded customer care and loan-car services.
www.mgenthusiast.com
13/10/2026 18:04
MG IN KUWAIT ANNOUNCES MAJOR NEW CUSTOMER CENTRE
MG Motor’s Middle East operation has announced the opening of a new MG 4S facility in Kuwait’s Shuwaikh district, adding to the company’s wider network across the region. The facility has been developed by Kuwaiti MG distributor Adel Alghanim Automotive at a reported investment of more than $30 million. Covering 25,500 square metres, it is claimed to be one of the largest MG 4S facilities worldwide. Spread over five floors, the building
brings sales, servicing and aftersales operations together at a single site. Up to 25 vehicles are displayed on the ground floor, with offices on the second floor and customer parking on the roof. The facility also houses a service centre, dedicated aftersales area with customer parking, an on-site parts warehouse, vehicle delivery area and customer lounge and also a café.
This showroom forms just a part of a new five-story MG centre in Kuwait, the site offering sales, servicing, customer parking and also a café www.mgenthusiast.com
final 006-13 News December 26.indd 9
THE CECIL KIMBER COLLEGE MG ACADEMY In 2026, MG Motor invested approximately £500,000 in its Longbridge-based Cecil Kimber College MG Academy training centre. The facility serves the UK and European dealer network and has seen tens of thousands of professionals pass through its doors. The recent investment doubled the facility’s size to 1,000 square metres, increased the number of workshop ramps from four to nine and expanded the teaching facilities to five classrooms and an auditorium. Maximum delegate capacity per class has increased from 24 to 100. The college recorded more than 2,000 technician training attendances in 2025, with training delivery more than doubling year on year. MG has also broadened its training beyond technical repairs to include service advisers, parts managers and warranty specialists, giving staff a wider understanding of the ownership and repair process. MG has also introduced a threelevel technical ‘triage’ system, giving workshops access to increasingly specialist assistance when required. Firstand second-tier technical teams support diagnosis and repairs, while the most challenging cases can be escalated to field engineers known as ‘flying doctors’. These specialists visit dealerships to help resolve faults and provide practical training, allowing workshops to tackle complex repairs and return customers’ cars to the road more quickly. New digital diagnostic equipment introduced across the UK dealer network enables technicians to work on multiple vehicles from a tablet and carry out software updates more efficiently. MG’s expanded mobility programme provides eligible customers with a replacement vehicle while their own car is being repaired following a qualifying breakdown, extending support beyond the previous 96-hour provision. As of autumn 2026, the programme had already supported more than 3,000 customers. MG says it will continue to develop its training, customer care and digital support, with Longbridge serving as the headquarters for its pan-European aftersales operation.
MGE DECEMBER 2026
9
13/10/2026 18:04
STORMY WATERS IN INDIA
Note the different ‘nose cone’ on the new MG Hector Tomahawk in this PHEV version – combining petrol and EV power India’s vehicle market has grown significantly in recent years and is now the third largest in the world. The country is also seeking to establish itself as a major regional export hub, making it an important market for MG’s parent company, SAIC. As covered in previous News pages, MG’s Indian sales are largely based around localised versions of SAIC models that are rarely seen in MG form outside the country. Some have performed strongly in their respective market sectors, helped by extensive marketing, with the MG Windsor being one example. Behind the sales growth, however, are a number of political and commercial issues that could affect the future of MG Motor India. The continuing political tensions between China and India have complicated the business relationship, while JSW, MG’s Indian partner, is also seeking to expand its wider automotive interests. JSW has held discussions with Chery Automotive, a major rival of SAIC. Chery’s brands include Chery, Exeed, Jetour, iCar, Omoda and Jaecoo, with the latter two already established in the UK market. JSW’s wider automotive interests also include a relationship with Jaguar Land Rover. The prospect of JSW developing a relationship with a direct rival of SAIC has reportedly caused concern within
10 MGE DECEMBER 2026
final 006-13 News December 26.indd 10
the Chinese company. At the same time, JSW MG Motor is seeking further investment to support expansion of the MG business in India. SAIC and Chery are both ultimately state-owned Chinese companies, but remain commercial rivals. Any change to the relationship therefore has to be considered against a particularly sensitive political background. SAIC is also reported within India’s business community to be considering a further reduction in its stake in the MG Motor- JSW joint venture. SAIC currently holds 49%, following changes to the ownership structure after Indian government restrictions on overseas investment were introduced in 2020. Indian media reports suggest JSW is seeking to increase its ownership of the local MG business further. Any such move would depend on agreement between the two parties, including an agreed valuation.
Much is riding on the new MG Hector Tomahawk (see also last month’s MGE News), which went on sale in PHEV and EV form across India this autumn
At the end of August, the Board of Directors of JSW MG Motor India Private Limited appointed Parth Jindal as Chairman of the Company, with immediate effect. Parth has served on the Board of JSW MG Motor India since the JV was formed, and helped shape product strategy, manufacturing expansion and localisation. He is simultaneously Managing Director of JSW Cement, Managing Director of JSW Paints, Chairman of JSW Dulux Limited, Chairman of JSW MG Motor India, and a Director on the Board of JSW Energy. He is also the Founder of JSW Sports and Chairman and Co-Owner of the Delhi Capitals.
www.mgenthusiast.com
13/10/2026 18:04
UP TO 258 MILES WLTP COMBINED RANGE* UP TO 1,364 LITRES OF BOOT SPACE** 12.8” HD SCREEN 10 - 80% CHARGE IN JUST 28 MINUTES^
*Range figures provided are calculated under test conditions. These figures are for comparative purposes only and may not reflect real-life driving results. Actual range may vary depending on various factors such as weather conditions, driving styles, vehicle load, and accessories fitted post-registration. **MG4 EV Urban Comfort Standard Range and Long Range with rear seats folded. ^10-80% charging time applies to a 150kW Ultra-Fast charger for MG4 EV Urban Comfort Standard Range under standardised test conditions. Charging times in real world conditions will vary dependent on a number of factors, including but not limited to the age of battery, charging conditions, temperature and the existing charge of the battery, charger used and duration of charge. Charging times will be increased when using chargers of a lower capacity. Availability of 150kW-capable chargers may be limited depending on your location.
DISCOVER MORE
DISCOVER MORE
D I S C OV E R M O R E
using chargers of a lower capacity. Availability of 150kW-capable chargers may be limited depending on your location. and the existing charge of the battery, charger used and duration of charge. Charging times will be increased when dependent on a number of factors, including but not limited to the age of battery, charging conditions, temperature Urban Comfort Standard Range under standardised test conditions. Charging times in real world conditions will vary and Long Range with rear seats folded. ^10-80% charging time applies to a 150kW Ultra-Fast charger for MG4 EV driving styles, vehicle load, and accessories fitted post-registration. **MG4 EV Urban Comfort Standard Range not reflect real-life driving results. Actual range may vary depending on various factors such as weather conditions, *Range figures provided are calculated under test conditions. These figures are for comparative purposes only and may
10 - 80% CHARGE IN JUST 28 MINUTES^ 12.8” HD SCREEN UP TO 1,364 LITRES OF BOOT SPACE**
D I S C OV E R M O R E
Marshall's Bank, Parson Drove, Wisbech PE13 4JE Marshall’s Bank, Parson Wisbech PE13 4JE Telephone: 01945 700500 Email: Drove, sales@mgbhive.co.uk
Telephone: 01945 700500
Email: sales@mgbhive.co.uk
1000’s of parts in stock to completely rebuild your MGB PROUD TO toSUPPORT from a wood rim steering wheel a reconditioned lead free engine WE DON’T JUST MATCH PRICES BRITISH MANUFACTURING WE PROMISE TO BEAT ANY LIKE you FOR LIKE QUOTE! We have everything need We have everything you Beautiful MGB Roadster £17,500 for your MG, either brand new needorfor your MG, either second hand...
brand new …
Marshall's Bank, Parson Drove, Wisbech PE13 4JE Marshall’s Bank, Parson Wisbech PE13 4JE Telephone: 01945 700500 Email: Drove, sales@mgbhive.co.uk
Telephone: 01945 700500
Email: sales@mgbhive.co.uk
1000’s of parts in stock to completely rebuild your MGB PROUD TO toSUPPORT from a wood rim steering wheel a reconditioned lead free engine ALLOY ROCKER COVERS K&N KITS THRESHOLD PLATES BRITISH MANUFACTURING
MGB kit.............................. £59.95 Midget 1500 kit ................£38.95 Midget 1275 Kit................ £48.50
MGB, 1275 and 1500 Pancake ........................................... £195.00 MGB with Alloy Plate ....£139.95
MGB OE ....................£23.50 pair Stainless Steel.................. £24.95
13” 14” 15” • 13”or 14” Chrome wire wheel £314.95 • 13”or 14” Painted wire wheel £225.00 • 15” Chrome wire wheel £375.00 • Set of 4 14”Chrome W.W &tyres £1475.00 • Set of 4 15”Alloy Wheels £374.95 • Set of 4 14”Alloy wheels £325.95 • Set of 4 13” Alloy wheels £295.95 • Set of STEERING 4 15”Alloy wheelsWHEELS & tyres £565.00 Leather semiAlloy dished with boss ............. £79.96 • Set of 4 14” wheels & tyres £545.00 Leather polished spoked with boss .... £124.96 • Set of 4 13” Alloy wheels & tyres £459.95
• Leather steering wheel & bos £124.96 • Mountney steering wheel & bos £89.95 • Wooden steering wheel & bos £129.95 • MGB Alloy Rocker cover kit £74.95 • K&N Filters with alloy plate £143.95 • S.S Bumpers and Overriders £809.95 • S.S Big bore exhaust & manifold £375.00 ACCESSORIES • S.S 4 piece exhaust £239.95 Chrome ashtray • Duckhamslidded Fuel additive £8.95.. £34.96 Pair chrome winder .........£16.50 • Pr Leather seats recon exchange £999.95
• Pair leather headrests to match £219.95 • Roadster moulded carpet set £ 399.95 • Roadster Boot carpet set £199.96 • 6 piece Interior trim kit from £157.50 • Cloth hood on header rail £749.95 • Pair Door cappings £134.95 • Leather Console Armrest £49.96 OILgearstick & ADDITIVES • Leather gaitor £14.95 Duckhams 20/50 - 5lt.... £29.95 • 1275 alloy rocker cover kits £48.50 Fuel additive ..................... £12.95 • 1500 alloy rocker cover kits £39.95
We have everything you www.mgbhive.co.uk need for your MG, either brand new … For all your MGB, C, V8 & Midget requirements please visit
EP80/90............................. £10.95
Please check out our website for colour of alloy wheels seats & trim All prices IncALL VAT PRICES and correct at time VAT of going to press INCLUDE We are never knowingly under sold . We don’t just price match we beat the price
… or second hand www.mgbhive.co.uk For all your V8 &C,Midget requirements please visit For MGB, all yourC,MGB, V8 & Midget requirements
For all your MGB, C, V8 & Midget requirements Please website www.mgbhive.co.uk www.mgbhive.co.uk Please visit visit our our new new website
CM11.19/A14/gr
Wooden with boss .............................£129.95 Chrome centre boss............................ £24.95
… or second hand
For all your MGB, C, V8 & Midget requirements
Please visit our new website www.mgbhive.co.uk
MGE_2023_03_Mar_MGB Hive Ltd_FP.indd 1
CM11.19/A14/gr
PROUD STOCKISTS OF THESE BRANDS PROUD STOCKISTS OF THESE BRANDS
27/01/2023 13:37
PROUD STOCKISTS OF THESE BRANDS
PROUD STOCKISTS OF THESE BRANDS
MGE_2023_03_Mar_MGB Hive Ltd_FP.indd 1
27/01/2023 13:37
BACKGROUND TO MG IN INDIA
We have covered the rise of MG in India in some detail over the past seven years, but here is a brief summary. SAIC entered India in 2019 under the MG Motor brand, with plans to invest more than $650 million. It took over a former General Motors factory in Gujarat, with annual production capacity of around 120,000 vehicles. In 2020, SAIC submitted an investment proposal to build electric vehicles under a government incentive scheme, but the proposal was declined. In 2025, SAIC sold a majority stake in the local company to Indian entities, with JSW acquiring a 35% share for about $300 million. This valued the company behind the Hector SUV and Windsor EV at around $1.2 billion. JSW MG Motor is now India’s second-largest EV manufacturer by sales, behind Tata. The company subsequently submitted a proposal to invest $240 million in EV manufacturing. The outcome of that proposal is understood to be pending.
SALES GROWTH KEEPS GOING AT MG
Alongside its model updates and investment in aftersales, MG Motor UK has reported further sales growth. David Allison, Director of Product and Planning at MG Motor UK, said: “September was a landmark month for MG in the UK, reflecting the breadth of our range and the confidence customers place in MG across Hybrid+, Plug-in Hybrid and fully electric powertrains. Our growth is also being supported by continued investment in the ownership experience and key updates to our most popular models. This momentum underscores the strength of our strategy, where we will continue to focus on customer value and long-term growth plans in both the private and corporate sectors.” The highlights are: ● 18,026 registrations made September MG’s highest-volume UK sales month, exceeding the previous record by 2,150 vehicles ● Third-quarter registrations reached a record 30,189 vehicles ● MG recorded its sixth consecutive month in which sales exceeded the previous record for the corresponding calendar month ● Year-to-date sales reached 78,930 vehicles, up 20.7% ● Electrified powertrains accounted for 91.6% of September sales, while year-todate BEV sales rose by 65.2% ● Sales to true fleet customers grew by 22% month-on-month in September
www.mgenthusiast.com
final 006-13 News December 26.indd 13
MG JSW INDIA RECENT SALES HIGHLIGHTS
Despite the corporate and political uncertainty, JSW MG Motor India continues to report strong sales. ● The business reported 19% year-on-year sales growth in September ● The company dispatched 8,018 vehicles to dealers during the month ● Sustained consumer interest in its product range contributed to the result ● The recently launched MG Hector Tomahawk EV and PHEV contributed to sales ● Customer deliveries of the MG Hector Tomahawk EV have begun across India Where this is all headed remains to be seen. JSW MG Motor continues to perform strongly, while its rapid expansion into electric vehicles in a market where petrol and diesel cars remain dominant could help maintain that growth. Rivals are also expanding, however, with Suzuki continuing to develop its position in the Indian market and Tesla having entered the country during the summer.
MG PAKISTAN PLANS EXPORTS Production of CKD (completely knocked down) MG vehicles has only recently begun in Pakistan, but the operation is already planning exports from its new factory. MG Pakistan plans to export CKD units to Bangladesh, with sample shipments beginning in September and full-scale exports planned for 2027. In a public statement, MG Pakistan said it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Bangladesh in July. The two CKD samples shipped two months later will undergo Bangladesh’s local homologation process. The company described the move as part of its aim of “Building a future where Pakistan leads in auto manufacturing”, as it seeks to expand the MG branf’s presence in the region.
MG Motor Pakistan issued this public statement recently about its plans to export MG vehicles to neighbouring Bangladesh.
The MG HS has been the main focus of MG ‘s Pakistani adventure MGE DECEMBER 2026 13
13/10/2026 18:04
1967 MGB
A build of two halves Since the early Nineties Peter Ward had hankered for a burbling B, having spied one at dealership Former Glory, but his MGB journey started long before that... WORDS AND PHOTOS: JIM JUPP
or Peter Ward, his love for the MGB started back in the early Sixties. “A school friend’s older brother had an MG Midget which he traded in for a brand new MGB roadster," he said. "It was the first time I’d come close to an MGB and I was smitten.” The smell of the leather interior and the new car smell stayed with him. “I walked away from that car thinking: ‘one day I’m going to have an MG of my own.” It wasn’t until the mid-Nineties that he got his hands on an MGB project. Having noticed some questionable restorations
F
14 MGE DECEMBER 2026
final 014-27 Peter Ward MGB V8 December 26.indd 14
he decided the only safe approach was to tackle it himself, acquiring what was left of a basket case restoration. “The V5 showed 11 previous owners and the car was first registered on 2nd January, 1967, having been built at Abingdon in August 1966.” The majority of the car had been stripped from the rusty shell and, with such a long shopping list, a 1970 MGB GT was sourced as a donor car. This newer model instigated modifications
to the early shell to entertain the larger four-syncromesh gearbox. Sensibly, he chose to fit all-new suspension, fuel lines and braking components. Continues on page 18 www.mgenthusiast.com
13/10/2026 17:16
1967 MGB
www.mgenthusiast.com
final 014-27 Peter Ward MGB V8 December 26.indd 15
MGE DECEMBER 2026 15
13/10/2026 17:16
Oselli OselliEngineering EngineeringOselli OselliEngineering Engineering OSELLI OSELLI OSELLI OSELLI est est1962 1962
CLASSIC CLASSIC&& SPORTSCARS SPORTSCARS
est est1962 1962
CLASSIC CLASSIC&& SPORTSCARS SPORTSCARS
adRocket adRocket adRocket adRocket
OSELLI OSELLI
O O S
Oselli OselliEngineering Engineeringest est1962 1962
CLASSIC CLASSIC&& SPORTSCARS SPORTSCARS
adRocket adRocket adRocket adRocket
OSELLI OSELLI OSELLI
Oselli ltd, Greenway Business Park, Winslow Road, Great Horwood, MK17 0NY est est1962 1962 01993 849610 or 07831 597424
Oselli OselliEngineering Engineering
CLASSIC & CLASSIC CLASSIC && SPORTS CARS SPORTSCARS SPORTSCARS
The Oselli Anniversary Collection consists of The just Oselli 10 limited Anniversary edition MGBGT’s Collection and consists 10 Classic of just Mini’s. 10 limited edition MGBGT’s and 10 Classic Mini’s. 1957 1957MGA MGAROADSTER, Ä ROADSTER, Ä UPZOLK PU 6SK ,UNSPZO >OP[L ^P[O )\YN\UK` OVVK [YPT HUK JHYWL[Z ;V[HS U\[ HUK UPZOLK PU 6SK ,UNSPZO >OP[L ^P[O )\YN\UK` OVVK [YPT HUK JHYWL[Z ;V[HS U\[ HUK 1957MGA MGA ROADSTER, Ä ROADSTER, Ä UPZOLK PU 6SK ,UNSPZO >OP[L ^P[O )\YN\UK` OVVK [YPT HUK JHYWL[Z ;V[HS U\[ HUK UPZOLK PU 6SK ,UNSPZO >OP[L ^P[O )\YN\UK` OVVK [YPT HUK JHYWL[Z ;V[HS U\[ HUK Both models are available fully1957 rebuilt on heritage Both models shells toare your available own specifi fullycrebuilt cosmetic on heritage spec. shells to your own specific cosmetic spec. IVS[ IVK` VMM YLZ[VYH[PVU I` 6ZLSSP [V V\Y ]LY` OPNO ZWLJ SLZZ [OHU TPSLZ HNV 9LZ[VYH[PVU ^VYRZ PUJS\KLK IVS[ IVK` VMM YLZ[VYH[PVU I` 6ZLSSP [V V\Y ]LY` OPNO ZWLJ SLZZ [OHU TPSLZ HNV 9LZ[VYH[PVU ^VYRZ PUJS\KLK IVS[ IVK` VMM YLZ[VYH[PVU I` 6ZLSSP [V V\Y ]LY` OPNO ZWLJ SLZZ [OHU TPSLZ HNV 9LZ[VYH[PVU ^VYRZ PUJS\KLK They are all individually numbered IVS[ IVK` VMM YLZ[VYH[PVU I` 6ZLSSP [V V\Y ]LY` OPNO ZWLJ SLZZ [OHU TPSLZ HNV 9LZ[VYH[PVU ^VYRZ PUJS\KLK and fully They documented, are all individually with a personalised numbered photographic and fully documented, portfolio, with a personalised photographic portfolio, Z[HNL LUNPUL ZWLLK 4HaKH NLHYIV_ Z\ZWLUZPVU \WNYHKLZ JOYVTL ^PYL ^OLLSZ L[J Z[HNL LUNPUL ZWLLK 4HaKH NLHYIV_ Z\ZWLUZPVU \WNYHKLZ JOYVTL ^PYL ^OLLSZ L[J Z[HNL LUNPUL ZWLLK 4HaKH NLHYIV_ Z\ZWLUZPVU \WNYHKLZ JOYVTL ^PYL ^OLLSZ L[J £37,500 £37,500 including a unique Oselli certifi cate of Z[HNL LUNPUL ZWLLK 4HaKH NLHYIV_ Z\ZWLUZPVU \WNYHKLZ JOYVTL ^PYL ^OLLSZ L[J authenticity including - Please a unique contact Oselli us certifi for further cate ofinformation. authenticity -£37,500 Please contact us for further information.£37,500 The Oselli Anniversary Collection consists of just 10 limited edition MGBGT’s and 10 Classic Mini’s.
T 1957 1957MGA MGAROADSTER, Ä ROADSTER, Ä UPZOLK PU 6SK ,UNSPZO >OP[L ^P[O )\YN\UK` OVVK [YPT HUK JHYWL[Z ;V[HS U\[ HUK UPZOLK PU 6SK ,UNSPZO >OP[L ^P[O )\YN\UK` OVVK [YPT HUK JHYWL[Z ;V[HS U\[ HUK 1957 MG M Both models are available fully rebuilt on heritage shells to 1957 your own specific cosmetic spec. IVS[ IVK` VMM YLZ[VYH[PVU I` 6ZLSSP [V V\Y ]LY` OPNO ZWLJ SLZZ [OHU TPSLZ HNV 9LZ[VYH[PVU ^VYRZ PUJS\KLK IVS[ IVK` VMM YLZ[VYH[PVU I` 6ZLSSP [V V\Y ]LY` OPNO ZWLJ SLZZ [OHU TPSLZ HNV 9LZ[VYH[PVU ^VYRZ PUJS\KLK IVS[ IVK IV They are all individually numbered and fully documented, with aIVS[ personalised photographic portfolio, Z[HNL LUNPUL ZWLLK 4HaKH NLHYIV_ Z\ZWLUZPVU \WNYHKLZ JOYVTL ^PYL ^OLLSZ L[J Z[HNL LUNPUL ZWLLK 4HaKH NLHYIV_ Z\ZWLUZPVU \WNYHKLZ JOYVTL ^PYL ^OLLSZ L[J £37,500 £37,500 Z[HN Z[ including a unique Oselli certificate of authenticity - Please contact us for further information.
