 MG cars
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,459 Likes: 1
Learned Hand
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OP
Learned Hand
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,459 Likes: 1 |
Just thought I would post this as some may be interested. I am just back from a tour of the MG assembly plant in the UK. The production line was stopped at the time as they where changing over to a diesel engine, the present cars use a 1.8 turbo petrol. The "Assembly" of the cars in longbridge the old Austin, leyland plant consists of installing Engine/gearbox and various items. The body and engine of the cars arrive pretty much complete from China. I was expecting to be dissapointed but the finish is actualy quite good. Pictured is the MG6 and the under development MG3.  MG pictures.
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Re: MG cars
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,735 Likes: 6
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,735 Likes: 6 |
I wish U.S. car makers would get on board with diesel power
Always remember to be yourself. Unless you suck. Then pretend to be someone else.
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Re: MG cars
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,681 Likes: 1
Bar Shake
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Bar Shake
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,681 Likes: 1 |
I'm not sure I get it. The bodies and engines are made in China and assembled in England? I hope they do a modern MG Midget. That was one fun little car. 
"Catching a yellow jacket in your shirt at seventy miles per hour can double your vocabulary" Author unknown
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Re: MG cars
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,146
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,146 |
I'd go for an MGB. Very nearly bought one new just as they were closing down.
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Re: MG cars
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,403 Likes: 7
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,403 Likes: 7 |
Quote:
The production line was stopped at the time ...
Ahhh the good old days with BL out on strike cause the canteen had the wrong tea bags or something. Makes a bloke proud to be British 
Quote:
... as they where changing over to a diesel engine
Oops, sorry 
The 'joke' I heard on all three of the Triumph factory tours I've been on was based on the old one about BL making 'Friday afternoon' cars (cars not made properly cause they wanted to get their shift finished quickly and be out for the weekend). Triumph don't make a 'Friday afternoon' bike cause they shut at lunch time on a Friday  Stop, Stop
That would explain a lot. I must've bought a Rocket with a Friday MORNING transmission then 
"You can't believe everything you read on the internet" : William Shakespeare
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Re: MG cars
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,403 Likes: 7
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,403 Likes: 7 |
Quote:
I'm not sure I get it. The bodies and engines are made in China and assembled in England?
No. They are pretty much built in China and basically sent over here for the water and oil to be added!!
They arrive under the cover of darkness in sealed containers and the factory has a machine that makes noises and churns out steam to look like a working factory.
As you can see from the main picture, that's one hell of a building with no assembly plant in it.
Three Brummies (blokes from Birmingham where the factory is), put in oil and water (hopefully in the correct places) and put some air in the tyres and push them out for photos.
You can see two of them in the picture. The bloke with the folded arms is obviously the team leader.
Then they have a break for tea and a ciggy.
They don't start them up in case they break down before they are loaded onto transporters.
Seriously, good luck to MG and hopefully some of the old personnel that were shafted when it closed will get some work out of it.
I was behind one of them a few months ago. Pity it was just like any other modern car these days.
You could have taken the badges off and you'd have been none the wiser who had made it. 
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Re: MG cars
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,459 Likes: 1
Learned Hand
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OP
Learned Hand
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,459 Likes: 1 |
Quote from the promo stuff.
"The new MG6 is designed and engineered in Britain, manufactured in world class factories, and final assembly is in the UK"
The guy giving us the tour was one of the old boys, his dad, grandad worked there.
Design is done there, about 200 work there, no pictures allowed there.
The assembly plant line has 25 people (yes 25)
presently only working 3 days a week, some things never change!
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Re: MG cars
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 291
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 291 |
Whilst in the UK I owned a Midget, then a MGB GT and then finally finally an MGF...that was undoubtedly the most costly car I ever owned. I bought it with a folder of service history and from a co-worker, but it still broke down every 250miles and it's annual running costs was more than it's value. The last straw was when the new UK emission ratings for car tax came in and it was in a higher category than my Audi TT Coupe.... I gave it away because it was less than worthless! 
Caspian Blue '03 BA, Union Jack/Stars and Stripes paint, BUBs, Progressive 812s, and lots of chrome
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Re: MG cars
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,639 Likes: 3
Old Hand
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Old Hand
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,639 Likes: 3 |
Quote:
That would explain a lot. I must've bought a Rocket with a Friday MORNING transmission then
Even worse are the Monday morning ones made with a hangover.  
