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MG Rover has announced the building of the 1.5 millionth MG since production began in 1924. Over its 78-year history many varieties of MG have made their mark on an enthusiastic public, making this one of the most famous sports motoring brands in history.
The 1.5 millionth MG is a new TF 160. In celebration of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee, it has been specially painted in a new Jubilee Gold ‘supertallic’ paint.
MG has long been a by-word for sports cars and during its long history the proportion of roadster to sports saloons produced has been exactly 2:1, with the MGB accounting for one third in its own right.
The 1.5 millionth MG has been designated as an exclusive, one-off Golden Jubilee model with special badging including official Golden Jubilee crown logos. It is registered MG02OTF and will participate tomorrow in a motoring cavalcade in London that finishes in the Mall, helping to raise money with the proceeds going to one of the Queen’s nominated Golden Jubilee charities.
The MG TF will be introduced in Australia later this year, replacing the successful and much-loved MGF. It will join the recently-launched MG ZT sports sedan and ZT-T sports wagon, both dynamic new sporting prestige cars starting at under $60,000.
MG Production Totals: 1.5 Million Cars In 78 Years
| MG cars |
Produced |
Saloon |
Roadster |
Total |
| MG TF |
2002 |
|
4,027 |
4,027 |
| MG ZT (saloon &
ZT-T wagon) |
2001 |
5,760 |
|
5,760 |
| MG ZS |
2001- |
8,392 |
|
8,392 |
| MG ZR |
2001- |
14,195 |
|
14,195 |
| MGF |
1995-2001 |
|
77,269 |
77,269 |
| MG RV8 |
1992-1995 |
|
1,983 |
1,983 |
| MG Maestro Turbo |
1989-1991 |
504 |
|
504 |
| MG Montego Turbo |
1985-1991 |
7,276 |
|
7,276 |
| MG Montego EFi |
1984-1991 |
34,476 |
|
34,476 |
| MG Metro 6R4 |
1985-1986 |
205 |
|
205 |
| MG Maestro 1.6/2.0
EFi |
1983-1991 |
47,914 |
|
47,914 |
| MG Metro Turbo |
1983-1990 |
21,968 |
|
21,968 |
| MG Metro 1300 |
1982-1990 |
120,197 |
|
120,197 |
| MGB GT V8 |
1973-1976 |
|
2,591 |
2,591 |
| MGC/GT |
1967-1969 |
|
9,002 |
9,002 |
| MGB/GT |
1962-1980 |
|
513,276 |
513,276 |
| MG 1100/1300 |
1962-1971 |
157,409 |
|
157,409 |
| MG Midget |
1961-1979 |
|
224,843 |
224,843 |
| MG Magnette MkIII/IV |
1959-1968 |
30,996 |
|
30,996 |
| MGA Twincam |
1958-1960 |
|
2,111 |
2,111 |
| MGA |
1955-1962 |
|
98,970 |
98,970 |
| MG ZA/ZB Magnette |
1953-1958 |
36,600 |
|
36,600 |
| MG TF Midget |
1953-1955 |
|
9,600 |
9,600 |
| MG TD Midget |
1949-1953 |
|
29,664 |
29,664 |
| MG Y-type (YA/YB &
YT tourer) |
1947-1953 |
7,459 |
877 |
8,336 |
| MG TC Midget |
1945-1949 |
|
10,001 |
10,001 |
| MG WA 2.6-litre saloon |
1938-1939 |
369 |
|
369 |
| MG TB Midget |
1939-1939 |
|
379 |
379 |
| MG VA 1½-litre |
1936-1939 |
|
2,407 |
2,407 |
| MG TA Midget |
1936-1939 |
|
3,003 |
3,003 |
| MG SA saloon/drophead
coupe |
1935-1939 |
1,876 |
862 |
2,738 |
| MG R-type |
1935-1935 |
|
10 |
10 |
| MG Q-type Midget |
1934-1934 |
|
8 |
8 |
| MG PA/PB Midget |
1934-1936 |
|
2,499 |
2,499 |
| MG N-type Magnette |
1934-1936 |
|
745 |
745 |
| MG L-type Magna |
1933-1934 |
|
576 |
576 |
| MG K3 Magnette |
1932-1934 |
|
31 |
31 |
| MG K1/K2 Magnette |