MGB MGB MGB
Midget/ Midget/AAASeries Series Midget/ Series
MGB MGB Midget/ Midget/ AASeries Series 1969 MGB Roadster
MGB MGB Midget/ Midget/AASeries Series Engines Engines Engines Engines Engines Engines Engines Engines Engines Engines Engines Engines Engines Engines Engines Standard lead Engines free £2400 £3,100 £3,100 1800cc 1800cc Lead Lead free free £2,800 £2,800 1800cc 1800cc Lead Lead free free Standard Standard lead lead free free £2,800 £2,800 £2,800 £2,800 Standard Standard lead lead free free £2,800 £2,800 £3,100 £3,100 1800cc Lead free £2400 1800cc 1800cc Lead Lead free free £2,800 £2,800 Standard Standardlead leadfree free £2,800 £2,800 1800 1800cc Lead free £2800 Standard lead free £2800 Standard fast road balanced 1800c £2800 0 fast £3,60 £3,600 1800cc Fast road balanced 1800cc 0balanced Fastroad road balanced 0 balanced 1800cc Fast road balanced £3,200 £3,200 1800cc Fast Standard Standard balanced fast fastroad roadbalanced balanced £3,200 £3,200 £3,200 £3,200 Standard Standard fast road road balanced balanced £3,200 £3,200 £3,60 £3,60 1800cc Fast Fast road road balanced £3,200 £3,200 Standard Standard fast fastroad road balanced £3,200 £3,200 1800c 1800 1800cc Fast road balanced1800cc £2800 1800cc Fast road balanced £3200 Standard fast road balanced £3200 Stage 2 fast road balanced £3250 1840cc 1840cc Balanced Balanced stage stage2Balanced 2Balanced £3,650 £3,650 Stage Stage2 2Fast Fast road roadbalanced balanced £3,650 £3,650 1840c 1840 £4,100 £4,100 1840cc 1840cc Balanced Balanced stage stage 2 2 £3,650 £3,650 1840cc 1840cc Stage Stage stage stage 2 2 Fast 2 Fast 2 road road balanced balanced £3,650 £3,650 £3,650 £3,650 Stage Stage 2 2 Fast Fast road road balanced balanced £3,650 £3,650 £4,100 £4,100 1840cc Balanced stage 2 £3250 1840cc Balanced stage 2 £3650lead Stage1293cc 2£3,760 fast road £3650 fastbalanced road stage 2 £3360 1950cc 1950ccStandard Standard leadfree free £3,495 £3,495 1293cc 1293ccFast Fastroad roadstage stage2 2 £3,760 1950c 1950 £4,200 £4,200 1950cc Standard lead free £3,495 £3,495 1950cc 1293cc 1293cc lead Fast Fastroad roadstage stage 2 2 Fast £3,495 £3,495 £3,760 1293cc 1293cc Fast Fast road road stage stage 2 22stage 2 £3,760 £3,760 1950cc Standard lead free 1950cc leadfree free 1950cc Standard lead free 1950cc £3095 £3,900 £3,900 1950cc Fast Fast road road stage stage2Standard 2Standard £3,850 £3,850 1380cc 1380cc Fast road roadstage stage2 2 £3,760 £4,195 £4,195 1950c 1950 1950cc Standard lead free £3495 1293cc fast road stage £3760 1380cc fast road £3795 2200 2200 High High spec spec fast fastroad road £6,750 £6,750 1400cc 1400cc Fast Fast road roadstage stage2 2 £4,195 £5,050 £5,050 2200 2200 1950cc Fast road stage 2 £3450 £4,700 £4,700 1950cc Fast road stage 2 £3,850 £3,850 1950cc Fast road 1380cc 1380cc stage Fast 2 Fast road road stage stage 2 2 £3,850 £3,850 £4,195 1380cc 1380cc Fast Fast road road stage stage 2 2 £4,195 £4,195 1950cc Fast road stage 2 1950cc Fast road stage 2 £4,300 £4,300 1950cc Fast road stage 2 £3850 1380cc fast road £4195 1400cc faststage road2stage 2 £4650 Heads Heads Heads Heads £5,600 £5,600 2200 High spec fast road 2200 High spec fast road 2200 High spec fast road £6,750 £6,750 2200 High spec 1400cc fast 1400cc road Fast Fast road road stage stage 2 2 £6,750 £6,750 £5,050 £5,050 1400cc 1400cc Fast Fast road road stage stage 2 2 £5,050 £5,050 £7,500 £7,500 2200cc high spec fast road £6750 1400cc fast road stage £5050 Standard Standardlead leadfree free £825 £825 Standard Standardlead leadfree free £825 £825 St S and t an Heads Heads Stage Stage 2 2lead leadfree free £925 £925 Stage Stage2 2lead leadfree free £925 £925 St S age t ag Heads Heads Heads Heads Heads Heads Heads Standard leadHeads free £675 Heads Standard £675 Stage Stage 3 3lead leadfree free £1,015 £1,015 Stage Stage3 3lead leadfree free £1,025 £1,025 lead free S t S age t ag Stage 2 lead free £775 Standard lead free free Standard Standard lead lead free free £825 Standard £825 Standard lead leadfree Standard free Standard lead leadfree free Stage £825 £825 £825 Standard £825 Standard lead lead free £825 £910 £910 t Stage Stage3A 3Alead lead free free £1,095 £1,095 Stage3A 3Alead lead free free £1,200 £1,200 S S age t ag Standard lead free £825 £910 £910 Stage 2free lead £775 £825 Stage Stage 4 4 lead lead free free £3,750 £3,750 Stage Stage 4 4 lead lead free free S t S age t ag £3,450 £3,450 Stage 3 lead free £865 Stage 2 lead free £925 Stage Stage 2 2lead free free £925 Stage £925 Stage2 2lead leadfree free Stage Stage2 2lead leadfree free £925 £925 £925 Stage £925 Stage2 2lead leadfree free £925 £925 Stage 2lead lead free £925 £1,100 £1,100 £1,100 Stage 3 lead free £865£1,100 Stage 3A lead free £940 Other Other Other Other Stage 3 lead free £1025 Stage 3lead lead free £1015 Stage 3a lead free £1050 Stage Stage 3 3lead free free £1,015 £1,015 Stage Stage 3 3 lead lead free free Stage Stage 3 3 lead lead free free £1,015 £1,015 £1,025 £1,025 Stage Stage 3 3 lead lead free free £1,025 £1,025 £1,300 £1,300 £1,200 £1,200 Tubular Tubularlong longbranch branchlarge largebore boreexhaust exhaust Tubular Tubularlong longbranch branchexhaust exhaust Stage 4 comp head £3600 Stage3A lead free head £1200 Stage 4 Comp £3600 Stage3A lead £1095 Stage Stage 3A3A lead lead free free £1,095 £1,095 Stage Stage 3A 3A lead lead free Stage free Stage3A3Alead leadfree free £1,095 £1,095 £1,200 £1,200 Stage Stage 3A3A lead lead free free £1,200 £1,200 £1,400 £1,400 £1,300 £1,300 Oselli Oselli cast cast rocker rocker cover cover Oselli Osellicast castrocker rocker cover cover Stage 4 Comp head £9450 Weber Weber carb carbkit kit Weber Webercarb carb kit kitStage Stage 4lead comp £3750 adRocket adRocket Stage Stage 4 4lead free freehead Other £3,750 £3,750 Stage Stage 4 4 lead lead free free Stage Stage 4 4 lead lead free free £3,750 £3,750 Stage 4 4 lead lead free free £3,450 £3,450 £3,450 £3,450 £3,900 £3,900 £4,200 £4,200 Performance Performancedistributor distributor Performance Performancedistributor distributor Other Head Head and and engines engines supplied supplied onon anan exchange exchange basis. basis. Prices Prices subject subject to to VAT VAT Head Head and and engines engines supplied supplied onon anan exchange exchange basis. basis. Prices Prices subject subject to to VAT VAT He H ad e ad an Tubular long branch large bore exhaust Other Other Other Other Other Other Other Other Other Other Tubular long branch exhaust Tubular long branch large bore exhaust, Tubular long branch exhaust, Oselli cast rocker cover Oselli cast rocker cover Tubular Tubular long long branch branch large large bore bore exhaust exhaust Tubular Tubular long long branch branch large Tubular large Tubular bore bore long long exhaust exhaust branch branch exhaust exhaust Tubular Tubular long long branch branch exhaust exhaust Oselli cast Weber rocker cover, carb kit, Oselli cast rocker cover, Weber carb kit, ALL OUR ARE NOW carbWeber kitEngine Engine building buildingand andMachine Machine work work •ENGINES • Servicing Servicing and and MOT MOT •• Diagnostics Diagnosticsand andRepair Repair Engin Weber carb kit Oselli Oselli cast castrocker rocker cover cover Oselli Oselli cast castrocker rocker Oselli Oselli cover cover cast cast rocker rocker cover cover Oselli Oselli cast castrocker rocker cover cover Engi Performance distributor Performance distributor Performance distributor INCLUSIVE OF WATER PUMP & The Oselli Anniversary Collection consists of just 10 limited edition MGBGT’s and 10 Classic Mini’s. Performance distributer Sales Sales & & Acquisitions Acquisitions • • Fabrication Fabrication and and Body Body • • Restorations Restorations • • Parts Parts and and Sales Merchandise Merchandise Sales & Weber Weber carb carb kit kit Weber Weber carb carb kit kit Weber Weber carb carb kit kit Weber Weber carb carb kit kitan exchange basis adRocket adRocket Head and engines supplied on an exchange basis Head and engines supplied on adRocket adRocket Head and engines supplied on an exchange basis FULLY TESTED BEFORE DISPATCH Oselli 1962 1957 1957 MGA MGA ROADSTER, Ä ROADSTER, Ä UPZOLK PU 6SK ,UNSPZO >OP[L ^P[O )\YN\UK` OVVK [YPT HUK JHYWL[Z ;V[HS U\[ HUK UPZOLK PU 6SK ,UNSPZO >OP[L ^P[O )\YN\UK` OVVK [YPT HUK JHYWL[Z ;V[HS U\[ HUK Both models available fully rebuilt on heritage shells toMotorsport your own specificest cosmetic spec. Prices subject to VAT Prices subject toVAT VAT Performance Performance distributor distributor Performance Performance distributor distributor Performance Performance distributor distributor Performance Performance distributor distributor Head and engines supplied on an exchangeare basis Dyno Dyno and and Rolling Rolling Road Road •• Storage Storage ••Engineering Motorsport Prices subject to Prices subject to VAT CLASSIC & supplied Head Head and and engines engines supplied supplied on on anan exchange exchange basis. Prices Prices subject subject toHead to VAT Head VAT and and engines engines supplied Head Head and onand on an engines an exchange engines exchange supplied supplied basis. basis. on Prices on Prices anan exchange subject exchange subject tobasis. to VAT basis. VAT Prices subject subject toHead to VAT Head VAT and and engines engines supplied supplied onon anportfolio, an exchange exchange basis. basis. Prices Prices subject subject to to VAT VAT IVS[ IVK` VMM YLZ[VYH[PVU I` 6ZLSSP [V V\Y ]LY` OPNO ZWLJ SLZZ [OHU TPSLZ HNV 9LZ[VYH[PVU ^VYRZ PUJS\KLK IVS[ IVK` VMM YLZ[VYH[PVU I` 6ZLSSP [V V\Y ]LY` OPNO ZWLJ SLZZ [OHU TPSLZ HNV 9LZ[VYH[PVU ^VYRZ PUJS\KLK They are basis. all individually numbered and fully documented, with aPrices personalised photographic SPORTSCARS Z[HNL LUNPUL ZWLLK 4HaKH NLHYIV_ Z\ZWLUZPVU \WNYHKLZ JOYVTL ^PYL ^OLLSZ L[J Z[HNL LUNPUL ZWLLK 4HaKH NLHYIV_ Z\ZWLUZPVU \WNYHKLZ JOYVTL ^PYL ^OLLSZ L[J £37,500 £37,500 including a unique Oselli certificate of authenticity - Please contact us for further information.
OSELLI
OS
www.oselli.com
Telephone: Telephone:(01993) (01993)849610 849610••E-mail: E-mail:david.eales@oselli.com david.eales@oselli.com T ••www.oselli.com www.oselli.com eleph T elep
Engine Enginebuilding buildingand andMachine Machine work work Engine Engine •• Servicing Servicing building building and and and and MOT Machine •• Diagnostics Diagnostics work •••Race Servicing and Servicing and Repair Repair and and MOT MOT ••tune Diagnostics Diagnosticsand andRepair Repair Ser Se Service Service Service ••Sales Sales ••Engine Engine build build Service ••Dyno Dyno testing testing •MOT •Machine Restoration Restoration •work •Storage Storage• Race preparation preparation ••Rolling Rolling Road Road tune • • Sa S Sales Sales&&Acquisitions Acquisitions •• Fabrication Fabrication Sales Sales and and& Body & Body Acquisitions Acquisitions •• Restorations Restorations •• Fabrication Fabrication •• Parts Partsand andMerchandise Body Merchandise Body •• Restorations Restorations•• Parts Partsand andMerchandise Merchandise 1962 est 1962 MGB MGB Midget/ Midget/ AA Series Dyno Dynoand andRolling Rolling Road Road •• Storage StorageDyno Dyno •• Motorsport Motorsport and andRolling RollingRoad Road ••est Storage Storage ••Series Motorsport Motorsport
OSELLI
Oselli EngineeringOselli Engineering OSELLI
MGCC MGCC_2024_05_May_O MGCC_2024_05_May_Oselli_FP.indd 1 16/04/2024 12:34 MG MG Safet Sa MG MG MG MG Safety Safety Fast Fast 3-49.indd 3-49.indd Safety 2828 Safety Fast Fast 21/09/2023 21/09/202317:43 17:43 3-49.indd 3-49.ind
CLASSIC & CLASSIC & FP_CLASSICC_7057543id5884385.pdf FP_CLASSICC_7057543id5884385.pdf 07.09.2023 07.09.2023 16:07 16:07 Engines Engines Engines Engines SPORTSCARS SPORTSCARS 1800cc 1800ccLead Leadfree free £2,800 £2,800 Standard Standardlead leadfree free £2,800 £2,800 M 1800cc 1800ccFast Fastroad roadbalanced balanced £3,200 £3,200 Standard Standardfast fastroad roadbalanced balanced £3,200 £3,200 MG M 1840cc Balanced Balanced stage stage 2E-mail: £3,650 £3,650849610 2Fast Fast road roadbalanced balanced Telephone: Telephone:1840cc (01993) (01993) 849610 849610 ••2E-mail: Telephone: Telephone: david.eales@oselli.com david.eales@oselli.com (01993) (01993) 849610Stage ••Stage E-mail: •E-mail: •2www.oselli.com www.oselli.com david.eales@oselli.com david.eales@oselli.com •£3,650 •£3,650 www.oselli.com www.oselli.com 1950cc 1950cc Standard Standard lead lead free free •Sales £3,495 1293cc 1293cc Fast Fast road stage stage 2 2tune £3,760 £3,760••Rolling Service Service••Sales Sales••Engine Engine build build •road •Dyno Dyno testing Service testing Service Restoration Sales••Engine Engine ••£3,495 Storage Storage build build••••Dyno Race Dyno Racetesting preparation testing preparation ••Restoration Restoration ••road Rolling Rolling •Road •Storage Road Storage ••Race Racepreparation preparation Roadtune tune 1950cc 1950cc Fast Fast road stage stage 2 2 ••Restoration £3,850 £3,850 1380cc 1380cc Fast Fast road road stage stage 2 2 tune £4,195 £4,195 RollingRoad 2200 2200High Highspec specfast fastroad road £6,750 £6,750 1400cc 1400ccFast Fastroad roadstage stage2 2 £5,050 £5,050 Heads Heads Heads Heads Standard Standardlead leadfree free £825 £825 Standard Standardlead leadfree free £825 £825 MGCC_2024_05_May_Oselli_FP.indd 1 MGCC_2024_05_May_Oselli_FP.indd 1 16/04/2024 12:34 16/04/2024 12:34 Stage Stage 2 2lead leadfree free MGMG £925 £925 Stage Stage2 2lead leadfree free £925 £925 MGMG Safety Safety Fast Fast 3-49.indd 3-49.indd2828 Safety Safety Fast Fast 3-49.indd 3-49.indd2828 21/09/2023 21/09/202317:43 17:43 21/09/2023 21/09/202317:43 17:43 Stage Stage3 3lead leadfree free £1,015 £1,015 Stage Stage3 3lead leadfree free07.09.2023 £1,025 £1,025 FP_CLASSICC_7057543id5884385.pdf FP_CLASSICC_7057543id5884385.pdf 07.09.202316:07 16:07 FP_CLASSICC_7057543id5884385.pdf FP_CLASSICC_7057543id5884385.pdf 07.09.2023 07.09.202316:07 16:07 Stage Stage3A 3Alead leadfree free £1,095 £1,095 Stage Stage 3A 3A lead lead free free £1,200 £1,200 1957 MGA ROADSTER, Ä UPZOLK PU 6SK ,UNSPZO >OP[L ^P[O )\YN\UK` OVVK [YPT HUK JHYWL[Z ;V[HS U\[ HUK 1957 MG Stage Stage4 4lead leadfree free £3,750 £3,750 Stage Stage 4 4lead leadfree free £3,450 £3,450 IVS[ IVK` VMM YLZ[VYH[PVU I` 6ZLSSP [V V\Y ]LY` OPNO ZWLJ SLZZ [OHU TPSLZ HNV 9LZ[VYH[PVU ^VYRZ PUJS\KLK IVS[ IVK Z[HNL LUNPUL ZWLLK 4HaKH NLHYIV_ Z\ZWLUZPVU \WNYHKLZ JOYVTL ^PYL ^OLLSZ L[J Other Other Other Other£37,500 Z[HN For • Full or Part restoration Tubular Tubularlong longbranch branchlarge largebore boreexhaust exhaust Oselli Osellicast castrocker rockercover cover Weber Webercarb carbkitkitMGB Performance Performancedistributor distributor Engines
Tubular Tubularlong longbranch branchexhaust exhaust
e
free
advic
stima e an d Oselli Oselli cast cast rocker rockercover cover tes, • Servicing and tuning pleas And adRocket e Weber Webercarb carbkitkit Midget/ A Series adRocket y Child call • EnginePerformance and gearbox rebuilds R Performancedistributor distributor icha or Engines rd B atty Head Head and and engines engines supplied supplied onon anan exchange exchange basis. Prices Prices subject subject to to VAT VAT Head Head and engines engines supplied supplied on anan exchange exchange basis. basis. Prices Prices subject subject to to VAT VAT 1800c 1800cc Lead free basis. £2,800 Standard lead free £2,800 • and Rewire andonretrimming ll 1800cc Fast road balanced £3,200 Standard fast road balanced £3,200 1800c 1840cc Balanced stage 2 £3,650 Stage•2 Fast road balanced repairs£3,650 1840c Bodywork and resprays 1950cc Standard lead free £3,495 1293cc Fast road stage 2 £3,760 1950c 1950cc Fast road stage 2 1380cc Fast road stage 2 £4,195 Engine Enginebuilding building and and Machine work •£3,850 • Servicing Servicing and and MOT MOT •• Diagnostics Diagnostics and and Repair Repair1950c • Chassis on our jig 2200 HighMachine spec fast road work £6,750 1400cc Fast road stage 2 restoration £5,050 2200 Heads Heads • ... ‘all aspects of vintage & classic car care!’ t and Sales Sales&&Acquisitions Acquisitions • • Fabrication Fabrication and and Body Body • • Restorations Restorations • • Parts Parts and and Merchandise Merchandise Standard lead free £825 Standard lead free £825 S
OSELLI
Stage 2 lead free £925 Stage 3 lead free £1,015 Stage 3A lead free £1,095 CLASSIC Stage lead& free £3,750 We have units in stock for4 immediate despatch, SPORTSCARS Other
Oselli Engineering est 1962 Stage 2 lead free
£925
St age St age St age St age
Stage 3 lead free Dyno Dynoand andRolling RollingRoad Road •• Storage Storage •• Motorsport Motorsport£1,025 Stage 3A lead free £1,200 Stage 4 lead free
£3,450
Other
outright or exchange Tubular long branch large bore exhaust
Tubular long branch exhaust
cast rocker cover Oselli cast rocker cover 1957 MGA ROADSTER, Ä UPZOLK PU 6SK ,UNSPZO >OP[L ^P[O )\YN\UK` OVVK [YPT HUK JHYWL[Z ;V[HS U\[ HUK 1957Oselli MGA ROADSTER, Ä UPZOLK PU 6SK ,UNSPZO >OP[L ^P[O )\YN\UK` OVVK [YPT HUK JHYWL[Z ;V[HS U\[ HUK Weber carb kit Weber carb kit Telephone: Telephone: (01993) (01993) 849610 849610 • • E-mail: E-mail: david.eales@oselli.com david.eales@oselli.com ••www.oselli.com www.oselli.com Performance distributor Performance distributor IVS[ IVK` VMM YLZ[VYH[PVU I` 6ZLSSP [V V\Y ]LY` OPNO ZWLJ SLZZ [OHU TPSLZ HNV 9LZ[VYH[PVU ^VYRZ PUJS\KLK IVS[ IVK` VMM YLZ[VYH[PVU I` 6ZLSSP [V V\Y ]LY` OPNO ZWLJ SLZZ [OHU TPSLZ HNV 9LZ[VYH[PVU ^VYRZ PUJS\KLK Head and engines supplied on an exchange basis. Prices subject to VAT Head and engines supplied on an exchange basis. Prices subject to VAT He ad Service Service••Sales Sales••Engine Enginebuild build •Dyno Dynotesting testing••Restoration Restoration••Storage Storage••Race Race preparation preparation••Rolling RollingRoad Roadtune tune Z[HNL LUNPUL ZWLLK 4HaKH NLHYIV_ Z\ZWLUZPVU \WNYHKLZ JOYVTL ^PYL ^OLLSZ L[J • Z[HNL LUNPUL ZWLLK 4HaKH NLHYIV_ Z\ZWLUZPVU \WNYHKLZ JOYVTL ^PYL ^OLLSZ L[J £37,500 £37,500
an
Engine building and Machine work • Servicing and MOT • Diagnostics and Repair Engin Sales & Acquisitions • Fabrication and Body • Restorations • Parts and Sales Merchandise & Dyno and Rolling Road • Storage • Motorsport
MGB
MGB Midget/ A Series
MGCC_2024_05_May_Oselli_FP.indd 1 MG MG Safety Safety Fast Fast 3-49.indd 3-49.indd2828
Midget/ A Series
16/04/2024 12:34 21/09/2023 21/09/202317:43 17:43
FP_CLASSICC_7057543id5884385.pdf FP_CLASSICC_7057543id5884385.pdf 07.09.2023 07.09.2023 16:07 16:07
near Guildfordeleph to the south E-mail: david.eales@oselli.com T • www.oselli.com Engines Telephone: (01993) 849610 •Engines Engines Located Engineswest of London Service Service • Sales •£2,800 Engine build • Dyno testing •lead Restoration • Race preparation • Rolling • Ser Sa 1800cc Lead free 1800cc Lead free Standard free • Storage £2,800 £2,800 Standard leadRoad freetune £2,800 1800cc Fast road balanced £3,200 1800cc Fast road Standard balanced fast road balanced£3,200 £3,200 Standard fast road balanced £3,200 1840cc Balanced stage 2 £3,650 1840cc Balanced Stage stage 2 Fast 2 road balanced £3,650 £3,650 Stage 2 Fast road balanced £3,650 1950cc Standard lead free £3,495 1950cc Standard 1293cc lead free Fast road stage 2 £3,495 £3,760 1293cc Fast road stage 2 £3,760 1950cc Fast road stage 2 £3,850 1950cc Fast road 1380cc stageFast 2 road stage 2 £3,850 FP_CLASSICC_7057543id5884385.pdf £4,195 1380cc Fast road16:07 stage 2 £4,195 07.09.2023 2200 High spec fast road £6,750 2200 High spec1400cc fast road Fast road stage 2 £6,750 £5,050 1400cc Fast road stage 2 £5,050 Heads Heads Heads Heads Standard lead free £825 Standard lead free Standard lead free £825 £825 Standard lead free £825 Stage 2 lead free £925 Stage 2 lead free Stage 2 lead free £925 £925 Stage 2 lead free £925 Stage 3 lead free £1,015 Stage 3 lead free Stage 3 lead free £1,015 £1,025 Stage 3 lead free £1,025 Stage 3A lead free £1,095 Stage 3A lead free Stage 3A lead free £1,095 £1,200 Stage 3A lead free £1,200 Stage 4 lead free £3,750 Stage 4 lead free Stage 4 lead free £3,750 Stage 4 lead free £3,450 £3,450 Other Other Other Other MG MG Safety Fast 3-49.indd Safety 28
MG Safet Fast 21/09/2023 17:43 3-49.indd
Tubular long branch large bore exhaust Tubular long branch large Tubular borelong exhaust branch exhaust Tubular long branch exhaust Oselli cast rocker cover Oselli cast rockerOselli covercast rocker cover Oselli cast rocker cover Weber carb kit Weber carb kit Weber carb kit Weber carb kit distributor Performance distributor Performance distributor Performance distributor 1957Performance MGA ROADSTER, Ä UPZOLK PU 6SK ,UNSPZO >OP[L ^P[O )\YN\UK` OVVK [YPT HUK JHYWL[Z ;V[HS U\[ HUK
Head and engines supplied on an exchange basis. Prices subject toHead VAT and engines supplied Head and on an engines exchange supplied basis.on Prices an exchange subject tobasis. VATPrices subject toHead VAT and engines supplied on an exchange basis. Prices subject to VAT
IVS[ IVK` VMM YLZ[VYH[PVU I` 6ZLSSP [V V\Y ]LY` OPNO ZWLJ SLZZ [OHU TPSLZ HNV 9LZ[VYH[PVU ^VYRZ PUJS\KLK Z[HNL LUNPUL ZWLLK 4HaKH NLHYIV_ Z\ZWLUZPVU \WNYHKLZ JOYVTL ^PYL ^OLLSZ L[J £37,500
Engine building and Machine workEngine • Servicing building and and MOT Machine • Diagnostics work • Servicing and Repair and MOT • Diagnostics and Repair Sales & Acquisitions • FabricationSales and & Body Acquisitions • Restorations • Fabrication • Parts and Merchandise Body • Restorations • Parts and Merchandise Dyno and Rolling Road • Storage Dyno • Motorsport and Rolling Road • StorageA• Series Motorsport MGB Midget/ 1800cc Lead free
Engines
£2,800
Standard lead free
Engines
£2,800
BROWN & GAMMONS FIRST FOR EVERYTHING MG! MG SALES
MG WORKSHOP
CLASSIC MG PARTS
• Service & MoT • Accident repair • All warranty & insurance work • Full Diagnostic Analysis • Performance Upgrades • Classic & Modern MAIL ORDER • Accessory Fitting MGs in stock WORLDWIDE • Part exchanges • Over 25,000 lines in stock welcome • Ongoing remanufacturing • Top quality Classic programme MGs always wanted • Approved British • Phone or see our Motor Heritage website for latest stockist stock
MG SERVICE • Bodywork & AFTERSALES • Paintshop
• Tyre fitting on site
MODERN MG PARTS
• Wheel Balancing (inc wire wheels) • Full or Part restorations • All service parts
Authorised MG centre • Car Storage for MG Servicing & Parts
• Body panels available to order
W W W. U K M G PA R T S . C O M Car Sales, Parts Sales & Workshop Fax: 01462 896167 sales@ukmgparts.com 18 High Street, Baldock, Herts, SG7 6AS Established 1977
01462 490049
1967 MGB
The bodywork was restored using BMH panels, all finished off with the vibrant Tartan Red (RD9) it still sports now and the B-series head and block from the GT were rebuilt. The extensive restoration was carried out over two years and Peter had it MOT’d in the spring of 1998. In search of more power in 2011, he fitted an Oselli Stage 2 unleaded cylinder head, Kent Fast Road camshaft and a 123 electronic distributor. Gaz dampers were also fitted as well as polyurethane bushes and a thicker ¾-inch front anti-roll bar to the 1970’s front suspension. This new set-up was fully exploited with Peter taking in tours all over Europe – venturing into the alpine passes where possible. Before this project had even started, back in the early Nineties, he remembers drooling over a V8 MGB and the moment had stuck with him. “Visiting Former Glory, when looking for a suitable car, I noticed a beautiful MGB roadster finished in Old English White with chrome wire wheels. Under the bonnet was an incredible Rover V8. This was the moment I realised my ultimate 18 MGE DECEMBER 2026
final 014-27 Peter Ward MGB V8 December 26.indd 18
MGB would have a Rover V8 engine.” Fitting a V8 to an early MGB isn’t a straight swap, compared to the late rubber-bumper Bs but, thankfully, Peter had friends in the know. “My real inspiration was Turgay Ali, known as
Togs, at the ESMGOC. He had several V8-powered MGBs. In 2021 he called after seeing an advert in the MG Car Club magazine for two Rover V8 engines, along with an engine hoist for £150. This was the catalyst and I www.mgenthusiast.com
13/10/2026 17:16
1967 MGB
THIS WAS THE MOMENT I REALISED MY ULTIMATE MGB WOULD HAVE A ROVER V8 ENGINE. www.mgenthusiast.com
final 014-27 Peter Ward MGB V8 December 26.indd 19
MGE DECEMBER 2026 19
13/10/2026 17:16
1967 MGB
drove to Somerset to collect. I’d always wanted to rebuild a Rover V8 engine and now I had two.” What a bargain. Over the summer of 2021 the project was planned. “I had some very useful reading material such as Roger Williams’ definitive guide How to give your MGB V8 Power. I also had some excellent material by Roger Parker and information available on Ken Costello’s website.” Just before his 70th birthday, Peter started gathering the materials and components required. “I realised a lot of the work would be quite physical. The sooner I could complete these tasks the better, as my knees aren’t what they used to be.” In 2022 both V8s were stripped, cleaned and inspected. “Of the two, 20 MGE DECEMBER 2026
final 014-27 Peter Ward MGB V8 December 26.indd 20
I chose to re-build the 3.5 highcompression engine, used in the Rover SD1 Vitesse. Two of the bores showed severe scoring from broken piston rings which had broken up and somehow passed the piston and ended up getting compressed into the face of the cylinder heads on both banks.” Luckily, the crankshaft and con-rods, on inspection, were found to be in good condition so could be re-used. Peter only needed to polish the bearing journal faces and fit new mains and big end bearings. The cylinder block needed to be rebored by 0.020” and the cylinder heads needed attention too, so the best components were taken to Baldyne Engineering in Bromley. He had previous experience with this family-run business
back in the Seventies. “To visit their premises is quite an experience.” He was really pleased with the work carried out. “I had new valve guides fitted to suit later Land Rover ‘top hat’ valve stem oil seals. The heads were skimmed so I could use the later type composite head gaskets, which are thicker than the OE.” Prior to shell modification, a suitable gearbox was needed to deal with the power of the V8, as Peter explains: “In the early days of V8 conversions choice was somewhat limited. The factorydesigned V8 MGB GTs used a modified version of the MGB four-synchro gearbox with overdrive working on fourth gear only. Most V8 conversions used either an LT77 five-speed gearbox, as used in the Rover SD1, or the later www.mgenthusiast.com
13/10/2026 17:17
1967 MGB
www.mgenthusiast.com
final 014-27 Peter Ward MGB V8 December 26.indd 21
MGE DECEMBER 2026 21
13/10/2026 17:17
1967 MGB
TWO OF THE BORES SHOWED SEVERE SCORING FROM BROKEN PISTON RINGS WHICH HAD BROKEN UP…
R380 design. Now there are several other choices including the Ford Type 9, Tremec T5 and the very popular and compact Mazda MX5 five-speed gearbox.” It was the latter he opted for, supplied as a complete conversion kit by Vitesse Conversions of Hinkley, Leicestershire. “Their kit is extremely comprehensive, including every single part necessary.” It took Peter 18 months to source the majority of new components, along with several second-hand components such as the front suspension crossmember and steering rack. “The most costly items were the new Mazda 22 MGE DECEMBER 2026
final 014-27 Peter Ward MGB V8 December 26.indd 22
gearbox, the Edelbrock AVS2 50 CFM carburettor, Offenhauser dual-port inlet manifold and the complete RV8 stainless steel exhaust system which, overall, represented over half the cost of the project.” Thankfully, he had a good B-series engine and gearbox to sell in order to offset the cost. The engine build commenced in January 2023, starting with the cylinder heads and the 16 valves that needed lapping in. “The crankshaft and con-rods were thoroughly cleaned and checked. It is surprising how long these processes take. They came in with acceptable
tolerances compared with the original manufacturer specifications.” Fitting the new pistons to the connecting rods proved entertaining. “The gudgeon pins are a tight press fit into the connecting rod, requiring the heating of the small end prior to their fitment.” He made a wooden jig to hold the inverted new pistons, then swiftly fitted the pin into the heated con-rod before it could lock. “You only get one chance. Fortunately, I managed to complete all eight pistons and rods without mishap.” Moving to the ‘fun’ bit, the block was mounted on an engine stand, new core www.mgenthusiast.com
13/10/2026 17:17
1967 MGB
www.mgenthusiast.com
final 014-27 Peter Ward MGB V8 December 26.indd 23
MGE DECEMBER 2026 23
13/10/2026 17:17
1967 MGB
plugs fitted and the block was painted using high temperature Simoniz silver engine paint, prior to the crank being fitted and checked for free movement. Liberal coats of assembly lubricant were used as it would be several months before the engine would be started. A new standard profile SD1 camshaft was fitted to the newly installed bearings. Peter opted for the Cloyes design duplex timing chain. “This is a better design than the original Rover version,” he added. The two cylinder heads were fitted, along with new hydraulic tappets. “The pre-load was checked on each tappet, to make sure it was within OE tolerance. The gap between the rocker and the valve top is taken up by the hydraulic tappet using engine oil pressure. With no clearance they run very quietly, unlike the old B-series engines which can suffer badly from noisy tappets.” The front cover, which houses the new oil pump, distributor drive, rocker covers and flywheel was fitted. This was as far as he could build up the engine until it was installed but first the engine bay would need to be modified. Instead of ploughing into the bodywork modifications, he decided to enjoy a final few months with B-series 24 MGE DECEMBER 2026
final 014-27 Peter Ward MGB V8 December 26.indd 24
power over the spring of 2023, before pulling the engine and box out in June. “I had expected the next stage to be quite quick and committed myself to attending several local car shows throughout the summer, feeling confident the build wouldn’t take long.” Things didn’t quite pan out as he’d hoped. Once the engine and gearbox had been removed, with help from his neighbour, Bruce, the engine bay was stripped bare, along with the pedal box and carpets, as modifications to the bulkhead were needed to clear the
cylinder heads. “I started by cutting out all the unwanted metalwork. It was quite a daunting task to take an air saw and angle grinder to the bodywork of your beloved machine". Work took considerably longer than I had anticipated. I was using a number of Heritage parts from the MGB and RV8 models and these involved quite a lot of fettling to get them to fit.” Modifications included moving the radiator forward by approximately 150mm and fitment of the later style radiator mounts, as well as cutting out www.mgenthusiast.com
13/10/2026 17:17
T H E 7 S E AT
PANORAMIC ROOF UP TO 62 MILES EV RANGE* UP TO 2,093 LITRES OF BOOT SPACE** 12.3” HD DUAL SCREENS
*Figures provided are calculated under test conditions. These figures are for comparative purposes only and may not reflect real-life driving results. Actual figures may vary depending on various factors such as weather conditions, driving styles, vehicle load, and accessories fitted post-registration. **With 2nd and 3rd rows folded. DISCOVER MORE
Auto Heritage -Preserving the best in motoring history
~~~ Get Ready for Christmas ~~~
Classic car Christmas cards, 2027 MG wall calendar, “coffee table” books and more
Pack of 10 assorted classic car Christmas cards for only £12.99
Random pack of 10 assorted cards from the selection shown above. Inside words on all cards reads Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. All cards measure 17.5 x 12 cms. Envelopes included.
