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MG (Classic)

Automotive/ICE brands  •  Curated by Admin Timeline.sg

MG (Classic) history under Geely Holding Group. Origin: UK. Status: Classic brand, name now owned by SAIC. MG (Morris Garages) was a British automotive brand founded in the 1920s, renowned for its sporty open-top roadsters and motorsport heritage, enduring multiple corporate ownership changes before its eventual acquisition by SAIC Motor.

Chronological Storyline (20 Milestones)

1924 CE

First MG Car Built

Cecil Kimber, manager of Morris Garages in Oxford, creates the first MG car by fitting a Morris Oxford body to a Morris Cowley chassis, establishing the brand's sporting identity. #UK #Independent #SportsCar Source — Wikipedia:

1928 CE

MG Car Company Limited Formed

William Morris officially incorporates the MG Car Company Limited, separating it from Morris Motors to focus on the production of high-performance sports cars. #UK #Independent #SportsCar Source — Wikipedia:

MG logo used from 1990 to 2010
MG logo used from 1990 to 2010
By MG Cars - Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation, PD, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1289930
1933 CE

MG K3 Magnette Wins Mille Miglia

The supercharged MG K3 Magnette achieves a class victory in the Mille Miglia, cementing MG's reputation in international endurance racing. #UK #Independent #Supercharger #MilleMiglia Source — Wikipedia:

1936 CE

Launch of the MG T-Type

MG introduces the MG T-Type series, a line of lightweight roadsters that would become foundational to post-war sports car enthusiasm, particularly in export markets. #UK #Independent #Roadster Source — Wikipedia:

MG TA, Baujahr 1938. Fotografiert anläßlich des European Concours d'Elegance 2002 in Schwetzingen
MG TA, Baujahr 1938. Fotografiert anläßlich des European Concours d'Elegance 2002 in Schwetzingen
By Rudolf Stricker - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2957867
1952 CE

Merger Forms British Motor Corporation

MG is absorbed into the British Motor Corporation following the merger of the Nuffield Organisation and Austin Motor Company, ending its era of total independence. #UK #BritishMotorCorporation #SportsCar Source — Wikipedia:

1955 CE

MG EX181 Sets Speed Record

The MG EX181 streamliner, driven by Stirling Moss, sets a class land speed record at over 230 mph, showcasing MG's advanced aerodynamic and supercharged engine technology. #UK #BritishMotorCorporation #Supercharger #LandSpeedRecord Source — Wikipedia:

1962 CE

Introduction of the MG B

MG launches the MG B, a monocoque-bodied roadster that becomes the world's best-selling sports car of its era and a defining model for the brand. #UK #BritishMotorCorporation #Unibody #Roadster Source — Wikipedia:

A 1969 MG MGB MkII open roadster. This car was photographed at Nuffield Place, the former home of William Morris, the founder of Morris Motors and Morris Garages (MG).
A 1969 MG MGB MkII open roadster. This car was photographed at Nuffield Place, the former home of William Morris, the founder of Morris Motors and Morris Garages (MG).
By DeFacto - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=45094991
1968 CE

Formation of British Leyland

MG becomes part of the massive British Leyland Motor Corporation, leading to badge-engineering practices that diluted the brand's sporting pedigree over time. #UK #BritishLeyland #SportsCar Source — Wikipedia:

1973 CE

MG MGB GT V8 Debuts

MG introduces the MGB GT V8, fitting a Rover V8 engine into the popular GT coupe, marking the brand's return to V8 power and high-performance touring. #UK #BritishLeyland #V8Engine Source — Wikipedia:

1982 CE

MG Brand Revived with MG Metro

Austin Rover revives the MG badge with the MG Metro 1300, a hot hatchback that brought performance back to the brand after years of dormancy. #UK #BritishLeyland #HotHatch #BTCC Source — Wikipedia:

Austin Metro Mk2 5-door registered August 1989 photographed Knebworth August 2018
Austin Metro Mk2 5-door registered August 1989 photographed Knebworth August 2018
By Charles01 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=72031961
1986 CE

Rover Group Formation

British Leyland is reorganized into the Rover Group, and MG continues as a performance trim level rather than a standalone sports car manufacturer. #UK #RoverGroup #SportsCar Source — Wikipedia:

1992 CE

MG RV8 Introduced

Rover Group launches the MG RV8, a limited-production updated MGB roadster powered by a Rover V8 engine, aimed at the Japanese export market. #UK #RoverGroup #V8Engine #Roadster Source — Wikipedia:

1995 CE

Launch of the MG F

MG returns to volume sports car production with the MG F, a mid-engined roadster that became highly successful and revitalized the brand's sporting image. #UK #RoverGroup #MidEngine #Roadster Source — Wikipedia:

Capesthorne Hall Classic Car Show 25/05/2014
Capesthorne Hall Classic Car Show 25/05/2014
By SG2012 - https://www.flickr.com/photos/57664366@N08/14428744349/, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=57571877
May 1, 2000 CE

BMW Sells MG to Phoenix Consortium

BMW breaks up the Rover Group and sells the MG brand to the Phoenix Consortium, forming MG Rover Group as an independent British manufacturer. #UK #Independent #SportsCar Source — Wikipedia:

2001 CE

MG Enters British Touring Car Championship

MG returns to motorsport with a works BTCC entry based on the MG ZS, re-establishing the brand's competitive presence in British saloon car racing. #UK #Independent #TouringCar #BTCC Source — Wikipedia:

A 2018 SAIC-MG ZS photographed in Xigong District, Luoyang, Henan province, China
A 2018 SAIC-MG ZS photographed in Xigong District, Luoyang, Henan province, China
By Kevauto - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=94020049
Apr 1, 2005 CE

MG Rover Enters Administration

MG Rover Group collapses into administration, ending mass car production at the Longbridge plant and threatening the survival of the historic MG brand. #UK #Independent #SportsCar Source — Wikipedia:

2006 CE

Nanjing Automobile Acquires MG

Nanjing Automobile Group purchases the assets of MG Rover, relocating production tooling to China to resume manufacturing under the new MG Motor subsidiary. #UK #NanjingAutomobile #SportsCar Source — Wikipedia:

MG Motor 2021 logo in red
MG Motor 2021 logo in red
By SAIC Motor - https://mgmotor.com.au/page/mg_a_new_logo_for_a_new_era/, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=147138583
2007 CE

SAIC Takes Full Control of MG

Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) merges with Nanjing Automobile, taking full ownership of the MG brand and beginning its transition into a global mass-market automaker. #UK #SAICMotor #SportsCar Source — Wikipedia:

w:SAIC Motor logo
w:SAIC Motor logo
By SAIC Motor - http://www.saicgroup.com/, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=143780302
2011 CE

Return to British Production with MG6

MG resumes vehicle assembly at the Longbridge plant in the UK with the MG6, marking the brand's return to its historic home under Chinese ownership. #UK #SAICMotor #Sedan Source — Wikipedia:

MG 6 Pro
MG 6 Pro
By JustAnotherCarDesigner - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=137029243
2024 CE

MG Celebrates 100th Anniversary

MG Motor celebrates its centenary, having successfully transitioned from a classic British sports car maker to a high-volume global brand under SAIC, heavily focused on EVs and modern ICE platforms. #UK #SAICMotor #EV #SportsCar Source — Wikipedia: