The new model was introduced to an international audience at the Geneva Motor Show when it was announced that it would go into production and on sale later in 1995. The MGF was to become the best-selling British built sports car of its time.
MG have a long and illustrious heritage of small sportscars, going all the way back to the Old Number One, which celebrates its 100th birthday this year as well. Founder Cecil Kimber, manager of the ‘Morris Garages’ which would become ‘MG’, raced this at the Lands End Trial winning the gold medal.
The MGF would break new ground as their first mid-engine production car. To test the car’s new running gear, engineering ‘mules’ - running test cars – were built. Each had to be disguised from the public, so the designs were kept a secret. Perhaps the most elaborate was this ‘Metro van’, which on the surface looked like a courier delivery van. If you lift the whole rear section, there’s no room for deliveries, as you would find the mechanics of the mid-engined MGF!
MG would update the car as the MGTF released in 2002 and would even show off a coupe version of the car, the MG GT, now on display at the museum. The design used a standard TF as the base but had a grafted composite roof panel that added a second smaller side window too - the resultant graft line is visible at the rear of the car.
If you are a fan of the MGF, make sure to join us on Sunday 6th July for the MGF 30th Anniversary at the British Motor Museum, which promises to be a highlight event for MGF or TF owners and admirers alike!
Challenge: Design and write a birthday card – you could make it a 30th birthday card for the MGF or maybe a 100th birthday card for the MG Old Number 1! Maybe draw one of the cars, perhaps write a short poem!
Tell us how you did it on our Facebook page - don’t forget to use the hashtag #ExploringBMM.
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