Product code: CC88 ~ Only £12.99
NEW
2027 Classic MG wall calendar only £7.99
Product code: MG27
The calendar features a different high-quality photo each month, along with all UK bank holidays and plenty of space for personal information. Measures 42 x 30 cms when hung
NEW
Britain’s Greatest Cars (hardback “coffee table” books)
Two, half-size, hardback, “coffee-table” books featuring beautiful contemporary photos of more than 250 of the greatest British cars of the 20th Century 1920s - 1950s
1960s - 1990s
Superb motoring art in its finest form SPECIAL PRICE OFFER: Purchase both books together for only £28.98 (SAVING £5) Product code: PB99
Product code: PB25 ~ Only £16.99
Product code: PB59 ~ Only £16.99
~~~ Place your order today ~~~
Go to: www.auto-heritage.co.uk or call 01625-520322 (UK P&P only £3.95)
1967 MGB apertures to accommodate new RV8style exhaust headers in the inner wings and reinforcing them. “My biggest concern was welding in the new engine mountings, which would take the full weight and stresses of the V8.” That said, he reports the combined V8 and Mazda 5-speed gearbox are 80lb lighter than the units removed. Summer shows were forgotten, with bodywork taking several months before attention could be turned to fitting a complete, late rubber-bumper front cross-member. “It’s necessary to allow the V8 steering arrangement using the later steering rack.” Peter fabricated a special steering column to allow the early style of dashboard and instruments to be used. Prior to painting the engine bay, a niggling voice in his head suggested test-fitting the spare V8 engine. “Just as well I did, as I needed to make further adjustments where the exhaust headers would exit the inner wings.” Very slight adjustments were also needed to the left-hand side of the tunnel. By October 2023 the engine and gearbox had been fitted. “Bruce helped again and, between us, we managed to negotiate the engine and gearbox into the car. What a relief…t wasn’t easy as the exhaust headers can’t be fitted after the engine has been installed. They have to slide into the appropriate holes made in the inner wings, whilst the engine is dropped into place.” He agrees that a third pair of hands would have helped. He spent the next few weeks fitting all the engine controls, modifying
www.mgenthusiast.com
final 014-27 Peter Ward MGB V8 December 26.indd 27
the wiring to suit. He future-proofed the speedometer by opting for a programmable electronic replacement, instead of recalibrating the original Smiths gauge, which hooks into the Mazda gearbox’s electronic sensor via a shielded cable. “Initially I retained the existing 3.9:1 differential but later changed it to the higher-geared 3.07:1 final drive.” The brakes were upgraded to RV8 spec., with four-pot calipers on vented front discs and servo assistance. A month later the beast was ready to run for the first time, after priming the oil pump to ensure the engine had sufficient oil pressure. “Bruce was armed with a fire extinguisher. The engine cranked but… nothing. We tried several times, over and over, and then, all of a sudden, an almighty cough and bang and the engine sprung into life.” It
showed good oil pressure and no visible leaks, which was a huge relef," Peter told us. After some finishing touches he took the now burbling MGB for an MOT, just a few days before Christmas, which it passed with no advisories. With several years now using V8 power, we wondered how Peter felt about the conversion. “What an amazing transformation. It is like driving a completely different car. Fantastic noise and huge amounts of torque make normal driving effortless. I no longer notice hills and can drive everywhere in top gear.” Tracking the car’s fuel economy has also brought some surprising results. “On a recent trip to Belgium it managed 35.9mpg, which is better than I ever got on the B-series. It was definitely worth every penny, and all the hard work too.”
MGE DECEMBER 2026 27
13/10/2026 17:17
C H R I ST M A S G I F T G U I D E
Our top Christmas gifts for MG enthusiasts
Whether you spend their weekends fettling an MGB, cherish an MGA, love a Z Car or have a soft spot for the Cyberster, there are plenty of ways to give Christmas an MG theme this year – here are our top gifts from £2.75 to £200… WORDS: CRAIG CHEETHAM MGCC herringbone cap £14.00 https://shop.mgcc.co.uk A wool-and-herringbone baseball-style cap with a suedette peak, this is a useful winter-to-spring accessory for an MG owner who spends time outdoors at shows and events. The traditional fabric gives it a more classic appearance than a brightly branded sports cap, while the MG Car Club connection keeps it firmly on theme. A club lapel pin is included, adding a little extra value. The cap is available in different options, so check the current size and colour details before ordering. It would suit somebody who prefers subtle motoring merchandise to conspicuous logos.
MG Top Trumps £5.00 https://shop.mgcc.co.uk This specially commissioned MG Car Club edition of Top Trumps features 30 MGs spanning the marque’s history, from its earliest sporting models through to more modern cars such as the MG6, MG3 and MG GS. It also includes a bonus card featuring Old Number One, the famous early MG competition car. It’s an inexpensive stocking filler that gives the recipient something to play with over Christmas, while providing an excuse to debate which MG deserves top honours. It’s particularly suitable for families with several generations of enthusiasts.
28 MGE DECEMBER 2026
final 028-35 Christmas Gift Guide December 26.indd 28
www.mgenthusiast.com
13/10/2026 17:18
C H R I ST M A S G I F T G U I D E
‘Safety Fast!’ window sticker £2.75 https://shop.mgcc.co.uk Safety Fast! is one of the best-known slogans associated with MG, making this inexpensive sticker a suitably understated present for a committed marque enthusiast. Available with green or white lettering on a transparent background, it measures 230mm by 50mm and can be used on suitable vehicle glass. It could also be a nice finishing touch for a garage window or workshop display. At less than the price of a coffee and cake stop on a classic-car run, it’s an easy addition to a collection of smaller MG-themed gifts.
MGCC insulated cooler bag £10.00 https://shop.mgcc.co.uk This compact, four-litre insulated bag is designed for carrying lunch, drinks or snacks, making it a practical companion for classic-car outings. It comes in black with a green MG Car Club logo, with a zipped interior, side pockets and a carrying strap. Measuring approximately 20 by 14 by 13cm, it should be easy to tuck into the boot of an MGB, Midget or modern MG without sacrificing too much luggage space. It isn’t the most glamorous gift on this list, but it’s the sort of thing that can be used repeatedly throughout the summer touring season.
MGA Register leather key fob £6.50 https://shop.mgcc.co.uk A small, practical present for somebody who owns an MGA or simply appreciates the model. This original-style leather key fob is designed to complement the car’s upholstery, with a rivet securing the key in place. It’s a useful alternative to the generic plastic key rings found in most accessory shops, and makes a thoughtful addition to a larger present. The MGA Register also offers other memorabilia, so there’s scope to put together a themed gift without spending a fortune.
www.mgenthusiast.com
final 028-35 Christmas Gift Guide December 26.indd 29
MGE DECEMBER 2026 29
14/10/2026 11:48
C H R I ST M A S G I F T G U I D E
MGCC lapel pin in presentation box £4.50 https://shop.mgcc.co.uk This boxed MG Car Club lapel pin is a smart little gift for somebody who likes to wear their enthusiasm rather than merely talk about it. Finished in chrome with burgundy and Old English White detailing, it has a traditional look that suits the marque’s sporting heritage. The presentation box makes it feel more considered than a loose badge, while its modest price leaves room in the Christmas budget for something else. It’s an especially good choice for an MGCC member who attends meetings, shows and club events throughout the year.
Chipex Paint Chip Repair System £39.95-£44.95 https://chipex.co.uk If you’ve got some annoying stonechips on your bonnet but don’t want to fork out for a whole panel to be resprayed, then the Chipex Paint Chip Repair System may well be the answer – if you’re careful and you follow the instructions carefully, then you could achieve bodyshop repair standards at home – a perfect task for the festive break. Three kits are available: Lite, Plus and Pro. Lite includes 10ml of custom-mixed paint, 30ml of blending solution, 10ml of polish and four brushes. Plus adds another 10ml of paint and an extra 65ml of polish, while Pro gets you 30ml of paint, 60ml of blending solution and 10 brushes. Each set also includes a paint wipe cloth, microfibre and nitrile gloves. Enter your reg number on the website and it’ll match the colour code.
30 MGE DECEMBER 2026
final 028-35 Christmas Gift Guide December 26.indd 30
Midget and Sprite workshop manual £35.00 https://mgshop.co.uk/shop/ For somebody who would rather spend Boxing Day in the garage than in front of the television, a proper workshop manual is a useful gift. The MG Owners Club Shop lists a Midget/Sprite workshop manual for £35, aimed at owners who want technical reference material for maintaining and repairing these closely related British sports cars. Before buying, check that the manual covers the recipient’s particular model and year, especially if their car has been modified. It’s a more practical present than decorative memorabilia and could earn its keep long after the Christmas wrapping has been cleared away.
www.mgenthusiast.com
13/10/2026 17:19
C H R I ST M A S G I F T G U I D E ZED25 merchandise £2.50- £35.00 https://Zed25.co.uk There’s still time to get your hands on some of the fantastic merchandise created for the ZED25 event that marked the 25th anniversary of the MG Z-Cars, with prices ranging from pocket money items such as key rings, air fresheners and and stickers at £2.50 and £3.50, all the way up to a merchandise ‘bundle’ priced at £35.00, which includes a t-shirt, mug, notebook, keyring and stickers. You can also buy the t-shirts separately for £20 and the mugs for £8.50. Supplies are limited and the merch is stylishly designed and contemporary, so get in there quickly while it’s still available to order.
Personalised MG wooden pizza cutter £6.95 https://mgshop.co.uk/shop/ Here’s something a little different, available from the MG Owners Club Shop. Your very own pizza cutter, complete with name engraved and the MG logo on the front – a quirky and personalised stocking filler.
The Complete Book of Classic MG Cars £35.00 https://mgshop.co.uk/shop/ Written by Ross Alkureishi, this book is a good choice for somebody whose interest in MG extends beyond the car currently sitting in their garage. It offers an illustrated overview of the marque’s classic output, making it suitable for dipping into as well as reading more thoroughly. It’s particularly appealing to enthusiasts who enjoy comparing generations of MG sports cars and saloons, or who want a reference book to keep alongside their workshop literature. At £35, it occupies a useful middle ground between a stocking filler and a premium coffee-table publication.
www.mgenthusiast.com
final 028-35 Christmas Gift Guide December 26.indd 31
MGE DECEMBER 2026 31
13/10/2026 17:19
C H R I ST M A S G I F T G U I D E
Oxford Diecast MG Midget MkIII £9.99 https://www.oxforddiecast.co.uk/ This small-scale MG Midget is an affordable way to put a classic Abingdon sports car on a desk, bookshelf or model-car display. The Oxford Diecast model is finished in Blaze Orange and produced at 1:76 scale, so it takes up very little room and can sit comfortably alongside other British classics. It’s a good stocking filler for somebody who owns a real Midget, particularly if the colour brings back memories of a car they once had.
MG Heritage T-shirt £22.50 https://shop.mg.co.uk An official MG Heritage T-shirt is a straightforward choice for someone who wants to show their enthusiasm without wearing a full club uniform. The official MG shop’s range gives you a choice of branded clothing and accessories, making it worth checking the available sizes and designs before settling on a particular shirt. It’s a useful present for casual wear, road trips and summer shows, and it can be paired with a cap or key ring if you want to build a larger gift. Remember to check the sizing guide before ordering.
Syd Enever: The MG Man £35.00 https://www.herridgeandsons.com/syd-enever-themg-man Syd Enever played a significant role in MG’s engineering development, helping shape some of the marque’s most memorable sports cars and competition machines. This book – written by our very own David Knowles – draws on interviews, archival material and decades of research to explore his contribution, including work associated with MG’s record-breaking EX cars and the MGA. It offers a different perspective from another model-by-model history, concentrating instead on the person behind the engineering. It’s a particularly thoughtful gift for an enthusiast who enjoys understanding how MG’s cars were developed.
32 MGE DECEMBER 2026
final 028-35 Christmas Gift Guide December 26.indd 32
www.mgenthusiast.com
13/10/2026 17:19
C H R I ST M A S G I F T G U I D E
Oxford Diecast MG Magnette police car £28.95 https://www.oxforddiecast.co.uk/ A police-liveried MG Magnette makes a more unusual addition to a model-MG collection than another standard roadster. This Oxford Diecast 1:43-scale model captures the period saloon in miniature, combining MG interest with a slice of British police-vehicle history. It’s a particularly good option for somebody whose tastes extend to the marque’s four-door cars rather than focusing solely on the sports models. The larger scale gives it more display presence than a pocket-sized model, while keeping the price below £30.
Autoglym Deluxe Exterior Collection £79.99 https://halfords.com This comprehensive Deluxe Exterior Collection 10-Piece Kit features some of Autoglym’s best loved products, including Super Resin Polish, Magma, Foaming Car Wash and Rapid Ceramic Spray. When used together, these products leave a stunning finish, and one that the owner can be proud of. Premium accessories are included to help you achieve car care perfection and it all comes in an exclusive Autoglym carry case.
MGF/TF bauble £10.00 https://m-g-car-club-limited-the. sumupstore.com/products Decorate your tree this year with your own 2.5-inch diameter bauble with the MGF Register logo on one side and a photo of your car, dog, cat, family or whatever you choose on the other side. Please email your photo to: regalia@ mgccmgfregister.org after purchasing along with the order number to enable the bauble to be personalised.
www.mgenthusiast.com
final 028-35 Christmas Gift Guide December 26.indd 33
MGE DECEMBER 2026 33
13/10/2026 17:19
C H R I ST M A S G I F T G U I D E Halfords Advanced 121-piece Mobile Car Maintenance Tool Kit £200 https://halfords.com Designed for automotive jobs, this Advanced set from Halfords offers everything you might need for roadside repairs. The Halfords Advanced 100 tooth ratchet provides a lower swing arc, which means you need just 3.6 degrees of movement before the next tooth is engaged. Combined with the low-profile head design, it is the perfect choice for working in confined spaces. The long handle gives you better access and increased leverage, and the quick-release button allows sockets to be easily detached. The Halfords Advanced combination spanners are made from durable chrome alloy steel, and every size incorporates Surface Drive Plus on the open end. This feature allows you to slide the spanner into position from the side of the fastener, but grips the flat sides of the fastener to deliver 28% more torque before rounding. The box end is angled at 15 degrees to provide easier access for hard-to-reach fixings. The Mobile Car Maintenance Tool Kit also includes hex and security torx bits for non-bolt style fixings, with a 10mm-wide shaft section for durability. Pliers, screwdrivers and a ball pein hammer complete the set, to make sure you’re prepared for almost any job on your vehicle. All of these tools are housed in a sturdy metal toolbox with three ball bearing drawers, and a latched top section to prevent the drawers from opening.
Halfords Advanced Advent Calendar £30.00 https://halfords.com Available for just £30, this is the dream advent calendar for DIY enthusiasts and budding beginners alike. Selling out two years in a row, DIY-lovers will need to move quickly to snag this year’s most handy advent calendar. Each of the 24 doors reveals a piece of a premium socket set, ideal for everyday jobs, household fixes, and hands-on projects. A durable blowmoulded case is included, and what’s more, each piece is backed by the Halfords Lifetime Quality Guarantee, offering peace of mind for anyone delving into DIY this Christmas.
MG Z Cars by Craig Cheetham £14.39 https://www.amberley-books.com/discoverbooks/mg-z-cars.html Not every MG enthusiast is devoted exclusively to chrome bumpers and wire wheels. This book focuses on the Z-series generation, including the MG ZR, ZS and ZT, which gave the marque a distinctive sporting identity in the early 2000s. It’s a fitting present for somebody who remembers these cars from new, owns one today or believes they deserve more recognition as modern classics. At £14.39, it’s also an accessible way to introduce a younger enthusiast to an important chapter in MG’s more recent history. 34 MGE DECEMBER 2026
final 028-35 Christmas Gift Guide December 26.indd 34
www.mgenthusiast.com
13/10/2026 17:20
C H R I ST M A S G I F T G U I D E
MG crystal cufflinks and pin set £46.50 https://shop.mg.co.uk For an MG fan who already has plenty of books, tools and model cars, this official crystal cufflinks and pin set offers something a little different. Priced at £46.50, it’s a more substantial gift that would suit somebody who wears a shirt and jacket for work, special occasions or club dinners. The MG branding keeps the connection to the marque without turning the present into an overtly motoringthemed novelty. It’s also a good option when you’re buying for someone whose garage is already full and whose shelves have run out of space.
MG Z Car build data certificate £20.00 https://shop.mgroverevents.co.uk/product/factory-recordbuild-data-certificate If you want something to show off alongside your MG Z Car, then the team at MG Rover Events can now produce a build data certificate pulled from original factory records. At £20 per digital copy or £25 per digital and print, it’s a nice thing to keep with your car’s history file, or to frame and display with it at shows. It’s available for owners of all ZR, ZS, ZT and ZT-T models.