Let's hope there's intelligent life somewhere in space 'cause it's buggar all down here. -- Monte Python
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Re: MG cars
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,432 Likes: 1
Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,432 Likes: 1 |
Shoot, I was hoping this thread was about these: 
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
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Re: MG cars
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,239 Likes: 64
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,239 Likes: 64 |
I had an MGA, that was a cool and fun car.Looked a lot like this one, even same color. 
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: MG cars
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,937
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,937 |
Quote:
I had an MGA, that was a cool and fun car.Looked a lot like this one, even same color.
Learned to drink in a '64 MG Midget!
What an F-in' BLAST!
And you may see me tonight
With an illegal smile
J. Prine
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Re: MG cars
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 754
3/4 Throttle
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3/4 Throttle
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 754 |
Many many moons ago I too had a MG Midget...don't remember the model year tho. But I do remember it was a real "Chick Magnet" and lots of fun to drive...and made going to the "Drive In Movies" with my girlfriend or other lovelies a ...well....  let's just say an olympic event....(similar to gymnastics in a confined space) I had thought that MG went fully under long ago...but what do I know I live in freaking Missouri!
Last edited by Buffal0; 09/11/2012 6:43 PM.
Karl
Odessa, MO
'07 America, Cinnamon Girl (aka: Black Beauty or Ol' Penny) - Sit Down, Shut Up & Hang On
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Re: MG cars
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,425
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,425 |
that car in the photo could be my Camery, or a Kia Optmia,, heck it probably roled off the same sheet metal line.
Mal: "Y'all see the man hanging out of the spaceship with the really big gun?{ref, Jayne} Man's lookin' to kill some folk. So really, it's his will y'all should worry about thwarting."
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Re: MG cars
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,074 Likes: 83
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,074 Likes: 83 |
Yeah... just what we need, yet another "cookie cutter" car on the roads. A disgrace to the name....
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Re: MG cars
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,060 Likes: 6
Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,060 Likes: 6 |
Quote:
I had thought that MG went fully under long ago...
Looks like they did! This story made me sad. I have two Brit cars, a 1968 GT6 and a 61 TR3. I love'em, but the GT6 needs some engine work (after 15 years of reliable driving, REALLY) and the TR is a running basket case. Someday, time and money and all that.... 
Fidelis et Fortis
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Re: MG cars
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,028 Likes: 8
New Tires
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New Tires
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,028 Likes: 8 |
Quote:
I had an MGA, that was a cool and fun car.Looked a lot like this one, even same color.
That that MGA looks like my driver in college. My roommate owned it, but he preferred to drive his hippy mobile, a metallic green 66 Pontiac Catalina station wagon. His preference had something to do with marijuana and college girls.
Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.
H. L. Mencken
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Re: MG cars
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 274
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 274 |
I had a '79 MGB with OD, earlier twin carbs, stainless exhaust and 15" chrome spoke wheels... had a momentary lapse of reasoning and sold it.
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Re: MG cars
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,354
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,354 |
Quote:
Quote:
The bloke with the folded arms is obviously the team leader.
Wouldn't he actually be known as "Dear Comrade Leader" ?? 
Blue/White 2007 TBA, Thruxton needles, Unifilter, AI removed, Polaris Bellmouth, Bubs, Nology Coils/wires, Lightbar, Ricor Intiminators, Hagon Nitros, Tall Sissy Bar w/luggage rack, Dart flyscreen & Lowers. 130 Mains, TrueGel Battery MG12-BS.
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Re: MG cars
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,354
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,354 |
I remember the Top Gear episoed where Jeremy and Richard went to China to evaluate Chinese cars. I think I'll pass, not that they are selling them here in the Colonies anyway. A short clip from their China Special talking about the ride of a Chinese car: http://youtu.be/FzS6x2ZAU2s
Last edited by Conwy; 09/13/2012 7:25 PM.
Blue/White 2007 TBA, Thruxton needles, Unifilter, AI removed, Polaris Bellmouth, Bubs, Nology Coils/wires, Lightbar, Ricor Intiminators, Hagon Nitros, Tall Sissy Bar w/luggage rack, Dart flyscreen & Lowers. 130 Mains, TrueGel Battery MG12-BS.
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