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Petrol Head's views - May 2005

A sad time indeed as yet another Great British motoring name dies.

MG Rover looks set to join so many once loved famous marques that have been assigned to that great big scrap yard in the sky.

Others that have been and gone include Riley, Wolseley, Austin, Morris, Hillman, Sunbeam, Singer, Humber... I could go and and on listing names of cars that were once all a common sight on our roads. Most still survive in memories of past motoring experiences or in the flesh through enthusiasts such as ourselves. Our motoring heritage.... we were at one time the leaders in our field, and it all looks set to fall at the last fence. Beaten by the Germans, the French, the Japanese, the Koreans and now the Chinese.

Still, all may not be lost. I'm told that the Chinese will possibly still manufacture cars badged as Rovers. Any colour you like sir... as long as it's yellow.

So is this dire news totally unexpected? No way!

In my view the writing was already on the wall a number of years ago. The famous octagonal badge appeared on such awful things as MG Maestros, Montegos and Metros. How on earth could anyone have ever regarded such things as real MG's. The Rover badge sat proudly on the bonnet of the 213 and 216 models. That is until the bonnets rotted through and it fell off.

Let's be honest, that was a time that saw badge engineering at it's very worst.

The Rover name, once a true British great renowned for luxury and quality... surely the last "real Rovers" must have been the P5 and P6 series. Government ministers were ferried around in Rovers in those days. Maggie Thatcher was always seen on News at Ten leaving Chequers in her Rover Coupe to go home to number 10 and make Dennis his dinner.

Does anyone consider that the nasty 800 series was ever in the same league? The SD1 didn't really come up to the previous levels of prestige or quality and I reckon that was just the start of the slippery slope.

So unless something drastic happens very quickly, MG Rover will die along with all the others.

We still have the likes of Aston Martin.......but then that's because Ford bought them.

Of course we still have Rolls-Royce, probably renown world wide as the most luxurious and prestigious cars ever........errrr, okay maybe the Germans own them now, but we still have Lotus......but then look who bought them.

So what is there that's still British? Morgan!

The once Great British motor industry..... how long before just about every part of it is either gone or bought by foreigners?

On a brighter note, the club season is now starting to buzz with the better weather.

Unfortunately I missed the VSCC race meeting at Silverstone last weekend, but then they have spoilt the venue as far clubmans racing goes. Not nearly as exciting as it once was, but then Grand Prix racing generates more cash for the big boys, so why should they worry about the paupers end of the sport.

Well folks, look out for some cracking deals on new MG Rover cars. Buy whilst stocks last but I have heard that a warranty won't be included.

Petrol Head

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The views represented here are those of 'Petrol Head' and do not necessarily reflect those of Classic Car Times.