MGF and TF: The Best of Safety Fast! £18.00 https://shop.mgcc.co.uk This 114-page colour bookazine gathers together articles from Safety Fast!, the MG Car Club’s magazine, covering the MGF and TF. Its mix of historical, technical and general features makes it a particularly relevant choice for owners who want to learn more about the midengined roadsters and their place in MG history. It should also appeal to anyone who enjoys the magazine format and prefers a collection of articles to a conventional single-author history. It’s a nicely focused gift for somebody who has recently bought an MGF or TF and is getting to know the model.
www.mgenthusiast.com
final 028-35 Christmas Gift Guide December 26.indd 35
MGE DECEMBER 2026 35
13/10/2026 17:20
2003 MG ZT+
Owned from new…
Mark Wroe bought his MG ZT+ 1.8T in 2003, when it was a brand-new model. More than two decades later, it has covered less than 40,000 miles and remains almost exactly as it left Longbridge WORDS AND PHOTOS: CRAIG CHEETHAM
36 MGE DECEMBER 2026
final 036-47 Mark Wroe ZT December 26.indd 36
www.mgenthusiast.com
13/10/2026 17:20
2003 MG ZT+
www.mgenthusiast.com
final 036-47 Mark Wroe ZT December 26.indd 37
MGE DECEMBER 2026 37
13/10/2026 17:20
2003 MG ZT+
hen Mark Wroe went to buy his MG ZT, he had no reason to think he was buying a future classic. He chose the ZT when he opted out of his company car scheme and handed back his Alfa Romeo 156. Taking the cash alternative from his employer meant he could buy the MG outright. 23 years later, it’s still with him, still in his hometown of Coventry and still wearing the same Anthracite paintwork that first caught his attention in an MG Rover press photograph. It was a dealer pre-registered car with just 16 delivery miles when he bought it and today has covered fewer than 40,000 miles. It has been loved and cherished from the day he drove it off the forecourt at Faraday MG Rover in Newbury, Berks. During his long ownership, the car has never been restored and no major modifications have been carried out because there was never any need for either. Apart from a stainless-steel exhaust, the MG remains mechanically standard. He has gone to considerable
W
38 MGE DECEMBER 2026
final 036-47 Mark Wroe ZT December 26.indd 38
lengths to retain the original specification, including the genuine MG Rover accessories and even the Faraday MG Rover dealer number plates and rear window sticker. His interest in MGs went back
considerably further than the ZT. His first exposure to the Octagon was an MGB GT bought while he was at university in 1988. The car turned out to have an interesting Coventry connection of its own. www.mgenthusiast.com
13/10/2026 17:21
2003 MG ZT+
www.mgenthusiast.com
final 036-47 Mark Wroe ZT December 26.indd 39
MGE DECEMBER 2026 39
13/10/2026 17:21
2003 MG ZT+
“It was a 1975 P-registration car with all the factory options fitted at the time: tinted glass, overdrive, headrests and chrome Rostyle wheels,” says Mark. “I did some research on it and found it was first registered to Jaguar Cars, Browns Lane, Coventry, as a management car.” The GT’s history appealed to him because it fitted his own background. Mark has always lived in Coventry, the MGB had been registered there and it had apparently never moved far from the area. He even had a theory about why such a well-equipped MGB had been ordered in the first place. “Maybe, as part of the British Leyland group, it was a call from Coventry to Abingdon to say my new company car is on order, please make sure it has all the options,” he says. The MGB GT was followed by an MG Metro in the 1990s, which Mark used as an everyday car. He had the engine properly tuned by a specialist and remembers the little Metro as being particularly enjoyable to drive. By the time the ZT came along there was already a fair amount of MG history influencing his choice. The ZT had made an impression 40 MGE DECEMBER 2026
final 036-47 Mark Wroe ZT December 26.indd 40
before he had even seen one in a showroom. MG Rover released a factory press photograph of the forthcoming car, in Anthracite Metallic, back in 2001 and that image was enough to convince Mark that he wanted one. “I chose the MG ZT having seen the factory press release photograph titled:
‘MG Project Code X10’ in Anthracite, prior to the Zed car range going on sale, and immediately decided I wanted an MG ZT and it would be in that colour,” he says. “It was a picture painting a thousand words.” The car he eventually bought was a 2003 MG ZT+ 1.8T with the fivespeed manual gearbox and 160bhp www.mgenthusiast.com
13/10/2026 17:21
2003 MG ZT+
www.mgenthusiast.com
final 036-47 Mark Wroe ZT December 26.indd 41
MGE DECEMBER 2026 41
13/10/2026 17:21
2003 MG ZT+
turbocharged engine. It was sold by Faraday MG Rover in Newbury and had already been registered by the dealer, although it had covered only 16 delivery miles. The timing of the purchase has also given Mark a particularly memorable piece of ownership history. He completed the deal on the weekend before the 2003 Rugby World Cup Final, when England beat Australia, then returned to collect the car the following weekend. “I did the deal with Faraday MG Rover in Newbury the weekend prior to the 2003 Rugby World Cup,” he explains. “The following weekend, the day of the Rugby World Cup, it was an early Saturday morning start to watch England lift the trophy, then off to collect my MG ZT. For a fan of both rugby and MGs, it was quite a memorable day.” He had chosen the 1.8T because it suited what he wanted from the ZT and, more than two decades later, the specification remains unchanged apart from the exhaust. The car still produces its original 160bhp and retains its standard 42 MGE DECEMBER 2026
final 036-47 Mark Wroe ZT December 26.indd 42
www.mgenthusiast.com
14/10/2026 12:40
SHEPPERTON, MIDDLESEX TEL:TEL: 01932 241843 / 07836 281493 SHEPPERTON, SURREY 07836 281493 WWW.CHURCHSQUAREAUTOS.COM WWW.CHURCHSQUAREAUTOS.COM EMAIL: MGSALES@CHURCHSQUAREAUTOS.COM EMAIL: MGSALES@CHURCHSQUAREAUTOS.COMoror USEDMGTF@GMAIL.COM USEDMGTF@GMAIL.COM
MG MGB Roadster, Excellent Example
Just arrived. Here I offer a 1973 MGB Roadster in excellent condition, last owner since 2014. Tartan Red with Black leather seat with Red pipping, Moto-Lita wood steering wheel + wood dash & trims, recent new chrome wire wheel, and new Black Hood, Tonneau covers, removable Boot rack, Overdrive, Electronic Ignition fitted at 61731m in Jan 21. First registered in Birmingham 5th Jan 1973 (built in 1972) restored in early 2000’s have photos. Speedo change at approx 62,000m now on 4009m. Excellent to drive. £12,995
MG MGF Abingdon ‘SE’ vvc, Just 7,060 miles from new. The Best.
With it special registration number K18 MGF ( K series 1.8 engine MGF) plus a very low mileage of just 7,060 miles repeat 7,060 miles. These were the First Limited Edition Models made by MG/Rover with most being shipped to Japan. This is one of only 500 UK cars and one of just 150 vvc’s. Finished in Brooklands Green (the only model made in this colour) with Tan leather seats and hood, Walnut console and air vents. This immaculate MGF has full service history with its service book pack. Fully original car. YOU WILL NOT FIND A BETTER ONE. £11,495
21/02/2022
MGE_2022_04_Apr_Don Trimming Co Ltd_EP.indd 1
21/02/2022 15:44
MGE_2022_04_Apr_Don Trimming Co Ltd_EP.indd 1
21/02/2022 15:44
MG MGF 75th Ltd Edition, Just 5,012 miles
1
Re-commissioned and ready for sale and a
This is just a small selection fromwith ourMGstock Photo shoot Enthusiast mag,
21/02/2022 15:44
MGE_2022_04_Apr_Don Trimming Co Ltd_EP.indd 1
VERY MUCH ONE OFF, Rare very very low FAMILY BUSINESS ESTABLISHED 1981.A OUR OFFICE/ mileageSHEPPERTON MGF 75th ltd edition, one of9AU just 380 in SHOWROOM IS AT 62B HIGH STREET TW17 Black and justPLEASE 500 UK cars, celebrating 75 years VIEWING BY APPOINTMENT SHEPPERTON, MIDDLESEX TEL: 01932 241843 / 07836 281493 miles repeat 4,987 miles, now just 5,012miles WWW.CHURCHSQUAREAUTOS.COM www.churchsquareautos.com after being re-commissioned by us, still just just EMAIL: MGSALES@CHURCHSQUAREAUTOS.COM or 2 owners. Original leather handbook pack with service and handbooks plus the 75th Catalogue USEDMGTF@GMAIL.COM plus original number plates. £9,995 of MG’s. Purchased at having covered just 4,987
Square May19.indd 1 MGE_2022_04_Apr_Don Trimming Co Ltd_EP.indd 121/02/2022Church MGE_2022_04_Apr_Don Trimming Co Ltd_EP.indd 1 15:44
MGE_2022_04_Apr_Don Trimming Co Ltd_EP.indd 1
21/02/2022 15:44
7.5% Discount for Any Car Bought Before October 10th
Unit 1, Roudham Trading Estate, Roudham Rd,
11:41 21/02/202208/05/2019 15:44
MG TF 135 Spark ‘SE’. Just 16,005 miles
finished in Firefrost Red, having covered just 16,005 miles repeat 16,005 miles and previously supplied by me. A total of just 1451 Sparks were made and just 293 in Firefrost (the lowest number).Interior Silver pack eg console door trim plus Silver/Black leather steering wheel, Black leather seats with Grey Alcantara inserts and MG SHEPPERTON, MIDDLESEXlogo. TEL:Salt 01932 / 07836 and 241843 Pepper grey soft281493 top. Silver 16” 11 spoke alloys, ABS braking with 4 pot red calipers. WWW.CHURCHSQUAREAUTOS.COM Chrome pack and grilles, front fog EMAIL: MGSALES@CHURCHSQUAREAUTOS.COM or lights, wind deflector. Documented service history with USEDMGTF@GMAIL.COM invoices. £7,495
East Harling, Norwich, Norfolk NR16 2TW 21/02/2022
Morris minor 1957 clarendon grey, red leather trim, lady owner for many years, very original, lovely usable condition, very smart, real value £3,995
1966 MGB Roadster, brg, antigue red leather trim, chrome w/w, o/drive, superb car, restored by mg mecca over 20 years ago, correct front wings, drives exceptionally, rarely available ready to use £16,995
1973 MG Midget k series 1800 vvc, mapped, totally restored over £45K spent, done less than 100 miles, a real wolf in a rather stylish sheeps clothing, stunning. £15,995
1957 Jaguar xk150, Old english white, red trim, one previous owner from new, restored in the 1980s, o/drive, a lovely usable xk in superb condition. £59,995
MG TF 160vvc, Late Model. Very High Spec Here I offer a very high spec late model TF160vvc 2006. Finished in Firefrost Red with Black leather /Grenadine inserts, leather steering wheel and a Grenadine soft top with a glass heated rear screen. Being a later model it is fitted with Soft ride suspension, engine water level sensor, glass rear screen, Fitted with New 11 spoke alloys and Falken tyres. Now just 57,000 miles and with a huge history file of work, including H/gaskets Cambelt services etc. Has a stainless rear exhaust box, wind deflector, front fog lights, plus TF160 extras. £6,495
MG TF 160vvc, 48,820 miles, Superb Condition
1971 Alfa Romeo GTV, in its original white with tan interior, gearbox on this example has been fully rebuilt, all electrics have been replaced or rebuilt, vehicle ready to enjoy for pleasure, touring and track day £49,995
1995 MGB RV8, woodcote mica green, stone leather trim, superb interior condition, elm dash and door cappings, in excellent condition, mohair hood, tonneau, very well maintained and loved car, superb to drive £21,995
1973 MGB GT, with period e type style front, looks fantastic, last owner over 20 years, massive history file, recent engine / gearbox, excellent body, unusual mgb £7,995
1971 MGB Roadster, tartan red, Barley leather trim, high back seats, o/drive, w/w, elm dash, boot rack, super car, excellent order £9,995
Please contact us for more information: Tel: 01953 717100 Email: russell@moderngarageclassics.co.uk www.moderngarageclassics.co.uk
Here we offer a superb 2004 MG TF160vvc having covered just 48,820 miles with service history and every mot. Finished in Xpower Grey with Black half leather seats, Black soft top in excellent condition. The last owner having owned this TF since 2011. Fitted with the later soft ride suspension, we have just fitted new tyres and alloy wheels plus servicing. Cambelt & water pump fitted at 48,644m. Fitted with red 4 pot front brakes & ABS braking 16” alloys. Also fitted with front fog lights, mud flaps all round, wind deflector. Superb condition. £5,495
This is a small selection from our stock This is just a just small selection from our stock
FAMILY BUSINESS FAMILY BUSINESS ESTABLISHED 1981.1981. OUR OFFICE/ SHOWROOM IS AT 62B HIGH ESTABLISHED STREET SHEPPERTON TW17 9AU VIEWING BYBY APPOINTMENT PLEASE VIEWING APPOINTMENT PLEASE SHOWROOM IS AT 62B HIGH STREET SHEPPERTON TW17 9AU VIEWING BYwww.churchsquareautos.com APPOINTMENT PLEASE FAMILY BUSINESS ESTABLISHED 1981. OUR OFFICE/
www.churchsquareautos.com
Church Square May19.indd 1
Church Square May19.indd 1
08/05/2019 11:41
08/05/2019 11:41
1
2003 MG ZT+
I CHOSE THE MG ZT HAVING SEEN THE FACTORY PRESS RELEASE PHOTOGRAPH TITLED: ‘MG PROJECT CODE X10’… suspension and running gear. He has always used Michelin Pilot Sport tyres, which were fitted to the car when new, and the exhaust is the only significant change from the original mechanical specification, chosen because replacement original parts were getting much harder to source. “It drives and looks as good as it did when new,” he says. “With sub-40,000 mileage and careful ownership, it is a pleasure to drive and original, even the dealer number plates and rear window sticker are still in place.” The specification is also pretty comprehensive. The ZT left Longbridge with the Plus Pack, which included electric rear windows, a CD autochanger and climate control, while the Driver Intelligence Pack added rear parking sensors, an onboard computer, an auto-dipping rear-view mirror and rain-sensing wipers, all of which still work as intended. There were further factory and dealer options, including projector headlamps, an electric sunroof and a rear spoiler, while the exterior received the chrome side body strip rather than 44 MGE DECEMBER 2026
final 036-47 Mark Wroe ZT December 26.indd 44
the standard painted item – an option only offered on MY2003 cars. Interior specification includes Monaco half-leather seats, a boot liner, full carpet and rubber mat sets, an auxiliary power socket in the armrest and even the rechargeable electric torch that was available as an MG Rover accessory. Original equipment extends into the
less obvious items, too. Mark still has the MG tyre valve caps, full-size spare wheel, MG X-Power trunk bag, MG and Rover umbrellas and the MG Rover warning triangle set. He has also retained the originalstyle ZT wheels, which are his favourite design for the model. “I prefer the hairpin alloys to straights, as I think they are of their www.mgenthusiast.com
13/10/2026 17:22
Dynolite-A4-advert.qxp_Layout 1 17/12/2019 11:07 Page 1
ISSUE 25
ISSUE 30
ISSUE 23
The Dynolite range is available in Moss stores and online at moss-europe.co.uk instagram.com/mosseuropeltd facebook.com/mosseurope
High performance lubricants and additives specifically created for classic, vintage and veteran vehicles. Blended using high quality base oils combined with additives specially selected for their compatibility with metals and components used in the PARTS ACCESSORIES TOOLS past, providing increased protection combined with a lower degree of acid and corrosion attack, less gumming and mud formation. Instagram Moss Websites moss-europe.co.uk | moss--europe.eu Facebook The Dynolite range is available in Moss stores and online at moss-europe.co.uk instagram.com/mosseuropeltd moss-europe.co.uk | moss-europe.eu facebook.com/mosseurope
PARTS ACCESSORIES TOOLS
Moss Websites
SCAN THE QR CODE TO SIGN UP TO OUR EMAIL NEWSLETTER
including technical advice and detailed schematics
Be the first to know about sales and offers from Moss Europe, as well as new and back-in-stock items, our latest blogs about classic car ownership, and much more.
CUSTOM BLENDED FOR CLASSICS
High performance lubricants and additives specifically created for classic, vintage and veteran vehicles. Blended using high quality base oils combined with additives specially selected for their compatibility with metals and components used in the past, providing increased protection combined with a lower degree of acid and corrosion attack, less gumming and mud formation. | moss-europe.eu moss--moss-europe.co.uk europe.co.uk | moss--europe.eu
PARTS & ACCESSORIES FOR YOUR
including technical advice and detailed schematics
Austin Healey Sprite 1958-71 & MG Midget 1961-79 PARTS & ACCESSORIES
PARTS ACCESSORIES TOOLS
PARTS & ACCESSORIES FOR YOUR
ISSUE 25
Moss Europe Ltd
The Dynolite range is available in Moss stores and online at moss-europe.co.uk instagram.com/mosseuropeltd moss-europe.co.uk | moss-europe.eu facebook.com/mosseurope
Moss Websites
moss--europe.co.uk | moss--europe.eu
Spitfire 1962-80 PARTS & ACCESSORIES
CUSTOM BLENDED FOR CLASSICS
High performance lubricants and additives specifically created for classic, vintage and veteran vehicles. Blended using high quality base oils combined with additives specially selected for their compatibility with metals and components used in the past, providing increased protection combined with a lower degree of acid and corrosion attack, less gumming and mud formation.
Moss Europe Ltd
The Dynolite range is available in Moss stores and online at moss-europe.co.uk instagram.com/mosseuropeltd moss-europe.co.uk | moss-europe.eu facebook.com/mosseurope
including technical advice and detailed schematics
TR5-6 1967-76
MGB 1962-80 PARTS & ACCESSORIES
ISSUE 30
High performance lubricants and additives specifically created for classic, vintage and veteran vehicles. Blended using high quality base oils combined with additives specially selected for their compatibility with metals and components used in the past, providing increased protection combined with a lower degree of acid and corrosion attack, less gumming and mud formation. Moss Websites
PARTS & ACCESSORIES FOR YOUR
CUSTOM BLENDED FOR CLASSICS
CUSTOM BLENDED FOR CLASSICS
Dynolite-A4-advert.qxp_Layout 1 17/12/2019 11:07 Page 1
TR5-6 SPITFIRE
PARTS & ACCESSORIES FOR YOUR
including technical advice and detailed schematics
ISSUE 16
MGB
ISSUE 16
Dynolite-A4-advert.qxp_Layout 1 17/12/2019 11:07 Page 1
Dynolite-A4-advert.qxp_Layout 1 17/12/2019 11:07 Page 1
PARTS ACCESSORIES TOOLS
moss--europe.co.uk | moss--europe.eu
& MORE
CATALOGUES FREE CATALOGUES BODY & CHASSIS | ENGINE | BRAKES | STEERING & SUSPENSION | INTERIOR | PERFORMANCE & TUNING | & MUCH MORE
BODYSHELLS & BODY PANELS
TOURIST TROPHY
INTERIOR TRIM
SUSPENSION PARTS
CLASSIC GOLD
DYNOLITE OILS
FULL RANGE OF PRODUCTS AVAILABLE ONLINE AND IN-STORE.
JAGUAR
MX-5
SPECIALISING IN MG, TRIUMPH, AUSTIN-HEALEY, MORRIS, CLASSIC MINI, JAGUAR, MX-5, AND UNIVERSAL PARTS
moss-europe.co.uk 0800 281 182
2003 MG ZT+ time and have a more aggressive look in keeping with the car,” he says. The ZT has continued to be serviced and used, albeit less in recent years, rather than stored away as a classic. He uses Discount MG Rover Spares and Rimmer Bros for parts and has his servicing carried out by Lates600, where Leighton and Pete have built up considerable knowledge of the ZT and
the wider MG Rover range. “Lates and Pete have an encyclopaedic knowledge of MG ZTs and I am very lucky that they are local to me,” he says. He adds that, in recent times, the car’s condition attracts attention whenever he takes it out, particularly from people who remember the ZT when it was new and are surprised to see such an original, well-preserved
example today, especially as they get increasingly rarer. As for the engine choice, the 1.8T was not the range-topping choice, but replaced the lower-powered V6 models in 2003. The turbocharged four-cylinder K-series produced 160bhp – identical to the KV6 160 – and, thanks to its lightness, is seen by some as the sweet spot in the ZT line-up.
HE USES DISCOUNT MG ROVER SPARES AND RIMMER BROS FOR PARTS AND HAS HIS SERVICING CARRIED OUT BY LATES600…
46 MGE DECEMBER 2026
final 036-47 Mark Wroe ZT December 26.indd 46
www.mgenthusiast.com
13/10/2026 17:22
2003 MG ZT+ “I love its looks, colour, stance and driving experience,” says Mark. “There is nothing else like it and it always feels special when I take it out.” There is another MG in the garage, too. Mark’s daily driver is an MG6 Magnette 1.8T in Champagne, the unusual colour based on MG Rover White Gold that was used on the saloon models only. He has no immediate plans to add another project. “Never say never, though” he adds. For now, the ZT remains the main event. More than 20 years and fewer than 40,000 miles since he first drove it out of the showroom, he knows every moment of its story.
www.mgenthusiast.com
final 036-47 Mark Wroe ZT December 26.indd 47
MGE DECEMBER 2026 47
13/10/2026 17:22
Win an unforgettable 2027 Lyon & Provence river voyage for two, with Viking worth
£5,990 enter on line
Win an unforgettable 2027 Lyon & Provence river voyage with Viking, and experience the beauty, culture and charm of southern France from the comfort of an award-winning Viking Longship. This journey offers the perfect opportunity to slow down, soak up the scenery and discover some of France’s most captivating destinations. Sailing along the Rhône River, you’ll discover the historic city of Lyon, famous for its gastronomy and UNESCO-listed Old Town, as well as charming Provençal towns such as Avignon, Arles, and Viviers. Along the way, enjoy stunning scenery, fascinating local heritage, and opportunities to experience the flavours, art, and traditions that make this region so unique. The prize includes flights, accommodation in your elegant stateroom, meals, selected beverages with lunch and dinner, and a range of included shore excursions. You will also enjoy onboard enrichment talks, complimentary Wi-Fi, and access to Viking’s beautifully designed public spaces and amenities.
How to enter
To enter this amazing competition, scan the QR Code. Full T&Cs are available on entry. Entry is free. Open to residents of the UK aged 21+
Whether you are strolling through medieval streets, admiring vineyards and lavender landscapes, or simply relaxing on the Sun Deck, this Lyon & Provence journey promises an enriching and memorable French adventure filled with culture, history, and Viking’s renowned hospitality.
Viking_comp_270x200.indd 1
14/10/2026 12:41
WIN THE ULTIMATE EUROPEAN MOTORING ADVENTURE! A place on the LAON HISTORIQUE 2027 event – for you, your MG and a partner. The tour takes place between the 14th and 17th May 2027.
Step into the golden age of motoring and experience one of Europe’s most spectacular classic car gatherings with this unforgettable prize to the world-famous Laon Historique event in northern France, courtesy of Scenic Car Tours. This incredible getaway is designed exclusively for true motoring enthusiasts. The winner will receive a place on the tour for one classic vehicle and two adults, including hotel accommodation at the comfortable 3-star Kyriad St Vincent Hotel, the perfect base for a weekend immersed in classic automotive culture. Every year, thousands of cherished classics descend on the medieval city of Laon, creating an atmosphere unlike anything else in the motoring calendar. It’s a moving celebration of automotive history. You’ll enjoy scenic driving routes through the stunning French countryside,
a buzzing enthusiast atmosphere, organised tour support and the chance to share stories, experiences and a passion for classic cars with fellow owners from across the UK and Europe. Held in the spectacular hilltop city of Laon, the event has become one of the highlights of the classic car calendar. Since the early 1990s, Laon Historique has grown from a small gathering of enthusiasts into a worldfamous celebration attracting more than 800 classic cars from across Britain and Europe every year. Laon is one of France’s great medieval cities, perched high above the surrounding countryside behind ancient ramparts and winding cobbled streets. Once an important stronghold of the Carolingian kings, the city boasts more than 80 listed historic monuments and one of the finest early Gothic cathedrals in Europe.
To enter, simply head to www.classicsworld.co.uk, answer the following question and enter your details: Approximately how many historic monuments can be found in Laon? A: Over 60 B: Over 70 C: Over 80
This is the kind of event every classic car owner should experience at least once. Expect picturesque roads, lively evening entertainment and row upon row of automotive nostalgia in one of France’s most historic settings. It’s more than simply a road trip; it’s a proper classic motoring adventure. Fuel up and prepare for an unforgettable weekend celebrating the cars we love most.
Scenic Car Tours offers unforgettable motoring experiences around the world, and is one of the UK’s leading car tour operators. For more information on the Laon Historique and all the other automotive adventures on offer, please visit https://www.sceniccartours.com.
Entries close at 11.59pm 31st December 2026, and the winners will be drawn within four days. The winners will be notified within 28 days of the close of entries. The draw is final and no correspondence will be entered into. Entry is free. Open to residents of the UK aged over 18. Employees of Kelsey Media and their family members are not eligible to win. Only one entry permitted per person, no bulk entries will be accepted. There is no cash alternative and the prize is not transferable. If any prize or product is lost or damaged during the course of delivery to the recipient, Kelsey Media will provide reasonable assistance in seeking to resolve the problem. However, it will not always be possible to obtain replacements for lost or damaged goods, and in that event, no financial compensation would be payable by Kelsey Media or their affiliates. We reserve the right to cancel the competition, if circumstances change that are beyond our control. By entering you agree to be bound by all the rules and agree that your surname and county may be released if you win.
Laon comp_270x200.indd 1
15/10/2026 13:01
MG ROVER & AUSTIN ROVER ENTHUSIAST Welcome to the latest feature in our new section of MG Enthusiast, which we have launched following feedback from readers about a lack of representation for British Leyland, Austin Rover, Rover Group and MG Rover Group cars in the classic automotive press. This month, it’s the image-transforming P38a Range Rover that's under the spotlight. Craig Cheetham, Editor, mg.ed@kelsey.co.uk
Rover’s MINI adventure
Rover Group did far more work on the first BMW MINI than its ownership suggested. Then BMW split up Rover, kept MINI and moved production to Cowley. Here’s how homegrown it really was… WORDS AND PHOTOS: CRAIG CHEETHAM MW is given a lot of credit for the reborn 2001 MINI but to credit the German company with the car’s creation misses a sizeable part of the story. The R50 was already well into development as Rover Group’s Mini replacement when BMW decided that Rover Group was no longer viable. Up until the formation of MG Rover Group in 2000, much of the engineering work had been carried out by Rover Group engineers at Gaydon and Longbridge. BMW provided the overall direction, styling input and, ultimately, finance and ownership of the project. The people developing the suspension, packaging, powertrain and production systems were largely working in Britain. The way the project subsequently became separated from Rover was equally significant. When BMW broke up Rover Group in 2000, it retained MINI and the Cowley factory, while selling the Rover and MG businesses to the Phoenix Consortium. The new MINI was originally intended for Longbridge but BMW moved it to Cowley as part of the break-up. That meant the car Rover had helped develop would be built by BMW, while
B
50 MGE DECEMBER 2026
final 050-54 MINI R50 December 26.indd 50
Rover itself was left without it. The origins of the project went back to the mid-1990s, not long after BMW bought Rover Group from British Aerospace in 1994. The original Mini had undergone something of a renaissance in the nineties but its age was becoming an increasing problem. It had been in production since 1959 and, although it had received numerous updates, safety and emissions legislation were bearing down on it.