1932-1935 |
|
410 |
410 |
| MG J3/J4 Midget |
1932-1933 |
|
31 |
31 |
| MG J1/J2 Midget |
1932-1934 |
|
2,463 |
2,463 |
| MG F1/F2/F3 Magna |
1931-1932 |
|
1,250 |
1,250 |
| MG D-type Midget |
1931-1932 |
|
250 |
250 |
| MG C-type Midget |
1931-1932 |
|
44 |
44 |
| MG 18/100 MkIII Tigress
|
1930-1931 |
|
5 |
5 |
| MG M-type Midget |
1928-1932 |
|
3,235 |
3,235 |
| MG 18/80 Mk1/11 |
1928-1933 |
|
736 |
736 |
| MG 14/40 & MkIV
|
1926-1929 |
|
851 |
851 |
| MG 14/28 Super Sports |
1924-1926 |
|
395 |
395 |
| |
| MG cars production
total |
1924-2002 |
500,000 |
1,000,000 |
1,500,000 |
Efforts have been made to ensure the validity of these calculations of historic MG production and the most authentic and accurate records available have been used. However, many MG models were produced in a multitude of body designs; 4 or 2 seaters, saloons, open tourers, salonettes etc, and the definition of some of these is open to interpretation. The saloon / roadster split is therefore only an illustration of the popularity of body design rather than a specific record of individual bodies, as records do not permit an infallible separation.
| MG Milestones |
|
1921
|
33 year-old Cecil Kimber
joins Morris Garages with a great interest in body styling, coach building
and sports cars. |
|
1924
|
The first MG car is
built, a sporting four-seater tourer on a modified Morris Oxford chassis.
The factory telephone number - Abingdon 251 - provided the starting point
for most MG's chassis VINs (Vehicle Identification Numbers). |
|
1925
|
The first purpose-built
MG sports car is built: the 1.5 litre 'Old No. 1'. Made for the Land's End
Trial where it won a gold medal, it survives to this day. |
|
The
English cricket team win their first test against Australia in 12 years.
|
|
1927
|
A privately entered
MG 14/40 won a 100 km race at San Martin, Argentina. |
|
First
broadcasts by the BBC.
|
|
1929
|
After several moves
due to increasing demand, production finally settles at Abingdon-on-Thames,
MG's home until 1980. |
|
James
Whale's 'Frankenstein' is unleashed at the cinema.
|
|
1930
|
The first MG Midget
is launched, alongside the luxurious six-cylinder 18/80.
The MG Car Company Limited is formally incorporated.
The 750cc EX120 sets the world record of over 100 mph, at Montlhéry.
|
|
Uruguay
wins the first World Cup football tournament.
|
|
1933
|
Supercharged 1100cc
six cylinder K3 MG Magnette won its class at Mille Miglia, making MG the
first non-Italian marque ever to win the team prize. A K3 driven by Tazio
Nuvolari won the Ulster TT. A C-type Midget was class winner and 6th overall
at Le Mans. |
|
Fred
Perry wins the US Open tennis title.
|
|
1935
|
A K3 wins the 1100cc
class at Le Mans and the EX 135 - or 'Magic Magnette' - is driven at over
200mph by Goldie Gardner and later breaks many more land speed records.
|
|
US
gangsters, Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, are shot dead by police.
|
|
1939-45
|
Car production is halted
for the company to concentrate on munitions production during World War
2. |
|
1947
|
Duke of Edinburgh buys
a TC Midget in August. |
|
1948
|
An MG T-series took
3rd in the second Watkins Glen GP. |
|
David
Lean's film 'Oliver Twist' is released.
