MG returns home with the opening of an all new dealership at Abingdon, right near the old MG production facility.

It’s back to the future as the latest MG dealership opens in the brand’s historic birthplace. 

Lodge Hill Garage in Abingdon is just a stone’s throw away from the site of the original MG factory where cars were built from 1929 to 1980. Now the latest MG3 and MG GS models are proudly displayed in the showroom of the UK’s latest MG dealership. 

The Abingdon dealership joins one of the fastest growing brands in Britain and new MGs in the Oxford and Abingdon area have created a wave of interest. Lodge Hill’s Principal, Nigel Murrin, said: “We’ve had a huge response from people wishing us well and saying how glad they are to see the MG name back. It’s just a reminder how much passion there is for the brand. 

“Now we’re planning to repay that with a huge official opening weekend event and we will be confirming the dates very shortly.” 

Lodge Hill Garage is on the busy Oxford Road in Abingdon, the main commuter route between Abingdon and Oxford. Drivers can’t fail to miss it – because high on a plinth on the forecourt is a full-size replica of an RAF Spitfire! 

Peter Jewson, the co-director of Lodge Hill, installed the fighter as a tribute to the mainly women pilots who formed the Air Transport Auxiliary. They flew the planes from the UK factories, where they were built, to their operational stations.  Peter is also behind a fund to raise £10,000 to have a permanent memorial to the ATA in the Imperial War Museum. 

Lodge Hill Garage was established in 2003, but the addition of the MG franchise has created three new jobs – an MG trained technician, an apprentice technician and a receptionist. More new jobs could follow if the business expands. 

Nigel, who served a mechanical apprenticeship at the start of his career, has worked in the motor industry all of his working life, including working in the car trimming business and running the retail side of dealer operations. 

He said: “We can’t wait to get started with MG. The brand has a rich heritage, beginning on our doorstep. Both Peter and I have owned, and still own, classic MGs, but it’s the new models that are so impressive.

“The MG3 is just a great little car offering so much value for money and it drives so well. While the MG GS is just stunning – it’s an exceedingly good car.” 

Matthew Cheyne, MG’s Head of Sales and Marketing, said: “It’s always great to welcome new dealers to our brand, but even more so to now have a dealer representing us in the very birthplace of MG.” 

MG’s summertime sales boom continues to accelerate, with dealers up and down the country reporting record requests for MG3 and MG GS test drives. MG Motor UK sales so far this year are way ahead of last year’s figures and it is expected that 2016 will be a record year for MG sales. 

While the UK car industry has increased by an average of 2.8 per cent so far this year, MG’s growth is more than five times that level, with official figures showing the brand is up more than 15 per cent year to date. 

New MG dealerships have recently opened in Swansea, Bradford, Ayr, Warrington, Epsom, Wolverhampton and Brandon in Suffolk. More new dealers will be announced in the near future. 

MG Car Club to launch an MG specific Top Trumps card game at MGLive in June.

MG Motor UK is thrilled to become part of the family-favourite card game, Top Trumps, where 30 cards will showcase vintage models through to the current range.  

Top Trumps, a popular card game loved by children and adults worldwide, will be adding the new and exciting MG pack to its existing range in June; when it will be launched at the MG Car Club’s annual MGLive! event.

The 30 cards will include the MG3, MG6 and new MG GS, as well as vintage models and classics like the MGA and MGB.

Over the course of the next few weeks, the MG Car Club will be revealing which other models can be found in the pack.

Those interested in picking up a pack can do so at MGLive! on 4 June at Silverstone. The annual event sees thousands of MG enthusiasts descend on the home of British motorsport to celebrate all things MG. MG Motor UK will be there with MG GS, as well as the MG3 and MG6.

Timewarp unregistered MG Midget, up for auction.

Anglia Car Auctions has discovered another ‘timewarp’ classic with low mileage – an unregistered 1980 MG Midget with just 162 miles on the clock.

The vendor brought the car brand new after hearing of the imminent demise of MG but never registered the vehicle as he intended to give the car to one of his young children on passing their driving test. 

ACA owner Lyn George explains: “After 11 months, the car was despatched to Holland Brothers in Sleaford, in a horsebox of all things, for its first annual service. The car had, at this point, covered just 143 delivery miles.

“Whilst at the main dealer, they discovered that the speedo would not read above 10mph. It was duly replaced and the speedometer now reads 19 miles giving a total mileage of 162.” 

The car, in vermillion red, remains unregistered but is complete with the original bill of sale, owner’s handbooks, and service manuals. It is estimated to warrant a sale price of between £7,000 to £9,000.

The MG Midget will be just one of the vehicles on offer in Anglia Car Auctions’ Classic Sale on Saturday 14^thJune, with viewing on the afternoon of Friday 13th June.

New MG watch, yours for £1,405 inc VAT

With assistance from BMH and MGCC, MeisterSinger has produced a superb limited edition watch in celebration of the MG marque

The foresight and determination of an ardent German MG enthusiast, Ernst Graaf, have resulted in a unique trio of quality timepieces, the design of which echoes the distinctive shape and structure of a 1950s MG TD radiator grille. The watches have been superbly crafted by MeisterSinger and are available online from www.motoringclassics.co.uk for £1405, including VAT.

Graaf’s love affair with the MG marque began with an Olde English White 1964 MGB he ran as a student, and was later cemented by an inexpensive quartz watch modelled on the grille of an MG TD. When attempts to replace the worn timepiece with a newer, MG-branded one came to nought, he set about creating his own. The MG Car Club assisted the cause, as did British Motor Heritage, which was sufficiently impressed with the project to license the use of the MG logo.

The watches feature top quality Swiss movements housed in stainless steel cases that are water resistant to a depth of 5 bar. The dials are protected by hardened mineral glass and the Cordovan straps are crafted from smooth horse leather. There is a choice of three different face/strap combinations appropriately named: ‘Abingdon’, ‘Cecil Kimber’ and ‘Cream Cracker’, in celebration of the MG factory, the company’s founder, and the most famous of the Works MGs respectively. To ensure a suitable degree of exclusivity, production will be limited to around 100 watches per annum.

Said British Motor Heritage’s Managing Director John Yea: “We are delighted to be able offer these superb new timepieces for sale and to have played a small part in their development.”

Full details of the watches can be found at www.motoringclassics.co.uk and www.mg-watch.com.