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MG MGA - Chinese Ownership

A few days ago Nanjing Automobile announced that it still plans to continue some MG Rover production in the UK.

A colleague at work wittingly commented that MG could take on a new name: Ming Garages!

I trust not. Somethings are sacrilege!

Steve
Steve Gyles

How Chinese are our restored MGAs?
Dan Barton


Gee, will the new MGs have Lotus electrical systems? If so, would they develop a reputation as Ming the Terrible?

(OK, only the oldest codgers on this board will get that last one.)
Frank Nocera

Darn it Frank, now I'm thinking I must be among the 'oldest codgers', isn't that a Flash Gordon reference? I wasn't feeling too bad until I read this post, now I'm feeling pretty old. ;-)
The Chinese will probably add an S to the name, so that while you're driving you will feel completely satisfied, but 30 minutes after the drive ends, you'll feel like you have to drive again. Of course that's the way I feel about my midget now. :-)
Bill Young

Isn't that Ming the Merciless?
Dan Smithers

The March issue of MG ENTHUSIAST reports that "hopes fade at Longbridge", "the MGF trim and final production lines had been disassembled and prepared for shipment to China" and "that all its (Nanjing) efforts are likely to be initially channelled into its home market". Steve's comment above may be more up-to-date news, but the future of MG production in the UK does not look good. I wonder how the MGOC and the MGCC will deal with this. In my opinion, a "Chinese MG" is an oxymoron.

G Goeppner

There was a bit in the media a few days ago about the Longbridge site and this is how Bejing apparently reported it:

"BEIJING, Feb. 24 -- Sports cars may soon be zipping out of the factory formerly operated by bankrupt British carmaker MG Rover, as parent company Nanjing Automobile Corp (NAC) is reviving car production at the Longbridge, UK plant.

The company signed a 33-year lease worth at least US$100 million on Wednesday for the factory site, according to Wang Hongbiao, the company's official in charge of UK operations."

What the report does not say is that there is, I believe, a 6-month escape clause.

MG has had a chequered history but it keeps bouncing back because of its heritage, representing affordable sports cars for the ordinary working/middle classes.

Interestingly, I think it was also the latest MG Enthusiast that suggested that Austin Healey was about to make a return. The graphic shown of a 'new' Healey 3000-style car looked rather nice.

I only posted the 'Morris Garages' - 'Ming Garages' for amusement. I did not expect the thread to run!

Steve
Steve Gyles

Hi Steve

I think in Chinese circle's MG stands for Monosodium Glutamate, they put plenty on there food to give it some taste ( ever eaten a dog ? ) no, nor have I knowingly.


Ah so

Terry

P.S Maybe the new models will only have numbers, chosen from a menu, MGA with fried rice and noodles please,
Terry Drinkwater

Just a thought.
The Chinese name for a boat is "Junk".....hope that's not a sign of things to come from this takeover.

Dave.
D Jacobs

Dave

Let's not let a poor western translation of the Chinese words get in the way. A quick Google search shows that the Chinese invented the multi-masted sailing ship. And the Chinese used these "Junks" to sail as far as Africa and the Red Sea during the 1404-1433 period. And the largest carried 9 masts and displaced 1500 tons. Not what we think of as "junk".

After all, isn't the closest modern equivalent of the MG the Mazda Miata, and that isn't made in Europe. Who knows, maybe there is the potential for some interesting innovation from China in all of this.

FWIW

Larry
Larry Hallanger

"The Chinese name for a boat is "Junk".....hope that's not a sign of things to come from this takeover."

Not sure why anyone cares. These cars are no more MGs than a modern Bugatti bears any resemblance to cars made by that original company.

I'm sure they will continue to attract attention from traditional MG owners, but really, why bother?
Bill Spohn


I agree, Bill. We should not be trashing the Chinese here for two reasons. One is that at least they saved the marque from extinction. Let's give 'em a chance. They just might make a great car.

The other reason is that our grandkids may be working for them.

And yes, the name of Flash Gordon's nemesis was indeed Ming the Merciless. Jeesh, I hate getting old.
Frank Nocera

Here's an interesting addition to this thread. Check out this link.

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=109378
Michael Hosier

The 'Smart roadster' would certainly carry on the tradition of MGs being fun entry level sports cars. I'm not too fond of the styling, but it's better than no MGs at all.
Bill Young

This thread was discussed between 27/02/2006 and 01/03/2006

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