|
|
1952
|
Nuffield and Austin
are merged to form BMC. MG has a new in-house family rival: Austin-Healey. |
|
1955
|
The MGA, designed by
Syd Enever, is launched - the first MG sports car with all enveloping bodywork
- and competes at Le Mans the same year. |
|
Winston
Churchill resigns as PM and Anthony Eden becomes his successor.
|
|
1956
|
The 100,000th MG built
is a left hand drive MGA 1500. |
|
1957
|
The EX181 achieves
a record 245.64 mph for the 1500cc class with Stirling Moss at the wheel.
|
|
'That'll
Be The Day' released by Buddy Holly and the Crickets.
|
|
1960
|
A special Twin Cam
Coupe won the 2-litre class at Le Mans. |
|
The
novel 'Lady Chatterley's Lover' is the subject of a British obscenity
trial.
|
|
1961
|
The new MG Midget is
launched, bringing low cost motoring back to the MG enthusiast. |
|
1962
|
The 1800cc MGB replaces
the MGA and is destined to be the mainstay of MG production for the next
20 years. |
|
1963
|
The 500,000th MG is
produced. |
|
1964
|
An MG 1100 driven by
Foster and Hedges, secured a 1300cc class win in the six-hour Touring Car
Race at Brands Hatch. |
|
'Beatlemania'
shakes the world and paves the way for the Rolling Stones.
|
|
1965
|
The MGB GT is added
and dubbed as 'the poor man's Aston Martin'. |
|
Russian
Colonel Alexei Leonev is the first man to walk in space.
|
|
1966
|
MGB won the Marathon
de la Route 84-hour race, Nürburgring. |
|
England
wins the football World Cup.
|
|
1968
|
BMC and Leyland merge
to form BLMC, later to become BL. MG becomes part of a specialist car division,
along with Jaguar, Daimler, Rover and Triumph. |
|
1969
|
HRH Prince Charles
takes delivery of an MGC GT (SGY 766F), which he passes down to Prince William
30 years later. |
|
Fashion
shifts to 'flower power' - men's hair is longer and women's shorter.
|
|
1973
|
The Rover V8 is put
into the MGB GT to create the MGB GT V8. Introduced on the eve of a fuel
crisis, the market for such cars collapses. |
|
1975
|
The 1,000,000th MG
is built in October - a unique left hand drive MGB roadster finished in
Brooklands Green, with Jubilee GT livery and wheels. |
|
1983
|
A 200 bhp MG Metro
Turbo driven by Tony Pond took three class pole positions, one class win,
four fastest laps in the Trimoco Saloon Car Championship. |
|
David
Bowie sings 'Let's Dance' as seat belts are made compulsory in Britain.
|
|
1984
|
The MG 6R4 sweeps all
before it before the competition rules are changed to exclude it. |
|
Madonna
has her first big hit with 'Like A Virgin'.
|
|
1987
|
David Gillanders wins
the UK National Rally Championship and Will Gollup wins the Lydden Winter
Rallycross Championship and takes the European Rallycross title. |
|
The
All Blacks win Rugby Football's first World Cup final.
|
|
1992
|
MGR V8 is launched
as a step towards MG's rebirth as a sports car manufacturer. Fitted with
a 3.9-litre V8 engine, just 2000 are made until 1995. |
|
1995
|
The arrival of the
MGF in 1995 heralds the beginning of a new legend. With its classic mid-engine/rear
wheel design, world-class engines and good looks, the MGF is the MG for
the '90s and the next millennium. |
|
1997
|
MGF launched in Australia. |
|
2000
|
Following sale by BMW,
the company returns to British ownership on 9 May with shares held by MG
Rover Group employees and its franchised dealers. |
|
2001
|
The MG ZR, ZS and ZT
are launched, creating a completely new market for MG. Racing programmes
are announced for the British Touring Car Championship, World Rally Championship
and Le Mans. |
|
2002
|
MG ZT sedan and ZT-T
sports wagon launched in Australia. |
|
2002
|
The 1.5 millionth MG
is a new 'Golden Jubilee' MG TF 160 roadster. |
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