Rover had already considered replacing it with something more modern. The company had looked at a project called Minki, which was effectively an updated Mini using more modern mechanical components, but that was not the direction that BMW wanted to take. Instead, the two companies started looking at an entirely new car that would retain the basic character of the Mini while moving it into a much more www.mgenthusiast.com
13/10/2026 17:23
MINI R50
sophisticated market. There were different views on exactly what that car should be. Rover’s engineers were understandably interested in a practical small car that could fit into the company’s existing range, while BMW was increasingly keen on making the new Mini a premium product with a stronger emphasis on handling and driver appeal – and also the enduring Mini legend. Those differences became clear during the design process. Several proposals were considered before the basic direction of the new car was settled, with the project receiving the R50 designation. The first-generation new MINI would eventually be launched in 2001. There was still a considerable amount of work to do between the original proposals and the finished production car. The styling came largely from BMW designer Frank Stephenson, whose interpretation of the Mini shape was sufficiently familiar without copying the original. The proportions were deliberately different from the old car, with a much taller body, larger glass area and considerably more interior space, but the basic visual cues were obvious. The 1997 Frankfurt Motor Show provided the first proper public indication of where the project was heading. The MINI concept followed several earlier studies but, by this stage, the idea of turning the Mini into a premium small car was becoming much clearer. The important point is that the engineering was not simply a BMW job carried out in Munich and then www.mgenthusiast.com
final 050-54 MINI R50 December 26.indd 51
handed to Rover for production. Rover’s engineering operation at Gaydon was deeply involved in making the car work. One of the clearest examples was the suspension. BMW specified the basic layout it wanted, with MacPherson struts at the front and a multi-link Z-axle at the rear, but the detailed development was carried out by Rover engineers. Geometry, component stiffness, durability and compliance were all developed at Gaydon rather than being lifted wholesale from an existing BMW model. That was important because the new MINI was being asked to do something that the old one never had to do. It needed to be comfortable enough to be regarded as a premium car while retaining the sharp responses
and compact dimensions that buyers expected from the outgoing model. The packaging was difficult as well. R50 was still a small car but it needed a much more substantial structure, modern crash protection, larger engines, bigger wheels and considerably more equipment than the original. There was not much spare room underneath it. Rover engineers built development cars and modified test vehicles to replicate the proposed Mini’s characteristics, allowing suspension and packaging work to be carried out before the production car existed. The engineering programme was substantial, with former Rover engineers later estimating that several hundred British engineers were involved in the project. The powertrain story was slightly more complicated. Rover would naturally have preferred to use its own K-series engine, which was compact and already well established, but the requirements of the new MINI and BMW’s wider plans meant that another solution was chosen. BMW and Chrysler had developed the Tritec engine through their joint venture in Brazil and the 1.6-litre fourcylinder unit became the powerplant for the new car, along with a Toyotasourced 1.4 diesel. Rover engineers were still involved in the integration and development work, with Powertrain at Longbridge also involved in engine and transmission engineering – even though earlier proposals had looked at using the Rover K-series as an option. The manual gearbox used in the
MGE DECEMBER 2026 51
13/10/2026 17:23
MINI R50 One and the Cooper also had a Rover connection in its development, the ‘Midland gearbox’ being derived from the R65 transmission of the Rover 200 Series, although the Cooper S and diesel eventually used a stronger Getrag gearbox. The finished car was therefore a mixture of engineering decisions made by BMW, components sourced through international partnerships and a considerable amount of work carried out by Rover’s engineering teams. It was becoming a very complicated project but, by the end of the 1990s, it was approaching production. There was just one problem. Rover Group itself was in serious trouble. BMW had bought Rover in 1994 with ambitions of creating a much larger automotive group but the financial results were nowhere near what had been expected. Investment was substantial, including new facilities and major spending on the Rover 75, but losses continued to mount. By the end of the decade, the company was struggling with falling sales, high costs and the effects of the strong pound against European currencies. MINI was a key part of the proposed solution. R50 was intended to be produced at Longbridge, alongside other future Rover products, and BMW had begun investing in the new production line there. A parliamentary report on BMW’s plans noted that the R50 was one of the two major projects on which Longbridge’s future was supposed to rest, alongside the proposed R30 replacement for the Rover 200 and 400 ranges. Then, in March 2000, BMW changed its plans dramatically. On 16 March, BMW announced that it would dispose of the Rover and MG businesses but retain several key assets, including the MINI project. The new MINI would no longer be produced at Longbridge. Instead, BMW would keep Cowley and move MINI production there. The Rover 75, which was being built at Cowley, would subsequently be transferred to Longbridge. The decision came after years of losses. BMW told the British Government that its Rover losses had reached about £1.3 billion over the previous two years and the parliamentary inquiry subsequently criticised the way the break-up had continues on page 54 52 MGE DECEMBER 2026
final 050-54 MINI R50 December 26.indd 52
www.mgenthusiast.com
13/10/2026 17:24
JOIN THE MG OWNERS’ CLUB AND ENJOY AN UNRIVALLED RANGE OF BENEFITS! ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION
UK & BFPO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . £48* Rest of Europe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . £60* USA, Canada, S. America, Middle East, Africa, India . . . . . . £85* Australia, New Zealand, Far East . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . £80* Plus additional £5 joining fee
*
BENEFITS OF BEING A CLUB MEMBER...
92-page monthly magazine, Enjoying MG Free technical advice phone line Exclusive travel opportunities with our club escorted tours MGOC Insurance Scheme with Adrian Flux Vast range of MG merchandise
Call us on 01954 231125 or visit www.mgownersclub.co.uk
MG & CLASSIC CAR SPECIALIST
enquiries@mgsforsale.com
URGENTLY WANTED URGENTLY WANTED
ANY MG ANY YEAR, ANY CONDITION View our stock online at: www.mgsforsale.com www.mgsforsale.com 01707 876089 or 07831 556666 01707 876089 or 07831 556666
Steering Wheel Restoration
Steering wheel restoration, viintage to modern cars, tractors, lorries, buses, boats. Bluemels, Celluloid, Bakelite, Wood & Plastic.
tel:+44 (0)1843 844962
www.SteeringWheelRestoration.com
JO
IN HERE
MINI R50
been handled, describing the process as hurried and chaotic. For the people at Longbridge, it was particularly difficult to take because work had already begun on the new MINI production facilities. The plan had been for R50 to provide a major part of Longbridge’s future but BMW now intended to keep the project for itself. The eventual sale of Rover to the Phoenix Consortium was completed in May 2000. Phoenix acquired the Rover and MG car businesses for a nominal £10, while BMW retained Cowley and the MINI operation. Production of the Rover 75 and its forthcoming Tourer estate was transferred to Longbridge, while the new MINI went in the opposite direction. It was an extraordinary factory swap. The 75 production equipment was moved from Cowley to Longbridge, while MINI production equipment went from Longbridge to Cowley. The new MINI would therefore be built at the Oxford plant that BMW had retained, rather than at the Birmingham factory where much of its development had taken place. The separation extended beyond production. Rover’s engineering operation was also split up. Ford acquired Land Rover and the Gaydon engineering facilities, while other engineers were allocated to the MINI programme at Cowley and the powertrain operation. Parliamentary records from the time show just how complicated the arrangement was, with engineering staff divided between Ford, 54 MGE DECEMBER 2026
final 050-54 MINI R50 December 26.indd 54
the new Rover operation and BMW’s MINI activities. There was also a rather neat piece of irony in the whole arrangement. The R50 had been developed by engineers working for Rover Group but the platform itself was of limited use to the rest of Rover’s future range. It was effectively a dedicated MINI architecture rather than a basis for a new generation of Rover small cars. That left Rover without the benefit of the project once BMW took it away. BMW, meanwhile, had kept exactly what it wanted. The first new MINI rolled out of Cowley in 2001, carrying a familiar
name but representing a completely different proposition from the Issigonis original. It was bigger, heavier, considerably more expensive and much more sophisticated, with Cooper and Cooper S versions providing the sporting image BMW wanted. It was also a commercial success. The new MINI established a premium smallcar market almost by itself and BMW subsequently expanded the range with further body styles and generations. The R50 had done what BMW needed it to do, turning the Mini name into a modern premium brand rather than simply replacing an old British saloon. Rover, sadly, was never given the same opportunity. By the time the first MINI left Cowley in 2001, the Rover Group that had helped create it had already ceased to exist. That was the real beginning of MINI’s BMW era and the end of Rover’s involvement with one of the most important small cars of the modern era.
www.mgenthusiast.com
13/10/2026 17:24
L1 BC L1 01789BC 576120
enquiries@bettercarlighting.co.uk Discreet DRL Discreet DRL systems systems www.bettercarlighting.co.uk for classic cars for classic cars
5 EASY WAYS TO BUY... SUPERSTORES NATIONWIDE CALL & COLLECT AT STORES TODAY
TELESALES
ZIP 956 CLOSE5555 DOOR 0115
ZIP CLOSE DOOR
CLICK & COLLECT
LENGTH ONLINE UP TO LENGTH www.machinemart.co.uk 40' (12m) UP TO
OVER 10,500 LOCATIONS
LONG 40' (12m)
All prices correct at time of going to press. We reserve the right to change products and prices at anyLONG time. E&OE.
BRIGHT BRIGHT WHITE WHITE INTERIOR INTERIOR
Unique products with Replacement Heatshield NewUnique ReplacementMGMGRV8 RV8 Heatshield products with Fits above catalysts on Fits above catalysts on Newmoney-back Replacement MG RV8 Heatshield guarantee. money-back guarantee.
High Torque Torque Starter Motor. Starter Motor. HighONLY Torque HEADER FROM HEADER ONLY the underside car. underside of the the on car. Fits above catalysts £ FROM .00 MGE_2022_12_Dec_The 4Sight Lighting the Co_QP.indd 1 of 20/10/2022 MGE_2023_03_Mar_Machine 10:27 Mart_QP.indd 1 01/02/2023 10:38 Starter Motor. made British made £264.00 £ .00 £ Stops heat Stops heat ingress ingress and EXC.VAT the underside of theand car. MODEL SHOWN CIG81220 EXC.VAT British made MODEL SHOWN CIG81220 MODEL SHOWN CIG81220 paint burning on paint burning on £346.80 inc.VAT Stops heat ingress and Great for use as a garage, £346.80 inc.VAT Great for use as a garage, se as a garage, workshop or storage area underside of £119.50 underside of car car £119.50 paint burning on plus ...... Triple-layer, waterproof cover Fully UV treated for Rocker workshop or storage area MG RV8 MG Rocker or storage plusarea ...... protection Heavy duty, powder Triple-layer, waterproof cover Fully UVcoated treatedsteel for terproof cover underside of car Fully UV long-term treated for £119.50 High performance LED upgrade bulbs tubing Ratchet tightening to ensure drum-tight cover long-term protection Heavy duty, powder coated steel ion Heavy duty , powder coated steel Covers £267 pair Covers £267 pair RV8 MG Rocker Includes ground anchoring system High performance LED upgrade bulbs tubing Ratchet tightening to ensure drum-tight cover tightening drum-tight cover for all 12v classics. Allto Alloy inch Alloy1515 inchensure Includes ground anchoring system Covers £267 pair d anchoring system for all 12v classics. Replacement Wheels forfor Replacement Wheels TELESALES Tel: 5 EASY WAYS TO BUY... SUPERSTORES All Alloy 15 inch 01789 576120 NATIONWIDE 0115 956 5555 TELESALES SUPERSTORES 5 CALL EASY &WAYS TO BUY... SUPERSTORES TO BUY ... the GTV8 With a highly polished GTV8 With a highly polished 01789 576120 NATIONWIDE 0115D 956 5555 E COLLECT N A T I O N W I Replacement Wheels for CLICK & COLLECT enquiries@bettercarlighting.co.uk +44 (0)1746 710810 710810 Tel: ONLINE ATCALL STORES TODAY & COLLECT OLLECT www.machinemart.co.uk & COLLECT enquiries@bettercarlighting.co.uk CLICK & CLICK COLLECT alloy rim. alloy rim. ONLINE the GTV8 With a highly polished AT STORES TODAY TODA Y www.bettercarlighting.co.uk www.machinemart.co.uk +44 (0)1746 www.bettercarlighting.co.uk Weighs approx approx Weighs Fax: 710810
ct
289 289
Model size (LxWxH) exc.VAT inc.VAT CIG81212 3.6 x 3.6 x 2.5m £289.00 £346.80 Model exc.VAT £370.80 inc.VAT £309.00 CIG81015 4.5size x 3 (LxWxH) x 2.4m £289.00 £430.80 £346.80 CIG81212 4.93.6x 3.7 x 3.6x 2.5m x 2.5m £359.00 CIG81216 £309.00 £466.80 £370.80 CIG81015 6.14.5x 3x 3x 2.4m x 2.4m £389.00 CIG81020 £359.00 £430.80 CIG81216 4.9 x 3.7 x 2.5m CIG81220 6.1 x 3.7 x 2.5m £429.00 £514.80 £389.00 £646.80 £466.80 CIG81020 7.36.1 x 3xx2.5m 2.4m £539.00 CIG81224 x 3.7 £429.00 £1318.80 £514.80 CIG81220 9.7x4.3x3.65m 6.1 x 3.7 x 2.5m £1099.00 ‡ WAS £1390.80 inc.VAT CIG1432‡ £539.00 £3597.60 £646.80 CIG81224 12x4.9x4.3m 7.3 x 3.7 x 2.5m £2998.00 # WAS £3900.00 inc.VAT CIG1640# ‡ WAS £1390.80 inc.VAT WAS £1390.80 CIG1432‡ 9.7x4.3x3.65m £1099.00 £1318.80 inc.VAT £3900.00 inc.VAT CIG1640# 12x4.9x4.3m £2998.00 £3597.60inc.VAT WAS # WAS £3900.00
genuine &&conversion genuine conversionparts parts genuine & conversion parts ‡ #
Mod CIG8 CIG8 CIG8 CIG8 CIG8 CIG8 CIG1 CIG1
OVER 10,500 LOCATIONS
OVER
at
time
of
OVER 10,500 LOCATIONS 10,500 LOCA TIONS All prices correct at time of going to press. We reserve the right to change products and prices at any time. E&OE.
prices correct at time of going to press.ve We reserve the right tothe change products and pricesright at any time. E&OE. alloy rim. to press. We All reser to change 2kg lighter. 2kg lighter. Weighs approx 710999 01746 Fax: High Torque TorqueRV8 HERITAGE Torque HighTorque Torque Starter Motor. Starter Motor. High No No further 2kgfurther lighter. 01746 710999 Spax AHPPROVED Starter Motor. Starter Motor. RV8 10:38 High Torque 20/10/2022 MGE_2023_03_Mar_Machine 10:27 Mart_QP.indd 1 01/02/2023 Starter Motor. British made British made £264.00 email: RV8 ERITAGE .80 rusting. rusting. £445.80 20/10/2022 MGE_2023_03_Mar_Machine 10:27 Mart_QP.indd 1 01/02/2023 10:38 1 Starter Motor. No further British made British made £264.00 Krypton Krypton British made Spax Expansion Expansion tank APPROVED sales@mgv8parts.com Tank RV8 Petrol Petrol Tank sales@mgv8parts.com email: RV8 tank British made rusting. . MG Rocker RV8 MG Rocker Sender with Seal Sender with Seal Krypton filled dampers dampers £69.95tank Expansion RV8 Petrol Tank sales@mgv8parts.com MG Rocker MG Rocker RV8 MG Rocker MG Rocker Covers £267 pair Covers £267 pair RV8 MG Rocker genuine &RV8 parts genuine &conversion conversion parts Locking Ring. &RV8 Locking Ring. by appointment only Callers appointment only at Adjustable on Adjustable on car car Sender with Seal Covers £267 pair Covers £267 pair£267 RV8 MG Rocker filled dampers Covers £267 pair Covers pair RV8 MG Rocker Covers £267 pair genuine & conversion parts genuine & conversion parts £75.95 genuine & conversion parts Tel: Covers £267 pair through 28 different through 28 different £294 Covers £267 pair £69.95 & Locking Ring. Callers +44 by&appointment only at genuine conversion parts Adjustable on car Tel:710810 (0)1746 710810 Tel: stages stages Highgrosvenor, Worfield, WV15 Highgrosvenor, Worfield, WV155PG 5PG through 28 different (0)1746 710810 +44(0)1746 710810 Tel:710810 £69.95 +44 RV8 Fax: £27 .00stages £275.00 (front) +44 (0)1746 710810 Fax: Highgrosvenor, Worfield, WV15 5PG 710999 01746 Fax: RV8 Headlight Headlight RV8 (between Bridgnorth &710999 (between Bridgnorth &Wolverhampton) Wolverhampton) HERITAGE £299.50 (rear) £ 01746 Fax: RV8 £275.00 (front) 01746 710999 Spax Spax A PPROVED RV8 ERITAGE email: email: HH ERITAGE Cowl in Cowl in set £552 full £552 Headlight 01746 710999 Spax Spax A PPROVED RV8 Krypton Krypton (betweensales@mgv8parts.com Bridgnorth & Wolverhampton) Spax AH PPROVED email: email: ERITAGE Tank RV8 Petrol Petrol Tank £299.50 (rear) sales@mgv8parts.com email: Krypton Krypton Spax composite composite APPROVED sales@mgv8parts.com Sender with Seal Sender withTank Seal Krypton filled dampers dampers Petrol Tank RV8Petrol Petrol Tank RV8 Petrol T ank RV8 Petrol T ank sales@mgv8parts.com email: OUR SPECIALITY Cowl in save £2 save £22.50 RV8 sales@mgv8parts.com OVERSEAS MAIL ORDER SPECIALITY Sender with Seal Sender with Seal Krypton Locking Ring. &RV8 Locking Ring. by appointment only at Callers by appointment only at fulldampers set £552 Sender with Seal Sender with Seal filled dampers dampers Adjustable on car Adjustable on car T Sender with Seal filled Petrol Tank RV8 Petrol ank sales@mgv8parts.com Locking Ring. Locking Ring. by appointmentonly only at Callers byappointment appointment only composite & Ring. & Locking Ring. Adjustable on car Adjustable oncar car Seal through 28dampers different through 28 different 38Sender £138.00 each with Seal £69.95 &&Locking Ring. Callers by at at Sender with filled Adjustable on OVERSEAS ORDER OURLocking SPECIALITY - save £22.50 stages stages through 28different different through 28 different £69.95 & Locking Ring. 9.95 CallersMAIL by & appointment only at £ 6 £69.95 Locking Ring. Adjustable on car Highgrosvenor, Worfield, 5PG Highgrosvenor, Worfield,WV15 WV15 5PG through 28 £69.95 RV8 £158.00 each stages stages .00 (front) £27 £275.00 (front) • RV8 wood wood refurbishment refurbishment Highgrosvenor, Worfield, WV15 5PG Highgrosvenor, Worfield, WV15 5PG stages through 28 different £69.95 £ 69.95 Highgrosvenor, Worfield, WV15 5PG
going
New Replacement RV8 Heatshield New ReplacementMG MG RV8 Heatshield NewReplacement Replacement MG RV8 Heatshield New Replacement MG RV8 Heatshield Fits above catalysts Fits above catalysts on on New MG RV8 Heatshield Fitsunderside above catalysts on Fits above catalysts on the of car. underside of the the on car. New Replacement MGthe RV8 Heatshield Fits above catalysts MGE_2022_12_Dec_The 4Sight Lighting Co_QP.indd 1 the underside of the car. the underside ofthe the car. Stops heat and heat ingress ingress and Fits above catalysts on the underside car. MGE_2022_12_Dec_The 4Sight LightingStops Co_QP.indd 1 of ne Mart_QP.indd Stops heat ingress and Stops heatingress ingress and paint burning on paint burning onof the the underside car. Stops heat and paint burning on paint burning on£119.50 underside of car £119.50 underside ofingress car Stops heat and paint burning on underside car £119.50 underside ofcar car £119.50 paint burning on£119.50 underside ofof underside of car £169.50 £119.50 All Alloy Alloy 15 15inch inch AllAlloy Alloy 15 inch Alloy15 15 inch Replacement Wheels forfor Replacement Wheels All inch Replacement Wheels forpolished Replacement Wheels for the GTV8 With a the GTV815 With a highly highly polished All Alloy inch Replacement Wheels for the GTV8 With highly polished theGTV8 GTV8With With ahighly highly polished alloy rim. alloy rim. Replacement Wheels forpolished the aa alloy rim. alloy rim. Weighs approx approx the GTV8 WithWeighs a highly polished alloy rim. Weighs approx Weighs approx 2kg lighter. 2kg lighter. alloy rim. Weighs approx 2kg lighter. 2kg lighter. Weighs approx No further No further 2kg lighter. RV8 No further No further 2kgfurther lighter. rusting. .80 rusting. £445.80 No RV8tank Expansion Expansion tank rusting. .80 rusting. £445.80 RV8 No further rusting. . Expansion tank Expansion tank RV8tank £69.95 Expansion rusting. £594.00 . £69.95tank Expansion £75.95 at at £85.95 £75.95
arts parts arts
t
5PG 5 5PG
RV8 Headlight Headlight RV8 RV8 RV8 (between Bridgnorth &&Wolverhampton) (between Bridgnorth Wolverhampton) £27 .00stages (front) (front) (rear) ££275.00 £299.50 (rear) £275.00 (front) Highgrosvenor, Worfield, WV15 5PG Headlight Headlight Cowl in Cowl in Headlight Headlight RV8 (betweenBridgnorth Bridgnorth (between Bridgnorth &Wolverhampton) Wolverhampton) RV8 set £552 £552 Headlight (rear) £full set £299.50 (rear) (between &&Wolverhampton) £275.00 (front) £295.00 £299.50 (rear) Cowl in Cowl in composite composite Cowl in Cowl in £552 full set set £552 Headlight Headlight Cowl in (betweenMAIL Bridgnorth & Wolverhampton) £2 -- save save £22.50 OVERSEAS OUR SPECIALITY OVERSEAS MAIL ORDER SPECIALITY £299.50 (rear) £320.00 full set £552 composite composite composite composite in £2 -- save save £22.50 Cowl composite 38Cowleach £138.00 OVERSEAS MAIL OURSPECIALITY SPECIALITY OVERSEAS MAILORDER ORDEROUR SPECIALITY in £595 full set £552 OVERSEAS MAIL - save £22.50 composite 38 each £138.00 each composite £158.00 38 £138.00 OVERSEAS ORDER OUR SPECIALITY each - save £20 •• RV8 RV8MAIL wood refurbishment wood refurbishment - save £22.50 £219.00 each £158.00 £158.00 each •• RV8 RV8 wood woodrefurbishment refurbishment
• RV8 wood refurbishment • Worldwide mailorder orderservices. services. Worldwide mail V8 Engine Engine CIALITY CIALITY • Worldwide mail order services. CIALITY EZ Power Steady Bar Steady Bar PowerSteering Steering V8 Engine Catering for all MGB, V8, V8 conversions Catering for all MGB, V8, V8 conversions • RV8 wood refurbishment This is the best This is the ElectricEZ power steering for Electric power steering for the the RV8. RV8. •• Worldwide Worldwide mail order services. mail order services. Steady Barbest • RV8 wood refurbishment Power Steering V8 Engine Engine • Worldwide mail order services. • Worldwide mail order services. ces. . Catering for all MGB, V8, V8 conversions • Worldwide mail order services. Engine V8 Engine you can buy for the you can buy for the money! Engine Steady Bar Steady Bar V8 V8 Engine EZ Power EZ Power Steering Silent Electric operation. Only the steering Silent operation. Only theSteering steering column to be be Catering V8isEngine This theBar bestmoney! &MGB, vehicles. RV8 vehicles. power steering for the thecolumn RV8. to forallall MGB, V8, conversions Catering for V8, V8V8 conversions • Worldwide mail order services. . Steady Steady Bar This is Engine theBar best This the best Steady Bar Steady Bar EZPower Power Steering EZ Power Steering Electric EZ power steering for RV8. Electric power steering for the RV8. V8is Steady V8 Engine Steering Catering for all MGB, V8, V8 conversions Catering for all MGB, V8, V8 conversions ersions sions changed. £1,794 changed. £1,794 BumpStops RV8 BumpStops £ £69.95 Catering for all MGB, V8, V8 conversions you can buy for the money! This is the best This is the best you can buy for the money! you can buy for the money! This is the best This is the best Electric power steering for the RV8. Electric power steering for the RV8. Silent operation. Only the steering column to be Silent operation. Only the steering column to be Steady Bar Silent operation. the steering column This is the best Steady Bar & vehicles. RV8 vehicles. EZOnly Power Steering Electric power steering for the RV8. to be & RV8 vehicles. Catering for all& MGB, V8, V8 conversions sions youcan can buy for the money! you can buy for the money! you can buy for the m can buy for m Silent Electric operation. Only the steering column Silent operation. Onlysteering the steering column to be be you changed. £1,794 changed. £1,794 BumpStops RV8 BumpStops This thethe best £ isfor £69.95 you buy money! vehicles. RV8 vehicles. This is thethe best power for the RV8. to
