Following in the honourable tradition of the legendary Mini Cooper, the MG Metros didn't disappoint, with the Turbo version in particular helping to make amends for the lacklustre Mini 1275GT.
The fat lady had sung her last song, and sadly Abingdon closed in 1980. Temporarily, the MG marque was in abeyence: plans to re-badge the Triumph Broadside came to nothing, and so, all throughout 1981, Austin Rover had no new MGs to sell.
Was the marque dead? In June 1982, and to the relief of octagon enthusiasts, the answer proved to be an emphatic "no". Following on from the rash of tuned Metros that had appeared on the market since the car's launch in October 1980, the official item was launched, the MG Metro 1300. Resplendent in its red MG badging and themed interior (including red seatbelts) the new small MG proved an instant success.
Thankfully MG was back, thanks to re-engineering, not badge-engineering.
The Metros
Following in the honourable tradition of the legendary Mini Cooper, the MG Metros didn't disappoint, with the Turbo version in particular helping to make amends for the lacklustre Mini 1275GT. |
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The Maestros
The MG versions brought a touch of glamour to the Maestro range, and with the advent of the class-leading EFi engine, they gave the other Eighties hot hatches a run for their money. |
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The Montegos
The car that started out as a souped-up repmobile, but was developed to become "the fastest-ever production MG". |
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