5PG n) ton) n)
Silent operation. Only the steering column to be Fit and in poly. and & RV8 vehicles. ££ for the money! RV8 Bump Stops £1824.00 changed. £1,794 changed. £1,794 BumpStops RV8 BumpStops Fit in poly. Fit and and you canbuy buy £RV8 £69.95 can for the m Silent operation. Only the£1824.00 steering column to be you ££69.95 Bump Stops changed. £1,794 cars available sale --please RV8 cars for sale pleasecall call & RV8for vehicles. £55.20 forget £55.20 pair poly. Fit and in Fit and £55.20 pair forget £55.20 pair £ RV8 Bump Stops £99.95 changed. £1,794 £1824.00 cars for sale please call RV8 cars available for sale please call £1995.00 Inc VAT £ BUMP se call ase call STOPS RV8 cars available for sale - please call BUMP STOPS £55.20 pair forgetTorque £55.20 pair New Replacement New ReplacementMG MG RV8 RV8 Heatshield Heatshield High Torque STOPS RV8 cars OUT available sale WEBSITE -WEBSITE please call NowBUMP £29.95 EACH se call New Replacement Replacement MG MG RV8 RV8 Heatshield Heatshield CHECK NEW OURforNEW New New Replacement MG MG RV8 RV8 Heatshield Heatshield Torque High Torque New, better quality, New, Starter better quality, NewReplacement New Replacement Replacement MG MG RV8 RV8 Heatshield Heatshield Torque High Torque Fits Fits above above catalysts catalysts on on Now Starter Motor. Motor. Now£29.95 £29.95 EACH inc VAT EACH £59.90 CHECK NEW WEBSITE OUT OUR NEW WEBSITE RV8 Boot Stays. £30.20 each Boot Stays . £30.20 each New New Replacement Replacement MG MG RV8 RV8 Heatshield Heatshield Torque High Torque BSITE SITE Fits Fits above above catalysts catalysts on New, better quality, New, better quality, New Replacement Replacement MG MGthe RV8 RV8 Heatshield Heatshield Starter Motor. Starter Motor. CHECK OUT OUR NEW WEBSITE harder wearing harder wearing New, better quality, New, better quality, Fits Fits above above catalysts catalysts on the underside underside of of the the on car. car. Starter Motor. Starter Motor. inc VAT Fits Fits above above catalysts catalysts on onon British made British made £264.00 RV8Boot BootStays. Stays. £30.20 each Boot Stays .£30.20 £30.20 each inc VAT Fits Fits above above catalysts catalysts on on the the underside underside of ofof the car. car. Starter Motor. Starter Motor. CHECK OUT OUR NEW WEBSITE harder wearing harder wearing RV8 SITE the the underside underside ofthe the the car. car. replacement overmats. replacement overmats. Stops Stops heat heateach ingress ingress and and RV8 Boot Stays. £30.20 each Stays . £30.20 each British made British made £264.00 Fits Fits above above catalysts catalysts on on Front RV8Boot Front British made British made £264.00 harder wearing harder wearing the the underside underside of of the the car. car. Stops Stops heat heat ingress ingress and and RV8 Boot Stays. £30.20 each the the underside underside of of the the car. car. £45.00 replacement overmats. replacement overmats. Stops Stops heat heat ingress ingress and and paint burning burning on on Original patterns, colour patterns, colour British made British made £264.00 Front RV8 Front paint Radiator Cover Radiator Cover made British made £264.00 RV8 Front Stops Stops heat heat ingress ingress and and paint paint burning burning on on RV8 REAR LIGHTS paint paint burning burning on on£119.50 the the underside underside of of the the car. car. underside underside of ofingress car car £119.50 Original patterns, colour patterns, colour & MG embroidered with MG ALL PRICES INCLUDE VAT ALL PRICES INCLUDE VAT RV8 Boot Stays. £30.20 each Radiator Cover Radiator Cover Black £209.50 Black £209.50 replacement overmats. replacement overmats. Stops Stops heat heat ingress and and RV8 REAR LIGHTS RV8 Front underside RV8 MG MG Rocker Rocker Radiator Cover paint paint burning burning on on£119.50 underside of ofof car car £119.50 RV8 REAR LIGHTS made British made £264.00 inc VAT £595.00 underside underside of car car £119.50 £119.50 Front RV8 Front Pair RV8 RV8with mats Pair mats &logo. MG embroidered MG ALL PRICESINCLUDE INCLUDE VAT ALLPRICES PRICES INCLUDE VAT Black £209.50 Black £209.50 RV8 MG Rocker Rocker Part Carbon Fibre Part Carbon Fibre ALL VAT RV8MG MG MG Rocker Rocker Radiator Cover New Replacement MG RV8 Heatshield New Replacement RV8 Heatshield High Torque Torque Stops Stops heat heat ingress ingress and and RV8 RV8 MG MG Rocker Rocker £1195.00 Each inc VAT underside underside of of car car £119.50 £119.50 Covers Covers £267 £267 pair pair Black £2 9.50MG inc VAT £595.00 paint paint burning burning on on logo. Pair RV8 mats Pair RV8 mats Original colour patterns, colour RV8 MG MG Rocker Rocker Part Carbon Fibre Part Carbon Fibre ALLRV8 PRICES INCLUDE VAT £99.50 £239.80 £239.80 RV8 MG MG Rocker Rocker Covers Covers £267 £267 pair pair New Replacement MG RV8 Heatshield New Replacement RV8 Heatshield High Torque Torque Fits above catalysts on on Fits above catalysts Radiator Cover Radiator Cover All Alloy 15 inch Alloy 15 inch Covers Covers £267 £267 pair pair£267 Starter Motor. Starter Motor. Black £2 9.50MG £269.50 Covers Covers £267 pair pair Part Carbon Fibre RV8 Front paint paint burning burning on on £99.50 £239.80 £239.80 RV8 REAR LIGHTS All Alloy 15 inch Alloy 15 inch Covers Covers £267 £267 pair pair£267 Fits aboveof catalysts on Fitsunderside above on Covers Covers £267 pair pair the underside of the the car. the of car. All Alloy 15 inch Alloy 15 inch underside underside ofcatalysts car car £119.50 £119.50 Replacement Wheels for Replacement Wheels for Starter Motor. Starter Motor. £269.50 & embroidered MG with MG ALL PRICES PRICESTel: INCLUDEVAT VAT INCLUDE Part Carbon Fibre British British made made £264.00 Black £209.50 Black £209.50 All Alloy 15 inch Alloy 15 inch Replacement Wheels for Replacement Wheels for the underside of£119.50 the car. the of the car. Tel: Stops heatof ingress and Stops heat ingress and Replacement Wheels for Replacement Wheels for underside Radiator Cover the GTV8 With a polished the GTV8 With a highly highly polished £299.50 £269.50 underside underside of car car £119.50 Tel: British British made made £264.00 (0)1746 710810 +44 710810 inc VAT £595.00 logo. mats Pair RV8 Replacement Wheels for Replacement Wheels for the GTV8 With a polished the GTV8 With aa highly polished Tel:710810 Stops heat ingress ingress and Stops heat and paint burning on paint burning on the GTV8 With highly polished the GTV8 With ahighly highly polished alloy rim. alloy rim. (0)1746 710810 Part Carbon Fibre Part Carbon Fibre ALL+44 PRICES INCLUDE VAT (0)1746 710810 +44 710810 New Replacement MG RV8 Heatshield Replacement MG RV8 Heatshield the GTV8 a polished the GTV8 With a highly highly polished alloy rim. alloy rim. Black £2With 9.50 paint burning on£119.50 paint burning on underside of car alloy rim. alloy rim. Weighs approx Fax: 710810 +44 (0)1746 710810 www.mgenthusiast.com MGE MARCH 2023 61 RV8 MG Rocker alloy rim. alloy rim. Weighs approx £99.50 £239.80 £239.80 Fax: underside of car £119.50 Weighs approx 2kg lighter. 61 Fits aboveTAcatalysts catalysts on Fits above on www.mgenthusiast.com MGE MARCH 202312:10 MGE_2023_03_Mar_Clive Wheatley MG V8 Parts_HP.indd 1 01/02/2023 AllPart Alloy 1515inch Alloy inch 01746Fax: 710999 RV8 RV8 MG Rocker RV8 MG Rocker Weighs approx Covers £267 pair Carbon Fibre 2kg lighter. Fax: H ERITAGE 2kg lighter. 01746 710999 MGE_2023_03_Mar_Clive Wheatley TA MG V8 Parts_HP.inddH1ERITAGE 01/02/2023 RV8 12:10 No further 01746 710999 RV8 All Alloy 15 inch Alloy 15 inch Spax AH PPROVED All Alloy 15 inch Covers £267 pair 2kg lighter. the underside of the car. the underside of the car. Covers £267 pair ERITAGE Replacement Wheels for Replacement Wheels for No further email: RV8 01746 710999 £269.50 RV8 No further rusting. £445.80 Spax AA PPROVED H ERITAGE Spax British made made Krypton £264.00 PPROVED All Alloy 15 inch Replacement Wheels for email: RV8 Tel: No further email: RV8 rusting. £445.80 Expansion tank Replacement Wheels forStops Replacement Wheels for RV8 Petrol Tank £445.80 Spax A PPROVEDsales@mgv8parts.com heat ingress and Stops heat ingress and Krypton the GTV8 With a highly polished GTV8 With a highly polished Replacement Wheels for the GTV8 With arusting. highly polished Krypton email: RV8 tank Tel: 710810 RV8 Sender withTank Seal rusting. £445.80 Expansion Expansion tank sales@mgv8parts.com filled dampers +44 (0)1746 RV8Petrol Petrol Tank RV8 Petrol T ank sales@mgv8parts.com MGE_2023_03_Mar_Composite Pages_FP.indd 61 02/02/2023 15:22 Krypton theGTV8 GTV8With Withalloy highly polished rim. the aaahighly polished GTV8 With highly polished Sender with Seal Expansion filled Petrol Tank Sender with Seal RV8 Petrol T ank sales@mgv8parts.com &RV8 Locking Ring. paint burning on£69.95 paint burning Callers by only at £69.95 Sender with Seal filleddampers dampers +44appointment (0)1746 710810 Adjustable on car alloy rim. alloy rim. MGE_2023_03_Mar_Composite Pages_FP.indd 61 on 02/02/2023 15:22 £69.95tank alloy rim. Sender with Seal W at Sender with Seal filled dampers Fax: on car & Locking Ring. Callers by appointment only at & Locking Adjustable on car Ring. at alloy alloy rim.underside £119.50 W rim. at Fax: Weighs approx of car£69.95 on car at
changed. £1,794
LE com m E m
parts arts parts arts
RV8 cars available for forsale sale--please pleasecall call RV8 cars available for sale - please call
NOW AVAILABLE CHECK NEWWEBSITE WEBSITE OUT OUR NEW NOW AVAILABLE NOW AVAILABLE www.mgv8parts.com www.mgv8parts.com TO BUY ONLINE CHECK OUR ONLINE NEW WEBSITE www.mgv8parts.com www.mgv8parts.com TOOUT BUY www.mgv8parts.com
www.mgv8parts.com www.mgv8parts.com www.mgv8parts.com TO BUY ONLINE www.mgv8parts.com genuine & conversion parts genuine & conversion parts genuine conversion parts genuine parts genuine conversion parts genuine&& &&conversion conversion parts genuine conversionparts parts genuine &&conversion
genuine conversion parts genuine &&&&conversion parts genuine conversion parts genuine parts genuine &conversion conversion parts genuine & conversion parts
High Torque Torque Torque High StarterTorque Motor. Starter Motor. Starter Motor. Starter Motor.
RV8 MG MG Rocker Rocker RV8 MG MG Rocker Rocker Covers Covers £267 £267 pair pair Covers Covers £267 £267pair pair
Tel: Tel: 710810 +44 (0)1746 710810 +44 (0)1746 710810 710810 Fax: www.mgenthusiast.com RV8 MG Rocker Weighs approx Fax: 2kg lighter. MGE_2023_03_Mar_Clive Wheatley TA MG V8 Parts_HP.indd 1 01746 710999 Covers £267 pair 2kg lighter. HERITAGE 01746 710999 No further H ERITAGE A PPROVED All Alloy 15 inch No further email: RV8 rusting. £445.80 Replacement Wheels for email: RV8 tank APPROVED sales@mgv8parts.com Tel: rusting. £445.80 Expansion RV8 Petrol Tank the GTV8 With a highly polished Expansion tank RV8 Petrol Sender withTank Seal sales@mgv8parts.com +44 (0)1746 710810 MGE_2023_03_Mar_Composite Pages_FP.indd 61 £69.95 alloy rim. Sender withRing. Seal www.marti nsmithmgspares.co.uk & Locking Callers by appointment only at £69.95 W at Fax:
parts
MARTIN genuine & conversion parts SMITH
The MG specialists for MGF - MGTF - MG3 - MG6
Quality new and used spares. Car trimmers/upholstery. MG car sales and MG repair service.
Tel: 07722 175473 Units 1&2, Westlane Farm, Westlane, East Lydford, Somerset TA11 7HD Email: smudgemg@yahoo.co.uk www.martinsmithmgspares.co.uk
High Torque Torque Starter Motor. Starter Motor.
MGEMARCH 2023 61 01/02/2023 12:10 RV8
RV8 Spax Spax Krypton Krypton filled dampers 02/02/2023 15:22 filled dampers Adjustable on car on car
1954 MG TF 1500
56 MGE DECEMBER 2026
final 056-67 Paul Pinkham TF December 26.indd 56
www.mgenthusiast.com
13/10/2026 17:25
1954 MG TF 1500
The long road home Finding an unfinished MG was one thing… finding one with the sort of history Paul Pinkham’s TF1500 could talk about was quite another… WORDS AND PHOTOS: CRAIG CHEETHAM
www.mgenthusiast.com
final 056-67 Paul Pinkham TF December 26.indd 57
MGE DECEMBER 2026 57
13/10/2026 17:25
Premium Quality Soft Tops & Interior Trim | World-Wide Mail Order Website: www.PrestigeAutotrim.com | Email: sales@prestigeautotrim.com
Premium Interior Trim
Factory Quality Soft Tops
Panels - Seat Covers - Carpets
Large Choice of Marques & Models
Cabrio Shield®
A Tailored Solution To Soft Top Protection™ Protect & Preserve Your Soft Top & Windows From:
Deals Available! Visit our website for more information
Leakages & wear damage Opportunist theft of contents Tree sap, sun damage, dirt build up etc
New Laser-Cut Door & Trim Panels Computer-Cut Seat Covers Computer-Cut Interior Carpet Set Full Leather Upgrades Available Choice of Premium Carpet Materials Bespoke Colour Combinations
Concealed Attachment - No Need For Straps Secure From Wind & Theft
Tonneau & Hood Covers Wide range of available colours
Available for a large range of models. www.PrestigeAutotrim.com Prestige Autotrim Products Ltd, Oak Tree Place, Expressway Business Park, Birkenhead, CH42 1NS, England
Money-back guarantee, tech support & personal service
LED bulbs & upgrade kits designed & developed in the UK
Better Car Lighting Since 1978
We have developed “invisible” orange indicator systems for early cars, orange flashing from inside the original red lenses, and orange flashing front sidelights, and every bulb on all classic Jaguars can be upgraded. We have also developed multi-function systems to turn reversing lights in high power reversing lights, extra brake lights and red rear foglights.
Advertising doesn’t cost,
it pays!
You will spend more time looking at your dash than the shiny coachwork. We can make it just as beautiful. As will as a range of colours, including ice-blue for early Jaguars, we have the world’s only LED instrument lighting bulbs that will dim with your OE dimmer switch or rheostat. Our LED headlight upgrades are designed to be the best, not the cheapest. They are guaranteed for five years. Do it right, do it once.
Tell us about your ideas for upgrading your classic Jaguar and we can give suggestions and free advice. We have upgrades that you simply can’t get from anyone else, and they all come with a money back guarantee. Quote JEC 2024 for a discount on your order.
Our flasher sounder will ensure that you always hear your indicators. Suitable for all systems, and in pos or neg. Just 29.99+VAT.
01789 576106
www.bettercarlighting.co.uk
enquiries@bettercarlighting.co.uk
For more information call 01732 445301 or email clairemg@talk-media.uk
1954 MG TF 1500
aul Pinkham’s MG TF 1500 has been through rather more than most. It started life as an Earls Court show car, spent time as a University Motors demonstrator, passed through the hands of a well-known MG enthusiast and then evolved into a dismantled heap in Scotland. Paul eventually found it in Essex in 2001 and, 18 months later, it was back on the road. When he discovered his TF 1500 in South Essex, it was little more than a collection of dismantled parts. The MG had disappeared from view in Scotland around four years earlier, having spent many years with Harry Napier, a wellknown MG T-series enthusiast who had bought it in 1968 and had started to rebuild it himself. The rebuild had never been finished, though, and the car was sold on, still dismantled. It somehow made its way south to where Paul found it. He saw enough to know that it was worth saving. “I located the car in South Essex in 2001, in dismantled condition,” he says. “It had disappeared in Scotland in 1997, having been owned by Harry
P
www.mgenthusiast.com
final 056-67 Paul Pinkham TF December 26.indd 59
Napier who had bought it in 1968, used it for several years and then started to rebuild it. “I’ve always loved the TF. To me, the sleek lines make for a lovely, well-balanced car,” he adds, “so very different from my J2 to drive. I felt
obliged to save it and put it back on the road. The car in question had been no ordinary TF. Registered in November 1954, RLH 718 was one of two TF 1500s displayed at the 1954 Earls Court Motor Show when the TF 1500 MGE DECEMBER 2026 59
13/10/2026 17:25
OVER 85 TITLES TO CHOOSE FROM
to harvest, store, NEW How and cure your squash LOOK!
‘To forget how to tend the soil is to forget ourselves’ MAHATMA GANDHI
October 2026
VARIETIES of fresh leaves
WIN £5,990
A fantastic
Viking cruise
worth
See inside
.
for details.
* only available
Tough fruit for tricky plots
Viking Roundel
60mm.indd
Grow more, water less Ideas for building
£6.99
resilience into your plot
in the UK
20/08/2026
07:29
1
Discover hardy damsons and bullace
P.50
‘The pleasure is as simple as watching things grow. It’s therapy’ Meet Plymouth’s top plotter
Autumn Joy!
tive October Steph’s top jobs for a produc KG October cover 2026 FINAL.indd 1
06/09/2026 12:16
£
VISIT SHOP.KELSEY.CO.UK/XMAS26P OR CALL 01959 543 747 AND QUOTE ‘XMAS26P’
Lines are open Mon-Fri 8.30am to 5pm. Price correct at time of print. Calls are charged at your standard network rate UK customers only. Offers end 31st January 2027
1954 MG TF 1500
had been introduced, marking the final development of the T-series sports car in the run up to the sleeker and more powerful MGA. Neither of the two show cars carried the 1500 badges on their bonnets and relatively little publicity surrounded the change from the 1250cc XPAG to the larger XPEG engine, despite the fact that the newer powerplant made the TF a much more long-legged tourer. MG,s TF had been introduced in 1953 as an evolution of the TD, rather than an entirely new MG. It retained the TD’s separate chassis, independent front suspension and familiar XPAG engine but gained a lower, more streamlined body with a sloping bonnet and the headlamps integrated into the front wings. It looked more modern than the TD, although underneath there was still plenty of the familiar T-series engineering. The TF 1500 arrived in November 1954 with the XPEG engine, increasing capacity to 1466cc and giving the car a useful increase in torque. It was www.mgenthusiast.com
final 056-67 Paul Pinkham TF December 26.indd 61
MGE DECEMBER 2026 61
13/10/2026 17:25
FUEL THEIR
PASSION THIS
CHRISTMAS Searching for the perfect gift for the petrolhead in your life? From classic legends to modern icons, explore essential motoring guides, special editions and collector publications for every car enthusiast.
• JAGUAR • PORSCHE • MG • BENTLEY • AND MUCH MORE!
SHOP MOTORING GIFTS GO TO SHOP.KELSEY.CO.UK/XMAS26-CARS OR SCAN THE QR CODE AND GO DIRECTLY CALL
01959 543 747
SHOP ALL OTHER CHRISTMAS GIFTS SHOP.KELSEY.CO.UK/XMAS26-GIFTS MAGAZINES • ANNUALS • BOOKS • CLOTHING & MERCHANDISE • CALENDARS • EVENT TICKETS Lines are open 8.30am to 5.00pm. Calls are charged at your standard network rate.
1954 MG TF 1500
REGISTERED IN NOVEMBER 1954, RLH 718 WAS ONE OF TWO TF 1500S DISPLAYED AT THE 1954 EARLS COURT MOTOR SHOW… still an old-fashioned sports car, by contemporary standards, but the extra capacity made it better suited to longerdistance driving and helped the TF retain its appeal as MG’s small sports car range moved towards the end of its production life. www.mgenthusiast.com
final 056-67 Paul Pinkham TF December 26.indd 63
After the motor show, RLH 718 appears to have passed to famous West London dealership University Motors, where it was used as a demonstrator and carried the registration YMG 1. It was subsequently registered RLH 718 and was bought by a Mr Tottle, of Barnet,
who kept it until Harry Napier acquired it in 1968. By the time Paul found it, though, all that history had been buried beneath a pile of parts. For RLH 718, the story had already become complicated by the time it reached Paul. The original XPEG had MGE DECEMBER 2026 63
13/10/2026 17:25
1954 MG TF 1500 been removed by Napier and replaced with a 1380cc XPAG. That was the engine Paul found in the car and, rather than holding the restoration up while the original 1500 unit was rebuilt, it was used when the TF had been returned to the road. Paul had, however, managed to retain the original engine. “It still used that 1380cc XPAG engine,” he says, “the original being replaced by Mr Napier. I have the original 1500cc XPEG engine which, when rebuilt, will be put back into the car. But I’ve got so many other MG projects that I’ve never got around to it.”
Otherwise, the restoration proved considerably less troublesome than the car’s history might have suggested. The main body components had survived well, as had the chassis, running boards and wheel arches so the project was not starting with a completely empty shell. What was missing was a collection of smaller components and chrome items that had disappeared during the years when the car had been dismantled. Paul worked with DW Automotive in Cambridgeshire on the restoration, while Peter Edney of XPAG Engineering (www.xpag.co.uk) rebuilt and rebored
the engine. Given the amount of work involved, the speed of the project was impressive. “It started June 2001 and was completed and back on the road by December 2002,” Paul recalls. Eighteen months was all it took to turn a dismantled TF into a running car again. “I genuinely had no problem with the rebuild,” he says. “All the parts were, and still are, readily available through the MG and Octagon car clubs.” For anyone taking on a T-series MG today, that remains one of the attractions. These cars have been
THE ORIGINAL XPEG HAD BEEN REMOVED BY NAPIER AND REPLACED WITH A 1380CC XPAG.
64 MGE DECEMBER 2026
final 056-67 Paul Pinkham TF December 26.indd 64
www.mgenthusiast.com
13/10/2026 17:26
1954 MG TF 1500
www.mgenthusiast.com
final 056-67 Paul Pinkham TF December 26.indd 65
MGE DECEMBER 2026 65
13/10/2026 17:26
1954 MG TF 1500
supported by enthusiastic owners for decades and the combination of club support, specialist suppliers and a strong parts market means that most of the components needed for a restoration can still be sourced. Finding the right little pieces was actually part of the enjoyment for Paul, even if it did prove frustrating. “I genuinely enjoyed sourcing out the various small parts and bits needed to complete the rebuild,” he says. There was also a particularly good 66 MGE DECEMBER 2026
final 056-67 Paul Pinkham TF December 26.indd 66
reason for getting the work finished. Once the restoration was complete, Paul gave the TF to his wife as a Christmas present. “I gave it to her as a gift,” he says. “It’s in her name and she loves to drive it, though we both get to enjoy it and have done for over two decades.” That gave the restoration a purpose beyond simply putting an interesting old MG back together, RLH 718 was going to be used and it did not take long for Paul to discover that the TF was perfectly capable of fitting into modern traffic. www.mgenthusiast.com
13/10/2026 17:26
1954 MG TF 1500
The car retained its 1380cc XPAG after the restoration but another significant change was made to its transmission. A five-speed Ford Type 9 gearbox was fitted, giving the little MG a much taller ratio for faster roads. “It drives fine and keeps up with modern traffic but having the fivespeed gearbox adds an extra dimension of usability,” he says. “It’s great fun, compact, easy to drive and is also far more straightforward than many other
www.mgenthusiast.com
final 056-67 Paul Pinkham TF December 26.indd 67
cars of its era to own today.” From an Earls Court show stand in 1954 to a dismantled project in Essex nearly half a century later, RLH 718 had covered a fair distance without necessarily moving very far. Paul’s restoration finally gave it the chance to start doing what a TF was designed to do. Be driven. And for the past 24 years, that’s what Paul has been doing. He was also kind enough to throw MG Enthusiast the keys, and we can
vouch for the fact that, despite being over 70 years old, it’s still a vibrant, lively and thoroughly usable car, with a distinctive exhaust note, surprisingly agile handling, fair performance and oodles of character. The five-speed gearbox also transforms its cruising ability. It’s an historically important MG and it remains as much fun today as it always was, largely thanks to Paul and his commitment to returning it back to the road.
MGE DECEMBER 2026 67
13/10/2026 17:26
PeterBest_MGEnthusiast_Advert_270x200.pdf
1
13/10/2025
09:33
classic car insurance C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
CMY
K
With access to the UK's leading insurance underwriters, we provide a choice of the finest policies.
Up to 10% discount for Car Club members
Policy benefits may include: • Free agreed valuations • Free legal cover • Roadside assistance and recovery within UK/EU • Limited mileage options • Multi-car cover discounts
Our best rates online, all the time
www.peterbestinsurance.co.uk or call 01376 574000 Peter Best Insurance Services Ltd. Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registration No. 307045 | Registered in England No. 2210270
In association with Discount MG Rover Spares, specialists in Rover and MG Rover modern classics – www.dmgrs.co.uk
1996 MGF 1.8I
OWNED BY: Craig Cheetham OWNED SINCE: February 2026 MILEAGE: 49,500
Decision time…
Craig finally admits that having six roadworthy MGs and an equal number of broken ones means he probably has too many… WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHS: CRAIG CHEETHAM he road to hell is paved with good intentions, so goes the old proverb, and thanks to good intentions, I’ve found myself custodian of 12 MGs – four MGFs, three ZTs, three ZSs, a TF and a ZR. All bar one of those cars were rescued from a very uncertain future, and while describing owning them all as hellish would be a stretch, my car salvation mission has left me unable to keep on top of them all. At the start of 2026, I made a new year’s resolution to get my Le Mans Green ZS Atomix back on the road, for example. Progress so far has been conspicuous by its absence, so I’ll be
T
www.mgenthusiast.com
final 069-70 Our MGs December 26.indd 69
kicking that particular can down the road until 2027 – but I don’t want to leave it any longer because that car deserves so much better. As such, I need to have a bit of a
clear-out, so I’ve committed to selling a few of my roadworthy MGs to put the money towards the projects, and having sold my red TF135 last month to a wonderfully enthusiastic new owner, MGE DECEMBER 2026 69
13/10/2026 17:28
I’ve decided that my early F is next on the chopping block. It’s a tough decision to make, but with two absolutely superb late examples and a Volcano Orange early car, the British Racing Green example has only seen about 500 miles of use during my eight months of ownership. Of those, a large chunk were covered very recently when I took it on a 150mile round trip around Norfolk for work, and as is often the way when I get one of my cars out of storage, I ended up not wanting to part with it – that’s often part of the problem. Great roads, a lovely, tight, 49,500mile MGF and a cool autumn breeze were enough to remind me that the F
is probably the most enjoyable car you can get your hands on for under £1,500, which, let’s face it, barely covers the gas bill these days – but needs must, especially as my domestic situation is
70 MGE DECEMBER 2026
final 069-70 Our MGs December 26.indd 70
changing, so it has to go. The most important thing for this car, though, is that it’s preserved – it’s a fabulous example of an early F, on an N-registration and in an unuaul
specification – no ABS or third brake light, but it does have a two-tone interior, steering and full beige leather with a matching roof. It’s also a wonderfully original, lowmileage car and has four very good Toyo Proxes tyres all round, and aside from one small patch weld to the off-side rear lower wheelarch, it has never seen the business end of a welding torch. The roof is looking a bit scruffy these days and there are a few small marks and a dent in one wing (though I do have a better BRG replacement), but mechanically it’s spot-on, with proof of a head gasket change and a cambelt service not that long ago. It’s just such a shame that MGFs are criminally undervalued – surely that can’t stay the case forever? But while it does, wave somewhere in the region of £1,250 under my nose and you can own a piece of early MGF history – drop me an email at mg.ed@kelsey.co.uk if you’d like to give N940 WJB a new home, as I’d love to see it continue to get the love it deserves. www.mgenthusiast.com
13/10/2026 17:28
We’reDiscount Discount MG Rover - Rover 75 75 / MG ZT specialists and and We’re RoverSpares Spares - Rover / MG ZT specialists W suppliers of of parts parts for MGMG Rover vehicles. suppliers formost mostmodern-era modern-era Rover vehicles. With morethan thanaadecade decade of supporting thethe MG MG Rover With more ofexperience experience supporting Rover community,we’re we’rethe the first first port thousands of enthusiasts! community, portof ofcall callfor for thousands of enthusiasts!
W co
From ServicingKits Kits to to full full Suspension Kits andand everything From Servicing SuspensionRebuild Rebuild Kits everything in-between, we’ve likely got the parts you need on the shelf at our in-between, we’ve likely got the parts you need on the shelf at our Southampton warehouse and if not, we’ll probably be able to Southampton warehouse - and if not, we’ll probably be able to sourceititfor foryou you very very quickly network of suppliers. source quicklyfrom fromour our network of suppliers.
F in
Want seehow howwe we can can help MG Rover on on thethe road? Want totosee helpkeep keepyour your MG Rover road? Give us us aa call today! Give callor oran anemail email today! Rebuilding your vehicle’s engine? Rebuilding your vehicle’s engine? We’re when it comes to the Series, KV6 and M47R We’reexperts experts when it comes to Kthe K Series, KV6 and M47R powerplants used in the Rover 75 and MG ZT while working on powerplants used in the Rover 75 and MG ZT - while working on them can seem daunting, we have everything you need to give them can seem daunting, we have everything you need to give yours lease of of lifelife from Head Gasket Kits to Cylinder Heads, Heads, yoursaanew new lease from Head Gasket Kits to Cylinder Pistons, Valves andand plenty moremore besides! Pistons, Valves plenty besides! Can’t you need? GetGet in touch and we’ll happy to help.to help. Can’tfind findwhat what you need? in touch and be we’ll be happy We’re a stronglycommunity-based community-based business - helping spread We’re a strongly business - helping spread knowledge and support via many online forums, websites and knowledge and support via many online forums, websites and Facebook groups. Facebook groups. These include MG Rover Hub (mgroverhub.co.uk), the Rover These include MG Rover Hub (mgroverhub.co.uk), the Rover 75 & MG ZT Owners Club forum and our own MG Rover Future 75 & MG ZT Owners Club forum and our own MG Rover Future Classics Facebook group - all of which are excellent resources Classics Facebook group - all of which are excellent resources if you own one of these marvellous vehicles. if you own one of these marvellous vehicles. We also work with the above to provide exclusive discounts We also work with the above to provide exclusive discounts and perks to members - please check each website and perks to members - please check each website individually for details. individually for details.
We k no
Th 75 Can’t find what you need? Feel free to get in touch with us if you need a hand - our Can’t find what you need? Feel free to get in touch with us if you need a hand - our C la friendly team of MG Rover enthusiasts are always happy to help! friendly team of MG Rover enthusiasts are always happy to help!
W
BACK ISSUES
Scan me
Price £6.99, UK P&P £5.95, Overseas P&P £7.50
WILD WALES ROAD TRIP
TACKLING SOME OF THE UK'S FINEST ROADS IN ONE OF THE BESTHANDLING FRONTWHEELDRIVE CARS EVER
LOVINGLY CREATED TRIBUTE MG BEASTIE AGOODWOOD
ON THE INCA TRAIL
SPECIAL BOOKAZINE ISSUE
A QUIRKY CAR FOR AN EVEN MORE UNUSUAL HOME
HENRY THE MGB GT, ITS OWNERS AND THE CROOKED HOUSE
WE FIND AN MGB ROADSTER THAT'S BEEN OWNED FROM NEW
December 2025 / No.455
MGB GT AT 60! SEPTEMBER 2025 / No. 452
ALL THE VERY LATEST MG NEWS
CELEBRATING SIX DECADES OF THE TIN TOP MGB
TOP 10 WAYS TO IMPROVE CAR WITH LOT OF OPTIONS... YOUR MIDGET AA LITTLE
WHAT A SAVE!
PLUS
PLUS ● MG TF WINTERPROOFING ● TECH ADVICE ● AUTOMOBILIA
LAUNCH ZT PRESS CAR RESCUED FROM THE BRINK
JANUARY 2026 / No. 456
CELEBRATING 70 YEARS FROM MGA TO CYBERSTER
MIRACLE MAESTRO
ALL THE LATEST GLOBAL MG NEWS
GETTING TO GRIPS WITH AN INCREDIBLE SURVIVING EXAMPLE OF THE 2.0 EFI
KELSEYmedia
001_Cover_MGE_September 25.indd 1
08/07/2025 14:41
MG ZR BUYING GUIDE
MG TF OUR MGs
HOW TO PICK UP THE BEST MG HOT HATCH
MAKING THE MOST OF THE SUMMER SUN
KELSEYmedia
001_Cover_MGE_October 25.indd 1
KELSEYmedia
11/08/2025 09:22
EV ADVENTURE
1,000 MILES IN AN MG4 ON PURELY PLUGIN POWER
BUYING GUIDE
HOW TO PURCHASE THE VERY BEST TF 1250/1500
KELSEYmedia
001_Cover_MGE_November 25.indd 1
KELSEYmedia
● CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE ● GLOBAL MG NEWS ● TECH ADVICE
ACCIDENTAL PURCHASE ANOTHER MGF JOINS THE MG ENTHUSIAST FLEET
KELSEYmedia
08/09/2025 18:59
PLUS
15/10/2025 09:10
KELSEYmedia
KELSEYmedia
YOU ASKED; WE LISTENED!
NEW SECTION: MG ROVER/AUSTIN ROVER ENTHUSIAST final 001_Cover_MGE_December 25.indd 1
PARTEX RESCUE TRADEIN MGF RESCUED BY A DEALERSHIP EMPLOYEE
‘AN INDEPENDENT PUBLICATION’
DECEMBER 2025 ISSUE NO.455
KELSEYmedia
● History Model-by-model ● Background Syd Enever – the father of modern MG ● Buying Advice How to buy the best MG ● Rivals Going head-to-head against MG ● One-offs and prototypes The MGs that never made it ● Models MG sports cars in miniature
JANUARY 2026 ISSUE NO.456 £6.99
‘AN INDEPENDENT PUBLICATION’
KELSEYmedia
‘AN INDEPENDENT PUBLICATION’
OCTOBER 2025 ISSUE NO.453 £6.99
RV8 v CYBERSTER
TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF MG MUSCLE, ONE ENTHUSIAST OWNER
● ALL THE LATEST MG NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD ● TECH Q&A ● AUTOMOBILIA ● GOODWOOD FESTIVAL OF SPEED REPORT● EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS
‘AN INDEPENDENT PUBLICATION’
MG3 BUYING GUIDE
BABY MG IS NOW CHEAPER THAN EVER SHOULD YOU BUY ONE?
SEPTEMBER 2025 ISSUE NO.452 £6.99
PLUS ● TF AND MAGNETTE UPDATES ● MG MODELS BY CULT ● TECH Q&A
NOVEMBER 2025 ISSUE NO.454 £6.99
£9.99
FROM AROUN D THE WORLD
POSTWAR MG SPORTS CARS
NOVEMBER 2025 / No. 454
OCTOBER 2025 / No. 453
OUR NEW SECTION ON THE CARS OF AUSTINROVER, ROVER GROUP AND MG ROVER, KICKING OFF WITH AN IN DEPTH LOOK AT THE ROVER 200 R3 THE INSPIRATION FOR ZR
final 001_Cover_MGE_January 26.indd 1
12/11/2025 09:58
SEPTEMBER 2025
OCTOBER 2025
NOVEMBER 2025
DECEMBER 2025
JANUARY 2026
• 60 YEARS OF MGB GT • RV8 V CYBERSTER • ZS ROUND WALES • MG3 BUYING GUIDE
• TOP 10 MIDGET MODS • GOODWOOD TRIBUTE B • ZR BUYING GUIDE • MG MOTOR INTERVIEWS
• ZT PRESS CAR RESCUED • ONE OWNER INCA MGB • MG4 EV ROAD TRIP • TSERIES TF BUYING
• SPORTS CAR SPECIAL • BUYING GUIDES • MODEL PROFILES • MGS THAT NEVER WERE
• MAESTRO 2.O EFI • PARTEX MGF RESCUE • CROOKED HOUSE MGB • ROVER R3 STORY
ZS V RIVALS ON TEST MG's 2000s COMPACT HATCH
BUYING A MIDGET 1500 HOW TO GET THE BEST
TROPHY HUNTING HOW A COLLECTOR TRACKED
"JUST THE WAY I WANT IT" HOW A READER PICKED HIS
FEBRUARY 2026 / No. 457
PURPLE REIGN
TAKES ON CONTEMPORARIES
MARCH 2026 / No. 458
A JAPANESESPEC MGF IN INCREDIBLE CONDITION
RAINING CHAMPION HOW A READER PICKED HIS PERFECT MGB GT
ALL THE LATEST GLOBAL MG NEWS
RUBBERBUMPER BARGAIN
APRIL 2026 / No. 459
MG METRO TURBO THE FULL STORY BEHIND MG's EIGHTIES HOT HATCH
PERFECT MGB ROADSTER
DOWN HIS PERFECT MGF
MAY 2026 / No. 460
JUNE 2026 / No. 461
LEYLAND ERA MGBs
MGF CHEETAH MEET THE DEALER DEVELOPED SUPERCHARGED MGF
HOW TO BUY THE BEST OF THE LAST CHROME BUMPER MODELS
ALL THE LATEST GLOBAL MG NEWS
NEW SECTION ON THE CARS OF AUSTINROVER, ROVER GROUP AND MG ROVER
001_Cover_MGE_February 26.indd 1
08/12/2025 11:42
OUR MGS TESTING TIMES FOR OUR ZR, AND SHOWTIME FOR THE ZT
KELSEYmedia
001_Cover_MGE_March 26.indd 1
FIRST DRIVE: OUR VERDICT ON THE ALLELECTRIC MG S6 SUV
NEW SECTION ON THE CARS OF AUSTINROVER, ROVER GROUP AND MG ROVER 12/01/2026 16:13
STARTING YOUNG: WE MEET THE TEENAGE MG HILLCLIMB HEROES
KELSEYmedia
KELSEYmedia
ROVER HHR THE COMPACT HATCHBACK THAT BECAME THE ZS.
PRESS CAR UPDATE OUR ZT PROJECT GOES INTO THE WORKSHOP
NEW SECTION ON THE CARS OF AUSTINROVER, ROVER GROUP AND MG ROVER
001_Cover_MGE_April 26.indd 1
09/02/2026 08:53
● MG 1100 DIECAST MODELS ● EVENTS ● YOUR MONOGRAMS ● MGF AND ZS UPDATE
ALL THE LATEST GLOBAL MG NEWS
‘AN INDEPENDENT PUBLICATION’
KELSEYmedia
ROVER 600 WAS IT THE CAR THAT MADE BMW BUY ROVER?
PLUS
● DINKY DIECAST MGs ● TECH Q&A ● 2026 EVENTS
JUNE 2026 ISSUE NO.461 £6.99
BUYING AN MG6 HOW TO GET THE BEST EXAMPLE OF THE LONGBRIDGEBUILT SALOON
PLUS
‘AN INDEPENDENT PUBLICATION’
KELSEYmedia
● NEW MATRIX MG MODELS ● TECH Q&A ● YOUR MGs
‘AN INDEPENDENT PUBLICATION’
‘AN INDEPENDENT PUBLICATION’
KELSEYmedia
WITH THE ROVER 75 UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT
PLUS
MAY 2026 ISSUE NO.460 £6.99
IMMACULATE RV8: WE CHECK OUT ONE OF THE BEST OF THE BREED
● YOUR MGS ● TECH ADVICE ● AUTOMOBILIA ● NEW PRODUCTS
APRIL 2026 ISSUE NO.459 £6.99
FIRST DRIVE OUR ROAD TEST VERDICT ON THE ALLNEW MG IM5 EV
NEW SECTION ON THE CARS OF AUSTINROVER, ROVER GROUP AND MG ROVER
PLUS
MARCH 2026 ISSUE NO.458 £6.99
● TELSALDA MGBs ● GLOBAL MG NEWS ● YOUR MGs ● TECH ADVICE FEBRUARY 2026 ISSUE NO.457 £6.99
PLUS
PEKING TO PARIS IN A VINTAGE MG MADE OF TOUGH STUFF
KELSEYmedia
KELSEYmedia
ROVER STREETWISE WAS IT A FOLLY, OR AHEAD OF ITS TIME?
MG4 URBAN FIRST TEST OF MG's NEW BARGAIN MIDSIZE HATCHBACK
NEW SECTION ON THE CARS OF AUSTINROVER, ROVER GROUP AND MG ROVER
001_Cover_MGE_May 26.indd 1
09/03/2026 15:34
HEAD GASKET FAULT FINDING HOW TO DIAGNOSE THE COMMON KSERIES ISSUE
‘AN INDEPENDENT PUBLICATION’
THE BEST MGs TO BUY IN 2026: OUR TIPS FOR THE ONES TO INVEST IN
KELSEYmedia
FINAL 001_Cover_MGE_June 26.indd 1
08/04/2026 15:18
FEBRUARY 2026
MARCH 2026
APRIL 2026
MAY 2026
JUNE 2026
• MGS TO BUY IN 2026 • JAPANESESPEC MGF • IM5 FIRST DRIVE • RV8 AND ROVER 75
• RESTOMOD MGB GT • ZS TRIPLE TEST • MG6 BUYING GUIDE • ROVER 600 IN PROFILE
• MG METRO TURBO • MIDGET 1500 BUYING • MG S6 FIRST DRIVE • ROVER HHR STORY
• LEYLAND MGB BUYING • PEKING TO PARIS SA • MGF TROPHY • ROVER STREETWISE
• MGF CHEETAH • HEAD GASKET ADVICE • MG4 URBAN DRIVEN • MGB ROADSTER
POPULAR CULTURE LED TERRIFIC TD HOW A READER TO TRACK DOWN
HIS MARVELLOUS MIDGET
SEVENTEEN GOING UNDER HOW YOUNG READER LOUIS
MG ZCARS SPECIAL
KEEPING THEM IN THE CLAN
THE INSIDE LINE ON THE NEW MG GO! WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE RETROINSIPIRED HOT HATCH?
HAS CONTRACTED THE MG BUG...
KELSEYmedia
"THEY REBADGED IT, YOU FOOL" HOW THE METRO EVOLVED (AND FOLDED) INTO THE ROVER 100
HOW ONE YOUNG ENTHUSIAST HAS KEPT THE FAMILY'S ZRs ON THE ROAD
August 2026 / No.463
SPECIAL BOOKAZINE ISSUE
MG Z CARS 25 YEARS ON
JULY 2026 / No. 462
FUN ON A PLATE THE MGF WEDGWOOD SPECIAL EDITION, AND WHY NOW IS THE TIME TO BUY ONE
A QUARTER OF A CENTURY OF MG ROVER'S SPORTING TINTOPS
ALL THE LATEST
SEPTEMBER 2026 / No. 464
HEART OF A LION! ON THE ROAD IN A VERY SPECIAL V8POWERED MGB ROADSTER
GLOBAL MG NEWS
OCTOBER 2026 / No. 465
SCRAPYARD DOG!
ALL THE LATEST
ALL THE LATEST GLOBAL MG NEWS
NOVEMBER 2026 / No. 466
MIGHTY FINE MIDGET FATHERAND
HOW A UNIQUE AND SIGNIFICANT ZT WAS BROUGHT BACK FROM THE DEAD
GLOBAL MG NEWS
SON TEAM BUILD MAKES FOR A COOL FIRST CAR
NEW SECTION ON THE CARS OF AUSTINROVER, ROVER GROUP AND MG ROVER
THE MIRACLE MAESTRO WHAT IF DRIVING REALLY WAS BELIEVING?
FINAL 001_Cover_MGE_July 26.indd 1
13/05/2026 09:17
FINAL 001_Cover_MGE_August 26.indd 1
SPECTRAL POWER MEET THE ZR WITH AN MG6 TURBO ENGINE
KELSEYmedia
KELSEYmedia
10/06/2026 09:19
JULY 2026
AUGUST 2026
• MGF WEDGWOOD • MG4 EV FIRST DRIVE • MG TD READER CAR • TOP 10 MG ITEMS
• MG Z CARS AT 25 • HISTORY AND BUYING • EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS • BOOKAZINE SPECIAL
NEW SECTION ON THE CARS OF AUSTINROVER, ROVER GROUP AND MG ROVER
PRESSING DEADLINE DID THE OLDEST ZT MAKE IT TO ZED 25?
KELSEYmedia
LIFE BEGINS AT 40! WE TAKE AN IN DEPTH LOOK AT THE ROVER 800 AS IT HITS A MAJOR MILESTONE
001_Cover_MGE_Sept 26.indd 1
NEW SECTION ON THE CARS OF BL, AUSTINROVER, ROVER GROUP AND MG ROVER 14/07/2026 09:17
SEPTEMBER 2026 • MGB ROADSTER V8 • ZED 25 REVIEW • MG6POWERED ZR • ROVER 800 AT 40
RACEINSPIRED EXPRESS THE MG VAN WITH A HIDDEN TWIST
PART OF THE FAMILY A VERY SPECIAL YB TELLS ITS STORY
KELSEYmedia
.
See inside for details.
KELSEYmedia
AUSTIN ALLEGRO WAS IT ALL AGGRO, OR AHEAD OF ITS TIME?
FINAL 001_Cover_MGE_Oct 26.indd 1
● MGB SUSPENSION UPGRADES ● OUR MGs ● AUTOMOBILIA ● ZEDFEST REPORT ● ALL THE LATEST GLOBAL MG NEWS
WIN £5,990
A fantastic Viking cruise worth
* only available in the UK
TROPHY HUNTERS HUNTER GIRL RACERS TAKE TO THE TRACK IN THEIR TF
NEW SECTION ON 20/08/2026 THE CARS 07:28 OF AUSTINROVER, ROVER GROUP AND MG ROVER
Viking Roundel 50mm.indd 1
10/08/2026 21:50
MG CYBER CONCEPT THE INSIDE LINE ON MG's SLEEK NEW ELECTRIC COUPÉ
‘AN INDEPENDENT PUBLICATION’
KELSEYmedia
‘AN INDEPENDENT PUBLICATION’
● Model-by-model – From ZR 105 to ZT 260 ● Buying advice – How to buy a Z Car today and what to pay ● ZT press car – How we rescued the oldest surviving ZT
PLUS
● TECH Q&A MIDGET BATTERIES ● NEW PRODUCTS ● OUR CARS: MG TFS ● AUTOMOBILIA OCTOBER 2026 ISSUE NO.465 £6.99
● History – How BMW's departure led to the resurgence of MG ● Development – Sporting saloons, but from humble beginnings ● Inside stories – Former MG Rover staff tell their Z Car stories
PLUS
‘AN INDEPENDENT PUBLICATION’
KELSEYmedia
£9.99
‘AN INDEPENDENT PUBLICATION’
KELSEYmedia
● MAINTAINING ROVER V8 ENGINES ● ZED25 EVENT REPORT ● MGF HEAD GASKET FIX ● NEW PRODUCTS ● AUTOMOBILIA
NOVEMBER 2026 ISSUE NO.466 £6.99
MG4 EV FACELIFT FIRST DRIVE IN IMPROVED ELECTRIC MODEL
AUGUST 2026 ISSUE NO.463
ROGER'S RETURN A FAMILIAR FACE RETURNS TO OUR MGs
PLUS
SEPTEMBER 2026 ISSUE NO.464 £6.99
● PRODUCTS SPECIAL THE TOP 10 THINGS TO KEEP IN YOUR MG ● OUR MGS MGF UPDATE ● VIP ROADWAYS AUTOMOBILIA ● TECH Q&A JULY 2026 ISSUE NO.462 £6.99
PLUS
KELSEYmedia
KELSEYmedia
RANGE ROVER P38a HOW ROVER GROUP SHIFTED THE BALANCE FROM UTILITY TO LUXURY
final 001_Cover_MGE_Nov 26.indd 1
09/09/2026 08:48
OCTOBER 2026
NOVEMBER 2026
• MG ZT XPOWER 2OO • FAMILYOWNED YB • BRM MG EXPRESS • MG GO! PREVIEW
• MIDGET HOME BUILD • ZR FAMILY OWNERS • MG TF GIRL RACERS • ZEDFEST REPORT
COMPLETE YOUR MG ENTHUSIAST COLLECTION BY ORDERING ONLINE: https://shop.kelsey.co.uk/mgeissue OR TELEPHONE: +44 (0)1959 543 747 72 MGE DECEMBER 2026
final 072 Back Issues December 26.indd 72
Our order hotline is open: Mon-Fri 8:30am – 5:30pm (GMT)
www.mgenthusiast.com
13/10/2026 17:29
FUEL YOUR PASSION, WHENEVER AND WHEREVER YOU ARE
www.classicsworld.co.uk www.classicsworld.co.uk Regularly Regularly updated updated website website with with news, news, road road tests, tests, buying buying guides guides and and more more
Be Be part part of of the the conversation conversation on on Facebook Facebook and and Instagram Instagram www.youtube.com/ www.youtube.com/ ClassicsWorldUK ClassicsWorldUK Video channel Video channel with with two two new new videos videos every week every week PLUS: PLUS: Catch Catch our our weekly weekly podcast, podcast, EVERY EVERY Friday Friday on on YouTube YouTube or or wherever wherever you listen to podcasts you listen to podcasts
It couldn’t be easier to sign up for a whole year of MGs than with a subscription to MG Enthusiast, the magazine which loves our special cars just as much as you do. Join the MG Enthusiast family and you’ll be part of the ever-growing community who love everything to do with our wonderful MG cars. MG magazine is the long-established make-specific publication dedicated to all MGs, covering all examples from the earliest 14/40s, through the T-Types to the more familiar shapes, including the Midget and the ubiquitous MGB; and not forgetting the more contemporary mid-engined MGF and the ZR/ZS/ZT saloons and hatchbacks. Guarantee your copy 12 times a year with a subscription to MG Enthusiast and have each issue delivered directly to your door– sent out in plastic-free, recyclable, biodegradable, carbon-balanced paper envelopes – while saving 30% on the yearly subscription price with this great offer.
Craig Cheetham Editor
1970 MGB GT
Working on a dream
1970 MGB GT
Less than six years ago, Adam Daghorn bought a rubber-bumper MGB as his first classic car. He’d never even considered owning one before that but it was a catalyst to get the very best GT that he could. WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHS: CRAIG CHEETHAM
Purple reign When Eddie Ritchie saw that a friend was selling his MGF, he knew it would be the next addition to his British car collection... now he’s on a quest to learn more about Japanese-market MGFs… WORDS AND PHOTOS: CRAIG CHEETHAM
20 MGE MARCH 2026
www.mgenthusiast.com
www.mgenthusiast.com
MGE MARCH 2026 21
REASONS TO SUBSCRIBE
1 Get each issue delivered 2 directly to your door in 100% plastic-free packaging
30 MGE FEBRUARY 2026
www.mgenthusiast.com
www.mgenthusiast.com
MGE FEBRUARY 2026 31
THE BEST MGs TO BUY IN 2026: OUR TIPS FOR THE ONES TO INVEST IN
Enjoy one whole year of MG Enthusiast
074-75 MG Subscriptions Offer December 26.indd 74
PURPLE REIGN
● TELSALDA MGBs ● GLOBAL MG NEWS ● YOUR MGs ● TECH ADVICE
FIRST DRIVE OUR ROAD TEST VERDICT ON THE ALLNEW MG IM5 EV
NEW SECTION ON THE CARS OF AUSTINROVER, ROVER GROUP AND MG ROVER 001_Cover_MGE_February 26.indd 1
IMMACULATE RV8: WE CHECK OUT ONE OF THE BEST OF THE BREED
‘AN INDEPENDENT PUBLICATION’
PLUS
A JAPANESESPEC MGF IN INCREDIBLE CONDITION
FEBRUARY 2026 ISSUE NO.457 £6.99
3 Never miss an issue of 4your must-have magazine Save 30%* and save on the shop price.
FEBRUARY 2026 / No. 457
KELSEYmedia
KELSEYmedia
WITH THE ROVER 75 UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT 08/12/2025 11:42
13/10/2026 17:31
THE WORLD’S BEST-SELLING
MG MAGAZINE.
SAVE
CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE 2026 WHAT TO GET FOR THE MG FAN IN YOUR LIFE THIS FESTIVE SEASON
UPTO
DECEMBER 2026 / No. 467
THE ART OF SUBTLE:
HOW A NEAT MGB ROADSTER IS PACKING A POWERFUL PUNCH
WIN £5,990
A fantastic Viking cruise worth
.
See inside for details.
* only available in the UK
Viking Roundel 50mm.indd 1
ON YOUR MG ENTHUSIAST SUBSCRIPTION
20/08/2026 07:28
● AUTOMOBILIA ● OUR MGs MGF UPDATE ● EVENTS ● TECH Q&A ● ALL THE LATEST MG NEWS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE
CHERISHED FOREVER: A LONGTERM LOVE AFFAIR WITH A FIFTIES TF
NEW SECTION ON THE CARS OF AUSTINROVER, ROVER GROUP AND MG ROVER
OWNED FROM NEW: BOUGHT TO REPLACE A COMPANY CAR IN 2003, AND STILL LOVED...
‘AN INDEPENDENT PUBLICATION’
DECEMBER 2026 ISSUE NO.467 £6.99
PLUS
30%
*
KELSEYmedia
SUBSCRIBE
TODAY
KELSEYmedia
MINI R50 HOW ROVER GROUP DEVELOPED A BMW LEGEND
e m n ca S EASY WAYS TO SUBSCRIBE final 001_Cover_MGE_Dec 26.indd 1
13/10/2026 17:10
1.Go to shop.kelsey.co.uk/MGADP 2.Call us 01959 543747**quote MGADP 3.Use this QR code to go directly to our website **Lines open Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5:30pm.Calls charged at your standard network rate Terms & Conditions: *UK Direct Debit offer or continuous credit card only. Savings are based on the yearly cover price (£6.99 per issue) plus postage. Your subscription will start with the next available. Prices correct at time of print and subject to change. For full terms and conditions visit shop.kelsey.co.uk/terms. Data protection: We take great care in handling your personal details and these will only ever be used as set out in our privacy policy which can be viewed at shop.kelsey.co/ uk/privacy-policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
074-75 MG Subscriptions Offer December 26.indd 75
13/10/2026 17:31
TECHNICAL Q&A Have you got a technical problem with your MG? If so, the combined expertise of Peter Simpson and the MGOC Workshop may be able to help. For details of how to access this free service, see p77.
MGB draught excluders Q
Our technical wizard Peter Simpson looks at how to repair or renew the door seals on an MGB.
I’m thinking about doing a few simple jobs on my MGB GT this winter to improve the cabin’s appearance and, hopefully, remove a few draughts. One such is renewing the draught excluders around the doors. This looks straightforward enough but I am fairly new to this sort of thing and, if I’m honest, a bit ham-fisted sometimes. Can you think of anything I might get wrong or any tips to make it a little easier to get a good result? John Singleton
A
As it happens, I’ve recently had exactly the same thing done on my ZA Magnette and, because I find that things like this, that I ‘fit’, have a nasty habit of falling off again soon afterwards, I chose to have it done by a professional while I stood by watching and taking photos. Having now seen what’s involved, I reckon it’s something I’d definitely do myself next time. As this is a job that is applicable to prettymuch every car covered by MG Enthusiast
Fitting new door seals to an MGB is straightforward but a rubber- or nylonheaded mallet is strongly recommended to avoid impact-damage.
After planning where to position your join (see later), start by pressing the new trim into place. It will usually go on easiest on the long, flat sections but don’t try to press it right home at this stage. 76 MGE DECEMBER 2026
final 076-77 Tech Q&A December 26.indd 76
and the techniques are, broadly speaking, the same for all, I’m going to answer your question in more of an all-models, than MGB-specific, way. Start off by looking at exactly how the trim fits on your car. Sometimes it goes just across metal, sometimes it also holds internal vinyl in place as well. Sometimes it goes straight over the various layers of metal that are spot-welded together around the door aperture but sometimes – most commonly on older cars – it is attached by means of a series of U-clips. If this is the case, the trim will feel loose when placed in position without them. They need to go on to the car before the trim and they need to be about 6” or 15cms apart around most of the frame. At the four corners you need one at the end of the ‘turn’ plus another one in the middle. On other cars, including your MGB, the material fits directly without separate clips and here it’s just a case of pushing it on. I’ll www.mgenthusiast.com
13/10/2026 17:32
TECHNICAL Q&A
Hiding the join… on cars with all-round trims, such as the MGB GT, start your ‘final fit’ in the top rear corner. Push the end right up into the corner like this and then work round, knocking it right into position as you go.
Then, when you’ve got right round, make a 45° cut from the outer edge in. Because the join is right up in the corner, it will then be pretty much invisible. Working round the edge using the rubber or nylon mallet: note the small piece of black vinyl trim that’s needed here due to an unavoidable, and perfectly normal, gap in the replacement trim panels; the door seal goes over it. Fitting the draught excluder: sometimes it’s a bit too tight to press on by hand, in which case use a few light hammer blows.
While the MGB trim goes straight on, some older cars use clips which go over the metalwork and the trim goes on them. This is the complete set that was supplied to do all four on my ZA Magnette.
Clips being knocked into place: as a general rule, they need to be about 6” apart.
come back to that in a moment. First, a little planning is needed as, whereas factory door trims often came as an endless loop, the material available today is generally supplied off the roll. This prompts the question of where to hide the join. On an MGB the best place is at the top-rear corner. Use a diagonal cut in the middle. On my Magnette, however, we put it in the middle at the bottom, where a
tread-plate hides it while also helping to hold it in position. The part of this job which scares most people, though, is physically knocking the trim on. You need to tap it hard enough to sit firmly and securely but not so hard that you mark or dent the trim. Specialists who are used to handling tools will often use a panel-beating hammer but, for first-timers,
At 90°-ish corners you need a clip at each side of the curved section. If the turn is more than about 6” long, additional clips in between, about 3” apart.
a rubber- or nylon-headed mallet (such as a Thor) is much more controllable and less likely to cause problems.
THE PART OF THIS JOB WHICH SCARES MOST PEOPLE, THOUGH, IS PHYSICALLY KNOCKING THE TRIM ON.
The MG Enthusiast Helpline is brought to you by Peter Simpson and the technical team at the MGOC workshop, who kindly provide the expertise to solve your problems. So, if you are having trouble with your MG and need some help, please send full details and photos, if possible, to: MG Enthusiast, Kelsey Media, The Granary, Downs Court, Yalding Hill, Yalding, Kent, ME18 6AL, UK or email: mg.ed@kesley.co.uk We will reply to all queries as quickly as possible but some questions may require research so please allow up to 28 days. Please note that this is a free service. Some complex questions may require more time than we can reasonably allow, in which case we will let you know. Neither MG Enthusiast nor the MGOC can accept liability for loss, damage or injury resulting from replies to readers’ queries.
www.mgenthusiast.com
final 076-77 Tech Q&A December 26.indd 77
MGE DECEMBER 2026 77
13/10/2026 17:32
by Andrew Ralston
Norev’s 1100: an MG model from France any collectors are happy to have one example of a model car in their collection while others of the ‘completist’ turn of mind like to search out every possible variant. This month we are looking at a single model: the MG 1100 by Norev of France, not so much for the sake of spotting minor differences but to show how each version reflects a different phase of model car production and was actually aimed at a different type of customer. Norev enjoyed great success from the early 1950s until well into the Seventies with cars similar in size and style to the likes of Dinky and Corgi Toys but cheaper to buy as they were made of plastic rather than diecast metal. The result was that collectors didn’t value them as much, though now prices have caught up with their diecast equivalents,
M
Introduced in 1966, Norev’s 1/43 scale plastic MG 1100 is a surprisingly faithful replica of the real vehicle
…THE NOREV MG WAS FAIRLY UNUSUAL IN HAVING SIDE WINDOWS THAT COULD SLIDE UP AND DOWN.
At this time, Norev models came with a card plinth with Perspex cover (Photo courtesy of aujouetparisien.com) 78 MGE DECEMBER 2026
final 078-79 Automobilia December 26.indd 78
especially in France. Initially at least, Norev (which, incidentally, is the surname of the company founder Joseph Veron read backwards) favoured homegrown vehicles like Citroëns, Renaults, Peugeots and Panhards but a few cars from other European countries did find their way into the catalogue. MG was represented, not by one of the sports cars modelled by so many other firms, but by the 1100 saloon. This came out in 1966, a period when almost all toy cars were expected to have features like suspension, windows, interior fittings and some opening parts as standard. The search was on to outdo competitors with new features and, although not unique, the Norev MG was fairly unusual in having side windows that www.mgenthusiast.com
13/10/2026 17:33
Stripped of interior fittings, the ‘Baby’ Series 1100 sold at a lower price and was packed in a generic, non-picture box
Another box variation used for the ‘Baby’ Series (Photo courtesy of aujouetparisien.com)
could slide up and down. Of course, adding more operating features increased production costs. In 1963 Dinky Toys therefore briefly launched stripped down versions of some of their cars, known as the ‘Junior’ Series, lacking windows and opening parts – effectively going back to the basic style of toy cars of the 1950s. Norev adopted a similar approach in 1966 with the ‘Baby’ Series, one of which was a ‘de-trimmed’ 1100, consisting of simply a body/chassis on wheels. The packaging, too, harks back to the past: instead of the currently popular Perspex-window-type of box, the Baby 1100 came in a generic card box with a sticker on the end flap indicating the model inside. Production of the Dinky Junior and www.mgenthusiast.com
final 078-79 Automobilia December 26.indd 79
Norev Baby series ran in parallel with the better-finished regular issues. The only thing going for them was the lower price as they didn’t have much appeal
CHILDREN WERE LESS INTERESTED IN TOY CARS WHEREAS A NEW MARKET FOR ADULT COLLECTORS HAD EMERGED. otherwise. Ironically, these short-lived versions are now harder to find that the better-finished regular issues. Both the ‘basic’ and ‘deluxe’ Norev 1100s were produced as children’s toys but, if we fast forward a few decades, Norev, like Corgi and many other toymakers, had changed tack. Children were less interested in toy cars whereas a new market for adult collectors had emerged. Norev now began to exploit nostalgia by reproducing some of its early models in an upgraded form. Hence, in 1997, the MG 1100 reappeared with additional detailing (especially to the wheels) and packed in a hard plastic display case with a backing card recalling the wood crate-style of packaging used by Norev in the 1950s. In short, these three Norev 1100s mark three different phases in the evolution of the model car market: one with features to give sales appeal, one intended to sell as a low-priced toy and a third, more sophisticated offering, for the more discerning collector.
In 1997, Norev re-issued the MG 1100 with a more detailed finish to increase its appeal to adult collectors MGE DECEMBER 2026 79
13/10/2026 17:33
TO ADVERTISE VISIT
CLASSICSWORLD.CO.UK CURRENT LISTINGS 1972 MGB
MGA
2004 MG ZT-T V8 260 SE
£2,195. 1972, MGB in red. Many new parts currently not running as electrics need to be finished with new wiring loom supplied. Heritage certificate, with all history. Please call 01403 267484, West Sussex 12410
MG ZR £1,200 or offers. 2004. Project, not finished, can’t finish due to move, new wings front painted, headlights new, new disc’s one new calipar brake, not starting so trailer needed, ok condition, 2, new radiators. Please call 07508 221894, Cheshire 12329
1958 MGA ROADSTER
1959, POA. 1959 MGA Roadster. Restoration project car stored for many years with V5 documents. RHD and first registered new in the UK. Rare opportunity to acquire an untouched complete car for restoration. Also available (to greatly simplify restoration and avoid time consuming bodywork) is an ex USA complete “body tub”, spare chassis and panels. Car located in East Yorkshire. Please call 07729752619, East Yorkshire
£9,500. Pearl black, 64,000 miles, superb condition, FSH, a/c renewed, new MOT, new unused spare wheel, owned 16 years, 2660MG reg available otherwise 54 reg. Please call 07939 903730, Hampshire 12764
12339
M.G.A. 1958
MG MIDGET
1958, £14,000. Iris Blue, 1800 MGB 5 bearing engine, Ford T9 5sp gearbox. Owned by me for over 50 years, nearly everything replaced or improved over the years. No rust. (Teesside), john.v.smith@ntlworld.com. Please call 01642 790009, Stockton on Tees
£18,250. 1958. MGA 1958 1500 restored 1994. 8000 dry miles since restoration, owned by myself 30 yrs. Originally L.H.D. Californian car, unmarked interior, comes with stripped spare engine, featured M.G.A “The Complete Story”. Please call 07981 041328, Hampshire
£3,750. 1979. Midget 1500. Full body re-build with new interior, doors, bonnet, boot. To chrome bumper spec. Unleaded. Luminition dissy. Oil cooler with photos 5000 miles since. Please call 01978 790820, Wrexham
12708
12521
12758
FEATURE YOUR MOTOR IN YOUR FAVOURITE MAGS!
OR FIND YOUR NEXT!
MG MIDGET
MG TD/TF SPORTS
MG ‘B’ ENGINE PARTS
£9,995. 1979. Car totally rebuilt by retired professional motor engineer, 300 cc Toledo engine, every thing new or refurbed, blue minilites, subtle retro’d, condition 1, reg worth £1000 inc. 12K invoices. Please call 01924 490893, West Yorkshire
£60. 1972. MGB Engine from 1972 car for rebuild complete. Dismantled. Buyer collects. Southport Lancashire. Please call 07359 600808, Lancashire
12617
MG MGA 55-62 WHEELS
MGB-GT
£275. Fire sandblasted and restored wheels, never used. No tyres included. Finish- silver. Please call 07584 052317, Hertfordshire
12690
12424
POA. Year is 1953, its had 2 owners from new, back partly stripped. Original number plate from new. I do have some new parts there are no parts missing. Offers welcome. Please call 07980 401147, Shropshire
MG BADGE
12625
MGB GT V8 £4,250. March 1973 “K” Reg, Historic Vehicle, tax, MOT exempt, Teal Blue, black canvass sunroof, rosstyle wheels, starts straight up, deceased estate car, can deliver anywhere, sounds as an MG should! No texts, can deliver anywhere. Please call 07895 675851, South West
£50. Picture shows front & rear, slight damage to front by the G. Age unknown £50 plus P&P. Call Mark. Please call 01553 764542, Kings Lynn 12211
12685
£2,000. MGF 10/9/97 ext work carried out by MG Specialist May 21 including head gasket st/ st cooling pipes 5 new tyres new rear windscreen body good no rust needs respray. Red. Please call 01494 712540, Buckinghamshire
1976, £22,000. MGB GT V8. Ex Terry Smith race car. Factory built V8. Still blue over silver. Many extras. PASLSD Now built as a GT road car. Owned 10 years. Very solid and reliable. Featured in MG Enthusiast magazine - December 2024 Issue 443. PX - anything considered. Please call 07710796841, North Somerset
12527
12251
MG F
MG & CLASSIC CAR SPECIALIST
enquiries@mgsforsale.com
URGENTLY WANTED URGENTLY WANTED
ANY MG ANY YEAR, ANY CONDITION View our stock online at: www.mgsforsale.com www.mgsforsale.com 01707 876089 or 07831 556666 01707 876089 or 07831 556666
BEWARE SCAMMERS! TO ADVERTISE VISIT:
CLASSICSWORLD.CO.UK
We value your advertising and want to remind you be aware of scammers. Scammers are clever and can often seem genuine so please remember : • Kelsey will never contact you to upsell your free advert to a paid for one. • Do not share any financial or personal information with people you do not know. • Kelsey are not responsible for any transactions between seller and buyer. • You can report scam calls to us via email at cars@kelseyclassifieds.co.uk
OR EMAIL:
CARS@KELSEYCLASSIFIEDS.CO.UK
❯❯ PRE-ORDER THE NEXT ISSUE TODAY MG Enthusiast January 2027. On sale Friday 27th November priced at £6.99 – or you can save money on the cover price by subscribing at https://shop.kelsey.co.uk/mg-enthusiast-magazine
HIS AND HERS
ONE COUPLE AND TWO VERY SPECIAL MGs
JANUARY ISSUE
ON SALE NOVEMBER 27TH, 2026
JANUARY 2027 / No. 468
ALL THE LATEST MG NEWS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE
MG4 BUYING GUIDE HOW TO PLUG TO THE BEST COMPACT EV
NEW SECTION ON THE CARS OF AUSTINROVER, ROVER GROUP AND MG ROVER
INTO
BILIA
R CLASSIC WINTERPROOF YOUR MG GET YOU ONS MG READY FOR THE CHANGE IN SEAS
HOOR AY! HIPPOHIPPOROVE R WITH MORE IN
FREELANDER: THE LAND T REALISE... COMMON WITH AN MG THAN YOU MIGH
DON’T MISS OUT! ORDER TODAY!
‘AN INDEPENDENT PUBLICATION’
AUTOMO PLUS ● TECH Q& A: MGB BR AKES ●
JANUARY 2027 ISSUE NO.468 £6.99
BY GEORGE!
HOW ONE YOUNG RE ADER HAS ALRE ADY FOUND HIS DREAM ZT 260
dvertise in oEYamed T ia KELS all this issue c 25 01732 4453 or email
KELSEYmedia
lk-media.uk clairemg@ta
13/10/2026 17:34
PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY ONLINE https://shop.kelsey.co.uk/issue/MGE ORDER BY PHONE +44 (0)1959 543747** QUOTE REF: MGE JANUARY
001_Cover_MGE_Jan 27.indd 1
Terms and conditions apply. **Lines open Mon-Fri 8.30am - 5.30pm (GMT). Calls charged at your standard network rate. Front cover for illustration purposes and subject to change. 82 MGE DECEMBER 2026
final 082 Next Issue December 26.indd 82
www.mgenthusiast.com
13/10/2026 17:35
I
A13 - CROYDON CLASSICS_CLASSIC MOTORING 31/01/2020 10:38 Page+---$-
CROYDON CLASSICS CHROME
BUMPER
MG
SPECIALISTS
As featured on Channel 4's "Deals on Wheels"
GOOD/RESTORED EXAMPLES ALWAYS WANTED/SOLD
MG B Roadster Mk1, 1963, Tartan Red Mk1 “pull-handle” model fitted with wire wheels and leather. Bodywork restored and in really good condition with excellent paintwork, and rust free engine compartment. Rebuilt unleaded engine and gearbox with only 1,000 miles. New carpet; Black leather seats with red piping in great condition; Brand new hood just fitted. Chrome all excellent; with Avon tyres. Service history dates back 40 years!! £15,000
MG B Roadster, 1964, Old English White MG B Roadster Mk1, 1964, Old English White, Overdrive, Fitted with overdrive and leather interior; New hood, Just undergone a full bare metal respray and in stunning condition with no rust on the body work. Rebuilt engine and overdrive gearbox, and recently fitted with rebuilt carburettors. £14,500 Black interior and hood all in excellent condition.
MG B Roadster, 1964, Old English White MG B Roadster, 1968, Overdrive, New chrome wire wheels just fitted – photos to be updated! Restored in 2018 and in excellent condition. Reconditioned unleaded engine, new carburettors. Tan leather interior with matching carpet all in excellent condition New chrome £12,500 wire wheels.
MG B GT, 1970, Midnight Blue in stunning midnight blue and fitted with overdrive. Complete bare metal respray just completed; New windscreen and tailgate glass rubbers. Reconditioned engine and clutch; Rebuilt carburettors; Electronic ignition; New radiator and many other new parts. New leather interior – black with red piping; New chrome, New anthracite (light grey) alloy wheels, Restoration completed and ready for MOT and drive away to enjoy! £12,500
MG B Roadster, 1968, British Racing Green Bodywork in excellent condition with excellent paintwork having been restored approximately 10 years ago; Major rebuild carried out in the 1990’s – sills and floor pans have no rust issues. Fitted with a rebuilt Oselli 2 litre engine and rebuilt SU carburettors and only driven 9,000 miles on the engine. Professionally tuned, red leather seats with matching trim and hood all in very good condition. £12,500
MG B GT, 1972, British Racing Green Fitted with overdrive and wire wheels. In excellent condition with lovely paintwork; Photographic record of a total bare body restoration/rebuild in the late 1990’s and is structurally solid. Engine, gearbox, rear axle, etc all rebuilt during the restoration; Overdrive works and engages instantly. Fitted with tan leather interior with MG club seats £10,500
• Hood fitting • Walnut dashboards • RHD/LHD conversions • Rubber to Chrome bumper conversion
• Wire wheel conversions
WORK SHOP FACILITIES:
• Mechanical Servicing /Repairs • Body Restoration & Resprays • Welding to MOT standard • Trimming/Carpet fitting
MG B GT, 1973, Glacier White, Overdrive This MG B GT has been kept in dry storage for the past 25 years and hence is very original with no unwanted modifications. We have just completed the full recommissioning of the this factory Glacier White 1972 MG B GT, which has included a full respray, new brakes all round, new water pump & radiator, rebuilt carburettors. Rebuilt Goldseal engine, drives really well. Fitted with brand new Minilite style alloys and new tyres; Overdrive; Servo brakes; Black cloth interior all in excellent condition £9,500
• New & Secondhand parts • Delivery/Collection • Storage Facilities
Left Hand Drive Conversions for MGs Price for conversion ONLY £975 on cars we are selling. We can convert any of the MGBs listed on this website to Left Hand Drive using an early Mk1 metal LHD dashboard (refurbished). We also undertake LHD conversions to MGAs, MGCs, & MG Midgets. Contact us for a quote if you would like your own car converted. The conversion takes approximately 2 days to complete as we have the parts in stock. WE CAN DELIVER TO ANYWHERE IN EUROPE – Email us for a quote.
Selection of MGBs Varying in years from 1962 to 1980 with 4-Speed + Overdrive.
ooe ot
the 1�r9e:�1
r
c���£�:r south EaS\.
An MG owner for 30 years offers a friendly and professional service. Viewing by appointment - 6 days a week
TELEPHONE 01883 99 725950 07990 977197. FREEPBONE: :08000 61 99.• MOBILE: MOBILE: 07990 977197
Check out our website www.croydonclassics.com
Parts for TA to TF 1936-55, YA YB YT, MGA & Magnette Secure online shopping at: www.mgbits.com or by phone ...worldwide shipping
MGA
Z SE RIE W L SELS 4/4O 4 & 15 EY PAR TS CAT /50
CUST
OME
L059X
R N UM
BER
ALO GUE
T&yY pe
6 Founded 196
L127XT
T
L165BX
S950S
L448P
S158XL
L487
S990
CUSTOME
R R NUMBE
LOGUE
PARTS CATA
Electrical - Lighting
Brit Heritagish Mot e App or rove
d
www .mgb
L250
L704H
L456
L482
L907C
L481
L486A
L129
L486
its.c
ur in o n Now itio st ed 21
om
L060B
L485
British Motor ed Heritage Approv
L062
.com www.mgbits
r ou n in tio w edi o N th 28
T&Y Type or MGA & Z series catalogues- email or phone for your copy
Exchange shock absorbers available for most models
Disc brake kits TD/F YB ZA/B & MGA Disc or wire wheels
Engine, gearbox and all mechanical parts Unleaded conversion kits and heads Interior trim, seats and carpets in original colours Timber and metal body parts and associated
hardware
Weather equipment, hood & sidescreen frames and components All electrical parts including dashboards instruments etc.
NTG Motor Services Ltd 282-284 Bramford Road Ipswich IP1 4AY Tel: +44(0)1473 406031/2 Fax: +44(0)1473 742087 sales@mgbits.com British Motor Heritage Approved - founded 1966